... during the MR340 race:
http://photokayaker.fit2paddle.com/C1666358270/E20080724191757/index.html

I think that I devoted about 1 hour of race time to photography = about 5 positions in the men solo class. Was it worth it?

This is Alma Hopkins, wife of Bryan.  I wish to share this picture of Bryan approaching the Noren checkpoint.  I recall a racer stating that the MR340 is "heaven and hell" wrapped into one.  No doubt and Amen to that!  So I can't help to share this picture which to me depicts the heaven aspect of a race.


This race has offered our family a lifetime of memories and if god willing - a new family tradition.  I believe arriving to a boat ramp exhausted to a point a racer can only truly understand and appreciate, s/he will get a boost of morale and energy by seeing their friends and family greet them at the checkpoints.

Thank you MR340!

Hopkins Race Crew (Tomás - age 9; Myriam (Mimi) - age 6, not shown David Goggins - wonderful friend & captain of the race crew)

Photography: Scott Myers, Dept of Natural Resources

PS:  Marek, great photography by the way!  

Well... I see a couple of angels, but what's that other thing? --West

I'm giving 3/1 on Hopkins over West in MMA.

Linebackers over cheerleaders.

Fortunately we also have Diesel as the last line of defense for Texas honor.

Then again, there is that "Big Tiny" guy to contend with.

LD

Ok...I give up...I looked up chat acronyms...no  MMA....so what does MMA stand for....is it nice???...cause you know I only play nice!!!  peace, love and all the hippy dippy stuff!!!!

Oh.... you mean like carbon fiber wing paddle battle  (try and say that fast 3X).....or perhaps zaveral hatchets match-up, or silly like- hydration bag squirt fights with disgusting power gel throwing contests..............man forget that...that is just plain stupid

Why cant we just get along......why??? ....why.....peace and love and global tranquility...care for all man kind........................................hippy dippy.....................................................

ok forget it.....bring it on.......I request a competition to see who can run each over at the start of a race...now that I am down for....I will start sharpening my Ski bow tonight!!!!!

no more mr nice guy, or huki racer for that matter......I am evil think racer.....(need to sew up some kinda retro pro-wrestling  mask....??cape or no cape??....does pategonia make purple tights????.....lots of things to decide .....its on!!!

Dr. Seuss/Hopkins:

Be careful what you wish for.  Full contact canoeing involves Bugge....

and, may lightning strike me dead if I'm not 100% dead-on correct, NO ONE has beaten Bugge at this game for over 30 years.

If you're nice he might hand your bow back to you after some nice farmer drives you to to the finish line.

LD

Sorry,  Nice try.

Mr. Bugge will take no pitty on the big guy even though he has a cute family.

4/1 that Alma can take West in thumb wrasslin'

From Alma:

Okay boys . . . I  am so compelled to stop and interject that in the 1,000 of years of evolution of the human species . . . absolutely nothing has changed!!  The men, so called "hunters", are out and about just playing during worktime and while that is happening, the women, are "gathering" as an honest day's work . . . during the time of this banter back and forth, I spent my a.m. training 200 or so participants on a social marketing campaign, went grocery shopping with a contractor for their culmunating kids cooking demonstration in the afternoon, went back to the office to finish a couple of things, read some email, and then close shop.

I am talking to you too Hopkins.