Foot in Mouth Award

Stop the presses! The Members of the WaterTribe, the group that organizes the annual 300-mile canoe/kayak race from St. Petersburg to Key Largo, has recognized the valiant, albeit ill-timed, attempt by The Insomniac paddling team to complete this year’s Everglades Challenge in a 45-foot outrigger canoe.

The Insomniacs' exploits were chronicled by team member Terry Tomalin, a.k.a., H.D. Agua, in the pages of the St. Petersburg Times and on the Wildside blog over the past few weeks.

The paddlers had to pull out of the competition 180 miles into the race because: A)  they ran out of time or B) they were spineless wimps (Depending on who you talk to.) 

At the race finish, WaterTribe member Marty Sullivan awarded the team a perpetual trophy, the “Foot in Mouth Award.”

The Insomniacs, who were back in St. Petersburg lounging in a hot tub, missed the awards ceremony where it was noted that: "Underestimating the potential difficulties of a Challenge is a common mistake. Prior to the event, this often leads to rash predictions of success. However, we WaterTribers have a motto: "Hubris Never Goes Unpunished." As such, we now have a recurring award, "Shoots Off  Mouth Into Foot." Congratulations to the team.”

Meanwhile, The Insomniacs, which is comprised of Tomalin (H.D. Agua), Dr. George Stovall (Sandspur), Darry Jackson, (Dare-Jack), Casey LaLomia (Kauai Kid) and Aaron Freedman (Air Doc), have threatened to enter the race again next year, this time in tandem kayaks.

As holders of the coveted “Foot in Mouth Award,” the team must deliver the trophy to Key Largo when The Tribe meets again next March. Coming in 2010: Revenge of the Insomniacs.

Comments

[Marty Sullivan "Salty Frog"]

The Insomniacs returning next year for the Everglades Challenge is great news. You deserve congratulations for that decision. My first Everglades Challenge, in 2002, I was caught 2 miles off shore when a front descended with 25+ knots winds and high, choppy seas. I capsized, reentered, and carefully made my way to shore where I surf landed at a Lee County park. I hurried into the rest room and ran the hand dryer down my pants and up my shirt for an hour or so, then shivered for the next few hours until hypothermia was over.

In fall of 2002 I was determined to make up for my failure by conquering the Cross-Florida Challenge, from Fort Clinch up the St. Marys River and down the Suwannee River and Gulf to Cedar Key, 370 miles with a 40-mile on-foot portage. I made it, in spite of illness and having to do a day-night-and-a-day travel stretch. I felt total elation from completing a Challenge on my second attempt.

Congratulations to all of the Insomniacs for getting off the beach and covering 2/3 of the course. And an even bigger congratulations for committing to come back for more. Victory will be that much sweeter. See you on the beach in 2010!

Salty Frog

[Kristen "KiwiBird"]

Taken in the true spirit the award is intended! We all look forward to seeing you on the beach in 2010.

KiwiBird

[Stu]

Hubris and water don't mix, like we saw with the NFL players.

The hardest part of boating, mountaineerings, skiing and all sorts of otherwise safe activities is knowing when to pack it in and head home.

The folks who have the judgement and knowledge to make the right call generally live. The other folks, who set out unprepared or let machismo or ignorance rule the day often survive as well. Sometimes they require rescue, including the wholesale deployment of public resources. Sometimes they have a great story to tell, but mostly they leave out their own neglect, stupidity and malfeasance.

But sometimes, the unprepared, ignorant and unknowledgeable perish in otherwise safe activities - because they didn't check the weather, cut the anchor, leave a plan or cut the trip short.

I'm glad you shared all of your experience with readers.