2001 Race - May 13, 2001, Sunday
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 5-7 AM calls:
From Safety Officer Elizabeth Tynan The river will have to serve as sanctuary for those spiritually inclined on this beautiful Sunday morning, surpassing, as it does, any of those made by man. Even while paddling hard, communion with nature and the "great spirit" seems so easy there, as if one could almost reach out and touch, if not the creator, at least some of his most marvelous work. What memories I have. . . Team Alaska Kerm called at 7:00 with the report that Megan had joined their group yesterday, about the same time they bought the new "lean, mean, paddling machine" named Kermit. They were at Monticello, just preparing to leave for Coon Rapids. I told them about Team Rebel's situation and requested he contact them to discuss various paddling possibilities. Team Double Helix Clark, Kurt, and the crew got to the beginning of "God's Country" last night, so named because it is undeniably one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on the river. The team ate supper at La Crosse, WI, then took turns paddling and sleeping all night. When Andrew called at 6:00, 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. By the way, brightness under the bubble made sleeping difficult in the daytime, so Clark, ever the innovator, coated it with silver spray paint. Andrew reported that support team members Edith and John are simply superlative--extremely committed and hardworking, and always quick to see to their comfort and well-being in a thousand ways. John ties down equipment, gets supplies to the boat, does dishes, in short, does anything he sees that needs to be done. Edith too, according to Andrew, is an absolute marvel, able to whip up gourmet meals at a moment's notice under the most primitive conditions with rudimentary equipment,almost as if she has rubbed some mysterious "Aladdin's Lamp." Edith might use a little magic, but take it from me, it comes from within her marvelous self. I myself witnessed her in action the first day of the race in Minnesota, when, after traveling all day in frigid, wet weather, she cooked dinner over a rebellious campstove on a card table--with gusty winds constantly whipping about spice bottles, napkins, and paper plates and snuffing out the stove--more trials and tribulations than most cooks see in a lifetime. Three cheers and hats off to Edith, an invaluable blessing to this expedition. Also, Eric, the official team cinematographer, is due to return to Connecticut today and will be replaced by Jeff Romine, another friend of Clark's. But this morning, I think most of the teams were meditating more about navigational matters, and who could blame them? After all, this IS the Great Race. 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. Yesterday, Stan said, they had an especially good day because some of Bob's family arrived to paddle with them for awhile. They had a little trouble at lock and dam 9, because the lockmaster said he had been given instructions not to let any pleasure craft pass. After a little while, though, they were given the go-ahead and allowed to lock through. END OF SAFETY REPORT 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: At mid morning, Megan called to say she had decided not to join Team Alaska after all, preferring to stay with Cynthia until she is sure her hand is definitely out of danger. She said they would return to the spot where they had taken out on some future date and paddle the rest of the river, but that at this time, she wants to stay near Cynthia. 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. Just after that, Eric reported that he and Al were going to rent a car and drive to the St. Anthony dam at midday for an "audition" with the Alaska team. Since two of their team were already on the water this morning, Kerm requested they get together later so the two paddlers could have some input in the decision too. Eric, after a moment's thoughtful reflection, mused, "Hey, wait a minute. Shouldn't Al and I be auditioning them? After all, they're the ones who lost their boat." :) I am currently awaiting word on whether or not the mutual auditions came to a positive paddling conclusion.
|