Daily Updates and Pictures - Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - Day 5 Starts at 6 AM
Mississippi River Challenge for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy, 2003
Guinness Record Setting Event for 2 different rare diseases!
Bob Bradford/Clark Eid Paddler log
Wednesday, May 14th, 2003;
(BB) During the very early morning, the wind and rain kicked up pretty good. Clark had been sleeping and we had a little thunder and lighting, but nothing too close to us. By the time we arrived at Sartell, I was very wet and starting to get cold. Clark got up and realized that I was shivering when we pulled out for the portage over Champion Darn. He gave me his whole thermos of coffee, which he had saved. He insisted that I drank it all to warm up my body. Andrew had once again left a note attached to the locked portage wheels at the take out. He wrote that the crew was down on river left just above Sauk Rapids. Both Clark and I checked out the put in below the dam. It was loaded with slippery rocks. We were in a heavy downpour. At that, Clark and I both knew what we had to do. In 2001, we had both portaged three blocks to the bridge below and put in there. We did the same thing this time, but this year it was 4:00 am.
(CE) The night was stormy and cold. I didn't sleep because as I got soaked with rain as I started to get into my sleeping bag. I was cold so I got up around 3:30 am to help as we approached Champion Dam. We pulled out on river-right and spotted our portage wheels. Bob was shaking from the cold rain, and I wasn't going anywhere until he drank something to warm up. Fortunately, my coffee from Blanchard Dam was still hot. In a few minutes Bob looked better and we portaged down the street to the same put-in we both used in 2001. This was much better than the alternative, slippery rock laden spot upstream. We left at 4:48 am.
(BB) Our crew met us on river-left just above Sauk Rapids, as planned. We pulled the canoe on shore and I went to the van to change into dry clothes and to warm up. Clark changed his clothes outside and went with some of the crew to check out the best way to get through the rapids. It had stopped raining and the crew mounted the camera on the stern of our canoe. The passage was fast and we avoided the big rocks and back eddies.
(CE) I changed and scouted out the best route through Sauk Rapids. There was a nice chute that led into a big rock, but it looked easy enough to veer left around it. Soon we were ready to go and the video camera strapped on the stem. We managed the rapids without any problem and were soon downstream near some bridges, one of which had a train cross over while we passed underneath.
Wednesday, May 14th, 2003;
(BB) During the very early morning, the wind and rain kicked up pretty good. Clark had been sleeping and we had a little thunder and lighting, but nothing too close to us. By the time we arrived at Sartell, I was very wet and starting to get cold. Clark got up and realized that I was shivering when we pulled out for the portage over Champion Darn. He gave me his whole thermos of coffee, which he had saved. He insisted that I drank it all to warm up my body. Andrew had once again left a note attached to the locked portage wheels at the take out. He wrote that the crew was down on river left just above Sauk Rapids. Both Clark and I checked out the put in below the dam. It was loaded with slippery rocks. We were in a heavy downpour. At that, Clark and I both knew what we had to do. In 2001, we had both portaged three blocks to the bridge below and put in there. We did the same thing this time, but this year it was 4:00 am.
(CE) The night was stormy and cold. I didn't sleep because as I got soaked with rain as I started to get into my sleeping bag. I was cold so I got up around 3:30 am to help as we approached Champion Dam. We pulled out on river-right and spotted our portage wheels. Bob was shaking from the cold rain, and I wasn't going anywhere until he drank something to warm up. Fortunately, my coffee from Blanchard Dam was still hot. In a few minutes Bob looked better and we portaged down the street to the same put-in we both used in 2001. This was much better than the alternative, slippery rock laden spot upstream. We left at 4:48 am.
(BB) Our crew met us on river-left just above Sauk Rapids, as planned. We pulled the canoe on shore and I went to the van to change into dry clothes and to warm up. Clark changed his clothes outside and went with some of the crew to check out the best way to get through the rapids. It had stopped raining and the crew mounted the camera on the stern of our canoe. The passage was fast and we avoided the big rocks and back eddies.
(CE) I changed and scouted out the best route through Sauk Rapids. There was a nice chute that led into a big rock, but it looked easy enough to veer left around it. Soon we were ready to go and the video camera strapped on the stem. We managed the rapids without any problem and were soon downstream near some bridges, one of which had a train cross over while we passed underneath.
