Chuck:

I was told that the pile of stuff that I salvaged from the wreck of the boat was sucessfully handed off to them ....I found the smashed boat in an eddy (around 8 miles down from the site) and included a card with my contact info....I was told that they would get back to me...I talked to the support crew...and they did not know the new cell #...(I pulled lots of stuff from the boat, GPS, lights, good luck penny card (oh the irony), etc...but alas no cell phone)....found one of their paddles too...and even if the boat did not make it to the finish...that huki paddle did...cause I used it a bunch (just ordered one...it was nice and a great switch from the double blade)

As soon as I know anything...I will post it here.

Bryan

     Not sure what a hybrid is....but ardie was in an ocean x kayak. Did he single blade?
     The numbers are 6 out of 6. For the last 100 miles I could only paddle on my right side- so in essence I was single-blading (or just drifting waiting for pain to decrease). I assume single blading a kayak paddle counts?
     Still need Wayne and Ann contact info.

Lee:

Learned alot from you and Erin.....truly "pebbles from the masters"....

first, you and Erin, had a smooth easy paddle style...I was still too much rabbit...pass you when I felt good....sink back when I felt low....you two on the other hand...were almost insanely consistent. 

Second,...thank the river gods for delivering a nice Huki paddle to me...though I would rather it not have come at such a harsh cost to Wayne and Ann....anyway...when I was sore and telling myself...I am gonna rest at the next ramp for at least 40 minutes ...I must....I found that I could just switch to the single blade...realize that if I hade been able to do this earlier in the race....I would have worked through the low's and done more of a touch and go at the ramps.  I was skeptical about a single blade...but it really is a totally different set of muscle groups and I can paddle a singe blade on my QCC...with no worries...feels very natural. 

Third, I spent way too much time groaning and laying around at the ramps this year...next year I need to nip that in the bud, use the single blade when I am in limping mode and have support that will look me in the eyes and say..."get back on the water...now punk", like Ann did (my huki outrigger paddle monster friends!)....my sweet wife is great...more than great...but I need a drill sargent at the ramp...who will force me back on the water....cause when you are hurting...you look for too many excuses to delay.

I am not convinced I can sleep less, without chemical help...and I will not do that. 

Finaly, the largest error I made was ironically in achieving my goal.....my goal this year was 20 hours off my time....did that to a tee....(secretly I hoped to perhaps try to get in before noon on Thursday)... I now realize that you will (when tired) default to the lesser goal. 

Next year my goal will be simple....stay in the top 10...and try to move up...if I am currently in 8th place..then I will push to get to 7th...get that...push to pass the 6th place boater...etc.  Can I win??....not likely, especially if we get Carter to race....and Anderson and Artie are animals...winning is not really the issue...what I need to do is keep pushing for "more" during the race. 

I achieved my goal...but because I set a strict/fixed goal...that was all I achieved....and in fact, once I knew I had it...I slowed down and infact did not enjoy the last legs...I feel like I came in with my tail between my legs...stupid attitude, I know...but I had more in me... I had set the bar too low...and when you are in pain and hot and broke down...that is a poor time to try to raise the bar in your mind.....anyway...there you are...a skull open view of what my mind was like during the race!!

...oh and fyi my hallucinations sucked this year...no fun at all, just buzzing colors and noises, like a radio station that could not be tuned in...except that the radio station was reality and it was late at night with fog on the river and water up over the wing dams...that sucked!...when I did try to crash for a couple of hours at a ramp...it took 45 minutes for the buzzing to stop.

Next year!!!

Bryan

I had a few choice hallucinations this year.  Here was my favorite.

