Daily Summary for All Teams
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
Daily Race Updates
Teams are required to call the safety officer between 5 and 7 AM and 5 and 7 PM for a check in, and to give their location and any updates or news. We added any other updates we received from phone calls, logs after the events, or from the Safety Officer report.
Teams are required to call the safety officer between 5 and 7 AM and 5 and 7 PM for a check in, and to give their location and any updates or news. We added any other updates we received from phone calls, logs after the events, or from the Safety Officer report.
May 5, 2001, Saturday
Much excitement in the air as teams and local families who have children with Rett Syndrome arrive! Race starts at 6 AM sharp! Teams drew for race position at the start, Steve Landick announces the start and they are off! Team Kruger takes the immediate lead, and maintains it. Double Helix and Rebels are in hot pursuit. By the very end of the day, Team Kruger maintains the clear lead and ended up near/at Cass Lake near midnight and were treated from a local family to sloppy joes and birthday cake, and then stopped to rest. Double Helix had crossed Lake Bemidji and reached the Ottertail Power Company by midnight and stopped to rest at a fish hatchery. Team Rebels, Amazons and Alaska were at or near Bemidji, MN by the end of the day/night and stopped to rest.
May 6, 2001 Sunday
Synopsis
Updates/Comments Received for May 6, 2001, Sunday PM:
From Jeffrey Pastir, Medical Officer, taking calls Sunday PM from all teams:
Alaska MSC called at 7 PM, they were on the east end of Lake Cass.
Amazon just checked in at 2010 CDT. They are just getting their boat out of Lake Cass and will be heading toward Winnibigoshish
Double Helix was at mile 1245 at 5 PM - Expecting to be at Winnibigoshish dam tonight (this is after Lake Winnibigoshish
Kruger left Lake Winnibigoshish dam at 430 PM (this is after the lake).
Rebels called at 650 PM and were on Lake Winnibigoshish.
All teams present and accounted for. No problems.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford's Daily Log, Enhanced by Capt Stan Hanson - May 6, 2001, Sunday
The paddle to the dam in the dawn on May 5th was a piece of cake. We portaged on the left, because it was only a few feet of grassy area. We arrived at the opening of Lake Winnibigoshish at 10:10 AM). The wind was blowing hard and the wind chill was very cold. You could see the waves stacking up. The lake is wide enough that you can't see across. Read More....
Team Amazons of the Mississippi, By Cynthia Belbin, May 6, 2001, Sunday
We thought we were clear of the bogs and difficult navigation when we started this morning only to find an even messier situation ahead. We ended up going through a winding and twisting river maneuvering around downed trees and debris. We were so glad we stopped when we did on Day 1, if we would have tried to go through this stuff in the dark we would have been two emotionally and physically wrecked women. It was bad enough in the daylight; at night we may have gotten stranded. We heard Alaska continued on and didn't make it to Bemidji until 3 AM. Read more....
May 7, 2001 Monday
All Teams are past Lake Winnibigoshish. Kruger maintains the lead. Amazons note "Canoeing and Boating Guide says "Caution: Do not paddle across Lake Winnibigoshish."
May 8, 2001 Tuesday
3 teams stay at Schoolcraft state park without seeing each other... Team Kruger contiinues to lead... Double Helix is 2nd and close behind.... Stan from Team Kruger said the town of Palisades came down to the river with hats, hot dogs and t-shirts to greet their team - Palisades created a logo based on Verlen and Valerie Fons from their record breaking journey in 1984. That "logo" has been the town's identity ever since.
May 9, 2001 Wednesday
Team Kruger leads, Double Helix is close behind, but the 2 teams have not seen each other since the start. Team Alaska is completing a study on birds and has identified over 60 within the first few days of the race. Team Amazons accuses Team Alaska of "reading magazines" as they paddle past (they were working on the scientific study at the time). Team Amazons, Rebels and Alaska are near each other and at times passing each other.
May 10, 2001 Thursday
Teams are warned during AM safety checks of bad weather, lightening and tornadoes south of them, but none of the teams were affected by bad weather.
Team Alaska leaves Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994 at 5:30 AM, Amazons leave around 7:15 AM. Team Rebels plans to leave around 7 AM from river mile 1032. Note from webmaster - the lower the river mile, the further along the team is at this point.
Team Kruger and Team Double Helix are forced off the water above St. Anthony's Falls by the Coast Guards because Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is closed. Both teams stop at Ketter's canoes. Kent Spading (Team Double Helix, and employed at the Army Corp of Engineers) was able to find out it would open at 12 noon tomorrow (May 11). Teams elected to wait rather than walk miles and miles in an attempt to portage. Other sections of the river nearby may have been closed as well. These teams are tied for first place.
May 11 2001, Friday
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger leave upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam at 12 noon. Team Double Helix pulled ahead around 6 PM but by the end of the day Team Kruger was back in the lead as both teams are paddling Lake Pepin. Someone (nameless) hit a buoy and woke Bob who decided to stay up and paddle.
Cynthia Belbin of Team Amazons ends up in the hospital by the evening with a view of the Mississippi River and a very infected finger. The Amazon team will not be able to continue. Team Alaska is near St. Cloud by the end of the day. Team Rebels plans to get to Blanchard, MN by tonight.
