7/04/2001 - Independence Day

Today, like good red-blooded Americans, we celebrated our Independence Day. As is tradition, a whole gaggle of us descended on a local pond for a day of festive merriment; barbeque, waverunner, beer, bonfire, the whole nine yards. The majority of the crew was there, but a few were still yet to appear on the scene.

Of particular interest at the pond party is the legendary Wild One. The Wild One is a marine torture device of particularly ingenious construction. It is essentially a large inflatable cylinder with handles, zippers, and razor-sharp seams along its inside. Naturally, the unlucky sap who makes the poor decision to ride The Wild One has to be on the inside of the tube. You grab the handles, wedge yourself in the round chamber of doom, and hold on for dear life as you are towed recklessly behind the wave runner.

It is not fun. I repeat, it is not fun.

However, it has become a test of mettle and courage in these parts, and if you want any respect, you've got to subject yourself to The Wild One. It's a harrowing and exhausting few minutes until either you are beaten loose and sent flying across the water, or are beaten into submission and lose your grip from lack of strength, or even once in a great while, you survive, and the driver throws in the towel, unable to shake you. To my recollection, this has only happened once over the years.

I doubt it'll ever happen again.

Tomorrow the rest of the crew arrives. Happy 4th. May the Wings of Liberty never lose a feather.

Photo Addendum - A picture of The Posse in the RV, ready for action... ready for something anyway...

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