|
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
|
5/13/01
Sun |
9 |
Loc
1 |
Monticello,
MN |
|
7:00
AM |
|
3rd |
| Double
Helix** |
5/13/01
Sun |
9 |
Loc
1 |
|
Mile
663 |
6:00
AM |
|
2nd |
| Kruger* |
5/13/01
Sun |
9 |
Loc
1 |
Lock
and Dam 8 |
Mile
678 |
6:00
AM |
|
1st |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1984
record |
5/5/84 |
9 |
Loc
1 |
McGregor |
Mile
663 |
1:40
PM |
684 |
|
|
Updates/Comments
Received 5-7 AM calls:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
The river will have
to serve as sanctuary for those spiritually inclined on this
beautiful Sunday morning, surpassing, as it does, any of those
made by man. Even while paddling hard, communion with nature
and the "great spirit" seems so easy there, as if
one could almost reach out and touch, if not the creator,
at least some of his most marvelous work. What memories I
have. . .
Team
Alaska
Kerm called at 7:00 with the report that Megan had joined
their group yesterday, about the same time they bought the
new "lean, mean, paddling machine" named Kermit.
They were at Monticello, just preparing to leave for Coon
Rapids. I told them about Team Rebel's situation and requested
he contact them to discuss various paddling possibilities.
Team
Double Helix
Clark, Kurt, and the crew got to the beginning
of "God's Country" last night, so named because
it is undeniably one of the most breathtakingly beautiful
places on the river. The team ate supper at La Crosse, WI,
then took turns paddling and sleeping all night.
When
Andrew called at 6:00, they had reached the little town of
Lansing, IA, river mile 663, and were pushing on, Clark at
the helm and Kurt under the bubble--dubbed "Happy Hut"
by the crew. By the way, brightness under the bubble made
sleeping difficult in the daytime, so Clark, ever the innovator,
coated it with silver spray paint.
Andrew reported that support team members Edith and John are
simply superlative--extremely committed and hardworking, and
always quick to see to their comfort and well-being in a thousand
ways. John ties down equipment, gets supplies to the boat,
does dishes, in short, does anything he sees that needs to
be done. Edith too, according to Andrew, is an absolute marvel,
able to whip up gourmet meals at a moment's notice under the
most primitive conditions with rudimentary equipment,almost
as if she has rubbed some mysterious "Aladdin's Lamp."
Edith might use a little magic, but take it from me, it comes
from within her marvelous self. I myself witnessed her in
action the first day of the race in Minnesota, when, after
traveling all day in frigid, wet weather, she cooked dinner
over a rebellious campstove on a card table--with gusty winds
constantly whipping about spice bottles, napkins, and paper
plates and snuffing out the stove--more trials and tribulations
than most cooks see in a lifetime. Three cheers and hats off
to Edith, an invaluable blessing to this expedition.
Also, Eric, the official team cinematographer, is due to return
to Connecticut today and will be replaced by Jeff Romine,
another friend of Clark's.
But
this morning, I think most of the teams were meditating more
about navigational matters, and who could blame them? After
all, this IS the Great Race.
Team
Kruger
Verlen and Bob stopped for the night just below lock and dam
8, then left from there--river mile 678--at 6:00 this morning.
Yesterday, Stan said, they had an especially good day because
some of Bob's family arrived to paddle with them for awhile.
They had a little trouble at lock and dam 9, because the lockmaster
said he had been given instructions not to let any pleasure
craft pass. After a little while, though, they were given
the go-ahead and allowed to lock through.
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LATE MORNING UPDATE: At midmorning, Megan called to say she
had decided not to join Team Alaska after all, prefering to
stay with Cynthia until she is sure her hand is definitely
out of danger. She said they would return to the spot where
they had taken out on some future date and paddle the rest
of the river, but that at this time, she wants to
stay near Cynthia.
Al Levine and Eric Kocher, previously from Team Rebels with
a Cause, are still hoping to paddle to New Orleans, they asked
if Team Alaska-Amazon might be able to use two more paddlers.
I relayed their request to Team Alaska this morning, and am
currently awaiting word on how this situation will be resolved.
Just after that, Eric reported that he and Al were going to
rent a car and drive to the St. Anthony dam at midday for
an "audition" with the Alaska team. Since two of
their team were already on the water this morning, Kerm requested
they get together later so the two paddlers could have some
input in the decision too. Eric, after a moment's thoughtful
reflection, mused, "Hey, wait a minute. Shouldn't Al
and I be auditioning them? After all, they're the ones who
lost their boat." :) I am currently awaiting word on
whether or not the mutual auditions came to a positive paddling
conclusion.
Safety Report Received 5-7
PM:
Updates/Comments
Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper
Team
Alaska
6:23 Miles 853
Kerm called in as Team Alaskan-Rebels. Eric Kocher and Al
Levine from Rebels with a Cause have joined Team Alaska now
to form Team Alaskan Rebles. Kerm said that whenever they
get to Lake Pepin, they plan to start the crossing early in
the morning. NOTE: Yesterday they were the Alaskan-Amazon.
Kerm said that Megan was no longer with them, as her choice.
Team
Double Helix
5:12 Lock & Dam # 10
Per Andrew, the Paddlers are heading towards the support team
waiting downstream about 32 miles at Guttenburg, Iowa. Each
paddler got 5 hours of good sleep on the water in the "Happy
Hut", and said they felt very rested after their sleep.
Team
Kruger
7:20 Miles 620
Stan said he is waiting for the paddlers at Guttenburg, Iowa.
Stan also said they Team Kruger is about 5 miles behind Team
Helix. They are going to surprise the paddlers this evening
with Hot Pizza. The paddlers slept for four hours last night
in the motor home.
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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.
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