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 2001 Race - May 12, 2001, Saturday
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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Teams called in to Safety Officer between 5 and 7 AM
Team Name Time Called River Mile Nearest City/State Estimated Position
Alaska MSC Team capsized and lost kayak, near St. Cloud, MN St. Cloud 3rd
Amazons Withdraws 5/12/01 St. Cloud, MN 5th
Double Helix 5:55 AM Mile 771 South End Lake Pepin, MN 1st or 2nd
Kruger 7 AM Mile 771 South End Lake Pepin, MN 1st or 2nd
Rebels 6:50 AM Mile 957 Near Blanchard Dam, MN 4th
Updates/Comments Received, 5-7 AM calls:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan


Team Alaska:
Kerm's good nature had zoomed to an unbelievable zenith this morning as he told me with a hearty laugh, "Elizabeth, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" "Well, good things should always come first," I replied, already starting to shake a little. "The good news," he said, "is that we're all together and in good spirits. The bad news is that we capsized, had to bail out of the boat and swim 75 yards to shore, then lost our kayak when the current swept it away. I think it might have gone over the falls at the White Cloud dam. The sheriff is here now helping us try to find it." WOW. What a setback. Kerm said that if they can't find the kayak, they may go buy another one and continue in the race.

Remembering Tony, the biologist birdwatcher who was compiling a list of all the birds he saw along the way, I asked in horror if all his notes had been swept away. "Oh no," Kerm said, "they were in the truck." God is good. Now let's hope, one way or another, that Team Alaska is soon back on the river, paddling hard to catch up.
Team Amazons -
Tony--support member for Team Amazons and also Cynthia's husband--called this morning with an update on Cynthia's hand condition. As you know, last night they called in with an emergency situation on the river: Cynthia had blisters on one hand that had become infected, one finger was quite swollen and red. It had worsened to the point where they felt immediate medical attention was necessary. Cynthia is now receiving medical treatment. Team Amazons have withdrawn from the race due to this hand injury.

Compounding this medical crisis is the fact that Cynthia feels "crushed," and throroughly devastated that she has to withdraw from the race, Tony said. Megan, her paddling partner, is also very sad and worried about Cynthia, but would like to paddle with another team if she can so at least one of them can press on to the finish. When I talked to the teams this morning, I told them about Cynthia's situation and Megan's wish.
Team Double Helix:
Andrew reported that at 5:55 this morning, Clark and Kurt were near the south end of Lake Pepin, at approximately river mile 771. They paddled all night across Lake Pepin, taking turns sleeping under the "bubble." The land crew had just served them some breakfast and hot chocolate on shore before Andrew called, and as they took off again, Kurt was preparing to take his turn sleeping under the bubble.
Yesterday, both Team Kruger and Team Double Helix went through the lock and dams together--after the river reopened at noon--and shared a support boat on Lake Pepin because it was so difficult finding a good site to put-in and take-out motorized craft. (Mary Potter's note: Andrew reported to me that the crossing on Lake Pepin was nice, water was like glass!)
Andrew wants teams that are following to know that there is a half-way decent place in Red Wing where they can put in their support boats: a parking lot that is normally high and dry, but now filled with water. If they turn left at the red light in Red Wing where there is a Taco Bell (John?) on the corner, they will find it at the river's edge. He said this is their best bet, because nearly all the boat docks and landings are under water.

Team Kruger:
After being out in the Zodiac support boat all night, Stan was feeling weak and weary--and quite cold--when he called in at 7:00. Someone handed him a cup of coffee as we spoke, which he said felt "like heaven."
The team was then at river mile 771, near Team Double Helix on Lake Pepin, and of course had paddled all night. Stan said it is extremely difficult for the land crew to find designated meeting spots along the river because the high water has obliterated many of the land marks and landing spots themselves. Verlen and Bob expected to arrive at Wabasha, WI, a small town near the south end of Lake Pepin, around 8:00 this morning, where the land crew expected to meet them. Stan said their entire crew was badly in need of sleep and hoped for several hours shut-eye later today if at all possible.

​Team Rebels:
At 6:50, Eric and his team was at river mile 957, near the Blanchard Dam. Note: He did NOT call me from a diner this morning, or talk about food, though they spent the night at a motel in Little Falls and likely looked up another local eatery in which to indulge in some homemade hash browns.
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. What a guy. I guess if there was time Mr. Ventura also heard all about our Race for Retts.
When I asked if Team Rebels were interested in having Megan join them, Eric said that their sole support truck had a small cab, but they would be happy to have her join them if she wanted to. They are going to communicate with each other via satellite phones this morning. 
END OF SAFETY REPORT
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Teams called in to Safety Officer between 5 and 7 PM
Team Name Time Called River Mile Nearest City/State Estimated Position
Alaska MSC on way to Monticello, MN 3rd
Amazons Withdraws 5/12/01 St. Cloud, MN 5th
Double Helix 5:10 PM river mile Left Lock and Dam 6, Iowa 1st or 2nd
Kruger 6:10 PM Mile 714 Left Lock and Dam 6, Iowa 1st or 2nd
Rebels 9:05 PM on way to Monticello, MN 4th
Updates/Comments Received for May 12, 2001, 5 to 7 PM Calls:
From Don Keller, official time keeper


