Sean Merrett of Digby didn’t hesitate when he got to the still submerged sandbar that was supposed to provide a bridge to Bear Island.
Merrett was the lead runner in the Scallywag 8k Fun Run and Walk Saturday night, July 7.
A group of walkers had already been waiting about 10 minutes when Merrett arrived. He continued past them and splashed into the knee deep water. Other runners followed and eventually so did many of the walkers. Still others waited for the falling tide to reveal all of the sandbar before starting their crossing.
Merrett was already on his way back before those walkers had even started across.
He won the race with a time of 41:58 The first woman across the finish line was Carol Klessens of Mavillette in a time of 58:27.
A total of 78 runners and walkers did the walk on a warm sunny evening with little wind. The course started at the Smith's Cove Firehall and down to Harbour View passed the pool to the clammers parking space, across the beach to the causeway leading to the island and out and counterclockwise round the island and back.
The last walkers returned to the mainland about 9:30 and reached the Smith’s Cove Firehall at 10 p.m.
jriley@digbycourier.ca
