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
Great day for everyone. Team Kruger stays in the lead all day and completes Lake Winnibigoshish first. Double Helix and Rebels are not far behind. The Lake Winni crossing was difficult to say the least. Team Alaska and Amazon end the day are past Cass Lake.
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.
Later, in the afternoon, time obstacle 1 occurs today for Teams Kruger and Double Helix only. 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). Both teams elected to wait rather than walk miles and mile
Team Alaska leaves Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994 at 5:30 AM, Amazons leave around 7:15. Team Rebels plans to leave around 7 AM from river mile 1032. Note from webmaster - the lower the river mile, the further the team is at this point.
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 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 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 later)…
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 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
Safety calls in the morning indicate Megan from Amazons has joined Alaska and they are at Monticello at 6 AM and in 3rd place. Double Helix is in first place at 6 AM and at Lansing, Iowa. Kruger is 2nd and nearby at 6 AM at L&D 8. There had been some minor issue about going through L&D 9. Team Rebels has disbanded. One member left in the morning. This person also owned the truck and kayak being used. Al Levine and Eric Kocher will be renting a car and driving to Team Alaska for an "audition" to join Team Alaska.
Safety calls in the evening indicate Megan is no longer with the Alaskans (her choice), but Eric and Al have now joined the team! Team Alaska plans to get to the beginning of Lake Pepin before stopping tonight. Team Double Helix remains slightly ahead of Kruger and both teams called in around Guttenburg, Iowa, L&D 10. Stan is planning a pizza surprise party!
May 14, 2001, Monday
AM Safety report - Kerm from Team Alaska said that at 6:25 AM, paddlers Eric and Al were at river mile 845, just preparing to head down (hop?) to the top of Lake Pepin....
At 5 AM Clark and Kurt from Team Double Helix are sleeping just below the Dubuque, IA, lock and dam at river mile 583. Team Kruger does not call in but are near Team Double Helix.
Webmaster note: Teams find out after the safety check in that Lock and Dam 11 are closed to everyone... see note below.
PM Safety report -
Team Kruger at 7:00 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 11 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)
Webmaster note: Paddlers found out in the morning that Lock and Dam 11 were closed to everyone. Elizabeth Tynan does get Coast Guard approval for the paddlers to continue only if all paddlers stay together during the closed parts of the river. Team Alaska is unfortunately not near Lock and Dam 11 and we could not contact them until they called in at 7:20 PM. Team Alaska said "go ahead without us, we'll take our chances on river closures when we get there"... Elizabeth Tynan, as our official Safety Officer, told me it was her decision at this point that both Team Kruger and Team Helix had to wait until morning to leave together. As the Safety Officer she was one of many officials who legitimized our Race for Rett Syndrome, and her decisions regarding Safety Issues were final. Rules state that all teams must follow the direction of the Safety Officer, or that judges can remove a team.
Webmaster note - If you read through Bob Bradford's log about the river conditions the following day you will understand some of the danger the teams face when traveling at night in flooded waters.
May 15, 2001, Tuesday
AM Safety report -
5:45 AM, Kerm from team Alaska and said their paddlers were looking forward to paddling the rest of Lake Pepin today. Temps are reaching 97, very hot for May!
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are paddling together per the Coast Guard and have left Lock and Dam 11 in the morning.
PM Safety report -
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are at/past Lock and Dam 14 and are travelling together per the Coast Guard.
Team Alaska call at 7:22 PM, Mile 737 Lock and Dam #5.
Webmaster says.... Later that evening: Team Double Helix and Team Kruger had their 3rd mandatory stop...
Bob Bradford writes from Team Kruger log: As we paddled into the night on May 15, we met with our third mandatory stop. It was around 10:50 p.m. on a dark night. Because we were still traveling together, now was a good time for sleeping, both for me and Clark of the Double Helix. All of a sudden, a loudspeaker woke me up. There was a voice instructing us to pull into the shore. There were all kinds of search lights shining on us, plus a chopper was over our heads. There were firemen in a couple of motorboats that directed us into the right bank at LeClaire, Iowa. The Sheriff's Department started interviewing us. They had a report that someone had capsized in the river. The Fire Department and a medical helicopter had been dispatched to save us. Now the question was, who would pay for this episode? After all, the river was closed to all traffic. The Sheriff could not confirm our release with the Coast Guard because no one was in the office. We had to wait until morning so the Sheriff could confirm the story that Clark and I had told them even though the lock master had confirmed what we had told the sheriff. Very frustrating!!
May 16, 2001, Wednesday
AM Safety report -
Kerm from Team Alaska called at 7:00 from river mile 715, near lock and dam 7. Kermit is "sliming down the river" with all due speed, happy and all in good spirits.. they were paddling last night until 1:30 AM.
Team Double Helix and Kruger continue to travel together after last night's drama per coast guard requirement at this time ... At 8:15 AM Commander Eric Washburn, filling in for Commander Ramirez at the Coast Guard's Upper Mississippi St. Louis office, told the sheriff our teams could paddle the river unimpeded. With that, the teams were off and running from river mile 497, near lock and dam 15, after spending what remained of the night in a parking lot in the small town of LeClaire, IA.
