RECAP: Krugerhead 340 (the magic)

Photo Bomb (me in the background)

I just want to give a shout out to the organizers of the MR340 and their director Scott; they made the right decision rescheduling the MR340; the boat ramps at Miami and Herman were sketchy at best - debris jams would have played havoc with 400 boats; conditions on the river for those that never paddled the Missouri River would have been misrepresented; this is a beautiful river to paddle - but in the wake of heavy rain and flooding it was an eye sore; thank goodness the event was rescheduled so you can see the beauty of this magnificent river. Special Note: the log jam on the bridge at Glasgow was the largest I have ever seen - 50 foot wide and 20 foot high - boils and whirlpools that could suck up a Winnebago if you were not paying attention.



The newly designed sticker

Our pre-event ramble in Kansas classic - everyone hanging around talking story - it was a great to see old friends and make new ones; A shout out to the hotel guard who let me in at 3:30am (forgot my room card) I was out for a morning walk ( I get up early) and was standing at the door like a lost puppy. Thanks Joe for the room share!!

A huge thank you to Tom Grow and Jenny Matuszewski Grow for their hospitality and shuttle arrangements - you two are an inspiration - the best!!

My personal adventure was extremely enjoyable on what is being called the Krugerhead 340 - weather was perfect, no bugs, full moon - as peaceful as you can get, nobody on the river but us for the most part.



Missed cookie stop with fresh peaches

In Herman I got confused and went grocery shopping at the market; I had a craving for hard salami and cheese sandwich - It's actually Washington that has the deli I wanted to stop at but sleep deprived I scoured Herman - dirty sweaty and over tired - a tad scruffy I was sure to scare women and children if I asked for directions; anyway I bought a bunch of crap at the store which was totally useless - the hard salami had a couple hours of shelf life in the heat - it started to turn green so I knew at that point it was done - the imitation cheese spread with no expiration date made sense at the store but not in the boat - useless. - warm Parkay - my God man, is that stuff really edible?

My stop at Cooper's landing was memorable; Thai food made to order and an old coot that would ask me a bunch of questions (argumentative tone) about the river like I was local or something - I wish I could have offered him some green salami, that would have shut him up.

I hit the wall a couple of times, ate heavy pulled over and took a REM nap; totally rejuvenates the body a soul - a 45 minute nap makes all the difference. My sleep cycle for the event was 1.5 hours the first night past Miami; nap of 45 minutes just after Cooper's Landing and a 3 hour sleep just before Jefferson City.

The last day offered a bit of a challenge; fog in the am which made for some brail paddling bumping and grinding down the river - ah I'm going to say it - I was actually cold in July on Missouri river - a moderate breeze and fog forced me to break out a space blanket. - then the heat came later - talk about two extremes in a 8 hour span.



The Finish

I was motivated by pesky phone calls from Mark and Team Kruger already at the finish; talk of cold beer and real food fueled my resolve - greeted by many at the finish was a great reward - thanks to Jack M who helped me out of the boat - legs were a bit wobbly after sitting so long - thanks to Mark and Lauren who brought Nachos!! I loved them!! And to Mark P. Sandy and Mike Smith - you at my brats you bastards!! haha   Finished in 59 hours!!

Congrats to all that participated!!

till next time...paddle on...

The Capt'n

MR340 2014 and beyond - let the big waters flow!!

By God people, you're still coming to my blog? I've taken a bit if a sabbatical on the personal blog - I mean how many times can I write about paddling around Rock Lake anyway; I mean, somebody might hurt themselves if I keep THAT up.

I have been doing some writing on the Kruger Canoes Blog for various events challenges and functions, which brings me to the point, I'm back on the water in the MR 340 2014. With the apprentice blogging program complete I hand the reins over to Michael Stacy and Pat to cover the MR 340; Team Kruger is well represented: solo female, solo male, coed tandem division, male tandem division and the multi crew 6 person OC 6. - this ordeal is going to be a regular hoot'n nanny I tell ya.

So swing on over to www.krugercanoes.blogspot.com or follow us on Facebook; we're sure to entertain. also you can go to the official tracking site at www.raceowl.com and look me up there - boat number 0017

paddle paddle The Capt'n

adventure... settle in

The Gwaii Haanas in the Killer Whale Month (Sgaana Gyaas) from Doi Nomazi (TraveloTherapy) on Vimeo.

Commit...

It's begining to look a lot a like...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Year in review (in a word)  "Outstanding!"

What an amazing year it has been; From our adventure paddling trips  "Shell Key"; "Wisconsin River"; "Muskegan River" to Lilly dipping the pond / picnics in the park back yard adventures, one "outstanding" year.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

The Capt'n

November

A great day to be out on the water; more so cause I have been down and out with a wicked cold for about a month now; water just above freezing as we had some ice on the bay last night; warm weather on the way should keep our lake open into early December.

Gotta Love Wisconsin

 Blowing snow at the local ski hill and I'm still raking leaves!!

Lesson learned

Sue-bee has big shoes to fill.

Lesson learned from when I sold the barge (Old Town Stillwater canoe) and received a beat down from daughter 1.1 for selling the first canoe we had adventures in ("Boo Dad boo").  I thought it best to bring a daughter; daughter 1.2 was available so we went vehicle shopping.

We tried this before when I had my eye on a Toyota Tacoma pick-up; Marissa shot it down in a hurry, "I can't recline the seat to sleep on road trips and I can't get my feet on the dash", so that was a no go.  We had better luck with the Subaru Forester, met all our needs and more importantly daughter approved.

