"Well blow me down!" -- Popeye

Last year the MR340 was delayed by 90 minutes because of a storm, this year it is being delayed 28 days because of a storm. Because of all the rainfall we have had here in the Midwest and the releases from the dams up river the Mighty Missouri has been flooding or running near bank full all spring and summer. Last night about 4 inches of rain fell in the Chariton River valley and that has pushed her above flood stage so (ironically) the MR340 is being postponed because of too much water.

This is the right decision. With 300 plus canoes and kayaks on the river in flood conditions it wouldn’t take much to create some tragic events. With the high water most of the boat ramps will be underwater as well as the levies and the buoys. Then add in night travel on a flood stage river and one comes up with even more obstacles.

A lot of effort has been made for next weeks race both by the promoters and the entrants and many of the entrants will be inconvenienced but we won’t be having any funerals at sea. My schedule is pretty flexible but I know Kyle has to put in for his vacation well in advance so it is to be determined if he can reschedule next month. Our ground crew has other obligations so we will need to find a new ground crew.

As Popeye would say “It is what it is”!

The Big Show Starts in 11 days

We are getting down to the final planning stages for this years MR340. We need to check over our gear, supplies and equipment to be sure we have everything we need but not more than we need. I seem to always take more than I will need so I am attempting to downsize this year. I'm going to leave my tool box at home and instead take a pair of pliers and duct tape. We will have to see what other necessities I can leave behind to make ourselves and our canoe more efficient.

We will need to get "My Dianna" out of the barn and wash her off real good and then give her a good coat of wax to make sure her bottom is smooth and slick. The Missouri River is running high and fast right now and it appears the water levels may remain high for the race so with the swift current and smooth slick canoe bottom we should be able to cut some hours off of last years time.

We have done all we can do to prepare our bodies for the exertion it will require to get downstream. All of the workouts and bike rides will get us headed the right direction but its the mind that one must overcome to complete this ultra marathon canoe race. Its when we begin to wonder why is it that we are out here on the dark river with sore hands, back and bottom fighting misquotes, leg cramps and drinking warm water that the race is won or lost. Everyone that glides their canoe onto the beach at the Lewis and Clark boat house in St. Charles knows the triumph of high achievement and even if they place in the second hundred they are a winner because they have accomplished what few have even attempted.

Teddy Roosevelt said it best:

In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Race to the Dome

SONS OF AUXVASSE CREEK

Race to the Dome

JULY 3, 2010

Matt and I left Maysville at 4:04am Saturday and headed to Hartsburg which is the starting point for the Race to the Dome. We arrived at the Hartsburg Missouri River access at about 7:50 and unloaded our canoe and got her ready for the river. The finish line is actually Cedar City which is 16 miles downstream and across the river from Jefferson City and the state capitol building (which has a dome).

Our good friends Tom and Joy Young from Auxvasse met us there to shuttle our vehicle to the finish line. Tom and I both competed in the MR 340 last year but on different teams. I had a MR 340 skull and crossbones decal on my canoe from last years MR 340. The fact that we (actually it was Chad and I) had competed in the 340 last year created instant creditability for the Sons of Auxvasse Creek. A few other 340 boats were in this particular race as well but most had only heard about it or wished they could do it.

This would be the first time Matt and I had paddled on the Missouri River . We have canoed on the Auxvasse Creek and on a local lake but this would be our first time with a steady current. This took a particular amount of courage from Matt because the last time he and I had this canoe on the water I swamped him.

Unlike the MR 340 this race started in heats based on the class each team was entered in. Our class (men’s tandem) had 18 entries and was the second heat. When the MR 340 starts in Kansas City in a few days all 340 boats will start at once. Of course in a 340 mile race starting position is not as critical as it is in a 16 mile race.

When attempting to maximize ones speed on the Missouri River it is important to find the channel because that is where the best current will usually be. With the present high water conditions even the slow part of the river is faster than usual but it is still better to be in the channel.

