Canoe race weekend

[beer and nuts]

Hey, should be a dandy weekend for the canoe race. Will be at the cabin all weekend starting tonight...between McMasters and Parmalee. We are right before the river starts to slow down, kinda the last 1/8 miles stretch of rock and faster water. Cabin sits right on the banks/vertical logs with freshly painted green windows, usually put something stupid on the flag pole(lifejacket or something). Stop by or hollar up if anyody is floating--we alos light the river up for about 600 feet during the canoe race as they come by at around midnight, tend to have alot of poeple at our place-gets loud. Cousin crew feeds at our place too, he usually makes top 5. Always a a good time!!!!

[CL-Lewiston]

That "lighting the river" screws up the racers night vision

[beer and nuts]

Hope your not implying we shoudl not do it??

Its just like any other bridge from start to Mio, light it up so the spectators can see the race. I personally know alot of the racers and they enjoy coming through our stretch cause they get that extra energy/motivation(whatever they get??) and do appreciate the support and the people along the river. No doubt they lose that night vision but only for a minute or less, plus the lights are pointed down across or downriver as best as possible, again its becomes a great spot for my cousin to feed as well, longer time to communicate with his crew, lighted and I guess makes for a nice stop and quick start to get going again becasue of the current. Toward the back of the pack, we talk to them and they talk back..."wanna stop for a drink"..."pull out we'll run you down to Mio" ...they usually respond with something comical....good times.

Now what the racers really do not liek are the spotlights that get shined on them directly to see their numbers,flashlights too. Ours are all flood lights,its not a direct bright beam. But yea, thats why its such a hard dam race, the spectators, lights in their eyes, logs, endurance, etc.....its all part of the ballgame.

[orion]

I just got home from watching this endeavor. My hat is off to those people. What an adventure. We spent most of the day in Grayling and "chased the race" to McMasters bridge. What a blast! As far as the lights on the river goes, it probably does bother the night vision for a short period of time, but I have got to believe the racers would rather have hundreds of fans cheering them on at each point of light or bridge crossing. It would be boring if no one cared to watch or would'nt stay up all night along with the racers. I know I will be back next year, following them all the way to Oscoda. This is one great adventure in the state that not many people outside of the area know about.

[beer and nuts]

Just got back...cousin came in 4th. Fun night and day. Floated with family from end of Morley Road-access to North Branch floated down to mainstream and to cabin. What a great float-that north branch is beautiful and then into the mainstream. Great weather-great weekend.

[woodie slayer]

who won??

[Shupac]

We saw it for the first time this weekend, and may have established a new tradition. This race is truly an awesome challenge, and I've got great respect for the people who compete in it.

The winners were Andrew Triebold and Doug Rimer, in boat #1. They traded the lead with boat #89 much of the night. Then at Foote Dam, something went wrong with 89's portage and #1 pulled ahead for good.

Otherwise, the pack was pretty well spaced out.

[beer and nuts]

Think its Matt Rimer, but yes they were the favorites and won, ran with second place boat all night working with each other, their experience and just being better paddlers, they pulled away on the last stretch.

[Shupac]

#s 89 and 01 neck and neck at foote dam (#1 was technically .06 seconds ahead)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/951712563_ff8d736671.jpg?v=0


While I was swivelling around to get a shot of the descent, #89 hit some snag, I think with a feeder, at the top of the dam. I didn't see it, but when #1 started down the other side of the dam, the 89 crew was nowhere in sight.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/951712809_7167ba927e.jpg?v=0

#1 was launched while 89 was halfway down the bank. They left Foote with a five second lead. That may not have mattered much, since #1 ultimately finished 22 seconds ahead, but watching that happen was a heart-sinking moment. Groans went up from the crowd like when a golfer misses a key putt.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1119/951712939_4f4f5b3f41.jpg?v=0


The winners a few feet from the finish. Unfortunately, the crowd prevented me from getting a shot of the finish line itself.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/951713671_f3ec0be698.jpg?v=0