2001 Race - May 28, 2001, Monday
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 5-7 AM calls
Elizabeth Tynan, Safety Officer: Team Alaska: Kerm called from Caruthersville, MO, river mile 847, at 6:00, afraid they wouldn't be able to paddle for awhile because of the ominous pileup of storm clouds in the South. He said they are all happy and well-fed, having dined on his own special version of stir fry last night for supper and having gotten a good night's sleep at the city picnic grounds where they camped. They are eager to reach Memphis and spend a day like "tourists." One big culinary problem in the Midwest, Kerm observed, is that grocery stores are full of "bland food," lacking anything spicy and exotic like ingredients for Oriental dishes. Welcome to the Midwest, Kerm and crew. A native Iowan myself, I never even tasted a taco until I was twelve. But I guess that's in the ancient past and kids get them in their school lunches now--sans the spicy salsa. I asked Kerm what he did in a "pinch" to add the desired punch to his cooking, and his answer was: "soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and my own special sauce of two teaspoons of black pepper stirred into one tablespoon of catsup." Hmm. . . guess that will get the guys going all right, if not stir up outright mutiny. Just KIDDING, Kerm. Add some more pepper to the pot. Team Double Helix: It was great to hear the familiar early-morning greeting once more--at 6:45--though not quite so early as in days of yore: "Hi. Andrew M. Gribble here." (Hi Andrew M. Gribble, it's wonderful to be back.) He said their team was at river mile 266, near New Roads, LA. They camped at a Ferry Landing there last night and everyone got a good night's sleep after making camp at 12:30 a.m. Or is that a good morning's sleep? 'Scattered rain showers had passed by, but no sign of the severe storms the weather channel predicted were to come later today. Let's hope Clark and Kurt can paddle out of their path. Team Kruger: After Stan told me that their team now consists of nine land crew members and four or five vehicles, Ibegan to think of them as the "Kruger Canoeing Caravan," what with so many family members along to share the Agony and the Ecstasy of this great Mississippi Odyssey. When Stan called in at 6:30, they were at a small Louisiana town called Donaldson, river mile 175, having found a suitable landing there at 2:00 a.m with the aid of all the kings horses and all the king's men--I mean, three of the sheriff's men and their three squad cars. Mercy me. There isn't much to do at 2:00 a.m., the officers sheepishly explained to Stan. Stan said finding a landing there was difficult because so many are on private property, behind locked gates and fences. It might sound crazy but I'm quite sure I heard Mark Twain groaning from his grave right then, grieved at what his Mighty Mississipp had metamorphasized into in this "improved" modern age. Go to sleep, Mr. Twain. With all due respect, there is nothing you can do. The river you so loved isn't wild and free anymore. Some other colloquial features Stan found interesting are the many radiostations playing Cajun music and the multitudes of roadside signs advertising "Crawdads and Shrimp for Sale." So far, none of the crew has had a chance to sample any yet. (Webmaster's note, from Mary Potter - Stan called later today to say hello and to report that Verlen and Bob are feeling so good they decided to "race" a tug boat for an upcoming curve that would be too tight for both the tug and their canoe to pass together...and they won :-))
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