45 and some change day 2

The boys pull off on the world's smallest beach to batten down the hatches and put on some storm gear; reef down to Coach Hoff Hanky size and keep pushing towards Bailey's Harbor. The morning was not with out it's challenges; the GPS took a dump so Mark and Rick navigated by braille following the shoreline as best they could; a quick stop in Algoma looking a marine store was fruitless, so they went with plan B -- paddle on.

Social media and the Internet can be a wonderful thing; Sandy (peacepaddler) has mobilized and will meet the boys and hand off a GPS tonight; knowing Sandy she probably has a gourmet meal planned as well; if you have not paddled with Sandy, you have yet to experience her cooking skills in the wild.

So the boys are off for what they think will be a 7 hour push; catted boats performing well as they speculate 5mph holding steady; weather is iffy as is gett'n some on prom night; as expected for Wisconsin no weatherman tells the same forecast; I encouraged Mark to look up if he wants accurate current conditions. Paddle on Boys, Paddle on.

The Capt'n

45 Parallel Crossing - day 1

Mark sent some pictures of day 1of the  - 45 Parallel Crossing; this is big news as it means he actually put his paddle down to document the adventure!! The above photo is getting off the ferry and staging gear; rumor has it the boys threw down big time with the all you can eat breakfast buffet on the "Badger"; windless crossing with fog in the morning, turned to partly cloudy skies with a light breeze out of the west; a perfect start to a great lake adventure.

Took less than an hour to set things right; catted up and ready to push off from the shores of Manitowoc WI -  destination North up to Bailey's Harbor.

 Rick enjoying the waning hours of sunlight as they cruise north under full sail and paddle; Mark reports beautiful weather, wind turning south southwest overnight.

9:00p cst the boys are still pushing North; night prep complete hoping for a 2am landing in Algoma; plan on sleeping there a few hours and pushing on -  the key is time management across the pond; they are working it to get across by Thursday night fall - fingers crossed for optimal weather, otherwise they sit it out waiting for the weather God's to show favor.

The Capt'n

45 Parallel Crossing

The boys head out on the big pond for a little paddle / sail on what some like to call lake Michigan.- we're calling it the (BIG POND) "45 Parallel Crossing".

The Big pond can be unforgiving, it's waters run cold and deep (reminds me of an old girlfriend but I digress); the plan is for Mark - Manitou Cruiser and Rick - Kevlar Kid (WaterTribe Tribal names) to set themselves up for a 77 mile push to Baileys Harbor and then make the 48 mile jump across to South Manitou Island. ---- They will be taking the Badger Ludington MI Ferry to Manitowoc WI to ease the suffering of persistent westerly winds this time of year.

The configuration for this adventure will be a Sea Wind / DreamCatcher Cat rig with 38' 32' Batwing sails.  Manitou's SPOT goes live at 830am EST.

I look forward to their reports as they make their way North to Bailey's Harbor as it is a section of the new water trail that is being developed.

The Capt'n

Krugerhead 340 ~ Wrapped & Rolled...

Debris, debris & yet some more debris. Word has it every time Nightspiritsix would stop for a feed, Bob Bradford & Grandson Justin would have to clean out the ramps so the OC-6 could stop. There stops were short lived however, because the floating debris would start to amass around them, effectively blocking them in. No one had ever seen anything like it.

© Lauren Fry

 If your curious about what sleep deprivation will do to you, ask Janet Bradford. As the crew was taking turns hup-ing a twenty count stroke, Janet at one point counted to 63 and said, "I forgot what I was doing!" 

Nightspiritsix - 43 hours 33 minutes (Front-Back) Mike Bradford, Everett Crozier, Dick Ulbrich, Janet Bradford, Mike Smith & Toby Nipper

(R-L) Mark Przedwojewski (Irons, MI) & Jack "The Hammer" Murgittroyd (Ithaca, MI)
40 hours 14 minutes!

Mark Rowe & Lauren Fry "GoFRowe" 44 hours 9 minutes

L&M Small Craft Coastal Explorations Link

Joe Tousignant "Joe Wildlife" 47 hours 31 minutes

Marek Uliasz 50 hours and some change

Ben Algera "Macatawa" 53 hours 24 minutes

Brian Weber "Capt'n O Dark Thirty" 59 hours 12 minutes
Capt'n of the "O" Dark 30 Blog Link

Sandy Krueger "Peacepaddler"

...and of course the shore support for Nightspiritsix, (Left Picture) Jerry Davis & (Right Picture, L-R) Justin & Bob Bradford (also pictured Mike, Joe & Mark)

Team Kruger Canoes Facebook

KRUGERHEAD 340 Photo Album

~guest bloggers Pat Harrington, Stacy Smith & Michael Doty

Krugerhead 340 - The Finish ~ St. Charles

Mark & Jack @ the finish

Mark & Jack being the first team to paddle to the finish arrived at Riverside Park in St. Charles at 12:15 CDT this morning. With a total time of 40 hours 14 minutes and no stopped time. Overall/Moving average of 8.4 mph! They certainly kept it moving!

