Zombie Apocalypse and We're Still Playing Petanque



While the rest of the world succumbs to the zombie apocalypse, we'll be playing petanque safely inside





Careful footing at the indoor courts - foot-faults have serious penalties




Zombes watch as we play petanque



Detroit Bouleodrome Heating Up

Alpha has been pointing in some very tricky boules

 The surface for the indoor petanque court has really presented some nice twists for the players.  We have to adapt our shooting (allowing for higer bounces) and our pointing throws: the center edging on the mats makes for some strategic cochonnet placement; but all of these factors make the game quite a challenge.  There's plenty of surface remarks to give advantage to those players "in the know" - but everyone has been open to offering advice on how the boule will travel.


Eight for petanque: (from left) Abu, Paul, Bob, Alpha, Maury, Tim, Fred, Jeff (out of camera)



Tim and Alpha take the Win

Abu and I were fighting back, and gaining points, but we simply were not able to keep Tim/Alpha from getting that one last crucial 13th point for the win. 

Fred is Unstoppable on the Indoor Courts



Smaller group today but the playing was tight and challenging

Fred took on Alpha and Jeff in the lunchtime indoor petanque.  It was a challenging match as Fred has been on a winning streak these past few games.  Edging ahead, Fred's lead was being whittled away point by point as Alpha and I seized any opportunity given to us.  We discovered a "lean" on one of the edges of the court which, if remembered, could present an advantage in later games.

Fred "Jimmy-Legs" K. Beats Pat Again



Fred shows off his special dancing technique of petanque playing




Pat and his partner lose again to Fred "Jimmy-Legs" K.

  Pat vows that he will not lose again to Team-Fred, even if he has stay 24 hours a day to practice.  Today's game was a foregone conclusion after Team-Fred logged 5 points in a single round when Team-Pat failed to keep any boules on the piste.  It was simply a matter of dropping the boules at our feet for the extra points!

Pat Offered Up Sensitive Encouragement in Today's Petanque Game

Sometimes we get visits from important intergalactic dignitaries likes Jabba the Hutt

 Appropriate leadership guidance for fellow team members is at the top of Pat's list as petanque team captain.  When a boule is thrown improperly, or a relatively easy point is missed, you can always count on Pat to offer up select words of encouragement.  Today, he gave Tim an emotional boost by calling him a "Pigeon-toed little bitch" after successively badly pointed boules.   Of course, Pat is the first one to admit when he's thrown a boule badly, yelling out "That was another Sh*tball - two sh*tballs thrown!"   All in an afternoon's amusement!  See you soon. 

Second Week of Indoor Petanque

The second week of Indoor Petanque has brought in some careful game play as the surface (terrain) has been plotted out and carefully mapped for trouble spots and lanes of opportunity.  Knowing the way the surface works in the bouledrome really offers up an advantage to a careful team.  The mats (4) are laid such that where they meet (the seams) and the under-surface (bare floor with some rocks) will give the careful player a bit of advantage in pointing and shooting.

Winter League Shaping Up - Tim in Lead