(BB) We arrived early at St. Cloud Dam at river mile 926 and portaged on the left around 7:15 am.
(BB) At the end of the portage, Kenn Ketter, Al Dubois, Lee Jarpey and Keith Canny were all waiting for us. They are paddling friends from the Minnesota area and had teamed up to paddle with us to Kenn's house on the Mississippi River just upstream from downtown Minneapolis.
(BB) Below the dam at St Cloud, Kenn and Al were paddling a pro-canoe and Keith and Lee were paddling a competition cruiser. Both canoes were fairly fast in design, but they also were very unstable in the high head wind that we had. These guys were real experts, so they didn't have any problems that they couldn't handle,
(BB) Near river mile 905, we all witnessed a hawk swoop down and grab a wood duck and attempt to fly away with it on river-right. After a couple hundred feet, the hawk dropped the wood duck and the duck fell to the water. The wood duck then flew off apparently unharmed.
(BB) Our road crew met us at the upper Montissippi County Park near Monticello at 12:05 pm. We ate on shore, river-right, then took off with the two other canoes still with us. The wind was still blowing in our face and it would continue all the way to Elk River where we turned south. It was bad enough that we were paddling about 5 feet off the shoreline trying to keep out of the wind.
(CE) It was blowing hard and it was tough paddling. I was long, long overdue for a sleep cycle, and tried to lay down for it. I just couldn't sleep thinking of Bob paddling solo in this wind, so I got back up. It was a good thing, too, because the wind increased. We tried to get some shelter paddling along the bank, close enough to hit the bushes, but we didn't have much luck. Somewhere in this section, I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder. It ached with every catch and pull of the paddle, so I took some "vitamin I" and kept on.
(BB) At the end of the portage, Kenn Ketter, Al Dubois, Lee Jarpey and Keith Canny were all waiting for us. They are paddling friends from the Minnesota area and had teamed up to paddle with us to Kenn's house on the Mississippi River just upstream from downtown Minneapolis.
(BB) Below the dam at St Cloud, Kenn and Al were paddling a pro-canoe and Keith and Lee were paddling a competition cruiser. Both canoes were fairly fast in design, but they also were very unstable in the high head wind that we had. These guys were real experts, so they didn't have any problems that they couldn't handle,
(BB) Near river mile 905, we all witnessed a hawk swoop down and grab a wood duck and attempt to fly away with it on river-right. After a couple hundred feet, the hawk dropped the wood duck and the duck fell to the water. The wood duck then flew off apparently unharmed.
(BB) Our road crew met us at the upper Montissippi County Park near Monticello at 12:05 pm. We ate on shore, river-right, then took off with the two other canoes still with us. The wind was still blowing in our face and it would continue all the way to Elk River where we turned south. It was bad enough that we were paddling about 5 feet off the shoreline trying to keep out of the wind.
(CE) It was blowing hard and it was tough paddling. I was long, long overdue for a sleep cycle, and tried to lay down for it. I just couldn't sleep thinking of Bob paddling solo in this wind, so I got back up. It was a good thing, too, because the wind increased. We tried to get some shelter paddling along the bank, close enough to hit the bushes, but we didn't have much luck. Somewhere in this section, I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder. It ached with every catch and pull of the paddle, so I took some "vitamin I" and kept on.
(BB) Paddling friend Ed Arenz joined us in his C-1 near river mile 874. Then a couple miles below that Tom Gardner and Chuck Ryan joined us in a pro-canoe.
(BB) We arrived at Ken's house near 7:00 pm. We met Andrew Gribble's mother there and I had a chance to meet more of my paddling friends from Minnesota including Sara Kuetter, an excellent tri-athlete, who I had raced with in 2002, and Gene Jensen, the legendary canoe designer. It had been almost two years since I had talked to Gene. We also visited with my good friend Donald Clark and Bonnie Riley from the area who I snow shoe race with in Duluth every year. I took a shower and we ate lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and some pickled herring. Angie knew I liked pickled herring, so she had picked it up for me. I got an hour nap before leaving Kenn's place. Tony Swenson and his wife, Diane, joined our team again.
(CE) It was great to visit with so many friends, and to have some time to thank the folks who paddled all day with up. They did a great job paddling their canoes in high wind conditions. I'm sure I would have went swimming on more than once if l were in their canoes! I tried to lay down for a nap in a room off the living room, but it was too noisy and I couldn't fall asleep. I retreated to the trailer, where it was quieter, and had a short nap. Tony Swenson woke me up an hour later.