Nightspiritsix

Nightspiritsix paddled into St. Charles early this morning @ 3:29 CDT. 43 hours 33 minutes total time! With a moving average of 8.6 mph and a stopped time of 4 hours 33 minutes. Mike Smith reports there is nothing in his body that doesn't hurt! Everyone was pushed to there limits...

Mark & Lauren "GoFRowe"

Mark & Lauren "GoFRowe" arrived in St. Charles @ 4:02 CDT. 33 minutes behind Nightspiritsix. With a moving time of 43 hours 22 minutes, stopped time of 47 minutes. 7.7 mph moving average and a 7.5 mph overall average. They took the place of Mark & Jack playing back & forth with Nightspiritsix during the final stretch.

Ben Algera

Ben Algera "Macatawa" arriving @ 13:17 CDT.

Capt'N "O" Dark 30 Brian Weber

Capt'N "O" Dark 30 aka Sir Brian Weber paddling in @ 19:05 CDT. 











A special shout out to Sir Pat Harrington for (as usual) all his behind the scenes work!

PADDLES UP to all in our paddling community!

PROUD TO BE A KRUGERHEAD!


~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael

Krugerhead 340 - Day Two "we got trees!"

"we got trees"

Team Kruger is riding a strong pulse.  The end of day 1 finds our intrepid travelers passing by Columbia, Missouri.  Weather for the day is warm and mild with light winds from the East in the afternoon. It appears Nightspiritsix has been paddling neck & neck with Mark & Jack throughout the night. Mike Smith reports (8:15 CDT) after a 24 hour paddle covering 208 miles and averaging 8.8 mph, the OC-6 is stopping for a two hour break around Marion. Mike adds they could not use the platform Everett made for taking turns sleeping because they need to pull up on a sand bar to rig it up & alas there are no sand bars to be had because of the high water. As of 8:30 CDT it appears team GoFRowe is around Huntsdale having survived the night with Ben approaching Boonville. Peacepaddler is just around the corner from Glasgow. “O” Dark 30’s spot link is not working, and a call to him proves fruitless. Wildlife Joe has just passed Boonville.

Mark & Jack

Posting these updates reminds us of our good friend Mr. Jim Woodruff - The Topologist - and a true friend of Verlen Krugers and all of these folks on the river.  "Jim Does Maps" - the topographic kind and specializes in the ones that show the natural watershed features, before drain commissioners were invented.  Jim has worked these update boards and has a saying...  "This is just like herding cats" - "Keeping track of all these folks is more than a challenge"...

~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael

Team Kruger Canoes Facebook

Krugerhead 340 Photo Album

Sunset on Day 1 of the Krugerhead 340 (Photo credit: Capt'n of the "O" Dark Thirty)

OC-6 arriving CP-6 Jefferson City

UPDATE: 15:00 EST

Mark & Jack ~ Coopers Landing 6:52 CDT (CP-6) Jefferson City  10:00 CDT

Nightspiritsix ~ (CP-6) Jefferson City 13:00 CDT

GoFRowe ~ (CP-4) Glasgow 1:33 CDT (CP-6) Jefferson City 13:11 CDT

Received a message from "O" Dark 30 that he was a couple miles past Lisbon Bottoms @ 10:43 CDT

Looks like Sandy is just shy of Arrow Rock State Park near County Road 319. No movement in over 3 hours, guessing she's resting.

Macatawa & Wildlife Joe taking a dip
@ Coopers Landing

Ben Algera Coopers Landing

Ben Algera and Wildlife Joe stopped at Coopers Landing for a swim. As of 14:45ish, according to Emily, they are back on the water. Ben's Spot tracker shows them not too far from CP-6 Jefferson City.

Mark (GoFRowe) 7:28 CDT "survived the night!"

        

OC-6 breaking near Chamois 15:15 CDT

        

UPDATE: 15:15 CDT
A message from Mike Smith tells us that Nightspiritsix is stopping for there second break at Chamois. "Sleep deprivation setting in."

