I've passed up this thread until now, figuring this was simply another way of saying "Shit Happens" or something regarding the observation about when "The Shit Hits the Fan." I underestimated the originator of the post (though I see a few others had similar responses).

I happen to have a creek and a bridge in my back yard--but we hadn't thought of playing this game. It has been a long time since I read those books to the kids, so we forgot about it by the time we moved here. I should haul them out and give it a try. The article doesn't say--which book has the stick race in it?

SRS