(BB) We left before dark, but not by much. On the very next bridge a few minutes down river, Sara Kuetter and my grandson David were banging on pots and pans, cheering us on.
(BB) We locked through the upper, then lower St. Anthony Falls locks. The Lockmaster said a TV crew had been there till about 9:00 pm, looking for us but gave up.
(BB) We arrived at Ken's house near 7:00 pm. We met Andrew Gribble's mother there and I had a chance to meet more of my paddling friends from Minnesota including Sara Kuetter, an excellent tri-athlete, who I had raced with in 2002, and Gene Jensen, the legendary canoe designer. It had been almost two years since I had talked to Gene. We also visited with my good friend Donald Clark and Bonnie Riley from the area who I snow shoe race with in Duluth every year. I took a shower and we ate lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and some pickled herring. Angie knew I liked pickled herring, so she had picked it up for me. I got an hour nap before leaving Kenn's place. Tony Swenson and his wife, Diane, joined our team again.
(CE) It was great to visit with so many friends, and to have some time to thank the folks who paddled all day with up. They did a great job paddling their canoes in high wind conditions. I'm sure I would have went swimming on more than once if l were in their canoes! I tried to lay down for a nap in a room off the living room, but it was too noisy and I couldn't fall asleep. I retreated to the trailer, where it was quieter, and had a short nap. Tony Swenson woke me up an hour later.
(BB) We left before dark, but not by much. On the very next bridge a few minutes down river, Sara Kuetter and my grandson David were banging on pots and pans, cheering us on.
(BB) We locked through the upper, then lower St. Anthony Falls locks. The Lockmaster said a TV crew had been there till about 9:00 pm, looking for us but gave up.
(CE) We reached Upper St. Anthony L&D at midnight. None of our team was there, and we had a quiet passage through the tallest lock on the Mississippi River. It was cold and misty at the bottom of the lock, and we pushed out into turbulent water. It wasn't long after that we went through the Lower St. Anthony lock, and the Lockmaster kindly called ahead to L&D #1 to let them know we were on our way.
(BB) The Lock and Dam master at St. Anthony had called ahead to Lock and Dam #1 (L&D #1) to let them know that we were coming so we got through fast.
(BB) Al Dubois and Tom Gardner met us that night below Lock and Dam #1 just after Pike Island. They had attached a light on the front of Tom's competition cruiser. They traveled with us down to South St. Paul Access below the I-494 Bridge. Along the way, Tom showed us a way to slip by a tug with barges on river-left by Pig's Eye Island.
(CE) Tom had to leave us after soon after the I-494 Bridge at a boat ramp around 4 am. Bob went down for a sleep cycle. Unfortunately, I was still really short on sleep. Around 5 am, upstream of Upper Gray Cloud Island, I literally could not keep my eyes open and nodded off several times. The coffee had stopped working its magic, and I had to throw cold water on my head and down my back to startle myself awake. That was enough to keep me going so Bob could rest.
END OF Bob Bradford/Clark Eid Paddler log; Wednesday, May 14th, 2003;
(BB) The Lock and Dam master at St. Anthony had called ahead to Lock and Dam #1 (L&D #1) to let them know that we were coming so we got through fast.
(BB) Al Dubois and Tom Gardner met us that night below Lock and Dam #1 just after Pike Island. They had attached a light on the front of Tom's competition cruiser. They traveled with us down to South St. Paul Access below the I-494 Bridge. Along the way, Tom showed us a way to slip by a tug with barges on river-left by Pig's Eye Island.
(CE) Tom had to leave us after soon after the I-494 Bridge at a boat ramp around 4 am. Bob went down for a sleep cycle. Unfortunately, I was still really short on sleep. Around 5 am, upstream of Upper Gray Cloud Island, I literally could not keep my eyes open and nodded off several times. The coffee had stopped working its magic, and I had to throw cold water on my head and down my back to startle myself awake. That was enough to keep me going so Bob could rest.
END OF Bob Bradford/Clark Eid Paddler log; Wednesday, May 14th, 2003;
Text Updates from our Race Web Log During the race, May 14, 2003
Update from Dana Hanson, per Stan Hanson (posted by Mary at 7:59 AM):
The paddlers arrived at Sauk Rapids, MN, in the dark at 5:30am. They enjoyed their breakfast, and once daylight made its appearance, the group scouted the rapids for which the city is named. The video camera was mounted on the back of the canoe so they could get some pictures while they canoed the rapids. Shortly after 6am, the paddlers shot the rapids and were on their way.
