This is one of the more interesting creatures we encountered on our road trip. Any ideas what he's all about? Here's a hint ~ Mark Twain.
The History of The Frog Jump (as taken from frogtown.org)
In 1865, Samuel l. Clemens (Mark Twain) penned “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, a tall tale of the life and happenings of the gold rush town, Angels Camp (which is right down the road from Murphys). The narrator details a story he heard in a tavern. It is about a frog, Dan’l Webster, who could out jump any other frog, and a man, Jim Smiley, who was the “curiousest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldn’t he’d change sides.” ...
The Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee has grown to an event with more than 35,000 attendees. It is estimated that the Calaveras County Fair generates approximately 25.5 million dollars in revenues through hotels, restaurants, retail, payroll and other related revenues.
In 2002 the Frog Jump had more than 2000 frogs participate. The top 50 frogs qualify for the International Frog Jump Grand Finals, which are held on Sunday of the Jubilee at 4:00 pm. The current world’s record was set in 1986 by Rosie the Ribeter. Rosie jumped 21’ 53/4”. The cash prize for breaking the world record is $5000.
And so, my dear readers, frogs are to Murphys, Angels Camp and Calaveras County what cows (at least painted plastic cows) are to Chicago. The live competitors have been honored by a series of frog statues throughout town and are definitely a tourist attraction. (See, it pays to read the literary classics.)
I invite you to watch an actual frog jumping contest at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. The adult in you will shake your head at the kinds of nonsense we humans find entertaining, while the child in you will be itching to have a go at it for yourself. Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJAsZP2iLk
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