My weekend in nine photos. The River Rat Race! -Kevin

Posted on April 11, 2022 by jtyler

For the first time since 2019, they were able to have the Athol to Orange River Rat Race on Saturday! The weather may not have been ideal, but I don’t think that took away from the event or the day at all.

Saturday started off with a parade through downtown Athol. This was my view as we were lining up on School Street in Athol.

They placed us right behind the local Cub Scouts troop and right in front of the Athol High School Marching Band. (Have I ever told you I was in the marching band in high school? Perhaps a story for another time.) Every parade is better with music and the group from AHS did a fine job. As soon as the parade started, it started to rain, hard. I was warm and dry in the Bear Country 95.3 Yukon. I cannot say the same for the band, but those marchers behind us didn’t miss a beat.

It was so great to see all the people lined up on both sides of the street enjoying the parade. I could tell everyone was happy to see this important day return to the North Quabbin area and the weather did not make a difference.

After the parade, Ed Dornig and I headed over to the Masonic Lodge on Main Street in Athol for their pancake breakfast. Here is my plate once I remembered to document this historic event.

Once breakfast was done I headed over to Wally’s house. Wally lives right at the start line of the River Rat Race and each year he lets us set up and use his electricity for the broadcast equipment. He also lets all kinds of strangers onto his property to get a good view of the start of the race. Wally is a great guy and I got a photo with him this year!

It quickly became crowded in Wally’s yard.

1PM arrived and after a wonderful rendition of the national anthem by our friend Dawn, the cannon sounded and the 200 canoes took off down the Miller’s River.

You can see the smoke from the cannon in the photo above.

A big bottleneck occurs here right at the Main Street bridge. This year most canoes got through. Most.

Once all the canoes got by, we high-tailed it to Orange and arrived about 5 minutes before the winners crossed the finish line.

It was a close finish! Congratulations to Patrick of NY and Adam of Leominster, MA on their win. I got to interview them once they found out they were declared the winners.

I am so glad this event was able to return. I am sad that David Flint, the longtime race director was not there to see it as he passed away in December. I think he would have been quite proud of how everything came together this year.

I got a photo with Race Director Jeanette McIntosh and Safety Director Tom Lozier. These people have been great to work with this year as we promoted the 57th running of the Athol to Orange River Rat Race.