While Stan and I were talking, they were all portaging in St. Cloud. People were shaking their hands, and the paddlers were in good spirits. Ken Ketter had joined them and was portaging right along with our Team. He will be joining the paddlers on the water from St. Cloud to Coon Rapids, and possibly beyond. By the time Stan's and my conversation ended, they had arrived at the other end of the portage. I could hear everybody talking in the background.
Stan anticipates that they will be at and thru St. Anthony's Upper and Lower Dams before this morning is over.
Stan has finally hooked up with a St. Louis radio station, KLOU 103.3FM, and interviewed with Smash, the morning DJ from 5:30am to 9am. Smash said he is amazed at what Team Hope is doing and has asked Stan to call in early every morning. He's scheduled short but thorough segments on what is happening. Smash hopes to get a bunch of people together to greet the paddlers when they arrive at the Arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at 10am on Tuesday, May 20.
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From Dana Hanson, per Stan Hanson (posted by Mary at 1:57 PM):
Stan called around 12:20pm CST -- using his cell phone instead of a satellite phone! The paddlers are 32 miles above Coon Rapids. The head wind has picked up a lot, making paddling more difficult. Ken Ketter is still paddling with Bob & Clark, and he has invited them and the land crew to a feast of lasagna dinner. Only 34 miles downstream, on the western edge of Minneapolis! He's made arrangements for several of Bob's friends to meet them there, including Gene Jensen, a boat builder. Hopefully, Clark & Bob will be able to get at least four hours of deep, well-deserved sleep (in a comfortable bed) before leaving Ketter's Landing. The crew right now are all playing like gophers.
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Mary Potter writes: Weather
Minneapolis, MN weather forecast for Wednesday, 5/14/2003 -
This afternoon - Showers likely and a chance of late afternoon thunderstorms. Highs from 64 to 67. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Tonight - A 60 percent chance of showers this evening. Then partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.<font>
Update from Dana Hanson, per Stan Hanson (posted by Mary at 7:59 AM):
The paddlers arrived at Sauk Rapids, MN, in the dark at 5:30am. They enjoyed their breakfast, and once daylight made its appearance, the group scouted the rapids for which the city is named. The video camera was mounted on the back of the canoe so they could get some pictures while they canoed the rapids. Shortly after 6am, the paddlers shot the rapids and were on their way.
While Stan and I were talking, they were all portaging in St. Cloud. People were shaking their hands, and the paddlers were in good spirits. Ken Ketter had joined them and was portaging right along with our Team. He will be joining the paddlers on the water from St. Cloud to Coon Rapids, and possibly beyond. By the time Stan's and my conversation ended, they had arrived at the other end of the portage. I could hear everybody talking in the background.
Stan anticipates that they will be at and thru St. Anthony's Upper and Lower Dams before this morning is over.
Stan has finally hooked up with a St. Louis radio station, KLOU 103.3FM, and interviewed with Smash, the morning DJ from 5:30am to 9am. Smash said he is amazed at what Team Hope is doing and has asked Stan to call in early every morning. He's scheduled short but thorough segments on what is happening. Smash hopes to get a bunch of people together to greet the paddlers when they arrive at the Arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at 10am on Tuesday, May 20.
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From Dana Hanson, per Stan Hanson (posted by Mary at 1:57 PM):
Stan called around 12:20pm CST -- using his cell phone instead of a satellite phone! The paddlers are 32 miles above Coon Rapids. The head wind has picked up a lot, making paddling more difficult. Ken Ketter is still paddling with Bob & Clark, and he has invited them and the land crew to a feast of lasagna dinner. Only 34 miles downstream, on the western edge of Minneapolis! He's made arrangements for several of Bob's friends to meet them there, including Gene Jensen, a boat builder. Hopefully, Clark & Bob will be able to get at least four hours of deep, well-deserved sleep (in a comfortable bed) before leaving Ketter's Landing. The crew right now are all playing like gophers.