PM report -
Team Alaska called at 5:45 PM River Miles 663 near Lansing Iowa. Lock and Dam 11 and 12 are now open.
Per Bob Bradford's log, Team Double Helix and Team Kruger reached New Boston, Illinois around 8:20 PM. "When we got to Lock and Dam 18, it was very dark. I remember the lock master saying we should go over the levee on the right of the dam because the lock was flooded. Verlen was asleep in our canoe, and so was Clark in the Double Helix. Kurt zipped up his spray skirt, as did I. When we got close, you could hear the rushing water, but our lights could not detect the drop off. Team Kruger went first with Double Helix close behind. What a rush, and Verlen never woke up!"
May 17, 2001 Thursday
PM safety call
Team Alaska is near 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 and Team Kruger are paddling together. They decide to stay together until St. Louis and continue their assault on the world record for best time down the Mississippi river.
Team Double Helix update- Paddlers arrive at mile 870 by 9 PM. High winds and storms are continuing for the evening, whole team will stay on land tonight.
Team Kruger update - 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. Bob's log indicates they made it to Lock and Dam 20 later that night.
May 18, 2001 Friday
AM Safety report -
Team Alaska - Kerm call Mary Potter around 9 AM, could not get his phone working earlier, and now got a busy signal at Elizabeth Tynan's, and didn't want to wait - Kerm said "Well, I didn't want anyone sending the coast guard to look for me!" Kerm was paddling below Lock and Dam 11 and reports he is "floundering down the river". They are all doing fine!
Team Double Helix - called in at 6:30 AM, Lock and Dam 22. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Team Kruger - called in at 6:00 AM, Lock and Dam 22 Mile 301, below Hannibal, MO. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Webmaster's NOTE.... As I was listening to new messages in the last hour, one began, "Hello, this is the Sheriff's office" and I thought, oh no, someone is really in trouble or they want me take that last sheriff incident off the website...." and he continued "from St. Cloud.", (St Cloud, MN? I wondered.....), "We have a kayak that we believe one of your teams lost! Please call us at...." When I did call, not only did they have the Team Alaska's long lost yellow kayak, the officer reported the kayak had all sorts of rigging on it, the GPS and marine radio "as if it were outfitted for a really long trip" :-). Thank you St. Cloud Sheriffs! Kerm Ketchum will pick up the boat that tried to get away on his return trip home to Alaska after the race has ended.
May 19, 2001 Saturday
May 20, 2001 Sunday
May 21, 2001 Monday
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.
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
Great day for everyone. Team Kruger stays in the lead all day and completes Lake Winnibigoshish first. Double Helix and Rebels are not far behind. The Lake Winni crossing was difficult to say the least. Team Alaska and Amazon end the day are past Cass Lake.
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.
Later, in the afternoon, time obstacle 1 occurs today for Teams Kruger and Double Helix only. 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). Both teams elected to wait rather than walk miles and mile
Team Alaska leaves Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994 at 5:30 AM, Amazons leave around 7:15. Team Rebels plans to leave around 7 AM from river mile 1032. Note from webmaster - the lower the river mile, the further the team is at this point.
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 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 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 later)…
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 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
Safety calls in the morning indicate Megan from Amazons has joined Alaska and they are at Monticello at 6 AM and in 3rd place. Double Helix is in first place at 6 AM and at Lansing, Iowa. Kruger is 2nd and nearby at 6 AM at L&D 8. There had been some minor issue about going through L&D 9. Team Rebels has disbanded. One member left in the morning. This person also owned the truck and kayak being used. Al Levine and Eric Kocher will be renting a car and driving to Team Alaska for an "audition" to join Team Alaska.
Safety calls in the evening indicate Megan is no longer with the Alaskans (her choice), but Eric and Al have now joined the team! Team Alaska plans to get to the beginning of Lake Pepin before stopping tonight. Team Double Helix remains slightly ahead of Kruger and both teams called in around Guttenburg, Iowa, L&D 10. Stan is planning a pizza surprise party!
May 14, 2001, Monday
AM Safety report - Kerm from Team Alaska said that at 6:25 AM, paddlers Eric and Al were at river mile 845, just preparing to head down (hop?) to the top of Lake Pepin....
At 5 AM Clark and Kurt from Team Double Helix are sleeping just below the Dubuque, IA, lock and dam at river mile 583. Team Kruger does not call in but are near Team Double Helix.
Webmaster note: Teams find out after the safety check in that Lock and Dam 11 are closed to everyone... see note below.
PM Safety report -
Team Kruger at 7:00 Dubuque Just below Lock and Dam # 11 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)
Webmaster note: Paddlers found out in the morning that Lock and Dam 11 were closed to everyone. Elizabeth Tynan does get Coast Guard approval for the paddlers to continue only if all paddlers stay together during the closed parts of the river. Team Alaska is unfortunately not near Lock and Dam 11 and we could not contact them until they called in at 7:20 PM. Team Alaska said "go ahead without us, we'll take our chances on river closures when we get there"... Elizabeth Tynan, as our official Safety Officer, told me it was her decision at this point that both Team Kruger and Team Helix had to wait until morning to leave together. As the Safety Officer she was one of many officials who legitimized our Race for Rett Syndrome, and her decisions regarding Safety Issues were final. Rules state that all teams must follow the direction of the Safety Officer, or that judges can remove a team.
