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   I am writing this the day after..and I have checked..we have all survived!!!

   We have another 4th of July Turtle race in the can! Mind you, that’s just the Turtle Races...the 4th of July Celebration is yet to come. But, as history prevails, that will go well too. Back to the Turtle races.

   For those of you who have never witnessed the races on the 4th of July week,  it is quite the spectacle. The Activity Committee led by Jane, had all sorts of contingency plans to make the masses of folks who would descend on town have the best experience ever. We expect about 600 racers and that means, with the accompanying relatives, brothers, sisters, granny and gramps etc. we count, at a minimum, 3 other folks for each racer. That’s 2400 people minimum who will be in that one block of mainstreet!!! 

   Pretty unbelievable. So, the  registration booth is crazy and the line goes clear down to the coffee shop. So, how to relieve some of the pressure from the wait? Jane and her team scouted out a face painter and Janie found 2 young ladies who would glitter the kids hair while waiting. Joe and Tom sold game tickets to people waiting in line, so the kids could break away and be entertained. Jane and Tiffany worked the line trying to anticipate questions that usually get asked at registration, to try to speed that process up. It all seemed to go pretty well. The weather cooperated. It was a beauty, with a gentle breeze. The fellows from the Y camp worked extra hard to get all the tables and tents up..and before you knew it..wallah...we were in business. Jeanne and Patti A ( Sande is usually there), getting everyone registered, Kitty and Kathy were selling the chachkes and memorabilia  and more game tickets . 

   Our other loyal volunteers were posted at their 8 games. Ready, set, go!! Many of these folks have “Adopted” the games they like to run..and so show up each week...ready to roll..as you say. There’s Carla, Jean, Dennis, Dusty, Laura and Dorothy, the Boell’s,  Christie, Barb and Dave. Not to mention the Prize Table, where the kids are all googly eyed. That booth has been adopted by Beth, Janie, Mary and Dusty.

   The show started at 1:00. Gary had the kids warming up with hula hoops ahead of time. Good idea. Birthdays and Anniversaries were called for and recognized. Next, hula hoops for serious coupons. Moms did especially well..we had lots of them and they were all good. Coupons for all!!! Dads were great too, but the announcer always says...Don’t blink when these guys start, because it goes fast!!! Meaning they can’t hula hoop. Every one of them drops at first wiggle. But, we love them for trying.

   Then we dance. The YMCA, Macarena, Hokey Pokey and Chicken Dance. A newer addition to the dancing routine is “Freeform” where you just do what comes naturally to the tune...people of all ages love it..and do they have some good moves!! Then, we are on to the races. First, the resort race, then off to the regular races. Our cracker jack crew at the turtle mobile did an outstanding job. Turtles in to race, out to rest. They did that 27 times!!!! That team, you met them last week, but they are Emery, Sawyer, Emory, Grayson, Addie and Dawson and Hunter, Sadie and Cora. The last race has run, winners identified, guests are wandering off to their vehicles, the dust is blowing down the street. The “Y” guys start taking things down. There you go...we say goodbye to another great tradition of our little village. See you next week....

Resort race winner...

Zachary Stokes from Lacey, WA walked away with the big W this week representing Timber Trails Resort. Photos submitted.

Turtle race champion

This week’s Grand Winner was 13 year old Carter Medvec from Savage, MN. 

Slow Poke champion

This week’s Grand Slowpoke Winner was 21 year old Evie Kastener of Rochester, MN. 

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