___________________________________________
Mary Potter writes: Weather
Minneapolis, MN weather forecast for Wednesday, 5/14/2003 -
This afternoon - Showers likely and a chance of late afternoon thunderstorms. Highs from 64 to 67. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Tonight - A 60 percent chance of showers this evening. Then partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.<font>
Our Expedition, which Stan got out of the shop yesterday, is working great. Then I heard, "But another couple trips down the Mississippi, and I might have to trade it in." There was a long pause. In the back of my mind I was remembering how it took only six months after the Great Mississippi River Race of 2001 for discussions to start up about the Mississippi River Challenge of 2003. I asked if they were already talking about the next race for Rett & Leukodystrophy. He laughed. Never did get a truly direct answer..... hmmmmm
stuff later!
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stuff later!
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Posted by Mary Potter at 2:10 PM
Clark called around 12:30 CST and said they were heading towards the Twin Cities.... said 4 paddling friends of Bob had been with them and that it was great to have the company on the water.... also said when he was suppose to sleep last night a downpour began and he got soaked, and apparently did not sleep. He is quite tired. I hope he sleeps before he starts seeing 12 foot beaver tails again...
He mentioned seeing Brie and Brianna, 2 girls with Rett syndrome who were at the Headwaters in our previous race in 2001.... and their mom Danita. I can't remember if he said their grandmom Diane was there - but I suspect she was if she could have been. I first actually "met" Diane online years ago on a couple Rett Syndrome email listserves - she is very active in her grandchildren's lives and very knowledgeable about the day to day ins and outs with Rett Syndrome. Clark was very happy to see them all, and of course, eat the pizza they had brought for Team Hope.....
Clark called around 12:30 CST and said they were heading towards the Twin Cities.... said 4 paddling friends of Bob had been with them and that it was great to have the company on the water.... also said when he was suppose to sleep last night a downpour began and he got soaked, and apparently did not sleep. He is quite tired. I hope he sleeps before he starts seeing 12 foot beaver tails again...
He mentioned seeing Brie and Brianna, 2 girls with Rett syndrome who were at the Headwaters in our previous race in 2001.... and their mom Danita. I can't remember if he said their grandmom Diane was there - but I suspect she was if she could have been. I first actually "met" Diane online years ago on a couple Rett Syndrome email listserves - she is very active in her grandchildren's lives and very knowledgeable about the day to day ins and outs with Rett Syndrome. Clark was very happy to see them all, and of course, eat the pizza they had brought for Team Hope.....
continued post from Mary Potter:
I told Clark the website maps from Where Are They Now? were updating very quickly and often now. The Automatic Positioning Radio System and Global Positioning System that are tied to the race canoe work in tandem to send a radio signal that includes Clark's call wb0oly, and their longitude and latitude position to a a radio/computer program system set up at Findu.com . That system at Findu.com in turn uses that information and maps from MapBlast to generate the maps folks are seeing on our event website. Steve Dimse, who runs findu.com, allows us to frame those maps right into our site. Talk about helping a fellow ham!
Special thanks to everyone who helped with that. It really does make the race more exciting for those of us watching from the web. Steve Dimse will try to put together a short QuickTime movie for us summarizing Team Hope's progress that we can use for our website.
Clark said they got great "on the water" video shots when going through the rapids today. We hope to use this footage to help produce a documentary about this adventure, Rett Syndrome, and Leukodystrophy after we smash the record..... anyone interested in helping with that should feel free to contact us.
Mary Potter
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Posted by Dana at 7:31 PM
Everybody has arrived at Ken Ketter's place in NW Minneapolis. Clark &Bob and a few other canoeists showed up right at 7:15pm. They will be eating lasagna dinner and relaxing for a while. Although Stan indicated earlier that they would try to have the paddlers sleep in comfortable beds for several hours, he's not sure if they really want to stop that long. Guess we'll find out later.
While waiting for Clark & Bob, Stan did quite a bit of talking with Gene Jensen -- a "paddling, canoe-designer, builder" legend, probably 80-something years young. He had great stories about Verlen. We'll have to get details on the good
Dana Hanson
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I told Clark the website maps from Where Are They Now? were updating very quickly and often now. The Automatic Positioning Radio System and Global Positioning System that are tied to the race canoe work in tandem to send a radio signal that includes Clark's call wb0oly, and their longitude and latitude position to a a radio/computer program system set up at Findu.com . That system at Findu.com in turn uses that information and maps from MapBlast to generate the maps folks are seeing on our event website. Steve Dimse, who runs findu.com, allows us to frame those maps right into our site. Talk about helping a fellow ham!
