Petanque Players

Every Tuesday morning I play petanque with four friends at a local park. We've been playing for a year and a half now -- rain, snow, or shine.

Petanque is a version of the French boules, and originated in Provence around 1907. You can Google it if you want to know the rules, but you won't find anything about our rule changes and additions, such as the dreaded "prove it or lose it" rule. These result in occasional heated "discussions" about alleged rule violations, which we enjoy as much as the game itself.

The way we play it, petanque is no game for wimps. We roam all over the park on paved roads, through the trees, on gravel and dirt trails, grass, mud, and the occasional dog deposit. The terrain is challenging in places, and it's not unusual to hear a plaintive cry of "Did anybody see where my ball went?"

I was going to use a group photo for my blip today, but I saw these long shadows while waiting for my turn to throw. I quickly pulled off my gloves, pulled my Canon P&S out of my pocket, and grabbed a couple of quick shots.

I can take a photo of the guys some other time. I should warn you they're not a pretty sight first thing in the morning, but they're my friends, and I love them.