Rivermiles Forum - Kawnivore Dispatch #1

06/28/11 at 10:50:42

Scott Ex Member

As of this post, we are 3 1/2 weeks from the first ever Kawnivore.

Because the race is having to come together quickly, some of the information below is subject to some contracts being signed, etc. But what we have so far looks like this.

Sign in and tshirt pickup: Anytime between 10am and 145pm at the Pathfinder Outdoor Store in Manhattan, KS 304 Poyntz Avenue.

Mandatory Safety Meeting: Begins promptly at 2pm at the Wareham Opera House, just a couple doors down from Pathfinder on Poyntz Avenue. Meeting should be over by 3pm at the latest.

Race Starting Line is Manhattan's Linear Park, Blue River Access. This is just off 24 hiway where it crosses the Blue River on the way in to town. With the roster at over 100 boats, we'll likely do two starts. This worked very well with the Gritty Fitty and we had less wait time for participants.

First Wave will be all boats EXCEPT Men's Solo. The gun for these boats will be promptly at 530pm. Be on the water and ready to go. There are approximately 50 boats in this wave. It will take about 45 minutes to get all 50 boats launched. Plan accordingly.

Second Wave will be all Men's Solos. The gun will be at 615 or as soon as the last boat is in the water. Whichever comes first. Please start launching boats as soon as possible. For the Gritty we were able to start just 20 minutes after the first wave.

Parking will be tight at this park. There is alternate parking across the hiway, then carry your boat along the levee trail and under the hiway to the starting line.

Official starting line will be anywhere upstream of the railroad bridge near the boat ramp.

There are some good chances to view racers as they travel down the Blue River towards the confluence if spectators wish to hike along the bike trail that parallels the Blue River.

First opportunity to see your ground crew would be St. George, 10 miles into the race. This is NOT a checkpoint. The ramp is river left. Limited parking, restrooms.

First mandatory checkpoint is Wamego at the 19 mile mark of the race. Wamego will be river left, just under the bridge. Very limited parking at the actual ramp but plenty of parking in downtown Wamego just a block away. We're working on getting a local cafe or other civic organization in Wamego to have a Kawnivore Special on hand for fans and ground crews.

We will have several volunteers on hand to check you in and out. Please be ready to confirm your boat number verbally to us. We will ask you to state your boat number, we will then repeat it to you. You can then confirm we've got it right. Your ground crew may also check you through. If you do not wish to exit your boat in Wamego, please be sure to get verbal confirmation that we've got you counted OR be sure to have your ground crew verify OR both.

Cutoff time for the 19 mile Wamego checkpoint is 4 hours from when you started.

Leaving Wamego you need to be sure to have lights rigged and ready if you haven't done so already. Some boats will hit Wamego at dark and should have already rigged lights. Faster boats may opt to rig lights at Wamego. Whatever your preference, please don't leave Wamego without proper lighting. Proper lighting means you have red and green bow lights, just like a real boat, and a white stern light. It also means you have lighting sufficient to see obstacles ahead. This can take many forms as we've seen in the 340. Please test your system prior to race day to make sure it's durable and effective.

The next checkpoint is Maple Hill Bridge, 21 miles downstream of Wamego. This is NOT a park but simply a bridge and a trail to the water. Checking you through here will be 100% verbal so it's important you come as close to the river left shore as possible to get verbal contact with the volunteer that will be under the bridge. We will note your boat number and time and send it along to Topeka so they'll know when to expect you. This is not a ground crew friendly place as there is little parking, but if anyone wants to park along the road and keep us company, we won't turn you down. Bring bug spray. If a racer needs to pull out anywhere between Wamego and Topeka, this would be the best place. We can haul your boat up the hill and you can wait for support.

Next checkpoint is Topeka Cofferdam at about the 60 mile mark of the race and 20 miles down from Maple Hill. This is a MANDATORY portage river left. Going right has proven deadly for more than one paddler. Please be aware of your proximity. You should see signage on the Hiway 75 bridge advising you head to the left and portage. We'll have lighting on the left side and the Topeka Fire Department will be above the dam in a boat to intercept the wayward. Note that there are several treed islands in this reach and it would be easy to be on the wrong side of these islands and not see the portage. Best advice is to start heading left at any opportunity between islands until you see the blinking light of the portage. We will sign you through as you carry your boat up the ramp and then down the other. We will help anyone with the portage who requests it. Ground crews may also assist.

Downstream of the portage a couple of miles are the remains of two derelict railroad bridges. These are located directly under the new railroad bridges. These should be transited on river right to avoid the mess. At current water levels, these are not extremely dangerous but could really ding a boat. At higher water levels, they'd be mostly underwater. Advise you transit river right regardless.

70 miles into the race on river right is the Seward Avenue access. It's not a checkpoint but an option for those wishing to meet ground crew or to drop out. It's tough to see even in the daylight so be looking or have your ground crew signal for you. This ramp is usually mud bound.

1 mile below Seward is the Tecumseh Power Plant and accompanying low head dam. At a recent scouting trip with water at 4590cfs, the dam is a non-issue and most boats with kickup rudders would glide over it. There is danger at extreme river right as the purpose of the dam is to feed a water intake for the power plant and this should be avoided. The dam spans from your left to approximately 2/3rds across the river and then it's an open notch. The extreme right of the notch is the power plant. Dead center of the notch are rocks. There is passage to the LEFT of the rocks. Also, it's very shallow just before the rocks and easy enough to paddle up the the rocks, exit the boat and then walk the boat left of the rocks to deeper water and get back in.

Most paddlers will arrive here in daylight but if arriving in the dark, please slow down enough to scout the situation. Going to the right of the rocks is not safe. Going to the left is safe but may require a minimal exit of the boat. Going directly over the dam is possible at levels exceeding 4590cfs. Though understern rudders may be at risk going directly over.

We are told the Topeka Fire Department will have another boat stationed here.

After Tecumseh you've got smooth sailing to Lawrence, now just 22 miles away. You've also got one chance to see support and that's the Lecompton/Rising Sun Access on river left. It's 23 since the portage and the last place most would have met ground crew.
It's not a mandatory checkpoint as it's only 10 miles from the finish line.

The finish line will likely be Lawrence Riverfront Park on river left. Slight chance this would be moved to the KU rowing boathouse on river right, but we've not heard back from them as of yet. Either way, we'll have food going from about 11am on through the day. Awards ceremonies for different divisions as we get a quorum of finishers. Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Finishers awards for all who make it through the first ever Kawnivore.

Some notes to consider:

It's been a stormy spring and summer in this part of the world. It's not uncommon for there to be random thunderstorms in the nighttime hours. All paddlers must be prepared for bad weather and the need to leave the boat and hunker down. Plan accordingly and watch the forecasts throughout the race.

Bring a cell phone. Decent cell service over most of the course thanks to the lovely flatness of Kansas. A cell phone will make your life easier. Use a waterproof case and secure it to your boat or PFD.

PFD usage is required for the dark portion of the race AND the stretch from HWY 75 to below the Tecumseh Dam. PFD MAY be required for the entire race depending on conditions. Be prepared to wear one 94 miles if required. It is definitely recommended.

If a racer pulls out they must inform race personnel at the nearest downstream checkpoint. This can be done by phone or in person. It is not acceptable to pull out of the race and not tell us. We will be looking for you between your last sign in and the next checkpoint. Please do not make us waste resources if you're home sleeping. Simply call us or drive to the next checkpoint and sign out.

Thanks for accepting the challenge of being the first to do the Kawnivore. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Manhattan on Friday the 22nd.

Scott
scott@rivermiles.com