Special thanks to everyone who helped with that. It really does make the race more exciting for those of us watching from the web. Steve Dimse will try to put together a short QuickTime movie for us summarizing Team Hope's progress that we can use for our website.
Clark said they got great "on the water" video shots when going through the rapids today. We hope to use this footage to help produce a documentary about this adventure, Rett Syndrome, and Leukodystrophy after we smash the record..... anyone interested in helping with that should feel free to contact us.
Mary Potter
__________________________________________
Posted by Dana at 7:31 PM
Everybody has arrived at Ken Ketter's place in NW Minneapolis. Clark &Bob and a few other canoeists showed up right at 7:15pm. They will be eating lasagna dinner and relaxing for a while. Although Stan indicated earlier that they would try to have the paddlers sleep in comfortable beds for several hours, he's not sure if they really want to stop that long. Guess we'll find out later.
While waiting for Clark & Bob, Stan did quite a bit of talking with Gene Jensen -- a "paddling, canoe-designer, builder" legend, probably 80-something years young. He had great stories about Verlen. We'll have to get details on the good
Dana Hanson
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Posted by Mary at 7:45 PM
Clark is calling me right now - said it's very very very windy... also that there were 7 canoeists with them today paddling from time to time ... very nice... they love it when folks paddle with them....We are hoping to get some pictures online soon from some of the fellow paddlers!
Clark said they are about to start going through the Locks and Dams. The Lock and Dam masters have quite a task and we were grateful for their kind assistance during our 2001 Mississippi adventure. Kent Spading is our Army Corp of Engineer liaison, and has helped alert folks to our 2003 race. I'm sure things will go smoothly through the Locks and Dams overall, I just worry more about the night time travelling in general. On a great note though, the lighting on the race boat is spectacular - with our sponsor's Nite Rider lights and our GreatLand Laser signaling devices, the paddlers should be easily seen and see well themselves. Many thanks to Princeton Tech also, for the headlamps for the Road Crew, and to Luminox for watches for the paddlers .... it all helps tremendously at night, and that's 1/2 the race!
The team is presently at Ketter's Canoes in the Twin Cities now, inside for the moment to get out of the wind, to eat, and to get ready for the next section.... I told Clark the weather report indicates the wind may be continuing, and the chance for rain high. The Team sounds fine overall, no problems reported, no concerns. Clark sounded tired, but well. I'm hoping to talk with Bob next time :-). They are all so very busy right now... I'm just glad they are all ok.
Mary Potter
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Posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 8:24 PM
We had a great dinner at the portage last night in Little Falls, MN, courtesy of Danita and family (thanks again, Danita!).
Windy today; VERY windy. It was a long trip for the paddlers from Sauk Rapids to the Twin Cities, where we are now. Everyone on the road crew had a chance to take a shower at Ketter's; for most of us it is only the second shower we've had since last Friday or Saturday.
Bonnie Riley came to Ketter's Canoeing and met everyone and gave Angie several "Mississippi River Challenge" blankets which she made.
--AMG
Clark is calling me right now - said it's very very very windy... also that there were 7 canoeists with them today paddling from time to time ... very nice... they love it when folks paddle with them....We are hoping to get some pictures online soon from some of the fellow paddlers!
Clark said they are about to start going through the Locks and Dams. The Lock and Dam masters have quite a task and we were grateful for their kind assistance during our 2001 Mississippi adventure. Kent Spading is our Army Corp of Engineer liaison, and has helped alert folks to our 2003 race. I'm sure things will go smoothly through the Locks and Dams overall, I just worry more about the night time travelling in general. On a great note though, the lighting on the race boat is spectacular - with our sponsor's Nite Rider lights and our GreatLand Laser signaling devices, the paddlers should be easily seen and see well themselves. Many thanks to Princeton Tech also, for the headlamps for the Road Crew, and to Luminox for watches for the paddlers .... it all helps tremendously at night, and that's 1/2 the race!
The team is presently at Ketter's Canoes in the Twin Cities now, inside for the moment to get out of the wind, to eat, and to get ready for the next section.... I told Clark the weather report indicates the wind may be continuing, and the chance for rain high. The Team sounds fine overall, no problems reported, no concerns. Clark sounded tired, but well. I'm hoping to talk with Bob next time :-). They are all so very busy right now... I'm just glad they are all ok.
