Bushwhacker 2013

The only picture of the Muskegon Bushwhacker - passer-by sees Dani and Sandy tumble the cruiser in Big Rapids.

 

The Boys arrived at Muskegon Lake @ 1am Tuesday morning. A blistering 2 days and 19 hours run which will be hard to beat. High water worked to their advantage as they battled lions tigers and bears (oh my) to make this one for the record books.

Cell coverage was sketchy, posting by yours truly weak, but hey I come cheap.

Looking to hear more about the adventure after everyone dries out and recovers from sleep deprivation. Mark and Jack are hopeful that they don't get pushed off from their stealth camp spot too early, they are looking to catch some serious ZZZ's.

Sandy and Dani made camp before the serious rain started to fall; without a SPOT and the worst cell coverage in history, I believe them to be somewhere around Bridgeton.  What makes their adventure exciting is they have been out for 21 days of pure Midwestern adventure by foot and trail making the Muskegon Bushwhacker the crowning jewel. 

So in the end we have a whole slew of new campfire stories to be told. Keep your powder dry and watch your top-notch. - this is only the beginning to 2013.

I had to post this... too funny. How to acquire a surf ski when married.

Emily Algera

My Hugh Heward time: 4hr 9 min. Benjamin's 2012 time: 4hr 36 min. I'm feeling good!!! Don't listen to Ben's nonsense about river conditions and boat speeds...

Unlike · · Share · 9 hours ago near Holland, MI ·

• You, Danny Laboy, Kim Klopfenstein, Carl Cole and 9 others like this.
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  Benjamin Algera Are you challenging me to a race? :)

  9 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
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  Carl Cole Oh, this will be good;-)

  9 hours ago · Like · 1
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  Emily Algera Well, the house course record still belongs to both of us - 3 hr 38 min for the Half Hugh in 2011 in the XCR.

  9 hours ago · Like · 1
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  Benjamin Algera Looks like I better get that surfski...

  9 hours ago via mobile · Like
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  Emily Algera I should have known that this could only turn into reasoning for another new boat...

  9 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Benjamin Algera Well... YOU started it :)

  9 hours ago via mobile · Like
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  Carl Cole Well, you can never have too many boats:-)

  9 hours ago · Like · 1
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  Kim VandenHeuvel You need a bigger garage if you're gonna get more boats. Moms don't park outside in the snow!!

  9 hours ago via mobile · Like
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  Benjamin Algera The surfski really won't take up that much space... and besides, you should see some garage pics I've seen...

  8 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
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  Kim VandenHeuvel You need to find a four bedroom, three stall for your next house. Maybe a four stall.by the time you build all the kid's boats!

  8 hours ago via mobile · Like
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  Pat Harrington Emily's time would have been quicker if not for the attack by the vicious geese that swooped in upon her and raised such a ruckus. It was pretty frightening for the rest of us trailing in her wake and for me, I was glad she volunteered to "take the hit" on our behalf.

  about an hour ago · Like
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  Pat Harrington Ben, there may come a time when it's easier to spread the locations of your various boats around the state. It saves portaging effort and folks won't think - "you have so many boats"... With that thought in mind, you can always store a couple of your boats at my place :)

Hugh Heward 2013 Ceremony

 The gathering of the herd; as participants mingle around before the Hugh Heward 2013 Ceremony honoring Sir James Woodruff. More on Sir James - click here

 Janet Bob and Mike Bradford chilling, waiting for "Coach" to put on a tutorial on how to change a flat tire on a bicycle. Bob's quizzical brow tells the story of confusion and dismay.

 Mike Jack and Bob - Tres amigos; no comment required; judge not.

 

 Two Peas in a pod; Bob and "Coach" pause for a photo op; hard to keep these too still.

 What ever floats your boat "Coach"; where's your helmet!!?

 

 Coach blows a tire; puts on a tutorial; Sir James in the background supervising.

 Mike Smith Memorial Brick; well said my man,well said. Adventure on.

 

 Participants and volunteers gather for the Hugh Heward 14th Closing Ceremony.

 

 Dan Smith and Charlie Parmalee honor Jim Woodruff "The Topologist on the Grand".

 

Hugh Heward ceremony 4/27, Dan Smith and Charlie Parmalee honor Jim Woodruff "The Topologist on the Grand" with a dish and song. Jim sports the best full beard for miles around.

Pictures by Charles Amboy.

14th Annual Hugh Heward Challenge is on

High water, high energy, high spirits!

Get the info:
 https://sites.google.com/site/vkmchallenge/home

One of those must do events, steeped in history; plus a Kruger Canoe's extra, a chance to mingle at Casa Sir Jim Woodruff's. Get your paddle on you lily dippers; never to late to join in on the fun!!

Krugerheads unite!!

Day 3.5 Campus to Coast Adventure Race

Quite an amazing day for the C2C organizers, the event got picked up by the associated press and news about the event went national; this is outstanding news for those in adventure sports once thought too bizarre for main stream media.  Welcome home boys!!

Team Kruger had an amazing run during the event; all coming home with victories, competing. Yep just getting there is a win, adventure paddling must be experienced. 

There was a lot of talk of the Kruger experience, this from newbie college participants; the camaraderie, shared Intel, to the buzz on the web unique to say the least; I'd say everyone involved had an enjoyable weekend watching the Kruger-Heads and the event unfold.

So today, its gear sorting, super hot showers and treks home for those that travelled to compete.  There are stories behind the stories I sure, so I hope those that were there chime in on the Team Kruger facebook page.  Until then, adventure on.

Day 3 Campus to Coast cont...

A recap of sorts: ah, hmm; nobody has called or text me of late so this is what I know from a sleep deprived Mark Przedwojewski.

Beer is best served cold, family and friends pricesless; Connie Cannon minutes behind them when they finished; George dropped safe cheering the paddlers into Grand Haven.

Sandy Krueger SPOT took a crap and I have asked her to check in every couple of hours; she was at the 6th street dam at 4:00am EST; I was asleep 3:00am CST but jumped up like I was a contestant on the "Price is Right!"; all giddy to hear things were going great!

News FLASH

Dan Smith

Mike Doty and Mike Smith Finished around 4:15am Sunday morning. They were cold and tried but happy to get out of the rain. Took a wrong turn in the swamp area that took some time to figure out and get back on track. They are crashed out in the van.

I have no news from the college participants still out there; if anyone hears anything please post; it is always a wonderful thing when people experience expedition / adventure paddling for the first time.

It's interesting how these shorter expedition events take their toll on participants; one has to decide on whether to push through sleep deprived (going for the glory) or sleep and be part of the tour.  At least on 7-10 day adventures you know everyone has to sleep; these shorter events are brutal.

Day 3 of the Campus to Coast

Day 3 at 4:00am EST I get the anticipated ding on my phone (thank ****ing goodness; it's Sandy "PeacePaddler" checking in. It has been a long day and night as family and friends wonder what is going on; we become so reliant on technology speeding us information, that the mind begins to wander scheming on all sorts of scenarios. But like most of Sandy's adventures ( the foundation of future camp fire stories ) this adventure continues on with Sandy soaking up every minute of it; she doing fine and pushing on.

Day 2 more video

Great work from Ben and Emily, trekking out, chasing down paddlers with a van full of kids to boot; most appreciated!! What we got here is two Kruger-heads pushing past Johnson State Park; Michael Doty and Mike Smith. Looling good fellas!

day 2 - video

Ben our man in the field got some good video of Mark and Jack at Johnson Park; worn and tattered but in great spirits.

Campus to Coast Video

Some good shots of Team Kruger and Company coming through.