UPDATE: 15:37 CDT
Mark & Jack CP-7 Hermann 15:36 CDT

Krugerhead 340 - Day One

Nightspiritsix
(L-R) Mike Bradford, Mike Smith, Toby Nipper, Janet Bradford, Everett Crozier & Dick Ulbrich

…and they’re off. Team Kruger paddlers launched out of Kansas City, Kansas this morning @ 8:00 a.m. Central Time. Mike Smith reports, “there is a ton of debris in the water” (due to high water levels). Because of this danger, Mike adds, they are “playing it by ear” as far as paddling at night. Emily Algera reports, “lots of rain last night but at least it’s not quite as hot as yesterday.” Emily adds, OC-6 has some competition - team Dorothy Jean, a 6 person canoe with a combined age probably 1/3 that of Nightspiritsix. We’re still waiting for the recipe from Emily for a Spiz-a-Rita. Our men in the field Bob Bradford and Grandson Justin are waiting at the Lexington boat ramp for team Nightspiritsixs’ first feed. Bob reports that he talked to a farmer @ Lexington and was told the river came up 12 feet overnight. Bob’s guessing the river current is around 4.5 - 5.0 mph. We will be updating the Team Kruger Canoes Facebook page with pictures as they come in.

UPDATE: CP-1 ~ Lexington

Bob Bradford @ CP1 - Lexington

Debris the paddlers have to contend with

Looks like Mark & Jack slipped past Nightspiritsix while they were feeding @ Checkpoint 1. Here's the times we have so far:
ALL TIMES CDT
Nightspiritsix - 13:30 
Mark & Jack - 13:32
Joe Wildlife - 13:53
Mark & Lauren - 13:56
Sandy - 14:02?
Ben - 14:02?

Nightspiritsix approaching Lexington (CP-1)

UPDATE: CP-2 ~ Waverly

Nightspiritsix approaching Waverly (CP-2)


            

Sandy Krueger "Peacepaddler" (CP-2)

Again, Mark & Jack (16:00 CDT) pass Nightspiritsix (15:55 CDT) as they're feeding at Checkpoint 2.
We have team GoFRowe passing Waverly @ 16:40 CDT. Brian Weber checked in passing Waverly @ 18:04 CDT.

Lauren's turn to nap somewhere between CP-2 & CP-3

UPDATE: CP-3 ~ Miami

GPS on board Nightspiritsix

White-Nightspiritsix
Blue & Magneta - Jack & Mark

We have late word from Bob & Justin that Nightspirtsix is the first boat in to Checkpoint 3 @ 19:17 CDT. With an overall average speed of 9.3 mph! Again, Mark & Jack right behind them @ 19:31 CDT. and again passing them as they're stopped feeding. Bob reports that it's a go right now for paddling through the night.








~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael

Krugerhead 340

News from the storm front:

The logistics of The MR340 are intricate and while the MR 340 for 2014 has been rescheduled to August 10-12, (due to high water levels), Team Kruger is pushing forward with plans on still launching tomorrow (07/08) @ 8:00 a.m.

Toby "Whitecaps" testing resting quarters.

Jerry Davis, Bob & Mike Bradford

River gauges and Weather forecasts are located here.

Jerry Davis & Everett Crozier

Keep an eye on the spot tracker list in the right margin of this page & we’ll look forward to sending more updates as they come in.

Nightspiritsix crew has been busy readying the OC-6, complete with resting quarters. Mike Smith is continuing his leisure aspect to his recreation - this is tied to his recent 5 day trip to a one day Nascar race in Michigan, having gone into this trip with a 3 day lead time and clean sheets with hot showers in a hotel, we are beginning to think he might be getting soft. 

The keyboard crew back here in Michigan looks forward to sending updates as they arrive  we plan to update this page, so check back periodically.  We’ll put a note on Facebook when there’s been an update for you.

We haven’t received much news on how the shuttling of all these folks and boats got handled.  But of what we do know, it appears Mark P and Jack The Hammer launched from Ithaca 7 hours earlier than planned - either there's a plan to get extra sleep, or they just plain couldn't sleep and had to hit the road. They did smuggle a muzzle, (foster dog transport bound for Idaho), for Flipper & Sweep. 