Mary Potter
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Posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 8:24 PM
We had a great dinner at the portage last night in Little Falls, MN, courtesy of Danita and family (thanks again, Danita!).
Windy today; VERY windy. It was a long trip for the paddlers from Sauk Rapids to the Twin Cities, where we are now. Everyone on the road crew had a chance to take a shower at Ketter's; for most of us it is only the second shower we've had since last Friday or Saturday.
Bonnie Riley came to Ketter's Canoeing and met everyone and gave Angie several "Mississippi River Challenge" blankets which she made.
--AMG
posted by Tammy at 9:35 PM
Whohoo, more updates! It was a hard day for me today going cold turkey without being a Team Hope groupie. I am sure I was having withdrawal symptoms. After spending 5 days in a row chasing Team Hope around Minnesota it was hard to be at home wondering what was going on. It is good to hear everyone is doing good and got a hot shower. Thanks Ketters!
Chuck and Lisa Evert who are parents to Jill, with Rett Syndrome are going to be traveling with them tomorrow and possibly Friday too, we should be getting some good updates from them also.
I have gotten a few responses from Rett families who live down the river a ways and want to be there to cheer Team Hope on in the next week or so.
-Tammy Hanson
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Jessica Phelps writes:
It's been a lot of fun & I wish that I could do this every year! Everybody has been really nice & done a lot for us: cooking, showers, and a good place to sleep and rest better.
posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 9:42 PM
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Angie Phelps writes:
Great people are all along the Mississippi River. Kenn Ketter, Al DuBois, Keith Canny, and Lee Jarpy put in at St. Cloud Dam and paddled for over 12 hours with Dad (Bob) & Clark. Ed Arenz, Chuck Ryan and Tom Gardner joined them during the day for a few hours too.
Ken's wife Beth Sikkema made Lasagna and Sarah Kueffer opened her home (also the home of Ketter Canoeing) and let Bob, Clark and the Road Crew take naps and showers.
Bob's snowshoeing friend Bonnie Riley made some lap throws that are embroidered with "Mississippi River Challenge - TEAM HOPE - May 2003" to give to kids along the way. She also made "racing cookies" for the guys.
Gene Jenson (Jenson Canoes) stopped in to see how the course was going. That meant a lot to Team Hope.
Crew Member Tony Swenson came back to visit us at Ketter Canoes! We were glad to have him back with us again, if only for a short visit.
Posted by Andrew Gribble at 10:04 PM
Whohoo, more updates! It was a hard day for me today going cold turkey without being a Team Hope groupie. I am sure I was having withdrawal symptoms. After spending 5 days in a row chasing Team Hope around Minnesota it was hard to be at home wondering what was going on. It is good to hear everyone is doing good and got a hot shower. Thanks Ketters!
Chuck and Lisa Evert who are parents to Jill, with Rett Syndrome are going to be traveling with them tomorrow and possibly Friday too, we should be getting some good updates from them also.
I have gotten a few responses from Rett families who live down the river a ways and want to be there to cheer Team Hope on in the next week or so.
-Tammy Hanson
___________________________________________
Jessica Phelps writes:
It's been a lot of fun & I wish that I could do this every year! Everybody has been really nice & done a lot for us: cooking, showers, and a good place to sleep and rest better.
posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 9:42 PM
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Angie Phelps writes:
Great people are all along the Mississippi River. Kenn Ketter, Al DuBois, Keith Canny, and Lee Jarpy put in at St. Cloud Dam and paddled for over 12 hours with Dad (Bob) & Clark. Ed Arenz, Chuck Ryan and Tom Gardner joined them during the day for a few hours too.
Ken's wife Beth Sikkema made Lasagna and Sarah Kueffer opened her home (also the home of Ketter Canoeing) and let Bob, Clark and the Road Crew take naps and showers.
Bob's snowshoeing friend Bonnie Riley made some lap throws that are embroidered with "Mississippi River Challenge - TEAM HOPE - May 2003" to give to kids along the way. She also made "racing cookies" for the guys.
Gene Jenson (Jenson Canoes) stopped in to see how the course was going. That meant a lot to Team Hope.
Crew Member Tony Swenson came back to visit us at Ketter Canoes! We were glad to have him back with us again, if only for a short visit.
Posted by Andrew Gribble at 10:04 PM