Enter...The Dragon (the warrior spirit)

Having just arrived from Misfit Island - we were a bit perplexed on the complexity of Dragon Boat Racing; new terms entered weary minds - Hold, five & dime, power surge in 3 and let'er run were new to our vocabulary. 

But in the end we spoke dragon boat and were able to pull off a second place finish out of 22 teams - Not bad for a bunch of Kruger heads who forgot what a wood paddle feels like, not to mention the unique bench seating of a Dragon Boat.  1800lbs of boat careening down the river is something to behold.

 It was a time trial bracketed event; 300 yards is not a long way, but when you do it a 1/2 a dozen times working your way through the brackets at 90% - 100% effort you become keenly aware you misjudged the complexity and physical demands of dragon boat racing.

It was a grand event with 22 team (20 peeps on a team); the grounds were festive and spirits were high. For a bunch of first timers it was definitely a learning experience, a whole different realm of paddling.

Team Kruger would like to give a shout out to the organizers of the event and bring awareness to their cause  - to the survivors everywhere from domestic violence to cancer.

I would also like to thank Mike Smith for his persistence, his dedication and leadership for pulling together a team of misfits for the event; till we paddle again, it's back to misfit island!!

The Capt'n

Au Sable River Fall River Run 2014 2.1 - the finish

Mark and Lauren paddling a Kruger Cruiser take honors with a banner finish crushing the 24 hour mark; the Smile on Lauren's and Mark's faces says it all!!  Matching hats the smiles; I think the Rowe's have gone Hollywood!!

Ben sporting a similar smile rolls in under 24 hours as well; not too shabby my man, not too shabby!! Tricks of the trade - looks to be travelling pretty darn light on this run.

But the real joy is coming in from an event and seeing the enthusiasm of your favorite fans!! Now this is cool, very cool.

 

Keith rolled in at 9:39 pm while Ben Mark and Lauren were in dreamland; word on the river is James may have pulled out at 5 channels dam (unconfirmed) - and if I were a guessing man I'd say Lori and Wendy are still on the river enjoying a fine trip.

 

I am not sure about the others that participated as they did not SPOTS or check in during the event; but I will say this - somebody put a paddle in this little Dude's hands cause he wants to tear it up!!

 

Over and out!!

 

The Capt'n



Au Sable River Fall River Run 2014 2

Mark and Lauren working their way to Cooke Dam

I found the list; here are the players for 2014:

Ben Algera - Sea Wind
James B Hart - Sea wind
Wendy Brinson - Canoe
Lori Blaylock - Yak
Keith Wojahn - Sea Wind
Mark Rowe - Cruiser
Lauren Fry - Cruiser

Cooke Dam is a hydro-electric dam on the Au Sable River in Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 as the Cooke Hydroelectric Plant.

The Capt'n

It appears a new shipment of rum and Oreos have arrived; we're good.

Did you know that Americans eat more than 20.5 million Oreos a day? It's got to be true I read it on the web!!

As for Rum aye;  the stereotype of the rum-crazed, profligate Pirate - quoting Robert Louis Stevenson : "When a cruise is done, why, it's hundreds of pounds instead of hundreds of farthings in their pockets. Now the most goes for rum and a good fling, and to sea again in their shirts."

Translation: " we drink we paddle we drink we paddle and go to sea in our shirts cause we can't find our pants"

Stevenson also gave the world the most famous sea chantey that no real pirate ever sang:

 

"Fifteen men on a dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil be done with the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle or rum!"

The Capt'n

Au Sable River Fall River Run 2014 1.1

 Staging underway - clears skies and crisp clean green water!! 40 minutes to the start time and there is already anarchy as there is talk of pushing off early!! I got a list of who all is participating but for the life of me can not locate it!  Beuller...Beuller?  anybody?

 Wendy and Lori ponder the possibilities of the perfect start -  "Hey boys free beer at the landing"

While the boys fall for the oldest trick in the book Wendy drops in and puts paddle to water! - "there is no beer at the end of the ramp, silly..".

Lori soon to follow as they depart at 3:37 EST; so the Au Sable Fall river run is underway; some say under protest (not really but makes for good reading)

I on the other hand need to up my game; more Oreos and Rum --- paddle on!!

The Capt'n

Au Sable River Fall River Run 2014

The Players: Team Kruger

The Event:  Au Sable River Fall River Run 2014

A typical Kruger-head unsanctioned event - the word gets out about the run via social media, obscure texts and the occasional face to face talk in the glow of a raging campfire -  everyone is on their own, unsupported expedition style - the objective,  complete within 24 hours.; the goal, living the Kruger Canoe Dream. 

This particular run down the Au Sable will test your resolve, its a brutal test of fortitude when you push through the night into the wee hours of the morning to complete in 24 hours.


A word from Ben:
"Myself and a few others are running the AuSable River from Grayling to Oscoda tomorrow, starting at 4pm and shooting for a sub 24hour finish. Follow along here: "  Follow with SPOT - HERE


From Mark and Lauren:

"Off to a great start! Giant storm with SCARY lightning in front of us as we drove north. Hence we stopped at a hotel just south of grayling and were surprised by this awesome hotel room art! Hopefully campers can get some sleep ahead if the run. The good news is that the stream should be rising!"  Follow with SPOT - HERE

I'm not sure how many others are paddling this weekend, but I will try to follow along, post the insanity, add a little humor and of course take creative liberties, cause that's what I do!! 

The Capt'n