~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael

Missouri River 340 ~ Pre-Race

Bob Bradford, Jerry Davis, Everett Crozier & Toby

Everett Crozier & Jerry Davis

The paddler migration to Kansas has begun, as the race is now 2 days away. Rumor has it Mark & Jack were looking at scoring extra points with race organizers by helping with foster dog shuttle services across the country (Idaho)? More to come on that. Michigan is living up to its reputation as a paddling machine factory, as half the Nightspirtsix crew are all Michiganders. Almost 4 centuries (389 years to be exact) worth of paddling talent in the OC-6 alone! Mike Smith reports from the field that the river is “cooking!” River speed is going to be a factor with water levels being much higher (projected to be @ 65.6kcfs) than average. This will make for some great finish times. If their not getting excited by now, check for a pulse. 

~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael

Mike Bradford, Justin, Janet Bradford & Everett Crozier

Mike Smith, Mike Bradford & Toby Niper

"340 miles of wind, heat, bugs and rain." ~ MR 340

Everything you want to know about the 2014 MR 340 (Tuesday, July 8th, Solo ~ 7 a.m. Tandem ~ 8 a.m.) racers you know and love! “This ain’t no mama’s boy float trip.” Here is the whole enchilada the baby & the bathwater, er river water. Prepare to be amazed! Here are your racers:

Team  Nightspiritsix ~ Boat number #6420 ~ OC-6 Outrigger Canoe ~ Paddling Legends : Everett Crozier, Marinette, WI, Toby Nipper, Fort Myers, FL, Dick Ulbrich, Weston, MA, Janet Bradford, Lapeer, MI, Michael Bradford, Lapeer, MI, and Mike Smith, Portland, MI

Shore Support : Jerry Davis

BIO:  DICK ULBRICH  Age 73, Started paddling at 50 - Molokai (4)  Kona-Queen Lili (6) General Clinton (19) Everglades Challenge (in this canoe). “Awesome team!!”

BIO: Toby Nipper Age 63, “Have a whole 7 years of paddling, green, green horn in this crowd.. longest event 1200 miles with 40 mile portage, done a few others, and learned fast (had awesome teachers). Been across lower Michigan from Detroit to Chicago, been under the Mac bridge and have crossed Michigan in a few other places. Been across Missouri three times. Done a few WaterTribe events also, one three hundred miler Watertribe event in this same OC6. Luv the crew for this one.. We will have a 7th on this trip. There will be a Menehune on the traditional back step at the transom. One rode with us in the EC in one of the hardest years, we finished! I will be bringing one with us on this one also for sure. (gotta have someone to talk to late at night.) “

BIO: Janet Bradford  Age 69, Started racing at age 59. Eight everglades challenges,  two of those in 6 person outrigger. Two 90 mile Adirondack canoe races. 3 AuSable Marathons. One Tip of the Mitt Kruger Adventure. Four Kruger 100 milers. Four United States Canoe Marathons. Wife of what's his name?

BIO: Mike Bradford Age 49, 34 years racing. One 124 mile La Classique in Quebec. 18 AuSable Marathons. 4 seventy mile general Clinton New York races. One Shore To Shore Kruger race. One BushWhacker race on Pine and Chippewa river. Three time Masters Champion in United States Canoe Championships.

BIO: MIKE SMITH Age, 64. Approximately 20,000 miles paddled. Finlandia Clean Water Challenge 1,000 miles Chicago to NY. One MR 340. One AuSable Marathon (120 mi.) "Shore To Shore and more" (490 mi.) Two 150 mile "Campus to Coast". Plus a few 150 mile BushWhackers. 

Brian Weber ~ Lake Mills, WI ~ Boat #0017 ~ Kruger Sea Wind

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BIO: Brian Weber “I find at my advanced age I can't remember much of anything that would entertain amuse or have you gasp in sheer delight; but I will say that I was born to water and have spent the best of times while on the water with some great friends old and new, along with a few of you ole salty dogs as well;  sailing has always been my passion bouy and blue water; canoeing took the forefront after a conversation with Stan Hanson back in 2006; opening  my mind to the possibilities of the canoe; met Mark P and best yet to be written. I've dabbled in a few events but mostly just out there for the fun and  inspiration to write something entertaining. ( I enjoy embellishing the truth in my writings, facts can be so misleading while rumors so revealing) 

1 EC, 2 UM's, 3 MR340's,  1 1/2 mitt voyager canoe,  Manistee 150, 100, numerous Hughie's, paddle and portaged across Costa Rica (470 km); paddled the Snowy River, Botany Bay Australia, Pacuare River Costa Rica, Caves Branch and Cayes in Belize. Mostly I share my passion with those that want to experience the waterways by sail or paddle.