May 12 2001, Saturday
The morning safety calls confirm Team Amazon is out of the race, Megan is considering joining another team, probably Team Alaska.
Team Alaska is near St. Cloud but had capsized their kayak near Sauk Rapids and the paddlers had to swim for shore... and they lost their boat... stay tuned …
Team Kruger and Double Helix are tied near the south end of Lake Pepin early in the morning. Stan said the Team Kruger is badly in need of sleep.
The Rebels are near Blanchard Dam in MN, in 4th position. 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 and told him about the Great Missisippi River Race for Rett Syndrome! Great job Eric!
During the evening safety calls, Alaska announced they had purchased a new kayak and were back on the water! David Hoffman is leaving the team today, and Megan from the Amazon team may join the paddlers. Team Alaska plans to get at least to Monticello tonight before stopping.
Team Rebels indicate they are about 20 minutes behind Alaska and also plan to get to Monticello, MN tonight.
Double Helix and Kruger are very close to each other with Helix slightly ahead. When they called in both teams are near Hastings, MN, L&D 2. Bob indicates some trouble with barge traffic later and having a spotlight on him/their boat during the night...
May 13 2001, Sunday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7 AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
Team Alaska Kerm called at 7:00. They were at Monticello, just preparing to leave for Coon Rapids.
Team Double Helix 6:00 AM 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.
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.
Webmaster/Mary Potter writes.... Al Levine from Team Rebels called me this morning. Only Al and Eric are left. Team is withdrawn. Please note, Team Rebels started the race short handed. Days before the race started another paddler/road crew member withdrew due to illness.
LATE MORNING UPDATE From Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer:
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
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 Rebels. Kerm said that whenever they get to Lake Pepin, they plan to start the crossing early in the morning.
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.
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.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 13, 2001 Sunday
After this mile marker, the buoys cross over to the Wisconsin side of the river. The river is approximately three miles wide at this point. We crossed over and arrived at Lock and Dam #8 after midnight, early May 13. Our support team had hot food for us. They said they had not seen Double Helix go by yet. Shortly thereafter, Double Helix arrived. Apparently, they had not crossed to the Wisconsin side when we did, and it cost them some time. Read More....
May 14, 2001, Monday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
It was a serene Sunday on the Mississippi. The five teams have now been reduced to three, but all of them are "mighty" in the sense of continuing on undaunted.
Team Double Helix: 5:00 AM Clark and Kurt were currently "tucked into their little beds" at camp, just below the Dubuque, IA, lock and dam at river mile 583
Team Alaskan/Rebels:Kerm said that at 6:25, paddlers Eric and Al were at river mile 845, just preparing to head down (hop?) to the top of Lake Pepin,
Team Kruger:Currently, they have not yet called in.
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper
Team Kruger 7:00 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 1. Waiting for orders
Team Double Helix 5:20 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 11 Waiting for orders
Team Alaska MSC-Rebels 7:20 Paddlers are 1 1/2 hours from Red Wing Paddling this eve till Red Wing (mid Lake Pepin)
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan HansonMay 14, 2001 Monday
When I got about half way across the pond, my spotlight on the bow began to grow dim. We had already burned Verlen's down to nothing. The headlamp that I used to read my map stopped working. Now I would have to pick out the lights from the dam, if possible, and follow them.... Read More
May 15, 2001, Tuesday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
Team Alaska: At 5:45, Kerm reported that his team had camped at Old Frontnac, a small place just north of Lake City, MN, at river mile 779. T
Team Double Helix: Camp just below lock and dam 11 at Dubuque, river mile 583, at 5:00. They were up and about, planning to begin their paddle at 7:00 a.m.
Webmaster/Mary Potter notes: Team Kruger is traveling with Team Double Helix on closed parts of the Mississippi River per the Coast Guard.
From Don Keller, official time keeper, Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
Team Alaska MSC/Rebels 7:22 PM, Mile 737 Lock and Dam #5
Team Double Helix 5:45 PM, Mile 517 Near Clinton Iowa
Team Kruger 6:15 PM, Mile 521
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 15, 2001, Tuesday, Day 11 It turned out that we were not allowed to go until 8:00 a.m. on May 15th. The Coast Guard said we could continue IF Team Kruger and Team Double Helix stayed together for safety. We would now be the ONLY craft allowed on the swollen and flooded river..... Read More...
May 16, 2001, Wednesday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Short Synopsis:
Team Alaska: According to Kerm, who called at 7:00 from river mile 715, near lock and dam 7, Kermit is "sliming down the river" with all due speed, happy, evidently, to have two parasitical paddlers along for the ride.
Team Double Helix: At nearly midnight last night, Andrew called with the news that Team Double Helix and Team Kruger--now traveling together on the closed portion of the river between Dubuque and Keokuk, per instructions from Coast Guard Commander Ramirez--had been stopped by the Sheriff on the water, who demanded to know why they were disobeying orders to stay off the river.
According to Clark, who called later this morning, it was a rude "wake-up call" for him (sleeping under the bubble), since the Sheriff's boat actually collided with the Double Helix hard enough to send the bubble flying.
