The Hawk Road, taking a timeout from online shopping, where the endless links can often take you from The Future Shop to Kate Beckinsale and never know how it happened, decided to type two words into a Google search. "Darren" and "Hudson". Google is arguably the most widely used search engine on the mighty internet, and of the first ten results that filled the screen, two of them were for the same Darren Hudson who methodically creeped his way out of Barrington and into a globetrotting routine that saw him not only compete with the world's best, but beat them. After last week's appearance on The Tonight Show with David Letterman, it seems only fair that we give this home-proud celebrity a Hawk Talk of his own.

The lumberjack occupation had significant cultural influence on Barrington in the past, which would come as no secret to most who know the area. Like most labour-intensive tasks involving many workers, it slowly faded as machines carved rivers of their own through the forest. In some of these cases, the trade becomes lost in the transition to modern marvels. Not so with the local river-hopping log-chopping ancestors. The Scott family etched a deep presence in the world championships for years and years, and as Phil aged, we all wondered if another would ever fill those very big shoes ever again.

To appreciate the significance of sharing air time with David Letterman is to truly know and love television. Most of us would consider thirty seconds on the GameShow network a brush with fame, and The Hawk Road would personally feel eternally fulfilled just to have ten seconds with Dave to play the Lone Ranger theme on its teeth with a pencil. Letterman is the Master, the Oracle...Mr. Television. For anyone who may have missed it, Darren Hudson and fellow woodsman Wade Stewart racked up almost eight minutes during the July 1 Tonight Show, spanning over four intermissions. Eight minutes! Will Farrell, considered by many to be the funniest man currently alive, got seven minutes with Dave. How did our community miss this transformation to celebrity status? The Hawk Road likes to think it's because of the admirable qualities found in Darren when he's not spinning a log.

The Hawk Road was in Sydney, Australia when the first real "quality" time was spent with him. He showed up for two days at an appartment occupied by four English girls, two New Zealanders, and two Canadians. He stayed two weeks. In the course of that time, Darren jostled with a funnel-web spider, the most dangerous in Australia, found in the appartment; he was at the beach surfing, he was on a bus inland for a bit; he was here, he was there. His high-energy was relentless. Some people are taken back from this quality, but the sexy English girls in 206 Maroubra Street never stopped laughing for two weeks.

Some of us have crossed Darren's zig-zagging path through the years, and have got to hear some "hair-splitting" yarns from his travels. On some occassions, he may bring up the fact that he just got back from Germany, but on most you have to prod him for information. He "rolls" into the conversation when he sees those present are interested, but rarely, if ever, does he fill the room with boastful accounts of his exploits. This, in itself, would be a hard feat for most of us. The Hawk Road wonders if Darren even feels the road he's on is any different from our own mini-adventures. He's like Forrest Gump, and we will all have to pitch in and create a documentary for him later in life just to give him proof of his achievements. Darren Hudson is humble. His worldly accomplishments and birthplace roots are in perfect harmony.

If there were a global lobster-catching competition, it may come as no surprise when four of the sixteen finalists were from the Municipality of Barrington. But there are trees all over the world, and rivers much more impressive than the Barrington River. It makes one wonder how Darren manages financially. Is he sponsored? Is the Scott legacy pitching in to ensure the local tradition carries on? Long before any fundraiser for another Arena Dance, I think a Hudson bonanza is in order. And why don't the same people that travel to the different lobster dealers and ask them for shellfish donations during summer festivals, leaving a few bloated bellies and no satisfaction for the donator, collect a combined crate and put it toward a plane ticket for Darren's next show...if only to make us feel that we shared in a small sliver of his success.

Some very good sites are listed below showcasing Darren's talents and achievements. Pat the guy on the back next time you see him, and you'll probably be given a bear hug in return. In these days of "support, support, support" on The Hawk Road, no stone should be left unturned.

"My momma always said that life is like a rolling log...you never know when you're gonna fall off."