At the start Matt and I headed downstream and across the river with a group of about 7 or 8 boats. The other boats just headed downstream which looks like it would be quicker but the extra push from the current more than makes up for the added distance once one gets in the channel which is usually at the outside of the bends in the river. In this 16 mile stretch we will need to cross sides 5 times to stay in the channel.

There seemed to be more whirlpools than usual and they can throw a canoe off course. When we would see one of the canoes ahead of us do an unusual move we would either try to avoid that piece of water or power thru it. This strategy paid off for us. While they were attempting recover we were able to paddle by them.

At about 5 miles out it was apparent that 5 canoes would be contending for the lead of our heat. A 16 mile river race would have to be considered a sprint. We didn’t paddle all out all of the time but we did frequently. Our maximum speed was 11.6 mph which is quick for a 2 person canoe on the Missouri River .

By this time we were catching up with some of the slower canoes from the first heat and we were being passed by some of the faster kayaks that started in the heat behind us so it was difficult to tell for sure what position we were in. I thought we were in 3rd place about 50 yards behind the next tandem canoe. Matt and I made a charge on the canoe ahead of us and they responded by picking up the pace. We couldn’t close the gap so we backed down to our regular pace and followed them on in to the finish line which was pretty chaotic with the current, other craft landing and taking off, high water and mud. I was pleased to finish in 1:51 with an average speed of 8.6 mph and in what looked to me to be 3rd place.

Matt has more strength than me but I have a lot more river experience so we made a good team. When we were doing those sprints I could feel the benefit of all of those push ups and sit ups I have been doing these past months. Once the MR 340 gets underway the extended bicycle trips should benefit when it gets down to endurance both physical and mental. The Race to the Dome was mostly power but the MR 340 will be about 30% power, 40% endurance and 65% mental.

After landing and loading our canoe up for the trip home we waited around for the awards ceremony. The Old Brickhouse deli was serving food to the participants so we had our polish sausage and kraut for lunch. While we were waiting around the “dragon boat” arrived for a test run from Jefferson City to Herman which is about 50 river miles.

The dragon boat is a new canoe that has 20 paddlers and a helmsman built to specifically compete in the MR 340 this year. She is a good looking watercraft. They had two openings on her for paddlers for the test run and it was tempting for Matt and me to take a ride on her. I would guess they could get that canoe up to 20 or 25 mph with the fast current and 20 paddlers. The dragon boat should set a new race record for the MR 340.

When the officials passed out the awards we were pleasantly surprised to find we actually finished 2nd in our class. Matt and I are looking forward to next year.

Next event: MR340 start at Kaw Point in Kansas City , Ks. @ 8am, July 27.

2010 MR 340 Test Run

Kyle and I launched “My Dianna” from the Kaw Point ramp in Kansas City, Kansas yesterday morning with the downtown Kansas City, Missouri skyline in the background. The launch ramp was nearly underwater and what wasn’t under water was covered in mud due to the high waters.

Once we were out in the Kaw the water was smooth but at the confluence we encountered our first of many whirlpools and some rough water. The current was moving fast and we quickly lost sight of the Kansas City skyline. The water was dingy but mostly debris free. The high water has cleaned every thing out except for the mud left behind.

We did face some stiff headwinds (nothing comparable to the Washington, Mo headwinds of last year) from time to time but all in all it was a very pleasant trip. While coasting with the current we could run 4 to 5 mph and with very little effort we could attain 7mph. Our average speed for the 30 mile trip was 6.5 mph and our maximum was over 12 mph.

Our canoe was the only craft on the river other than a sand barge which put up a nice wake for us to navigate. It will be much different on July 27 when 340 boats depart Kaw Point.

Chad was our shuttle driver and he was waiting for us at Ft. Osage where we landed on the mud covered boat ramp. It was a smooth ride and if the river is as fast for the MR 340 that dragon boat may get up to 25 mph while many of the others will set personal best for the 340 mile race.