Bad Weather Curbs Stewart's Pumpkin Ride

WINDSOR, Nova Scotia (AP) _ Bad weather ended up derailing Martha Stewart's plans to ride in a giant pumpkin on a Canadian lake. <br/><br/>But residents who braved a downpour to watch competitors in

Monday, October 10th 2005, 10:14 am

By: News On 6

WINDSOR, Nova Scotia (AP) _ Bad weather ended up derailing Martha Stewart's plans to ride in a giant pumpkin on a Canadian lake.

But residents who braved a downpour to watch competitors in the annual Pumpkin Regatta already were calling on her to try again next year.

Stewart's flight was grounded Sunday morning at a Maine airport as heavy rains fell across the East Coast.

She was expected to settle into a giant, hollowed-out pumpkin and paddle her way across Lake Pesaquid, alongside 40 other competitors.

Howard Dill, whose family farm grew what was supposed to be Stewart's pumpkin, said Stewart's field producer competed in her place.

Stewart's film crew arrived in Nova Scotia the day before the race to decorate the 660-pound pumpkin. It was painted in stripes of pastel blue, orange, yellow and green.

Canadian officials initially had refused Stewart, 64, entry into the country because of her conviction for lying about a stock sale. That issue, though, had been cleared up.