Bushwhacker Wrap-up

The Awards Ceremony was started by a hot dog & brat cookout and finished by some of the paddlers recanting some of their 'war stories'....some were amusing and some were inspiring. It was a fun evening...until the mosquitoes ran us out, and was highlighted by the fact that the 2009 Bushwhacker made for the Verlen Kruger Memorial Fund was an awesome $2,541 after expenses!! A very special thank you to Todd Cesar for planning and making this event possible, and everyone involved that helped raise donations for the monument.

We also want to thank the folks at the Lumberjack Park for hosting the race and for their hospitality! Their facilities are awesome, and the meals they put on were great! We hope to be back next year!

We also want to thank the Chippewa Nature Center (at the junction of the Pine & Chippewa Rivers)in Midland, for allowing us to put a check point in their park...and allowing us to camp there for the night! You can check out their web site...they have a lot going on there! http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/

Slide Show - kathy #2

Trickle Down

Dan Smith finished the Bushwhacker with a big smile at 1:33 pm on 5/20. he said "It was a hard challenge up the Chip, but very satisfied"

Todd and Jake Cesar pulled in at 2:06 pm, and Jake commented "I would rather paddle up the Chip than climb Heart Attack Hill!"

Brian Keel sends a big shout out to Uncle Dan!! "Anything is possible!!" Finishes the Bushwacker in style on 5/20 -7:50pm
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We have the trickle down river effect as more complete the Bushwacker; Jack Murgittroid cranks it up for a 5/20 -8:00pm finish. Gives a tip of the hat and a dip of the paddle to Roxanne Smith for the use of her Sea Wind during the event. Barely off the water, "Looking forward to next year!!"

Don't forget to come to the awards ceremony tonight at 6 pm at Lumberjack Park in Riverdale!

The end is near!

Dan Smith, Jake and Todd Cesar finished the 7 mile portage last night at 12:03am They got back on the river this morning for the final leg of the race.

Jack and Brian checked in at Check Point #3 at 9:15 am. Jacks' comment was natures beautiful! and Brians' comment was it's all downhill now. They'll make it back to Lumberjack park later today!

Bushwhacker 2009 Slideshow

Come cheer the return of the last paddlers!

Update on Mike Andersons injured eye: he has a ripped cornea and continuing was out of the question. The race officials decided to allow Jake Cesar - Todds' son to finish the race in Mikes place. They put back in at Mission Road where Mike left the race.

Everyone has made it through Mt. Pleasant. Dan made it to Check Point #3 at 7:13 , and Todd & Jake arrived at 7:14 this evening. They plan on camping at the end of the portage tonight and finishing the race tomorrow, they should get back to Lumberjack Park tomorrow early to mid afternoon.

Brian & Jack hopefully will get in sometime tomorrow evening. It would be great if you could get to Lumberjack Park tomorrow to welcome the guys back!

Another note: no one took the proposed portage through Mt. Pleasant...they all toughed it out and paddled it....way to go guys!!

A REMINDER TO ALL: The awards ceremony for the 2009 Bushwhacker will be at Lumberjack Park Thursday May 21 @ 6:00 pm. All are welcome and encouraged to come!

Morning Sun Newspaper Coverage

Mike and Bob Bradford - 1st place men's tandem

photo - Morning Sun

Hat's off to Morning Sun Managing editor Linda Gitteman for covering the BusckWhacker and having a forum for discussion.

Check out this article and go down to responses to feel some of the emotion around the event.

Mark Finishes the 150

After a couple of missed calls from Mike Smith and one from Mark, finally got word that Mark had pulled in this evening around 9:15pm. (exact time unknown) cell phone coverage was iffy. I did hear something about cherry wheat beer, so everyone was in good "spirits".

Hat's off and a dip of the paddle, sounds like it was a real bushwhacker!

Bradfords pulled in @ the Lumberjack @ 6:49 am

The Bradfords were the first to arrive back at the Lumberjack Park at 6:49 am this morning. Bob says it sure pays to have a young buck in the canoe! He's awesome! (about son Mike). Bob said he promised Mike 4 hours of sleep a night, but they made due with only 2 hours each night. Last night they camped in a skunk cabbage patch- which wasn't real pleasant! Bob said the trick was to not pack enough warm clothes and warm sleeping bag - so they got cold and had to get paddling to warm up. They got up at 12:30 am, at the end of the portage to get back on the Pine. They said it was foggy so it was slow going until dawn started breaking. Great going guys!!

Mark P. got back on the Pine at 5:20 pm and is expected back at the Lumberjack Park sometime between 10:30 pm and midnight tonight.

Mike Anderson took a trip to the hospital to get his eye checked out, it got poked by a stick. He has a patch on it and the doctor recommends he not continue, but we'll see if it really does stop him. Mike Smith picked up Todd at 6:35 pm and gave him a ride to Lumberjack Park. They'll decide later if they'll continue.

John F. pulled out of the race today because of an arm injury.

We also wanted to add that the race officials decided to allow a 3 mile portage in Mt. Pleasant because of the high water, the current is very strong through there. Mark P. paddled through there and said it was a killer!

Finally

Mark SPOT 3:18pm

Puts him right on West Pleasant Valley Road. I thought he forgot about us out here is cyber space.

Not sure of the what where and why, but we finally got a SPOT message.