Team Name Date Days in Route Location Number Nearest City/State Navigation Mileage Time called in Total River Miles Position estimated Alaska MSC 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 1 MN Mile 994 5:30 AM 353 3rd or 4th Amazons 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 1 MN Mile 994 7:15 AM 353 3rd or 4th Double Helix 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 1 Minneapolis, MN Team is stationary, river closed Mile 860 6:55 AM 487 1st or 2nd Kruger 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 1 Minneapolis, MN Team is stationary, river closed Probably Mile 860 No call in 487 1st or 2nd Rebels 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 1 Crosby, MN Mile 1032 7:00 AM 315 5th

Updates/Comments Received for May 11, 2001, AM:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan, taking 5-7 AM calls

Team Alaska: Kerm called at 7:00 to say that his team had pushed off from Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994, at 5:30.

Team Amazons: At 7:15, Tony reported that the girls were just leaving from Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994.

Team Double Helix: The blueberry morning from SuperAmerica had worn off by 6:55 today. Andrew called in the midst of a deep slumber. . . thank goodness the team is getting some sleep, now that they are stopped at the Hwy 694 take-out--just above where the river is/was closed, at river mile 840.

Team Kruger - Did not call in.

Team Rebels: Eric called at 5:30 from "The North Country," a downtown diner in Crosby, MN. He was wowing the locals even as we spoke, who couldn't figure out how he could be talking on a phone when that area doesn't have any cell phone service. I could just see the plates of fresh farm eggs, glistening with butter right out of the skillet, slim sausages, and crisp homemade hashbrowns on pre-warmed plates. . . I don't want Eric to call me from downtown diners anymore before breakfast.

He said he and his team, not to be outdone by madcap racers at the head of the pack, were solemnly saluted yesterday by a huge herd of heifers who lowed long and mightily at the sight of such strange goings-on in their little piece of Minnesota. I said recognition and respect sometimes come from where--and whom--we least expect. At any rate, it brightened their spirits considerably.

On a navigational note, Eric says they don't really need charts to find their way down the Mississippi anymore, now that they have figured out to just follow the trail "bread crumbs" - mud hen houses that the Corps has established for the preservation of that species--ever so much easier that messing with maps.

They were planning to leave at 7:00 from river mile 1032. That is, IF they didn't order another serving of hash browns. They take awhile.

Safety Report, May 11, 2001, 5 to 7 PM:

Team Name Date Days in Route Location Number Nearest City/State Navigation Mileage Time called in Total River Miles Position estimated Alaska MSC 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 2 St. Cloud, MN 7:55 PM 3rd, 4th or 5th Amazons 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 2 Sartell, MN North of St. Cloud 4:45 PM 3rd, 4th or 5th Double Helix** 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 2 Land Dam #2 Hastings, MN 6:20 PM 1st or 2nd Kruger* 5/11/0 Fri 7 Loc 2 Hastings, MN Mile 815 6:40 PM 532 1st or 2nd Rebels 5/11/01 Fri 7 Loc 2 MN Mile 963 7:05 PM 384 3rd, 4th or 5th

Updates/Comments Received for May 11, 2001, PM:
From Don Keller, official time keeper, taking 5-7 PM calls, May 10:

Team Alaska - by St. Cloud, 7:55 PM

Team Amazon 4:45 River Miles
Tony reported they were at Sartell., above St. Cloud. A paddler has bad blisters and a particularly swollen finger and will seek medical treatment. Note: I did NOT talk about the river opening OR being closed way below their current position.

Team Double Helix 6:20 Location: Land Dam # 2 Hastings
Andrew said team somewhere up above The teams paddled together through the Twin Cities, then he thinks Double Helix pulled out ahead. Please note team resumed race at 12 noon Central Time when Lock and Dam 1 officially opened.

Team Kruger 6:40 River Miles 815
Stan -at Hastings. Team about 5 miles above Verlen hand was swollen and splits in his fingures Stan got him some Skin Shield and Moisturizer. At Upper St. Anthony Verlen showed Helix how to lock through. Clark gave Verlen his paddling gloves. A local volunteer went to REI in Minnie and bought two pairs of paddling gloves. Only one pair of small gloves left in the store. Stan says you can go to pharmacy and get white cotton gloves. Please note team resumed race at 12 noon Central Time when Lock and Dam 1 officially opened.

Team Rebels 7:05 River Miles 963
Going at least to Blanchard. Earlier in the week, (last night ?) Eric met an REI guy at Crow state park who took some pictures of the team. The REI guy is putting together a talk on the Mississippi River. Note: I did NOT talk about the river opening OR being closed way below their current position.

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* and ** - Note on Team Kruger and Team Double Helix - both teams were stopped 3 times during the race - 2 times by the Coast Guard, and 1 time by the Sherriff's office. See Race Delays for more information.