Team Alaska
Kerm called in, all smiles. They are glad to be back on the water. Around midday today they purchased another boat to replace the "one that got away". The purchase was made in St. Cloud, and they had to wait patiently until a couple walked away from the kayak that they wanted. As soon as the couple left, they explained the dire need to the sales person, and they struck a great deal on a "mean, green, paddling machine". It is a Current Designs model, but they have renamed it "Kermit".
They think they will be stopping at Monticello. David Hoffman was leaving the team, and as Megan's team mate is still in the hospital until at least Monday, she is taking his place on Team Alaska, hence the new name Team Alaska-Amazon.
Kerm was so jubilant during the entire evening check-in, and stated at the end "Tell Clark he better hurry up, cause we are gonna catch him" The paddlers are on their way to Monticello, but might continue on to Anoka.
Team Amazon - 7:15 St. Cloud
Tony and Cynthia will join the Alaska-Amazon support team when Cynthia is ready.

Team Double Helix 5:10
Andrew reported that the paddlers will be at Lock and Dam # 7 at 7:00

Team Kruger 6:10 River Mile 714
Stan told me that team Double Helix had left Lock and Dam #6 at 5:00PM, Team Kruger at 6:00 PM
NOTE: Stan said the media in St. Louis love Verlen, and Rett should get some good publicity there.

Team Rebels 6:22 River Mile 905
Eric said "We are twenty minutes behind Team Alaska, we think we will be stopping at Monticello" Eric had to break off, because the team was leaving at that very moment, I assume after a resupply
END OF SAFETY REPORT
Webmaster writes:  I don't have logs from every team, but I'll share what I have:
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Kent Spading Log, Captain, Team Double Helix, May 12, 2001, Saturday
Got home from Lake Pepin/Red Wind at 2:30 am.  Got up at 9 am, ran errands and left for Prairie Du Chien at 9:30 pm with Irene in the 300ZX.  We took a wrong turn on the way down near the border.  We arrived in Prairie Du Chien at 2 am and stayed in the Best Western.  The rest of the land team is at the Bris Boix hotel.  At 4:30 am, Tony called me.  He will pick me up and we will meet Clark and Kurt at L/D #9 at 6 am.  We set up the camp stove and started cooking eggs and bacon.
I spoke to the dam tender and he said no one is allowed through the dam-the river is closed.  But I spoke to the Lockmaster yesterday and he said common sense (no wakes) would dictate he should lock us through.  In the meantime, Stan called the guy directly.    The guy called the Lockmaster and was told to let us through.  The guy came out and told us we could go through.  At 8:30 am, Clark and Kurt came.  I had spotted them upstream with the binoculars.  Later, Team Kruger showed up. Tony Swenson's wife and kids showed up.  Tony and I got the Double Helix kayak launched again.  Back at the hotel, Hans and Edith took off to get Jeff.  Tony went home and I was sorry to see him go.  Andrew and I left for L/D #10. 

End of  
Kent Spading Log, Captain, Team Double Helix, May 12, 2001, Saturday

Team Kruger - Bob Bradford Daily Log, Enhanced by Stan Hanson  May 12, 2001, Saturday
By daybreak, May 12, we had come off the lake and back into the river. No one was in sight when I looked back. Our support crew was ahead at Wabasha, in a flooded marina. It was cold, but it was a great place to stop. To my surprise and delight my wife Janet, son Mike, grandson Michael, and a friend Chris Andrews were waiting with our support team. We ate breakfast and then I climbed under the deck for a sleep. My son, grandson, and Chris got into one of Verlen's canoes and paddled along with us. What a treat!
During our stop at the marina, Double Helix had passed and they were ahead again.
At 12:40 p.m., we arrived at Lock and Dam #5. While I ate lunch, Mike washed my feet and doctored them. I had an infected toenail, and with the dirty river water, I didn't want it to get worse. Mike would do this several more times during the following week while I ate.
At 5:25 p.m., we came to Lock and Dam #6. We seemed to be chasing the Double Helix. Each time we came to a lock, they had just left.
After Lock and Dam #7, and near river mile 687, we had a tight pass with a tug and several barges. We were on the right bank of the river and making a left-hand turn. It was dark. To make it worse, the tug had his high beam shining right on us. It's enough to make you feel like you have just escaped a concentration camp. Before it was over and the tug made the turn, we had the canoe tight against the bank. 

End of Team Kruger Log 
May 12, 2001, Saturday
May 5, 2001, Saturday Race Start
May 5, 2001 Saturday
May 6, 2001 Sunday 
May 7, 2001 Monday 
May 8 2001 Tuesday 

May 9, 2001  Wednesday   
May 10, 2001 Thursday
May 11 2001, Friday  
May 12 2001, Saturday
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May 13 2001,  Sunday
May 14, 2001, Monday 
May 15, 2001, Tuesday
May 16, 2001, Wednesday 

May 17, 2001 Thursday

May 18, 2001 Friday
​May 19, 2001 Saturday 

May 20, 2001, Sunday 
May 21, 2001 Monday 
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May 22, 2001 Tuesday 
​May 23, 2001 Wednesday
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May 24, 2001 Thursday 
May 25, 2001 Friday ​​​
​May 26, 2001 Saturday 

May 27, 2001 Sunday 
May 28, 2001 Monday 

May 29, 2001 Tuesday 
​May 30, 2001 Wednesday 
May 31, 2001 Thursday  
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