Things are starting to HEAT up

MR340 is literary hours away from starting; I can almost hear West Hansen bellowing out about the "Kruger Cult" Krugerized paddlers, a great all around guy!  West's amazing journey - click here

A word from West

"I'm missing tomorrow's MR340 start for the first time since the races inception. The expedition has simply required way too much time, energy, beer, coffee and advil. It looks like this year's water levels and heat will be quite the chore, so please take care of yourselves out there and I wish all of you racers the best of luck." --West
Here are some great links for watching the event:

Race Mapper

Official Standings

MR 340 - 2012 SPOTS

Jack
 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0H8lXu9b5zDHcUrfgICXXD4u0hy2RTEje


Mike
 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0yRa4IQpqmDnW9AZQkKkBav9sp7G191my


Bill
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0gAdhDtC12cYSHi1a7MLQHbiLrynVPrYD

Michigan Challenge - Friday Finish Day

 John finishes the Michigan Challenge - Manistee 150 route; Father and son (Ben) team outstanding!! Ben missing signing autographs.

 Michael and Ashley finish the Michigan Challenge - Manistee 150 route; Father daughter team, outstanding!!

 Mike and Lynn finish the Michigan Challenge - Manistee 150 route; Lynn and Mike facilitate programs through Project Lakewell

 Royd battles weather holds on the outside Tip of the Mitt - Returns to Manistee; Royd get the driving the farthest award as he came up from Florida

Toby finishes the Michigan Challenge - Shore to Shore; Jake finishes the Manistee 150; Toby and Jake get the covenanted cruiser award

Ben finishes the Michigan Challenge - Manistee 150; in a spanking brand new Sea Wind, nice way to break her in!!

Look what floated in! These guys, Dave and Barry, sailed this Prindle 16 cat (1/2 Mitt) from Mackinaw leaving Monday at 10 am arriving Manistee just a few minutes ago

Michigan Challenge - Friday

Jack and Sandy pull out all the stops and are the third boat in after one heck of an effort; Sandy is the first woman to finish the Shore to Shore and I think it is the first time a cruiser went up the AuSable, I could be mistaken.

Toby called in, he had just finished the Hodenpyl portage; he is paddling with (Craig Jacobs) "Jake" and hooked up with Ben and John; most likely past the  tippy dam by now.  Looks like they may be close or even paddling with Mike Lynn Michael and Ashley.

Royd called in and he needed to pull out do to running out of time; he got just shy of Cheboygan; Royd was on the outside doing the full tip of the mitt.  Two day weather hold pushed Royd to shore as a weather front came through and made the outside extremely challenging.

Michigan Challenge - Thursday cont...

John and Ben on a lunch break; they put in Wednesday, destination the Insta-launch by Saturday

Michigan Challenge - Thursday cont...

 Jack and Sandy catch up to Michael Ashley Mike and Lynn near the M37 bridge; everyone loving the down river paddle after poling their way up the AuSable for 3 days.

This is what happens to you when you are Krugerized in the Michigan Challenge; Morphed into Popeye the paddling machine.  Could be delirium, keeping an open mind.

Michigan Challenge - Thursday

Bob finishes the Michigan Challenge Shore to Shore route, first in; Mark finishes a few hours later, second. Nice run boys, nice run.
 
Lynn reports 41 miles today; she bribed the Wilderness Canoe Livery for a ride up to the Mushroom Grille for some grinds; Two more portages and 48 miles to go and they're home.

Royd called in stating he had a two day weather hold when the front came through; he he said  he was going to paddle and sail on but was running out of time to make it down to Manistee and will most likely be organizing a shuttle back to the world.

We still have Jack Sandy Ben John Michael Ashley Mike Lynn  and Toby out there; gonna be a scorcher today, sunscreen my Chitlins. and - Hydrate!

SPOT TRACKING

Toby
 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0FnBzjtkgOZZ9NETfErU5UVRVrQN6xhRq

Jack
 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0H8lXu9b5zDHcUrfgICXXD4u0hy2RTEje

Mark
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0G2hQKAHRLAnAbcV2LLzLRptxdGjjhc7D

Mike
 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0yRa4IQpqmDnW9AZQkKkBav9sp7G191my

Bob
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=06A1VoqojT9pdQCpdsvXUZKNP8CF1WjR5

Michael
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0g5asxqzUezcN3vmqLNxcNbffSG33HHPT

Royd
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Uj01BWtttjvK5hZ3poRbC3hi5Pj23ML7

Ben
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0UD3jqfz5WmdLYyKRBONnis7U86kOtccE

Michigan Challenge - Wednesday

Toby giving ole man river a how bout what fer up the AuSable

 Michael Ashley and Lynn taking a break on the Manistee River; Mark must have caught up to them and stopped in for a chat and some shopping

 Ben's new Sea Wind and John's kayak getting ready to get wet up at M72 campground

 Ben getting comfy, setting up a hammock; either that or it is a bear trap

Mike and Lynn packing heavy for their Manistee cruise down to the Insta-launch; I see Lynn brought a hairdryer and the kitchen sink... nice.  Be prepared for portage hell.

Toby called in while he was on the portage (Hwy M 72), just checking in to see how everyone was doing; did report that Bud dropped out down by Mio dam.

Mike left a message stating that Mark was trying to run down Bob who has been successfully fending him off thus far;  Pure speculation: Watch for Mark to pull an all nighter to real Bob in on the last stretch.  Should be an interesting finish

Michigan Challenge at the M72 campground

Look who we found! Jack and Sandy breaking camp and having one more cup of coffee before dropping into the Manistee River. Downstream finally! Janet Bradford screen left and Paula Martel reporting.