Kruger Canoe Adventures: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

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.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

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!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

SPOT TRACKING

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

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

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.

Michigan Challenge - Tuesday cont.

Royd is back on the move, appears he sat out the high winds which were screaming across the pond yesterday; he is North of Knights Bay on Lake Huron.

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SPOT TRACKING

Michigan Challenge - Tuesday cont...

Paula and Janet have been on the move scouting for paddlers; presently they are in Grayling waiting on Toby's arrival; they will hang there for the day to see Ben and his dad off tomorrow. Follow Ben's progress here:

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Michigan Challenge - Tuesday

Mike and Justin (son and grandson) meet up with Bob below the Mio dam; Bob sporting a Kruger design Monarch; Mike and Dave sporting a Croizer C2.

Bob demonstrates the double pole method poling up the Ausable; same muscle groups when cross-country sking; check out the bow wake, pushing a lot of water. Yes this is tough, especially when you are having 16 hours days.

Toby at Cook Dam; Spoke with Toby yesterday, he is really enjoying this trip, taking it all in en getting the most out of his adventure. I think what is interesting is that Toby is on a 6 day trip and besides his cart being at the ready it looks like he is out for a day paddle; no gear in site. Now that's quality packing.

Mark with the big wheel portage cart set up; it's a modified pull-boy heavy lifter with 16 " wheels; raises the canoe higher for more clearance and allows for the pull-pole in the front to be horizontal to the ground. I've never added it up but if you include 2 UFC and multiple Michigan Challenge events from the bushwhacker to the shore to shore, I would guess Mark has around 500 miles of portaging with this configuration.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Manistee 150 cruise.

Mike Lynn Michael and Ashley putting in at the M72 bridge for the 5 day cruise to the Insta-launch Campground. What is so great about the Michigan Challenge in you can race, cruise or challenge yourself in so many different ways; the key to the event is making it to the Campground by Saturday for the festivities.

More challengers will; be putting on later in the week, most-likely Wednesday. we will keep you posted as adventure unfolds.

Monday... long day on the river

Mark poling his way up the AuSable River - Michigan Challenge ( Shore to Shore route) 2012

Toby called in and said he is having a great time; Some of the most difficult up hill paddling he has ever done but enjoying every minute of what Michigan has to offer.

Toby on one of the many portages - Michigan Challenge (Shore to Shore) 2012

SPOT TRACKING

Michigan Challenge - Monday updates

Jack and Sandy taking a much needed break 4:00pm Sunday

Mark called in this morning figuring he would have a full day of paddling before making the portage at Grayling; Chasing Bob appears to be Mark's new hobby; gonna have start calling Mark " The Shadow "

Only one call from Royd who is on the outside and making good time; looks like he is just starting to make the corner north by northwest.

Sandy and Jack are pushing on - a tad sore and for Sandy who has not paddled the AuSable before, texted - "Holy River" ; Now not sure if it is cause of it's beauty or difficulty.

Dan Smith "our man in the field" reports:
Got a call from Jack Sunday night at 10:00 pm. They were both doing well but very tired after a 16 hour day. He is happy with their progress but did say that cruiser is a lot of boat to handle compared to the Sea Wind. Sandy has been doing all the stearing from the front and doing a great job. He said they havent went back wards not even once.

The plan for Monday is to get as close to Grayling as possible. A big plus if they could make it to Grayling. They have about 34 miles to get their and that would be a big day. Good job to both of them.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Michigan Challenge - tandem boat

Jack and Sandy before heading out on the Michigan Challenge (shore to shore); big adventure, lots of challenges and a whole lot of fun.

Michigan Challenge - solo boats

Bob, Bud, Mark and Toby starting across Michigan in the Michigan Challenge (shore to shore route) First up the AuSable River then down Manistee River. A beautiful day (any day on the river is a beautiful day!)

Royd called in paddle sailing the outside route (tip of the mit); looks like he found a sweet spot to camp North side of Thunderbay.

Everyone looks to be on the move.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Michigan Challenge 2012

Michigan Challenge 2011 photos

This weekend is the start of the Michigan Challenge; 4 distinct routes around or across the state of Michigan by canoe, kayak, sail or rowing craft.

This will be a week of adventure for participants and a whole lot of anticipation for those left on shore waiting and wondering. Group paddlers and individuals are of their own resolve, some are racing some are cruising, one thing for sure, Michigan is the perfect venue for this type of event.

Come on Down!!

The finish is at the InstaLaunch Campground and Marina on the east side of the river just up river of where the Manistee River dumps into Lake Manistee. This is a great venue to hang out, plenty to do in the area too; historic Manistee is a jewel of a community.

SPOT TRACKING:

Toby
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Jack
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Mark
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Mike
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Bob
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Michael
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Royd
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