Nothing has been normal this year. Maybe there is no normal when it comes to the Chicot Challenge, but this time around things have changed and changed and changed. Finally, however, instead of going from bad to worse, they have gone from worse to bad. Uh, better, better that is.
Ocee Hunter, the manager of the Lake Chicot State Park, called me Monday morning. When I saw Lake Village, Arkansas on the screen of my cell phone, I snatched that thing up and answered as quickly as I could. They got one of their pontoon boats sea worthy and it is ours for the day of June 2. The pontoon is a plus in a number of ways.
One way the pontoon helps us is it allows for greater safety in having a big boat that is more visible and can provide a physical shield to other water craft. In past swims, I was always uneasy going under the Causeway Bridge. A lot of water traffic meets up there and during swim VI, Justin pulled the big boat up close behind me while I swam under the bridge thus physically preventing anyone from running over me.
Second, the pontoon allows more of the crew to witness the swim. The crew does a lot of work behind the scenes from publicity, to T-shirt sales, to encouragement, to prayers. Team Centerville has taken on the swim as their own baby and they work and pray for its success. And having more crew witnessing the swim is also good for the one in the water. The more eyes on the swimmer the better he or she performs. At least that is how it always impacted me.
Not only that, but with more space for more coolers, the swimmer has no shortage of storage for food. I like ice cream, but it needs a little more space than can easily be accommodated on a small kayak. Plus, the kayakers can swap out and rest their arms, low backs, and butts on the boat while someone else takes a turn at guiding the swimmer.
In short, the call from Ocee was big news, good news, and motivating news. Wilson Carroll even hinted that he may be up for some swimming after all. A pontoon makes a relay possible. Theoretically it is possible to relay out of a jon boat, but I would never want to do it that way.
There are still a bunch of unknowns. What we do know is MJ Staples will swim (possible joined by Wilson Carroll), we have a big boat, and we are doing it June 2. The event will start at the State Park probably about 9:00 am and conclude either at downtown Lake Village, or at the Visitors' Center, or at Ditch Bayou.
Stay tuned.
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