My weekend in eight photos. River Rat Race, run and Easter.

Posted on April 10, 2023 by jtyler

It may not have been 65 degrees, but it was sunny on Saturday for the 58th Annual River Rat Race. Once again, this year Bear Country 95.3 was a part of the River Rat Promenade. I drove the Bear Country 95.3 Tahoe. Jay Deane was my wingman and Ed Dornig was waving to the crowd from the back seat.

After the parade, I had some tasty pancakes at Mason Lodge and then made my way down to Wally’s house which is right at the starting mark. He lets us set up there for the start. I played some tunes for the crowd and made my way over to where all the canoes line up.

Hat’s off to the first responders who make sure everyone is safe. I got a quick interview with Jason Rushford. He is the Safety Director for the event.

Area police set up their command center right on the bridge at the start line. They had everything under control.

I got to chat with State Senator Anne Gobi and State Senator Jo Comerford before they set off. This was Anne’s 18th race but Jo’s first. I could tell she was a bit nervous but Anne was giving her pointers on how to stay out of the starting mayhem.

With the firing of the canon at 1PM, over 185 canoes were off and heading towards Orange. I packed up our station stuff quick, the race director Jeanette McIntosh jumped in the passenger seat, and we took off to catch the canoes at the finish line. We got there just in time to see canoe #41 cross the line.

It took the team just over 35 minutes to paddle five miles.

Yesterday, I woke up on Easter morning and got a run in.

I am training for the Western Mass Mother’s Day Half Marathon. Would you consider throwing a couple of bucks my way? All the proceeds for the fundraiser go to the Cancer Connection. This race has raised over a half a million dollars in its past years. I would like to help that number increase!

Later we made our annual trip to Pittsfield for the Easter Holiday. Years ago, my family would go to Pittsfield to see my grandmother for the holiday. We now go an have a nice meal with my aunt and cousin. Like last year, we ate at the Proprietor’s Lodge on Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield. It was nice.

My grandmother passed away in 2021. We visited her grave yesterday. She is buried next to my grandfather who passed away a long time ago in 1979. My grandmother was a widow for a long, long time. I wanted to leave flowers, but they don’t allow that until May 1st. You cannot plant bulbs or anything. Personally, I think that is riduculus. So instead, I left a stone we had picked up on the beach at Cape Cod.