Team Kruger: No one called in from this team, but Clark said they are there with Team Double Helix
(Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Don Keller, official time keeper
Team Alaska 5:45 River Miles 663 Kerm said they are near Lansing Iowa. The paddlers have just arrived, so he did not have much time to talk.
Team Double Helix 5:27 River Miles 457
Team Kruger As of 11:34, Team Kruger has not checked in. Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are still paddling together, per Coast Guard instructions.
Webmaster writes: Andrew reported the mile marker and time of the road crew, Bob Bradford's log indicates they reached New Boston at 8:20 PM.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 16, 2001 Wednesday It was after 9:30 a.m. on May 16 when the Sheriff finally got confirmation on our permit and released us from LeClaire. Just below LeClaire, on the 1-80 bridge, there was a television crew taking our picture. The night before, they had heard of a rescue attempt and wanted the latest news. About a mile below the bridge, the TV crew caught up with us. They wanted an interview, which we granted. Clark explained about the cause and why we were racing for Rett Syndrome. Read More...
May 17, 2001 Thursday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Steve Landick, Race Director
Short Synopsis
Team Alaska - Mile Marker 343, Lock and Dam 20. A local college has offered free rooms to the team tonight and the team is happy to accept!
Team Double Helix - Crew calling in at mile 870, paddlers not there yet but expected by 8 PM. High winds and storms are continuing for the evening, whole team will stay on land tonight. (Webmaster's note - paddlers arrive by 9).
Team Kruger - John called in at 6 PM CST, Mile 873. Support crew had a free ferry ride that saved them 50 miles of driving! Heavy winds and rain this evening, very bad storms now and more expected so team is stopped here tonight.
Note from Event Organizer/Webmaster Mary Potter - Clark called around 9 PM, paddlers just getting there at mile 870, very tired, very bad winds and storms all day. Clark said today we earned every inch. He was going to walk over to Team Kruger's camp to see how everyone was since they were about 200 yards away.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson
May 17, 2001 Thursday In Burlington, we had to pull over. It had kicked up a wind and was pouring down on us. There was a lot of thunder and lightning. It was still dark.We pulled into the right shore and actually paddled right over a railroad track. We pulled our canoe up next to a large building. It was 2:00 a.m. We had to sleep and try to stay dry. Verlen found an unlocked truck and crawled in to sleep. I slid down into the bow of our canoe with my raincoat on. Kurt slept under the dome of the Double Helix. Clark crawled into the stern of our canoe to rest. It was cold and wet...... Read more....
May 18, 2001 Friday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Short Synopsis:
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska - Kerm was paddling below Lock and Dam 11 and reports he is "floundering down the river".
Team Double Helix - Andrew called in at 6:30 AM, Lock and Dam 22. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Team Kruger - Stan called in at 6:00 AM, Lock and Dam 22 Mile 301, below Hannibal, MO. Paddlers are expected shortly
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Don Keller, official time keeper
Lost Kayak Recovered.
At approx. 5:00 PM this afternoon the St. Cloud sheriff's department notified Mary Potter that a yellow kayak was found. "It looks like it's set up for a really long trip" On May 12, the Team Alaska "Yellow Banana" capsized and out intrepid paddlers swam 75 yards to shore, as the kayak headed south by itself. Kerm said "I think it might have gone over the falls at the St. Cloud dam"
Here it is six days later, and the St. Cloud sheriff's department got a call from a citizen. They investigated, thinking that there might be a body nearby. No one had reported anyone missing, so Sgt. Jeffrey Janssen made a trip to Toy R' Us, and someone there, another miracle of miracles, knew about the lost kayak, and put Sgt. Janssen in touch with Mary Potter. The kayak was recovered with a GPS and marine radio.
Team Alaska 5/18 PM Support at Lock and Dam # 13, waiting for paddlers. Kerm Ketchum called in and I asked him "Well do want to hear something interesting" They are planning to camp tonight at Lock and Dam # 13 and tomorrow night at Lock and Dam # 15. quite near Rock Island Ilinois.-Davenport Iowa
Team Double Helix 6:59 River Miles 240Both teams have just been fed by the unbelievably skilled and resourceful Team Double Helix cooks Edith and Johann. Kent and I have been comparing the daily distances made on this trip, to those recorded during the 1984 record.
Team Kruger 6:30- Stan called to say that Team Kruger is changing up support teams . He will meet up with the crew in St. Louis.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 18. 2001 Friday -
By approximately 1 :00 a.m. May 18, we arrived at Lock and Dam 21. ..... We were still traveling with the Double Helix at this time. At 5:06 a.m., we arrived at Lock and Dam 22.....The Double Helix was somewhere behind us. At Lock and Dam 24, we were told by the lock master to go over the levee on river left. After the lock, we had to cross back to the right because our support crew was in Clarksville. The town was flooded near the river. Late afternoon on May 18, we arrived at Lock and Dam 25. The sky looked bad, and the marine band radio said a storm cell was moving in from the southwest. All of the houses on the river side of the levee were flooded -- at least the ground floors were. After eating, it began to rain. We decided to spend the night here and let the storm blow over. Everyone would sleep in the workshop of lock 25, except me. I would stay with the two boats at the levee and sleep under the dome of the Double Helix. At first, it was too hot under the dome. Clark had thought of everything! The dome had a small, battery-operated fan which I used. By 3:00 a.m., I was too cold, but I was dry. Read More...