I had left a group of 4 boats sleeping in Jeff City and followed Christina about 15 miles to a sandbar until the sun came up.  Then, I turned around to head back to Jeff to check on the rearguard.  Rather than motor all the way, I went about half and stopped on a skinny little treed island and just sat there to wait at the upstream end.  Finally, after a long wait which was making me sleepy, I looked far upstream and saw the tiniest blue kayak with yellow blades flashing.  Probably over a mile away.  I knew this to be Nicki.  As I was watching her glide along the cut bank, a tree she was passing "stood up" and started walking down the bank after her.  It entered the water and continued to walk as though chasing her.  I knew I was seeing things so I just went with it.  I was kinda hoping it would catch her so I could see what it had in mind, but every time it got close, it just disappeared and started all over again.

No paddlers or trees were harmed in this hallucination.

speaking of all the hallucinations.  I ended up waving to a fellow kayaker standing on the side of the river with their kayak up on the bank as well.  I figured they must have really needed to stretch.  As we drew closer it turned out to be a log and what was left of a tree still standing.  We both got a pretty good laugh out of that.

any email address?

Looks like Wayne and Ann are entered in the CR100, so I'll get to see them down here if they've commandeered another boat. --West

CR 100...Colorado River 100.  Marek has done this race several times I think...locatiton is stunning.

I talked to Ann today....good attitude on things...and in fact she said that she and Wayne were borrowing a boat this weekend to get back in the saddle....who know's ...maybe this is what they will take to the cr 100.  She said she thought that they would be back at the MR 340...cause they really felt in a groove during the race...and had unfinished business

On another note...they are having dinner with Carter Johnson and his girlfriend (who also is a strong paddler she said)...and I encouraged her to try to get Carter to do the MR 340 next year...why not?...he has smashed every record on all the other ultra's....we need to see him on the Missouri....that would be cool beans.....granted....I may be struggling to be in the top 20 next year...but I love seeing all the paddle greats showing up.......Barton...whats the matter ...ya chicken?????

Bryan "smack talker" Hopkins

Looks like this is the best place for me to chime in.  This was one of the best races that we have been to, except maybe for the collision.  The race support and organization were really great, and even the support crews for the other racers were really helpful.  Di's father really helped our crew find their way from ramp to ramp and knew all the best places to stop.  Our crew was the best and were always there with the right food and water and smiles to get us back on the water.  Anyone doing the race without a crew is really a lot tougher than I am.  I know that our crew saved us a lot of time and gave us a lot of information that helped keep us going.

About the collision!  We had just left the ramp at Portland with 2 hours of rest and sleep, had dry clothes, felt rested and didn't think that we would need any more rest until the finish.  Both of us were wide awake, not sure that we had coffee or not, but were not taking any pills.  I really don't think that fatigue was the problem.  I didn't know what the river and the channel were doing and what the barge was doing.  At first I thought he might be a dredge working, then we realized he was moving but didn't think that we were in danger.  The search light that he had blinded us but we were moving to our left and just kept going.  We expected the wake but we paddle in rough water and thats generally not a problem.  We didn't realize the danger until the bow of the barge loomed out of the darkness only a few feet away.  We were immediately under the barge and crawling across the bottom to get to the side.  When we came to the surface they threw us a life ring and pulled us back to the tug and up on deck.  Yes, we had PFD's and were wearing them.  From then on it was just getting warm, dry and waiting for a ride to shore.  After the collision they ran the barge into the bank and left the engines in gear to hold it there.  The local river patrol picked us up and took us down to the check point at Hermann right after it got light.  We were never able to contact anyone by VHF or cell phone.

We have a new boat on order.  Now we just have to figure out how to pay for it.  It will be here in time for the CR 100 and hope to see a lot of you there.

Wayne and Ann

Lee:

I noticed that during the race you seem to have been thinking in terms of what boat you could catch and where the other boaters were.  I think that was my flaw this year ( still learning...this is only my second race )...I thought I could approach this race with a mind set of ignoring all the other boaters and fix on a time goal....man-o-man...will not do that again ...cause you need a carrot out in front at all times to stay motivated....as soon as I realized that I had my time goal.....I could not stop...or would have failed to get in ...but felt like I was just slogging out the rest of the race ......wont do that again!!!!

It was good paddling with you and Erin.....I hope to get on the water with you-all again soon!

Bryan