It's that time of year

Where's the river?

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Race adventure and event organizers are putting the final touches on 2009 schedule. Some have entry open, others are waiting till the first of the year. So many events to choose from.
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The dificulty factors vary and the price to participate varies as well. The other diference is of-course is the indirect costs of these under-takings. Gear equipment travel food lodging and the time commitment.
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Boo and I talked in length about 2009. We are un-decided on which direction to take. Our adventure budget is limited to just one big undertaking. It sure is fun to dream, plan and execute. What to do what to do what to do? I know one thing, my big event will be done with one or both of my daughters. An adventure with them is too precious to pass up.
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Here is an event on the rise. A little over my experience level and capabilities. Not for the timid or inexperienced.
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In true Kruger form, a tough tough event. The time of year is a challenge in itself, the route brutal. Can you imagine crossing Lake Michigan East to West in May?
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It looks like there will be winter training sessions leading up to the event. There is talk of a January two day overnight paddle on the Big Manistee as a tune up.
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Mark and I have kicked around meet ups and paddle weekends leading up to the event for "his" training. I could use the experience to increase my skill set 10 fold. The nice thing about it, all within driving distance of my home.
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The boys from Canada have chimed in as well as Dan Smith a paddling partner of Verlen's back in the day. I think it ill be an elite group that take this one on, one to follow a learn from.
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The Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge 2009 -
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In the spring of 1790 British trader Hugh Heward, together with seven French-Canadian paddlers in two birch bark canoes, departed Detroit on a trip that would take them to the Chicago Portage and then via the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers to the Mississippi.
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Instead of following the usual exploration and trade route north through Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinac then south through Lake Michigan, the Heward party went downstream on the Detroit River into Lake Erie, then upstream on the Huron River.
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They eventually worked their way to the divide between the Lake Erie and Lake Michigan watersheds, portaged their canoes and goods into a tributary of the Grand River, then paddled down the Grand to Lake Michigan. In effect, they took a short cut across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Once in Lake Michigan they coasted the east and south shores of the big lake until they reached the Chicago River.
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In the Spring of 2009 the Verlen Kruger Memorial board is hosting the Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge 2009 duplicating the Heward party’s epic journey.
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This looks to be an extremely difficult route. If your considering a challenge of this magnitude, now is the time to start planning. On April 17th, 2009 pure adventure begins.
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Re-posted in part as written "River Thoughts"-Jim Woodruff