May 19, 2001 Saturday Full Report and All Safety Call and Logs
Synopsis
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska:
Kerm was bright and cheery this morning too, when he reported at 6:50 a.m. that they were just preparing to leave from river mile 523, near Lock and Dam 13. He said it's a little hard to rouse the troops in the morning, but decided he'd get them going with a "gong" from now on. Tony reports blackbirds fighting to the death...
Team Double Helix:
Clark and Kurt took off around 5:00 a.m from "Chateau 25," a segment in that most unique chain of Mississippi Riverfront Bed-and-Blasting Music Inns they have grown to love.
Team Kruger:
At 7:45 AM, Stan reported that his team is still traveling with Team Double Helix, the paddlers having decided to stay together until after their "press conference" under the Arch at St. Louis. (They too left from "Chateau 25" this morning at 5:00, river mile 240.)
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper, Saturday May 19 PM Report
Team Alaska 6:35 River Miles 457 Lock and Dam #16
They are sleeping at Lock and Dam #16 tonight. Kerm said they would have to happy with the 60 miles they made today.
Team Double Helix 5:10
The team has just left the St. Louis arch, heading south. Two Rett families set up "Italian food for everybody" including amazingly good pasta and salad. They had a wonderful time, and both their stoamach and their spirits were filled. The St. Louis KDNL TV news team was there filming for broadcast.
I was asking Andrew about the difficult of finding places to sleep. Andrew said that last night Bob Branford spied the Double Helix kayak sitting on top the levee, crawled into it , pulled the "bubble/ Happy Hut over him , and went to sleep. The interesting thing is that the water was within a few inches of the top of the levee, and people were commenting on whether the levee (and Bob) would be there in the morning. This morning the support crew woke up from their sleep in a machine shop, and went out to check on the sleeper. Lo and behold, there was Bob, still on top of the levee, and still sound asleep !
Team Kruger 5:49
A few miles below "The Arch" Stan called to say that his team was also "heading south" and should be nearing Jackson Barracks soon. That is good news. Even though all the paddlers have been held up for what amounts to days due to high water, at this time they are only 6 hours behind the 1984 record.
SPECIAL NOTE: Since May 11, Dubuque, Iowa, the two leading teams have had to travel together under special Coast Guard orders. Now that the teams are out of the "closed waters", they are free to separate and paddle their own styles.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 19, 2001 Saturday - Spagetti and meat balls... Tug barges coming up behind them dangerously close... Chain of Rocks... Rett families meet teams in a very flooded St. Louis for a free meal... camera crews are filming... Bob paddles in the night while Verlen sleeps and sees Clark's light coming up from behind him as Clark catches up... Read More...
May 20, 2001, Sunday Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Synopsis:
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska: Kerm called from camp at an exotic location this morning: the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, river mile 457, near Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine, IA.
Team Double Helix: Andrew M. Gribble is slipping. :) He slept in this morning until 6:00 his time, then called to say that they were at river mile 81.5, near Wittenburg, MO, expecting Clark and Kurt to arrive there at any moment.
Team Kruger: John checked in at 7:30 to report that Verlen and Bob were currently at river mile 80, and that they and Team Double Helix were together--for the moment. :) Yesterday's trip was calm and uneventful after they left the Arch in St. Louis; even the "chain of rocks" that normally pose quite a challenge to paddlers were barely discernible beneath the high water.
PM Safety Calls from Don Keller, Official Time Keeper:
Team Alaska 5:42 River Miles 389 - Fort Madison... Kerm called to say that they have only 802,800 paddles strokes till the Gulf. They had hoped for a 110 mile day, but storms and Lock and Dam #19 held them up. Everybody is fine.
Team Double Helix 5:45 Soon to be in Cairo (pronounced Kay-Row) Jeff Romine notified us that paddlers, Kurt and Clark, left Commerce at 2:15. T
Team Kruger 7:10 River Mile 0 - Upper Mississippi miles, River Mile 956 - Lower Mississippi miles
John Young called in to say that the paddlers have JUST arrived at an important milestone. Cairo- Fort Defiance.
Webmaster Note/Event Organizer Mary Potter - Clark Eid from Team Double Helix called last night around 9ish....said that they had past the point of the confluence of the Ohio River, where the mile marker changes from 0 to 953. They were staying on the ground that evening. Clark said he saw Team Kruger go by just before he called :-) but also said he saw lightning in the distance and indicated he wanted the shore support to follow them in the boat at night due to the tremendous amount of boat traffic, tugs and barges.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 20. 2001, Sunday - Tug boat super close call... Read more....
May 21, 2001 Monday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
May 22, 2001 Tuesday
May 23, 2001 Wednesday
May 24, 2001 Thursday
May 25, 2001 Friday
May 26, 2001 Saturday
May 27, 2001 Sunday
May 28, 2001 Monday
May 29, 2001 Tuesday
Team Kruger crosses the finish line first!
May 30, 2001 Wednesday
May 31, 2001 Thursday
Team Double Helix cross the finish line! Team Alaska pulls off in TN.