So we said good bye to the jeep, ( worn and tattered as she was, brought us plenty of memories ) I was not going alone.  It was kind of an emotional moment, so many adventures, camping, climbing, sailing and paddling, drive-in movies and plenty of runs to the Kiltie for Custard, a main stay to our adventures big and small.

So enter stage right the Sue-bee Forester; a peppy little sports wagon with all wheel drive; roomy and comfortable; kinda nice having a newer vehicle that everything works.

So we will put her to the test, see if she can fill a pretty big set of shoes the jeep provided; so far so good, looking forward to our next adventure.

The Capt'n

Paddling the morning silk... - Sawtooth Challenge revisited

Paddling the morning silk, gives way to daydreams and contentment. More on the Sawtooth Challenge - click here

Preable to the Sawtooth - journey / destination

Photo by Sandy 

The autumn is a special time, a season of change; many have tried to capture this moment by written word, paint and photography; I found the best way is to get out there and experience it first hand; don't let these opportunities slip on by, they are truly moments that shape your soul.

We push south after leaving the resort area of Mackinaw; we are destine for the White Birch Campground where the meet and great will ensue for what has turned out to be an adventure paddling experience not soon to be  forgotten. for more, click here

The Capt'n 

Preable in the UP Michigan

 

Sandy needed to make some choices; both the "Bobber" and I wanted to paddle the Muskegon river; with paddles in hand, hard decisions had to be made, but not before a full on buffet breakfast. Follow the story - click here

Preable to the Sawtooth Challenge

 

As a preamble to the Sawtooth Challenge, Sandy and I drove up and over through the UP of Michigan; here is our crossing with the cruiser on the roof of the hoopty jeep and the Mackinaw Bridge in the distance. Yes there is an extreme fracture in the windshield, that story another time.

As we pull into Mackinaw for a little sight seeing, there is a Mackinaw work-boat on display at a local establishment; this was beauty, fully functional sailing work-boat; me likey. I'm pretty sure I could have gotten it on top of the hoopty if not for already having the cruiser on there.

We did our fair share of window shopping, I figured I saved myself about $500.00 not buying swords, Tilleys, new boots and a cool jacket.  I did breakdown and by a sampling of Mackinaw fudge; everyone has a weakness.

more on out adventure - click here

Sawtooth Challenge overview by SPOT

Overview of the route by my SPOT tracker

More on our adventure at:  http://www.krugercanoes.blogspot.com/

Sawtooth Challenge re-direct

photo by: Mike Smith

Sandy Koa and I coming into a section called big rapids on the Muskegon River; a class 1 set of rapids that tends to get your blood pumping in a hurry in a fully loaded canoe.

More on our adventure at:  http://www.krugercanoes.blogspot.com/

Sawtooth Challenge recap

 Photo credit: Sandy Krueger

Doing some writing for the Kruger Canoes Adventures Blog on our latest trip down the Muskegon River in Michigan; as usual I will take special liberties with content, verbally abuse the participants and tell a musing tale of adventure and intrigue; mosey on over.  click here

yeah, somewhere over there...

A handful of crusty hard hitting paddlers are venturing over to Michigan to take on a scenic section of the Muskegon River next week and I am one of them. A parlay of sorts pulled together a great trip.

Judging by the map it looks like the pace will be moderate with plenty of time to relax and take in all the autumn colors; a minimum two cooler venture, lots of eats and treats; there is more information over on the Kruger Canoe Adventures Blog.

Now if we can only dodge the riff raff, tubers and lily dippers; I think an early October run will suit this crew well.

So as they say; "We gone paddlin" - leave a porch light on, we may be awhile.

Capt'n

Kinda ah BIG Deal...

 Happy "Sweet 16 Birthday" to the girl who continues to amaze!

Not much to say but the pressure is on; I expect BIG things from you "Boo -Sah - Bean" Big Things!!  But don't let my expectations of what should be interfere with what is; Aim high, go long, go far... follow your own path, follow your dreams.

Love Dad

Reflection.

Marissa up in the bluffs; Marissa, Josh, Erin, Beth and Adam at an over-look; Marissa posing and me pouring out vintage bag wine telling the story of the "Beat Down on the Bluff" by Granny Panties.

It is a wonderful thing being outdoors in nature with friends and family, reflecting back on trips past.  Some how the trips get melded together; but the stories get better and better each time I tell them.

Did I tell you about the time I....

The Capt'n

Devil's Lake

Just another great day in Wisconsin; air crisp and dry, the warmth of the sun on your face and a vista like this.

Marissa and I met up with Sandy, Beth and Adam for a hike and overnight at Devil's Lake.  It was a lazy day, except for the wedding crashing (peeps getting married, as we positioned ourselves well to listen to the band) and hiked up the bluff. 

Devil’s Lake State Park in central Wisconsin is often called the Midwest’s “Yellowstone” and it’s easy to see why. Wisconsin’s most popular state park features amazing vistas from atop rugged, 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a pristine 360-acre lake. As you can imagine, Devil’s Lake State Park is a popular hiking, biking, rock climbing, a great recreational  paddling destination too.

Devil’s Lake also encompasses a unique section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and offers over 29 miles of scenic trail surrounded many more miles of secluded Wisconsin back country. Lots of hidden treasures here in the Midwest.

I did get schooled going up the bluff; Koa (dog) and I took the trail up, the rest of the clan bouldered up the face to Devil's Door; "Granny Panties" ( what I am calling her), 70yr + woman passed me up on the trail like I was selling Wonder bread at a county bake sale.  When we got to the top I was going to giver her a nod of appreciation, but she was already on the run, well being I was coughing up a lung we didn't exchange pleasantries.

The Capt'n