Webmaster note - If you read through Bob Bradford's log about the river conditions the following day you will understand some of the danger the teams face when traveling at night in flooded waters.
May 15, 2001, Tuesday
AM Safety report -
5:45 AM, Kerm from team Alaska and said their paddlers were looking forward to paddling the rest of Lake Pepin today. Temps are reaching 97, very hot for May!
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are paddling together per the Coast Guard and have left Lock and Dam 11 in the morning.
PM Safety report -
Team Double Helix and Team Kruger are at/past Lock and Dam 14 and are travelling together per the Coast Guard.
Team Alaska call at 7:22 PM, Mile 737 Lock and Dam #5.
Webmaster says.... Later that evening: Team Double Helix and Team Kruger had their 3rd mandatory stop...
Bob Bradford writes from Team Kruger log: As we paddled into the night on May 15, we met with our third mandatory stop. It was around 10:50 p.m. on a dark night. Because we were still traveling together, now was a good time for sleeping, both for me and Clark of the Double Helix. All of a sudden, a loudspeaker woke me up. There was a voice instructing us to pull into the shore. There were all kinds of search lights shining on us, plus a chopper was over our heads. There were firemen in a couple of motorboats that directed us into the right bank at LeClaire, Iowa. The Sheriff's Department started interviewing us. They had a report that someone had capsized in the river. The Fire Department and a medical helicopter had been dispatched to save us. Now the question was, who would pay for this episode? After all, the river was closed to all traffic. The Sheriff could not confirm our release with the Coast Guard because no one was in the office. We had to wait until morning so the Sheriff could confirm the story that Clark and I had told them even though the lock master had confirmed what we had told the sheriff. Very frustrating!!
May 16, 2001, Wednesday
AM Safety report -
Kerm from Team Alaska called at 7:00 from river mile 715, near lock and dam 7. Kermit is "sliming down the river" with all due speed, happy and all in good spirits.. they were paddling last night until 1:30 AM.
Team Double Helix and Kruger continue to travel together after last night's drama per coast guard requirement at this time ... At 8:15 AM Commander Eric Washburn, filling in for Commander Ramirez at the Coast Guard's Upper Mississippi St. Louis office, told the sheriff our teams could paddle the river unimpeded. With that, the teams were off and running from river mile 497, near lock and dam 15, after spending what remained of the night in a parking lot in the small town of LeClaire, IA.
PM report -
Team Alaska called at 5:45 PM River Miles 663 near Lansing Iowa. Lock and Dam 11 and 12 are now open.
Per Bob Bradford's log, Team Double Helix and Team Kruger reached New Boston, Illinois around 8:20 PM. "When we got to Lock and Dam 18, it was very dark. I remember the lock master saying we should go over the levee on the right of the dam because the lock was flooded. Verlen was asleep in our canoe, and so was Clark in the Double Helix. Kurt zipped up his spray skirt, as did I. When we got close, you could hear the rushing water, but our lights could not detect the drop off. Team Kruger went first with Double Helix close behind. What a rush, and Verlen never woke up!"
May 17, 2001 Thursday
PM safety call
Team Alaska is near 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 and Team Kruger are paddling together. They decide to stay together until St. Louis and continue their assault on the world record for best time down the Mississippi river.
Team Double Helix update- Paddlers arrive at mile 870 by 9 PM. High winds and storms are continuing for the evening, whole team will stay on land tonight.
Team Kruger update - 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. Bob's log indicates they made it to Lock and Dam 20 later that night.
May 18, 2001 Friday
AM Safety report -
Team Alaska - Kerm call Mary Potter around 9 AM, could not get his phone working earlier, and now got a busy signal at Elizabeth Tynan's, and didn't want to wait - Kerm said "Well, I didn't want anyone sending the coast guard to look for me!" Kerm was paddling below Lock and Dam 11 and reports he is "floundering down the river". They are all doing fine!
Team Double Helix - called in at 6:30 AM, Lock and Dam 22. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Team Kruger - called in at 6:00 AM, Lock and Dam 22 Mile 301, below Hannibal, MO. Paddlers are expected shortly.
Webmaster's NOTE.... As I was listening to new messages in the last hour, one began, "Hello, this is the Sheriff's office" and I thought, oh no, someone is really in trouble or they want me take that last sheriff incident off the website...." and he continued "from St. Cloud.", (St Cloud, MN? I wondered.....), "We have a kayak that we believe one of your teams lost! Please call us at...." When I did call, not only did they have the Team Alaska's long lost yellow kayak, the officer reported the kayak had all sorts of rigging on it, the GPS and marine radio "as if it were outfitted for a really long trip" :-). Thank you St. Cloud Sheriffs! Kerm Ketchum will pick up the boat that tried to get away on his return trip home to Alaska after the race has ended.
May 19, 2001 Saturday
May 20, 2001 Sunday
May 21, 2001 Monday
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.