Webmaster Note: Race is officially over at the end of the day, May 31, 2001.
Much excitement in the air as teams and local families who have children with Rett Syndrome arrive! Race starts at 6 AM sharp! Teams drew for race position at the start, Steve Landick announces the start and they are off! Team Kruger takes the immediate lead, and maintains it. Double Helix and Rebels are in hot pursuit. By the very end of the day, Team Kruger maintains the clear lead and ended up near/at Cass Lake near midnight and were treated from a local family to sloppy joes and birthday cake, and then stopped to rest. Double Helix had crossed Lake Bemidji and reached the Ottertail Power Company by midnight and stopped to rest at a fish hatchery. Team Rebels, Amazons and Alaska were at or near Bemidji, MN by the end of the day/night and stopped to rest.
May 6, 2001 Sunday
Synopsis
Updates/Comments Received for May 6, 2001, Sunday PM:
From Jeffrey Pastir, Medical Officer, taking calls Sunday PM from all teams:
Alaska MSC called at 7 PM, they were on the east end of Lake Cass.
Amazon just checked in at 2010 CDT. They are just getting their boat out of Lake Cass and will be heading toward Winnibigoshish
Double Helix was at mile 1245 at 5 PM - Expecting to be at Winnibigoshish dam tonight (this is after Lake Winnibigoshish
Kruger left Lake Winnibigoshish dam at 430 PM (this is after the lake).
Rebels called at 650 PM and were on Lake Winnibigoshish.
All teams present and accounted for. No problems.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford's Daily Log, Enhanced by Capt Stan Hanson - May 6, 2001, Sunday
The paddle to the dam in the dawn on May 5th was a piece of cake. We portaged on the left, because it was only a few feet of grassy area. We arrived at the opening of Lake Winnibigoshish at 10:10 AM). The wind was blowing hard and the wind chill was very cold. You could see the waves stacking up. The lake is wide enough that you can't see across. Read More....
Team Amazons of the Mississippi, By Cynthia Belbin, May 6, 2001, Sunday
We thought we were clear of the bogs and difficult navigation when we started this morning only to find an even messier situation ahead. We ended up going through a winding and twisting river maneuvering around downed trees and debris. We were so glad we stopped when we did on Day 1, if we would have tried to go through this stuff in the dark we would have been two emotionally and physically wrecked women. It was bad enough in the daylight; at night we may have gotten stranded. We heard Alaska continued on and didn't make it to Bemidji until 3 AM. Read more....
May 7, 2001 Monday
All Teams are past Lake Winnibigoshish. Kruger maintains the lead. Amazons note "Canoeing and Boating Guide says "Caution: Do not paddle across Lake Winnibigoshish."
May 8, 2001 Tuesday
3 teams stay at Schoolcraft state park without seeing each other... Team Kruger contiinues to lead... Double Helix is 2nd and close behind.... Stan from Team Kruger said the town of Palisades came down to the river with hats, hot dogs and t-shirts to greet their team - Palisades created a logo based on Verlen and Valerie Fons from their record breaking journey in 1984. That "logo" has been the town's identity ever since.
May 9, 2001 Wednesday
Team Kruger leads, Double Helix is close behind, but the 2 teams have not seen each other since the start. Team Alaska is completing a study on birds and has identified over 60 within the first few days of the race. Team Amazons accuses Team Alaska of "reading magazines" as they paddle past (they were working on the scientific study at the time). Team Amazons, Rebels and Alaska are near each other and at times passing each other.
May 10, 2001 Thursday
Teams are warned during AM safety checks of bad weather, lightening and tornadoes south of them, but none of the teams were affected by bad weather.
Team Alaska leaves Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994 at 5:30 AM, Amazons leave around 7:15 AM. Team Rebels plans to leave around 7 AM from river mile 1032. Note from webmaster - the lower the river mile, the further along the team is at this point.
Team Kruger and Team Double Helix are forced off the water above St. Anthony's Falls by the Coast Guards because Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is closed. Both teams stop at Ketter's canoes. Kent Spading (Team Double Helix, and employed at the Army Corp of Engineers) was able to find out it would open at 12 noon tomorrow (May 11). Teams elected to wait rather than walk miles and miles in an attempt to portage. Other sections of the river nearby may have been closed as well. These teams are tied for first place.
May 11 2001, Friday
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger leave upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam at 12 noon. Team Double Helix pulled ahead around 6 PM but by the end of the day Team Kruger was back in the lead as both teams are paddling Lake Pepin. Someone (nameless) hit a buoy and woke Bob who decided to stay up and paddle.
Cynthia Belbin of Team Amazons ends up in the hospital by the evening with a view of the Mississippi River and a very infected finger. The Amazon team will not be able to continue. Team Alaska is near St. Cloud by the end of the day. Team Rebels plans to get to Blanchard, MN by tonight.
May 12 2001, Saturday
The morning safety calls confirm Team Amazon is out of the race, Megan is considering joining another team, probably Team Alaska.
Team Alaska is near St. Cloud but had capsized their kayak near Sauk Rapids and the paddlers had to swim for shore... and they lost their boat... stay tuned …
Team Kruger and Double Helix are tied near the south end of Lake Pepin early in the morning. Stan said the Team Kruger is badly in need of sleep.
