2001 Race - May 10, 2001, Thursday
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!
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May 10, 2001, Thursday, Day 6, Teams called in for a Safety check between 5 and 7 AM
Updates/Comments Received for May 10, 2001, Thursday AM: From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan This morning is a little quieter on the paddling front than yesterday, in spite of the fact that tornados touched down in Northfield and Rice, MN--about 35 miles away from where the Double Helix Team was this morning. Never fear, they have "tornado tips" among their gear--and will be alert, aware, and take appropriate action if necessary. Team locations this morning are as follows: Team Alaska: Kerm reported at 7:00 that his team was about a mile below Aitken, just preparing to start the day's paddle. They had spend about six hours sleeping near the town of Palisades last night and feel pretty good today. Kerm said that the biologist-paddler among them (I forgot to ask which one he is, but will next time we talk) is really enjoying this trip, compiling a list of all the different types of birds they see along the way. Not realizing what a seriously scientific and thoroughly wonderful project he was engaged in, the Amazon team paddled by yesterday and yelled across the water, "Hey! What are you guys doing reading a magazine???" How funny! Team Amazon: Ah. . . Tony said they spent the night at a hotel in Aitken, complete with hot showers and soft beds, which must have both felt heavenly after five days on the river without either. At 6:00 a.m., Cynthia and Megan were just preparing to leave from river mile 1078. Team Double Helix: Andrew's voice--at 6:20--exuded energy, enthusiasm, and double the normal amount of "joy in living." It wasn't long before I found out why. Race Teams, hear this: Take out at the "SuperAmerica" station just below the Champion Dam at Sartelle and buy one of their blueberry muffins. Andrew had just eaten one this morning before we spoke and felt "on top of the world." He said Clark and Kurt were just then in the process of portaging around some rapids, at river mile 929, about two miles below Champion Dam at Sartelle. (With those magical blueberry muffins, it should be a snap.) He urged all teams behind them to send their land crews out well ahead to scout out the rapids, as portaging them is quite a challenge. All is well with the team now, though they had a very difficult portage yesterday at Blanchard Dam. Andrew said the water near the put-in was "roiling" with surf-like waves because of the high water, making it impossible to put in. So Clark and Kurt spent about an hour and a half on that portage, foraging through brush and barbed wire fences, before they finally found a safe spot to put in near a stream that emptied into the river. Even then, it was tough going getting back down to the water. Team Kruger: When Stan phoned at 7:15 he sounded tired, but was planning to rest soon. Verlen and Bob had just left from river mile 925, near the last dam at Sauk Rapids, so they and Team Double Helix are now very close. I alerted all teams to the fact that there are thunderstorms, severe weather, and possible tornados developing again just to the south of them, though it doesn't look like they will be close enough by tonight to be affected by the upper edge of the front. According to the weather channel, yet another storm system is just to the west of Minnesota now and will be there in another day or so. We'll keep them posted. Team Rebels: Eric called in at 7:30 to say that they were just preparing to leave from river mile 1278, near Aitken. They and the Amazons see each other frequently during the day and have enjoyed some nice companionship on the river.
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