Showdown at Half Moon Bay
This was really a lopsided battle - the hordes of
gourds from the Great Pacific Northwest pitted against
the few surviving California giants. The pumpkin
goddesses, Athena and Aphrodite, thirsted for
blood-sport but most of California's best lay split
and rotting in the fields of Napa, cut down before
their prime by inclement weather.
Athena, the Goddess of War, looked glorious and
invincible as she stared down the northern gourds from
the back of my truck. In the end, though, when she
hit the scales, she proved to be a lightweight.
Measuring 350" ott (836 est.), she weighed in 7% light
at 789 pounds.
Delicate Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, proved even
more ethereal than Athena. She practically floated
onto the scales. Measuring 330" ott (710 est.), she
weighed in 20% light at 567 pounds.
The final charge by the goddesses near the bay of the
half moon turned into the charge of the light brigade.
The waterlogged northern gourds took the day, led by
Mombert's orange low-rider (940#) and Holland's white
leaden boat anchor (891#).
Never have there been more beautiful and glorious
pumpkins to grace the shores of Half Moon Bay than the
pumpkin goddesses. Majestic in defeat they carried
their shoulders high and orange as I trucked them away
from the bloodied fields of battle.
I'll be back I thought. Next time with heavier
pumpkins....
For some pic's of the battle by the bay:
http://home.pacbell.net/diana_do/halfmoon.htm
vince
3rd year grower
best 789# 2000
zone 9, the pumpkin zone
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