The Rebels are near Blanchard Dam in MN, in 4th position. 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 and told him about the Great Missisippi River Race for Rett Syndrome! Great job Eric!
During the evening safety calls, Alaska announced they had purchased a new kayak and were back on the water! David Hoffman is leaving the team today, and Megan from the Amazon team may join the paddlers. Team Alaska plans to get at least to Monticello tonight before stopping.
Team Rebels indicate they are about 20 minutes behind Alaska and also plan to get to Monticello, MN tonight.
Double Helix and Kruger are very close to each other with Helix slightly ahead. When they called in both teams are near Hastings, MN, L&D 2. Bob indicates some trouble with barge traffic later and having a spotlight on him/their boat during the night...
May 13 2001, Sunday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7 AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
Team Alaska Kerm called at 7:00. They were at Monticello, just preparing to leave for Coon Rapids.
Team Double Helix 6:00 AM 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.
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.
Webmaster/Mary Potter writes.... Al Levine from Team Rebels called me this morning. Only Al and Eric are left. Team is withdrawn. Please note, Team Rebels started the race short handed. Days before the race started another paddler/road crew member withdrew due to illness.
LATE MORNING UPDATE From Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer:
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
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 Rebels. Kerm said that whenever they get to Lake Pepin, they plan to start the crossing early in the morning.
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.
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.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 13, 2001 Sunday
After this mile marker, the buoys cross over to the Wisconsin side of the river. The river is approximately three miles wide at this point. We crossed over and arrived at Lock and Dam #8 after midnight, early May 13. Our support team had hot food for us. They said they had not seen Double Helix go by yet. Shortly thereafter, Double Helix arrived. Apparently, they had not crossed to the Wisconsin side when we did, and it cost them some time. Read More....
May 14, 2001, Monday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
It was a serene Sunday on the Mississippi. The five teams have now been reduced to three, but all of them are "mighty" in the sense of continuing on undaunted.
Team Double Helix: 5:00 AM Clark and Kurt were currently "tucked into their little beds" at camp, just below the Dubuque, IA, lock and dam at river mile 583
Team Alaskan/Rebels:Kerm said that at 6:25, paddlers Eric and Al were at river mile 845, just preparing to head down (hop?) to the top of Lake Pepin,
Team Kruger:Currently, they have not yet called in.
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper
Team Kruger 7:00 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 1. Waiting for orders
Team Double Helix 5:20 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 11 Waiting for orders
Team Alaska MSC-Rebels 7:20 Paddlers are 1 1/2 hours from Red Wing Paddling this eve till Red Wing (mid Lake Pepin)
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan HansonMay 14, 2001 Monday
When I got about half way across the pond, my spotlight on the bow began to grow dim. We had already burned Verlen's down to nothing. The headlamp that I used to read my map stopped working. Now I would have to pick out the lights from the dam, if possible, and follow them.... Read More
May 15, 2001, Tuesday
Updates/Comments Received 5-7AM calls From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan
Team Alaska: At 5:45, Kerm reported that his team had camped at Old Frontnac, a small place just north of Lake City, MN, at river mile 779. T
Team Double Helix: Camp just below lock and dam 11 at Dubuque, river mile 583, at 5:00. They were up and about, planning to begin their paddle at 7:00 a.m.
Webmaster/Mary Potter notes: Team Kruger is traveling with Team Double Helix on closed parts of the Mississippi River per the Coast Guard.
From Don Keller, official time keeper, Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
Team Alaska MSC/Rebels 7:22 PM, Mile 737 Lock and Dam #5
Team Double Helix 5:45 PM, Mile 517 Near Clinton Iowa
Team Kruger 6:15 PM, Mile 521
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 15, 2001, Tuesday, Day 11 It turned out that we were not allowed to go until 8:00 a.m. on May 15th. The Coast Guard said we could continue IF Team Kruger and Team Double Helix stayed together for safety. We would now be the ONLY craft allowed on the swollen and flooded river..... Read More...
May 16, 2001, Wednesday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Short Synopsis:
Team Alaska: According to Kerm, who called at 7:00 from river mile 715, near lock and dam 7, Kermit is "sliming down the river" with all due speed, happy, evidently, to have two parasitical paddlers along for the ride.
Team Double Helix: At nearly midnight last night, Andrew called with the news that Team Double Helix and Team Kruger--now traveling together on the closed portion of the river between Dubuque and Keokuk, per instructions from Coast Guard Commander Ramirez--had been stopped by the Sheriff on the water, who demanded to know why they were disobeying orders to stay off the river.
According to Clark, who called later this morning, it was a rude "wake-up call" for him (sleeping under the bubble), since the Sheriff's boat actually collided with the Double Helix hard enough to send the bubble flying.
Team Kruger: No one called in from this team, but Clark said they are there with Team Double Helix
(Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Don Keller, official time keeper
Team Alaska 5:45 River Miles 663 Kerm said they are near Lansing Iowa. The paddlers have just arrived, so he did not have much time to talk.
Team Double Helix 5:27 River Miles 457
Team Kruger As of 11:34, Team Kruger has not checked in. Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are still paddling together, per Coast Guard instructions.
