Safety Report Received 5-7 AM:

Team Name Date Days in Route Location Number Nearest City Navigation Mileage Time called in Total River Miles Position estimated Alaska 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 1 Team has capsized and lost their kayak near St. Cloud, MN See notes below. 3rd Amazons 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 1 St. Cloud, MN Team has withdrawn 5th Double Helix** 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 1 South End of Lake Pepin, MN Mile 771 5:55 AM 576 1st or 2nd Kruger* 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 1 South End of Lake Pepin, MN Mile 771 7:00 AM 576 1st or 2nd Rebels 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 1 near Blanchard Dam, MN Mile 957 6:50 AM 390 4th 5/4/84 8 Loc 1 Lock & Dam #5 Mile 738 11:15 AM 77

Updates/Comments Received, 5-7 AM calls:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan

Team Alaska:
Kerm's good nature had zoomed to an unbelievable zenith this morning as he told me with a hearty laugh, "Elizabeth, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" "Well, good things should always come first," I replied, already starting to shake a little. "The good news," he said, "is that we're all together and in good spirits. The bad news is that we capsized, had to bail out of the boat and swim 75 yards to shore, then lost our kayak when the current swept it away. I think it might have gone over the falls at the White Cloud dam. The sheriff is here now helping us try to find it." WOW. What a setback. Kerm said that if they can't find the kayak, they may go buy another one and continue in the race.

Remembering Tony, the biologist birdwatcher who was compiling a list of all the birds he saw along the way, I asked in horror if all his notes had been swept away. "Oh no," Kerm said, "they were in the truck." God is good. Now let's hope, one way or another, that Team Alaska is soon back on the river, paddling hard to catch up.

Team Amazons -
Tony--support member for Team Amazons and also Cynthia's husband--called this morning with an update on Cynthia's hand condition. As you know, last night they called in with an emergency situation on the river: Cynthia had blisters on one hand that had become infected, one finger was quite swollen and red. It had worsened to the point where they felt immediate medical attention was necessary. Cynthia is now receiving medical treatment. Team Amazons have withdrawn from the race due to this hand injury.

Compounding this medical crisis is the fact that Cynthia feels "crushed," and throroughly devastated that she has to withdraw from the race, Tony said. Megan, her paddling partner, is also very sad and worried about Cynthia, but would like to paddle with another team if she can so at least one of them can press on to the finish. When I talked to the teams this morning, I told them about Cynthia's situation and Megan's wish.

Team Double Helix:
Andrew reported that at 5:55 this morning, Clark and Kurt were near the south end of Lake Pepin, at approximately river mile 771. They paddled all night across Lake Pepin, taking turns sleeping under the "bubble." The land crew had just served them some breakfast and hot chocolate on shore before Andrew called, and as they took off again, Kurt was preparing to take his turn sleeping under the bubble.

Yesterday, both Team Kruger and Team Double Helix went through the lock and dams together--after the river reopened at noon--and shared a support boat on Lake Pepin because it was so difficult finding a good site to put-in and take-out motorized craft. (Mary Potter's note: Andrew reported to me that the crossing on Lake Pepin was nice, water was like glass!)

Andrew wants teams that are following to know that there is a half-way decent place in Red Wing where they can put in their support boats: a parking lot that is normally high and dry, but now filled with water. If they turn left at the red light in Red Wing where there is a Taco Bell (John?) on the corner, they will find it at the river's edge. He said this is their best bet, because nearly all the boat docks and landings are under water.

Team Kruger:
After being out in the Zodiac support boat all night, Stan was feeling weak and weary--and quite cold--when he called in at 7:00. Someone handed him a cup of coffee as we spoke, which he said felt "like heaven."

The team was then at river mile 771, near Team Double Helix on Lake Pepin, and of course had paddled all night. Stan said it is extremely difficult for the land crew to find designated meeting spots along the river because the high water has obliterated many of the land marks and landing spots themselves. Verlen and Bob expected to arrive at Wabasha, WI, a small town near the south end of Lake Pepin, around 8:00 this morning, where the land crew expected to meet them. Stan said their entire crew was badly in need of sleep and hoped for several hours shut-eye later today if at all possible.

Team Rebels:
At 6:50, Eric and his team was at river mile 957, near the Blanchard Dam. Note: He did NOT call me from a diner this morning, or talk about food, though they spent the night at a motel in Little Falls and likely looked up another local eatery in which to indulge in some homemade hashbrowns.

While Eric was driving the support truck yesterday, he heard an announcement on the radio that Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura would soon be landing at the airport in Crow Wing for the "Governors' Fishing Tournament" being held there. Not being one to miss such a timely opportunity, especially one so close, he joined the crowd at the airport and shook Jesse's hand himself. What a guy. I guess if there was time Mr. Ventura also heard all about our Race for Retts.

When I asked if Team Rebels were interested in having Megan join them, Eric said that their sole support truck had a small cab, but they would be happy to have her join them if she wanted to. They are going to communicate with each other via satellite phones this morning.

Safety Report, May 12, PM calls:

Team Name Date Days in Route Location Number Nearest City Navigation Mileage Time called in Total River Miles Position estimated Alaska 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 2 On their way to Monticello, MN. 3rd Amazons 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 2 St. Cloud, MN Team has withdrawn from the race 5/12/01. 5th Double Helix** 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 2 Left Lock and Dam 6, Iowa 5:10 PM, approx 633 1st or 2nd Kruger* 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 2 Left Lock and Dam 6, Iowa Mile 714 6:10 PM 633 1st or 2nd Rebels 5/12/01 Sat 8 Loc 2 Mile 622 9:05 PM 533 4th 5/4/84 8 Loc 2 Lock & Dam #8 Mile 679 12:30 AM

Location Report Received May 12, 2001, PM:

Updates/Comments Received for May 12, 2001, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper

Team Alaska
Kerm called in, all smiles. They are glad to be back on the water. Around midday today they purchased another boat to replace the "one that got away". The purchase was made in St. Cloud, and they had to wait patiently until a couple walked away from the kayak that they wanted. As soon as the couple left, they explained the dire need to the sales person, and they struck a great deal on a "mean, green, paddling machine". It is a Current Designs model, but they have renamed it "Kermit".

They think they will be stopping at Monticello. David Hoffman was leaving the team, and as Megan's team mate is still in the hospital until at least Monday, she is taking his place on Team Alaska, hence the new name Team Alaska-Amazon. Kerm was so jubilant during the entire evening check-in, and stated at the end "Tell Clark he better hurry up, cause we are gonna catch him" The paddlers are on their way to Monticello, but might continue on to Anoka.

Team Amazon - 7:15 St. Cloud
Tony and Cynthia will join the Alaska-Amazon support team when Cynthia is ready.

Team Double Helix 5:10
Andrew reported that the paddlers will be at Lock and Dam # 7 at 7:00

Team Kruger 6:10 River Mile 714
Stan told me that team Double Helix had left Lock and Dam #6 at 5:00PM, Team Kruger at 6:00 PM
NOTE: Stan said the media in St. Louis love Verlen, and Rett should get some good publicity there.

Team Rebels 6:22 River Mile 905
Eric said "We are twenty minutes behind Team Alaska, we think we will be stopping at Monticello" Eric had to break off, because the team was leaving at that very moment, I assume after a resupply

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daily Updates

For More Updates, Photos and Videos please the main Race page.

* 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.