Florida Paddling Bulletin No. 44, 10/31/2010

Number 44 newsletter
Topics:
Items of Interest: Report on Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon, Lenny's humor
Events and Races: FCPA races; West Coast Off-Shore Series and more
Article: Missouri River 340, Part Two of Two
Marty Sullivan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITEMS OF INTEREST:
Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon
thanks to Rod Price for this report.
The 9th Annual Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon Canoe and Kayak Race was held on Sat. October 16th near White Springs, Florida. Low water conditions forced the race organizers to move the race eight miles south of White Springs to find suitable paddling conditions. A total of 45 racers competed in the event.

The overall winner of the 52 mile Challenge race was Ardie Olson from Cumming, GA in a time of 7:55:36. In the C-1 division, Andy Kluge of Asheville, NC out-sprinted Larry Frederick (Archer, FL) by four seconds to win in 8:18:20. Marty Sullivan (Winter Park, FL), competing in his ninth consecutive Challenge, won the racing kayak division in 8:48. The recreational kayak division was won by Kieran McCarthy (Orlando, FL) in 11:05. In the 28 mile marathon Brint Adams (Auburndale, FL) won the overall title with a time of 4:48.

Although the new course caused racers to miss the infamous class III rapids at Big Shoals, Challenge competitors encountered class I and II rapids a mile past Suwannee River State Park. As usual, paddlers enjoyed free beer at the Telford Hotel in White Springs during the awards ceremony. Thanks to everyone who participated.
[ed. -- Rod ran a great race, and the after-race party was a blast as usual.]

Lenny provides us these critical comparisons:
The difference between prison, work, and a kayak:
IN PRISON—you spend the majority of your time in an 8x10 cell.
AT WORK—you spend most of your time in a 6x8 cubicle.
IN A KAYAK—you spend most of your time in a 6x1 boat.
IN PRISON—you get three meals a day.
AT WORK—you only get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it.
IN A KAYAK—you survive on gorp, powerbars, and instant lentils.
IN PRISON—you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK—you get rewarded for good behavior with more work.
IN A KAYAK—your reward for good behavior is the rocks quit hitting you on the head.
IN PRISON—a guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK—you must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself.
IN A KAYAK—you must keep your grab loop out in order to open the door.
IN PRISON—you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK—you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN A KAYAK—you fire the TV and life becomes a game.
IN PRISON—you get your own toilet.
AT WORK—you have to share.
IN A KAYAK—you just pee in your wetsuit. If you're like me you do this above a class IV.
IN PRISON—they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK—you cannot even speak to your family and friends.
IN A KAYAK—your family can't find you and your friends can't hear you over the river.
IN PRISON—all expenses are paid by taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK—you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
IN A KAYAK—you pay your expenses by working the month that the river is down.
IN PRISON—you spend most of your life looking through bars from the inside wanting to get out.
AT WORK—you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN A KAYAK—you don't need to go to bars; rafters are more than willing to toss you a Bud.
IN PRISON—you are warm and dry.
AT WORK—you get wet and cold before getting warm and dry again.
IN A KAYAK—well... you will be wet and cold.
IN PRISON—there are wardens who are often sadistic.
AT WORK—they are called managers.
IN A KAYAK—they are called rapids.

EVENTS AND RACES:
Florida Competition Paddlers Events (usually 10 miles and 4 or 5 miles in protected waters):
November 7, 2010, Paddle of the Pass, Matlacha, FL, Contact Nancy Macphee, http://www.floridapaddlingtrails.com/, 239-707-7275
December 4, 2010, Silver Springs Race, Silver Springs, FL, Contact Larry/Glenda Frederick, lf6978@yahoo.com
January 15, 2011, Wakulla River Race, Tallahassee, FL, Contact Jack/Anke Toth, Jack@Toth.net
January 23, 2011, Estero River Race, Ft. Myers, FL, Contact Paula, erol@aol.com, 239-992-4050
February 19, 2011, Peace River Race, Paula Lunt
February 26, 2011, Crisp Park Race, St. Pete, FL, Contact John Edwards, canoechamp@aol.com, 727-459-6366
March 12, 2011, Great Pickle Race, Tampa, FL, Contact Glennis Williams, ggawilliams@juno.com, 727-455-9188
March 19, 2011, Manatee Run, Orange River, N. Ft. Myers at Manatee Pk, FL,
April 2, 2011, Rainbow River Race, Dunnellon, FL, Contact Ken Streb, 585-738-7237, kenstreb@gmail.com
December 3, 2011, Silver Springs Race, Silver Springs, FL, Contact Larry/Glenda Frederick, lf6978@yahoo.com
Calusa Blueway Festival, October 29 - Nov 7, Fort Myers, FL. This 5th annual "signature eco-event" celebrates Southwest Florida's 190 mile marked paddling trail, The Great Calusa Blueway, which meanders from its southern tip at Bonita Springs to its northern-most points around Pine Island Sound and up the Caloosahatchee River. Paddlers, competitors, families and outdoor enthusiasts from around Southwest Florida, the state and the nation attend this one-of-a-kind eco-event. Festivities include competitive canoe/kayak races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, family activities, archaeological and environmental events, guided tours, and more celebrations along The Great Calusa Blueway. More info at 239-823-6335, Email: bclayton@leegov.com, Web Site: http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com/
Alafia River Challenge, November 13, 2010, Brandon, FL. Registration closes this week, so register now! See http://www.alafiachallenge.com/ for details. This is a fun 9-mile paddle from Lithia Springs, near Brandon, Florida, ending with music, food, etc. Sign up early since it fills up.
Homossassa River Races, April 9-10, 2011, Dragon Boat Race (Saturday) and canoe/kayak race (Sunday). Contact Terry Johnson, montanatrail@gmail.com
Ochlockonee River Paddlefest, April 16-17, 2011, Tallahassee, Florida. "A unique opportunity to experience one of north Florida's most underappreciated rivers." Canoe/kayak races on April 16 (7.5, 13.5, and 34 miles). Yellow Fly Paddle Challenge on April 17, 59 miles down the Ochlockonee River. See http://www.ochlockonee.com/.
West Coast Offshore Series 2011, Clearwater, FL, Sand Key Sailing Center. For single and tandem surfkis, outriggers, off-shore kayaks, and paddleboards. $5 per person. Contact Rob Merlinbrink at surfsk1r@yahoo.com or see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaianianicanoeclub/post?postID=W9-NEZrs64\SDB8QlFETxDghFHSnDUOafN7d9J-9EWbzbgVHasdTfpX8YQh-DyzU3AFCroh5kz8iwWFUpcK\2oA0aTMg
Race 2, 11/14/10, 11 am
Race 3, 11/28/10, 11 am
Race 4, 12/12/10, 11 am
Race 5, 1/9/11, 11 am
Race 6, 1/23/11, 11 am
Race 7, 2/6/11, 11 am
Race 8, 2/20/11, 11 am

