UKC Update 1

Daily Quotes -

"Wind out of the south, with my good friends Jack and Mark; just don't get better then this!" - Dan

"Couldn't be in better hands; anxious to get these boats wet!" - Jack

"Hey Brian Bob Bradford here; just saw three bums on the river with these smiles on their faces; the plan is to paddle an hour more then camp. I bet they get around the bend and paddle all night!" - Bob

Tres Amigos

Dan Jack and Mark at the start of the UKC 2009

Wave one of the UKC, Jack Dan and Mark are off! The plan is to get up river set camp just before dark ( hoping to find a high and dry place to set) as the weather is going to blow in and blow in hard.

We are getting what they will get in a few short hours on the other side of the large pond we call Lake Michigan, heavy thunder storms, high winds and pelting rain.

The bushwhacker's Bob and Mike to put in tomorrow at 8am...

Here we go! - The Captain reporting

About to

get underway... let the adventure begin!

"We have had a few small changes in our start times. Dan Smith, Jack Murgatroid(sp?) and myself are getting a start today, Sunday afternoon around 4 pm at the Au Sable river mouth.

Bob Bradford and his son Mike are starting tomorrow morning, Monday at about 8am. We all will be at the Marathon racers memorial on the south bank at 2pm today for the annual ceremony they do there every year. If you will be in the area this is a great event to witness. "

Paddle paddle, Mark

These events

are not without there challenges.

Scouting reports by Bob and Mike Bradford have proven to be interesting. It would appear that the Michigan DNR at Mio Pond have decided to lower the water level 2' a day for the next few days lowering it by 8' when all is said and done.

This is going to create havoc for the challengers, as Mio Pond would be a mud bath leaving them no other alternative but to portage this section.

Bob estimates that the portage around is 5.4 miles.

Pack your wheels boys, you're taking your canoe for a walk. - The Captain Reporting.

Send in the Clowns

Dumber then a pail of hammers, I've been reading up on plug ins, gadgets and html code for hours.

I got the map feature off and google earth on with its interactive features, but I am not sure how to code in the individual SPOT messengers to show up on Google Earth. So if anyone can pull together a short tutorial for the Capt'n it would be most helpful.

We do have two SPOT messenger links on the left side bar, but I was hoping to embed it in the google earth interface.

Webmasters are laughing from all corners of the world, who sent in this clown? - The Captain Reporting

As a test...

Mark and I have been playing around with sending pics via the air waves during the Ultimate Kruger Challenge. Our hopes are to get them to you the viewers as quickly as possible. Yep we're going mobile!!

As a test; Here is a shot of a fresh baked Sea Wind right out of the oven at the Kruger Bakery. You can almost smell the resin from here!!

Hey Toby, this is your friends new ride to adventure!! - The Captain Reporting

The boys are back in town....

and so are the girls!

Kruger Canoe Adventures - Cast of Players:

Jack Murgittroyd - paddled the Bushwhacker two times... quite a story. First time around he just showed up, borrowed a boat and off he went! I think he has been bitten by the paddling bug. He will be paddling Roxane Smiths Sea Wind.

Mark Przedwojewski - Needs no introduction, he really hasn't done much paddling or has any appreciation for the outdoors - wup wup gottcha!

Dan Smith - See below

Mike and Bob Bradford - See below

Brian Keel is doing the whole down river stretch of the Manistee, he also did the Bush Whacker two times. (Great name)

Bruce Barton and his daughter, Rebeca and Connie Cannon and Bill Brundage are doing the 24 hour 100 miler. Ya the pro boaters have arrived!!

Rumors abound of Toby Nipper and new a Sea Wind owner coming up from the balmy shores of Fla for the 100 miler. They're doing the route over a couple of days to take in the fall colors and all that is the Manistee River.

A cast of characters for sure, but all players in the running of the Kruger Challenges!!

The Capt'n Reporting

What about the little brother..

Had a great conversation with Dan Smith yesterday as I made my way up to Token Creek ( as I was driving up to a Mad City Paddlers Wednesday evening paddle). Dan reminded me that the Kruger Challenge - one hundred miles in 24 hours starts on October 3rd. So just to let everyone know, we'll have coverage as best we can on that event too.

The Kruger Challenge is an "O" Dark 30 paddle. Starts before the dawn and ends in the wee hours of the following morning. The twists and turns sweepers, sieves, boulders and logs make this quite the challenge in the dark. This event has seen freezing rain and ice encrusted paddles.

Now Dan is one of those ole school paddlers. forget about listing accomplishments - cause the blog ain't long enough; but when you think paddle camping, think Dan Smith. (Many many trips with Verlen)

Two years ago when we did a 125 miler on the Manistee, Dan was out on the river as well. Put in a day a head of us taking family and friends on a leisurely three day paddle. We by stroke of the paddle met up one evening and were treated to an on river banquet. A full 5 star meal and adventure stories to boot.

Then a year later we did a winter paddle and stayed at famed Deer Camp Island, where we had a big ass bonfire and venison kabobs to die for. I'm tell'n ya, these Michigan paddlers got it figured out. You guessed it Chef Dan again.

Cell coverage was weak, but I distinctly heard/smelled barbecue ribs over the phone... dang!

Anyway, just to let everyone know, we'll be tracking the little brother; the Kruger Challenge too.

See ya down river, rib bib optional - The Capt'n Reporting

Getting Giddy...

Another Kruger Canoe Adventure is just days away. A handful of hard core Michigan paddlers will once again traverse the State of Michigan. This time around, the northern route, up the Au Sable and down the Manistee.

The Au Sable River runs approximately 129 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda.

.

The Manistee River runs approximately 232 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the villages of Sharon, Smithville, Mesick, and enters Lake Michigan at Manistee.

.

They'll do it all with a 7 mile portage to boot. Pack light and travel fast. Check it out on Google Earth - Click here

I spoke with Bob Bradford who will be paddling with his son Mike.

"Mike and I plan on doing this at a fairly fast pace. Our plan is to do it in less than 4 days. If this is possible then we would be back at the Manistee camp ground on Friday afternoon in time to see all of our friends before they take off on the 100 mile Kruger Challenge which takes off Sat morning. It looks like Mike and I will be starting for sure on Monday Sept. 28th at 8:00AM."

You can follow their adventure - They will be using SPOT - Click here

The apple doesn't roll far from the tree, Mike Bradford a seasoned paddler is well versed with this route. He has completed it 6 times before.

"The Bushwacker"

Last time Mike and Bob did the route it took them 7 days... they slept every night and they were not in a custom built canoe like - "The Bushwacker" that they will be paddling this time.

.

Mark P. and Dan S. will be participating as well. They will be in Kruger Sea Winds, taking their time and cruising the challenge. I know there are more participating, I'll post the roster as soon as I hear back from Mark P. I will also post a link to his SPOT as well.

.

The Capt'n Reporting

NOTICE TO PARTICIPATE!!!

Join in on the fun!!

The Ultimate Kruger Challenge (September 28th) - 271 miles across northern Michigan -and his little brother the Kruger Challenge (October 3rd) -100 miles in 24 hours -are not to miss events!

For more information on these stellar events, head to the Verlen Kruger Memorial website or contact Mark from Kruger Canoes.

All proceeds support the memorial!!