Webmaster writes: Andrew reported the mile marker and time of the road crew, Bob Bradford's log indicates they reached New Boston at 8:20 PM.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 16, 2001 Wednesday It was after 9:30 a.m. on May 16 when the Sheriff finally got confirmation on our permit and released us from LeClaire. Just below LeClaire, on the 1-80 bridge, there was a television crew taking our picture. The night before, they had heard of a rescue attempt and wanted the latest news. About a mile below the bridge, the TV crew caught up with us. They wanted an interview, which we granted. Clark explained about the cause and why we were racing for Rett Syndrome. Read More...
May 17, 2001 Thursday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Steve Landick, Race Director
Short Synopsis
Team Alaska - Mile Marker 343, Lock and Dam 20. A local college has offered free rooms to the team tonight and the team is happy to accept!
Team Double Helix - Crew calling in at mile 870, paddlers not there yet but expected by 8 PM. High winds and storms are continuing for the evening, whole team will stay on land tonight. (Webmaster's note - paddlers arrive by 9).
Team Kruger - John called in at 6 PM CST, Mile 873. Support crew had a free ferry ride that saved them 50 miles of driving! Heavy winds and rain this evening, very bad storms now and more expected so team is stopped here tonight.
Note from Event Organizer/Webmaster Mary Potter - Clark called around 9 PM, paddlers just getting there at mile 870, very tired, very bad winds and storms all day. Clark said today we earned every inch. He was going to walk over to Team Kruger's camp to see how everyone was since they were about 200 yards away.
Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson
May 17, 2001 Thursday In Burlington, we had to pull over. It had kicked up a wind and was pouring down on us. There was a lot of thunder and lightning. It was still dark.We pulled into the right shore and actually paddled right over a railroad track. We pulled our canoe up next to a large building. It was 2:00 a.m. We had to sleep and try to stay dry. Verlen found an unlocked truck and crawled in to sleep. I slid down into the bow of our canoe with my raincoat on. Kurt slept under the dome of the Double Helix. Clark crawled into the stern of our canoe to rest. It was cold and wet...... Read more....
May 18, 2001 Friday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Short Synopsis:
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska - Kerm was paddling below Lock and Dam 11 and reports he is "floundering down the river".
Team Double Helix - Andrew called in at 6:30 AM, Lock and Dam 22. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Team Kruger - Stan called in at 6:00 AM, Lock and Dam 22 Mile 301, below Hannibal, MO. Paddlers are expected shortly
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls From Don Keller, official time keeper
Lost Kayak Recovered.
At approx. 5:00 PM this afternoon the St. Cloud sheriff's department notified Mary Potter that a yellow kayak was found. "It looks like it's set up for a really long trip" On May 12, the Team Alaska "Yellow Banana" capsized and out intrepid paddlers swam 75 yards to shore, as the kayak headed south by itself. Kerm said "I think it might have gone over the falls at the St. Cloud dam"
Here it is six days later, and the St. Cloud sheriff's department got a call from a citizen. They investigated, thinking that there might be a body nearby. No one had reported anyone missing, so Sgt. Jeffrey Janssen made a trip to Toy R' Us, and someone there, another miracle of miracles, knew about the lost kayak, and put Sgt. Janssen in touch with Mary Potter. The kayak was recovered with a GPS and marine radio.
Team Alaska 5/18 PM Support at Lock and Dam # 13, waiting for paddlers. Kerm Ketchum called in and I asked him "Well do want to hear something interesting" They are planning to camp tonight at Lock and Dam # 13 and tomorrow night at Lock and Dam # 15. quite near Rock Island Ilinois.-Davenport Iowa
Team Double Helix 6:59 River Miles 240Both teams have just been fed by the unbelievably skilled and resourceful Team Double Helix cooks Edith and Johann. Kent and I have been comparing the daily distances made on this trip, to those recorded during the 1984 record.
Team Kruger 6:30- Stan called to say that Team Kruger is changing up support teams . He will meet up with the crew in St. Louis.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 18. 2001 Friday -
By approximately 1 :00 a.m. May 18, we arrived at Lock and Dam 21. ..... We were still traveling with the Double Helix at this time. At 5:06 a.m., we arrived at Lock and Dam 22.....The Double Helix was somewhere behind us. At Lock and Dam 24, we were told by the lock master to go over the levee on river left. After the lock, we had to cross back to the right because our support crew was in Clarksville. The town was flooded near the river. Late afternoon on May 18, we arrived at Lock and Dam 25. The sky looked bad, and the marine band radio said a storm cell was moving in from the southwest. All of the houses on the river side of the levee were flooded -- at least the ground floors were. After eating, it began to rain. We decided to spend the night here and let the storm blow over. Everyone would sleep in the workshop of lock 25, except me. I would stay with the two boats at the levee and sleep under the dome of the Double Helix. At first, it was too hot under the dome. Clark had thought of everything! The dome had a small, battery-operated fan which I used. By 3:00 a.m., I was too cold, but I was dry. Read More...