Most days you'll find me on local lakes or river ways of Wisconsin; with cocktails, ice-cream stops a must on my adventures.  I call it getting on "river time" -

The Capt’n”

Ben Algera ~ Holland, MI ~ Boat #0266 ~ Kruger Sea Wind

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BIO: Ben Algera “I think I may be the young one in this crowd... I'm 36.  My "handle" is Macatawa based on my home lake.

I have been paddling since I was fairly young, mostly playing around on lakes as a kid with my parents.  My father and I (and later Emily and I) have paddled the Upper Delaware River (Hancock NY to Port Jervis NJ).  More recently, I have completed 1 UM, 1 NCC, 2 ECs, 1 Halfwhacker, several Hugh Heward 25s, 1 Manistee 150, 2 AuSable runs, and most recently a MUSOC Campus to Coast.

Mark Rowe & Lauren Fry “GoFRowe" ~ Ypsilanti, MI ~ Boat #2006 ~ Kruger Cruiser

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BIO: Mark Rowe & Lauren Fry Lauren and Mark both grew up paddling with family and scouts. Their first date was in a green Old Town Penobscot 16, and they’ve been paddling together ever since.  Now they’ve upgraded to a Cruiser (#41, built by Mark P.). They’ve paddled and/or sailed on every Great Lake, Lake St. Clair, and 4 of the 5 connecting waterways.  In the 1.5 years since the maiden voyage of Cruiser #41, they have completed 2 Hughies, the 2013 Tip of the Mitt 300 mile race, the 2014 Everglades Challenge, a 120 mile Au Sable River Run, a 90 mile  Iron Mushroom, and a 150 mile Campus to Coast, in addition to other adventures by sail or paddle described in their blog, lmsmallcraft.blogspot.com. They are most notable for their copious food supplies; as the Capt’n said, “they sure look comfy.”

Mark Przedwojewski & Jack Murgittroyd ~ Irons, MI / Ithaca, MI ~ Boat #0317 ~ Kruger Cruiser

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Sandy Krueger ~ Eagle, WI ~ Boat #0814 ~ Kruger Sea Wind

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BIO: Sandy Krueger “My first river trip was in a Cruiser with Brian in fall of 2009. 

Met some of the Kruger family October of 2011, I was told I should try this crazy challenge stuff, so in 2012 I did, the Shore to Shore, I did it again in 2013. 

I have done some solo trips that some think were "crazy"..... I'm just doing what I love! I have always been a bit of a leather trap with a pure love for adventure! 

I have done a few other challenges, my proudest moment, finishing the Everglades challenge, 2014 for my first time, solo! I have well over 850 paddling miles already this year! Next, MR340 2014, can't wait to see You all!!!!!” ~ Peace

Joe Tousignant ~ Jackson, Missouri ~ Boat # 7691 ~ '85 Sawyer Loon
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BIO:  Got my first Kruger design in 2010 on a friend's recommendation and contact.  Life changing, is all I can say.  It didn't just lead me to doing races, but also a new passion for discovering new places and meeting new friends.  Really loving the BWCA and Quetico!
Racing as an excuse to paddle for 5 years, including a Gritty 50, Kawnivore 94, 2 MR340's and an Everglades Challenge.  Ground crewed for a 3rd place Cruiser men's tandem in 2012.  Looking forward to the 2014 MR340 and 2015 EC, and possibly an UF in 2016.

Charles Wolfe ~ Duluth, MN ~ Boat # 0252 ~ Epic V10Sport
Shore support: Deb Ralston

BIO:  I am a physician, father and paddler from Duluth MN. I have been paddling since I was a ridge runner in northern PA, where I grew up on a mountaintop lake. Canoes were transport to friends, tools for chasing bass AND, when older, a vehicle for courting and sparking. I found my Seawind when planning my yet unaccomplished goal of connecting my home in Duluth to my ancestral roots in PA by boat. That lead me to discover various adventures races. I have completed 4 Everglades Challenges, 3 MR340s and 1 South Dakota Kayak Challenge. The races and adventure are fun and add a goal to focus on, but it is the ability to get out on Lake Superior and it's tributaries and local lakes 3 - 5 times a week that keeps my sanity in sight and obesity at bay. It has also introduced me to many great and inspiring men and women. I am ever thankful to Deborah for not only being my ground crew but also being totally supportive of my addiction and loving me despite of myself.

~Guest bloggers Pat, Stacy & Michael