2001 Race - May 11, 2001, Friday
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!
Teams called in to Safety Officer between 5 and 7 AM
Updates/Comments Received for May 11, 2001, AM:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan, taking 5-7 AM calls Team Alaska: Kerm called at 7:00 to say that his team had pushed off from Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994, at 5:30. Team Amazons: At 7:15, Tony reported that Cynthia and Megan were just leaving from Crow Wing State Park, river mile 994. Team Double Helix: The blueberry morning from SuperAmerica had worn off by 6:55 today. Andrew called in the midst of a deep slumber. . . thank goodness the team is getting some sleep, now that they are stopped at the Hwy 694 take-out--just above where the river is/was closed, at river mile 840. Team Kruger Did not call in. Team Rebels: Eric called at 5:30 from "The North Country," a downtown diner in Crosby, MN. He was wowing the locals even as we spoke, who couldn't figure out how he could be talking on a phone when that area doesn't have any cell phone service. I could just see the plates of fresh farm eggs, glistening with butter right out of the skillet, slim sausages, and crisp homemade hashbrowns on pre-warmed plates. . . I don't want Eric to call me from downtown diners anymore before breakfast. He said he and his team, not to be outdone by madcap racers at the head of the pack, were solemnly saluted yesterday by a huge herd of heifers who lowed long and mightily at the sight of such strange goings-on in their little piece of Minnesota. I said recognition and respect sometimes come from where--and whom--we least expect. At any rate, it brightened their spirits considerably. On a navigational note, Eric says they don't really need charts to find their way down the Mississippi anymore, now that they have figured out to just follow the trail "bread crumbs" - mud hen houses that the Corps has established for the preservation of that species--ever so much easier that messing with maps. They were planning to leave at 7:00 from river mile 1032. That is, IF they didn't order another serving of hash browns. They take awhile. END OF SAFETY REPORT Webmaster/Mary Potter - On May 10, 2001, in the afternoon, time obstacle 1 occurs today for Teams Kruger and Double Helix only. Team Kruger and Team Double Helix are forced off the water above St. Anothony's Falls by the Coast Guards because Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is closed. Both teams stop at Ketter's canoes initially. At some point later, or perhaps on May 11, Kent Spading (Team Double Helix, and employed at the Army Corp of Engineers) was able to find out it would open at 12 noon May 11. Both teams elected to wait where they were 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 now tied for first place. Rules 1 and 2 indicate a non stop non staged race. I heard later from Clark that both teams left together at 12 noon, but are not required to travel together.
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