MISSOURI RIVER 340 (Part Two of Two)
by Marty Sullivan
Mile 180 to the Finish, 340 miles
Sunrise on the second day allows me some peace of mind as I can relax my vigil against unseen river hazards. Also I can more easily pick out the deepest, fastest current.
Good news at the next checkpoint that I am in sixth place in my class, and me with having had three indulgent hours of sleep! An uneventful day of following the channel and avoiding wing dikes leads me to Hermann three hours ahead of my planned arrival, but I took no chances and took a brief two-hour nap before starting the 68-mile home stretch through the second night. Launching from Hermann at 10:30 pm means I'll cover most of the rest of the race in the dark, seeing sunrise as I approach St. Louis.
The river seems to change character, or perhaps it is just the scattered, low-hanging fog that obscures the water but allows me to see the tree tops and maintain a course down the middle of the river. I cannot follow the fast water since the channel meanders back and forth around the river bends and I have to stay in the middle to avoid obstructions. But I am still maintaining around 8 miles per hour as I keep an eye on my GPS using my red-lighted headlamp. As I lose visibility in fog, I pause paddling every few strokes to listen for water rushing around dikes, bouys, and obstructions. Approaching the last checkpoint I can see the bright blue strobe marking its location, but the fog gets more dense and I cannot make out the landing. As I get close, those on shore are yelling "turn here, turn here." I pass by a short distance, make a U-turn and paddle against the current to land at the checkpoint. News from the checkpoint is that there is one solo paddler not too distance ahead. As I leave, Maura shouts "Make me proud!".
Leaving the checkpoint my visibility is reduced by more fog. I listen intently, pausing my paddle strokes more often. When I hear rushing water, I sprint in the direction I believe with take me away from the obstacle. Once I just clear a wing dike and shoot through the resulting whirlpool with a brace, carried through quickly and safely due to my sprint speed. I dodge a bouncing, careening bouy located by the sound of rushing water, coming closer than I like. Finally the glow along the eastern horizon slowly brings light and safer paddling. As I approach St. Louis and pass under the first bridge, the river widens and I spot a solo kayaker who, with his head down, appears to be eating or urinating. At this sight I pour on the coals and hope I can pass him and hold him off to the finish, however I look behind me a mile later and he is not in sight.
In every long-distance event the view of the finish gives me an elation of feelings -- accomplishment, an end to pain and suffering, greeting Maura and friends, along with an eerie feeling that something special is ending. I approach the finish beach where volunteers are waiting to help me up the muddy bank and carry my boat up the shore, and Maura greets me with a hug and a refreshment. I think I will be through paddling for good until I return home and join my buddies for a paddle on the lakes back home.
A tandem canoe finishes a few minutes behind me, then someone spots a capsized kayak 1/2 mile upstream at the bridge. He seems to be struggling and unable to reenter his boat, so I clear my kayak deck, grab my spray skirt, fasten my PFD, and I and a tandem sea kayak head out to help. The capsized kayak and paddler continue drifting downstream where the rescue tandem kayak grabs the capsized kayak to drag it to the beach and I offer the swimmer a tow to shore. "Colin, is that you?" I shout? My friend from the start and first day of paddling ends up with an unusual finish as I end up with one last sprint to beat the current and drag him to shore.
Colin is who I had seen apparently eating or urinating at dawn across the river. He explained he was sleeping in his boat since he had not stopped for sleep the whole way. As he approached the finish he fell asleep again and fell out of his boat. With no bulkheads the kayak could not be emptied and he was unable to reenter his boat. With Colin safely ashore I returned to drinking my celebratory beers.