May 19, 2001 Saturday Full Report and All Safety Call and Logs
Synopsis
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska:
Kerm was bright and cheery this morning too, when he reported at 6:50 a.m. that they were just preparing to leave from river mile 523, near Lock and Dam 13. He said it's a little hard to rouse the troops in the morning, but decided he'd get them going with a "gong" from now on. Tony reports blackbirds fighting to the death...
Team Double Helix:
Clark and Kurt took off around 5:00 a.m from "Chateau 25," a segment in that most unique chain of Mississippi Riverfront Bed-and-Blasting Music Inns they have grown to love.
Team Kruger:
At 7:45 AM, Stan reported that his team is still traveling with Team Double Helix, the paddlers having decided to stay together until after their "press conference" under the Arch at St. Louis. (They too left from "Chateau 25" this morning at 5:00, river mile 240.)
Updates/Comments Received, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper, Saturday May 19 PM Report
Team Alaska 6:35 River Miles 457 Lock and Dam #16
They are sleeping at Lock and Dam #16 tonight. Kerm said they would have to happy with the 60 miles they made today.
Team Double Helix 5:10
The team has just left the St. Louis arch, heading south. Two Rett families set up "Italian food for everybody" including amazingly good pasta and salad. They had a wonderful time, and both their stoamach and their spirits were filled. The St. Louis KDNL TV news team was there filming for broadcast.
I was asking Andrew about the difficult of finding places to sleep. Andrew said that last night Bob Branford spied the Double Helix kayak sitting on top the levee, crawled into it , pulled the "bubble/ Happy Hut over him , and went to sleep. The interesting thing is that the water was within a few inches of the top of the levee, and people were commenting on whether the levee (and Bob) would be there in the morning. This morning the support crew woke up from their sleep in a machine shop, and went out to check on the sleeper. Lo and behold, there was Bob, still on top of the levee, and still sound asleep !
Team Kruger 5:49
A few miles below "The Arch" Stan called to say that his team was also "heading south" and should be nearing Jackson Barracks soon. That is good news. Even though all the paddlers have been held up for what amounts to days due to high water, at this time they are only 6 hours behind the 1984 record.
SPECIAL NOTE: Since May 11, Dubuque, Iowa, the two leading teams have had to travel together under special Coast Guard orders. Now that the teams are out of the "closed waters", they are free to separate and paddle their own styles.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 19, 2001 Saturday - Spagetti and meat balls... Tug barges coming up behind them dangerously close... Chain of Rocks... Rett families meet teams in a very flooded St. Louis for a free meal... camera crews are filming... Bob paddles in the night while Verlen sleeps and sees Clark's light coming up from behind him as Clark catches up... Read More...
May 20, 2001, Sunday Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
Synopsis:
Updates/Comments Received from Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer, 5-7AM calls
Team Alaska: Kerm called from camp at an exotic location this morning: the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, river mile 457, near Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine, IA.
Team Double Helix: Andrew M. Gribble is slipping. :) He slept in this morning until 6:00 his time, then called to say that they were at river mile 81.5, near Wittenburg, MO, expecting Clark and Kurt to arrive there at any moment.
Team Kruger: John checked in at 7:30 to report that Verlen and Bob were currently at river mile 80, and that they and Team Double Helix were together--for the moment. :) Yesterday's trip was calm and uneventful after they left the Arch in St. Louis; even the "chain of rocks" that normally pose quite a challenge to paddlers were barely discernible beneath the high water.
PM Safety Calls from Don Keller, Official Time Keeper:
Team Alaska 5:42 River Miles 389 - Fort Madison... Kerm called to say that they have only 802,800 paddles strokes till the Gulf. They had hoped for a 110 mile day, but storms and Lock and Dam #19 held them up. Everybody is fine.
Team Double Helix 5:45 Soon to be in Cairo (pronounced Kay-Row) Jeff Romine notified us that paddlers, Kurt and Clark, left Commerce at 2:15. T
Team Kruger 7:10 River Mile 0 - Upper Mississippi miles, River Mile 956 - Lower Mississippi miles
John Young called in to say that the paddlers have JUST arrived at an important milestone. Cairo- Fort Defiance.
Webmaster Note/Event Organizer Mary Potter - Clark Eid from Team Double Helix called last night around 9ish....said that they had past the point of the confluence of the Ohio River, where the mile marker changes from 0 to 953. They were staying on the ground that evening. Clark said he saw Team Kruger go by just before he called :-) but also said he saw lightning in the distance and indicated he wanted the shore support to follow them in the boat at night due to the tremendous amount of boat traffic, tugs and barges.
Team Kruger Log - By Bob Bradford, Enhanced by Stan Hanson May 20. 2001, Sunday - Tug boat super close call... Read more....
May 21, 2001 Monday, Full Report, All Safety Calls and Logs
May 22, 2001 Tuesday
May 23, 2001 Wednesday
May 24, 2001 Thursday
May 25, 2001 Friday
May 26, 2001 Saturday
May 27, 2001 Sunday
May 28, 2001 Monday
May 29, 2001 Tuesday
Team Kruger crosses the finish line first!
May 30, 2001 Wednesday
May 31, 2001 Thursday
Team Double Helix cross the finish line! Team Alaska pulls off in TN.
Webmaster Note: Race is officially over at the end of the day, May 31, 2001.