The river is not as straight as it looks on the "big" map.... These bogs in MN (near the start) not only made for very slow and hot progress, they also forked in different places, and it was anyone's guess which way to go. Even the most experienced paddlers would pick a route that looked good but ended up dry - hence causing a paddling team to have to back track.

This green covered river shot looks pretty in a picture, but try paddling your kayak or canoe through that, in the correct direction, without running into any sunken/hidden trees, houses or other debris!

Most teams walked around the culvert (pictured on the right) in MN.

Team Kruger successfully went through it....

Team Alaska, checking the road "Water" signs and sand bags. May 1999 was one of the worst months of flooding on the Mississippi River. The race had been planned almost 2 years in advance. Due to insurance, sanctioning, time restrictions and everyone's preplanned schedules.... the race continued, despite the River's relentless flooding.

Team Double Helix walking their boat, in MN about the 3rd of the race. At times, teams had to leave the river when it became unpassable. Teams were required to carry their craft and all gear. Road crews could not assist during portages (in terms of carrying gear, or transporting paddlers). Road crew were able to scout out areas ahead of time and tell paddlers where they could put in.

Just one of many dams to contend with....

Eric Kocher in MN, statue of a flooded "Our Lady of the Rivers" behind him....

Team Kruger pulls up to the St. Louis Arch, the easy way! Verlen Kruger is furthest left (in boat), then paddler Bob Bradford. Team Double Helix (Clark Eid and Jeff Romine) and Team Kruger member Stan Hanson assist. Team Kruger and Team Double Helix had been allowed to travel closed parts of the Mississippi north of St. Louis by special permission of the US Coast Guard. Travel restrictions ended in St. Louis

Team Double Helix, about 1/2 way through the journey, severely flooded waters.... it was around this time that Team Double Helix "ran" over the top of a large sign post and severely gouged the bottom of the kayak. Although the external layers of fiberglass and wood strips were quite damaged and Clark was beginning to wonder if the duct tape was going to come in handy.... they found the sign post was not able to penetrate the internal carbon fiber layers of the Double Helix.

Just one example of a barge. Team Kruger, Alaska and Double Helix face many of these towards the end of the race, one particularly dangerous one on a dark and foggy night.... you could not always hear the barge coming since the motor/boat pushing the barge(s) can be almost 1/2 mile behind the front of the barge. Barges can not stop quickly and teams could not always stay in ready contact with them to alert them of their presence.

A paddler from Team Alaska forgot to tie his very expensive paddle to the kayak for the first time during the entire race - only to drop it and see it heading towards one of the barges.... hmmm, should we go after it or just the barge have at it? The barge won, with no contest

Team Double Helix facing one of many large ships as they close in on Mile 0, south of Louisiana. The last 10 or so miles of the Mississippi river are well off shore and fall within a well used shipping lane. No exceptions are made for small craft such as kayaks and canoes - in fact, you could say they are discouraged :-).