Official Cutoff Times.

Injected with more leniency, but still an expectation that you are racing.


Wamego, 19 miles, 10pm  (4.22 mph for the 5:30 start.  A bit faster for men's solos.  Mercy granted accordingly.)
Maple Hill, 21 miles, 4am, 3.5mph.
Topeka, 21 miles, 11am,  3mph.
Tecumseh, 11 miles, 2pm, 3.67mph.
Lawrence, 22miles, 8pm, 3.67mph.

Overall average, 3.62 mph.  Very generous pace.  

Note that there are limited opportunities for extended rests outside your boat.  Especially prior to Topeka.  Due to our sweep boat set up, we really need folks to commit to paddling Manhattan to Topeka straight through if conditions allow.  If you don't feel you can paddle at least 61 miles, relatively non-stop, this race may not be for you.

Bank your mileage early.  Try to stay with the pack.  The further you go in the cool of the night, the less you'll have to do in the heat of Saturday.  

If you are dealing with health issues like overheating, don't wait to deal with it.  Cool yourself down immediately.  Use the river to sit in to cool your body quickly in shallow water.  An overheating body does not perform well.  If you take a moment to cool down, you'll find your alertness and performance will improve.  

This from Vicki:

Hi all-
By this time, you are all packing and repacking and getting those boats up on your vehicles.  We wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you at the Pathfinder in Manhattan on Friday.
Please be sure to thank those that are helping us out at checkpoints.  Be they food sellers or boat loggers, they are giving of their time and talent to be there for us.  A thank you goes a long way in building this race!

I'll run through the hospitality information needed for checkpoints here:

First- The Pathfinder!
We will be ready for you to check in at the Pathfinder,304 Poyntz Ave. in Manhattan at 10 am.  We will staff this till about 1:30, and will head over to the Wareham for the safety meeting.  We prefer to have you pick up your shirts and packets, and be ready for the safety meeting.  If you haven't signed in at the Pathfinder, you are not officially signed in for the race.

We will meet at the Wareham Opera House. just down the street from the Pathfinder for the safety meeting at 2.  again. you should have signed in at the Pathfinder already!  The address for the Wareham is 410 Poyntz Ave.  We will show a safety video and have some brief welcome speakers.  We should be out of there and headed to the Race start by 3:15.
You may have already dropped your boat at the Race Starting Line in Manhattan's Linear Park, Blue River Access.  This is just off 24 highway where it crosses the Blue River on the way in to town.  Manhattan's Little Apple Core will be on hand to watch over boats while you are at the safety meeting.  Check the Kawnivore Dispatch thread for particulars, but we will start all classes but men's solo at 5:30.  Men's solo will start as soon as all boats are in the water; we anticipate that will be about 6.

PARKING AT LINEAR PARK:
you are welcomed to pull into the park to drop off boats and gear.  Parking is limited at the park, so we are asking that folks park in the Baileys Moving and Storage parking lot (810 Levee Drive), and take the walking trail back to the park.
If you are coming from the ramp, please leave the park and go right and over the bridge.  Take your first left, back onto 24 and turn right on Levee Dr.  If you are not hitting the park first, simply take 24 and go left on Levee Drive and into the parking lot at Baileys.   You'll hit Levee Drive before you hit the park.

We then head to Wamego, for the first check point.
Wamego's ramp is lovely, but parking is limited.  We will allow ground crews to drive through to the ramp and drop off supplies, leave the park and park along roads into the park or on 24.  We anticipate having help to get folks offloaded and headed the right direction.
Wamego has really been excited about hosting us, and the ambassadors are planning snacks and fruit and shaved ice for us.  Please be generous with your purchases, the proceeds benefit two very worthy causes:  the Wam-Sag-Man Trail. www.wam-sag-man.org and the Rock Creek High School Wrestling Team.   

all boats should clear Wamego by 10pm cutoff.

The next checkpoint is Maple Hill Bridge, 21 river miles downstream of Wamego.  This is NOT a park but simply a bridge and a trail to the water.  Checking racers through here will be 100% verbal so it's important that racers come as close to the river left shore as possible to get verbal contact with Steve and Jeff, our official trolls under the bridge.  Ground crews are more than welcomed at this spot, but there is no ramp and no hospitality provided, other than the cheery voices of our official trolls.  Racers should get a verbal confirmation, and arrival times will be logged with Barbara.  We'll be keeping close track of everyone!

Next stop, Topeka!
The portage park will be well lit, and the Topeka West High School players will be serving delicious coffee, breakfast burritos and fruit- as much local food as is available!  Water and ice will also be available.  These kids are really paying attention to your suggestions, and have made their shopping lists with your input in mind.  Again, show your appreciation for their efforts with your dollars: this checkpoint benefits the Topeka West drama club.   
There is plenty of available space to watch the race, and I hear tell of poker games and bridge tournaments.  Ground crews are so wonderfully entertained!
You may certainly help your racer to carry boats across the portage, and offer assistance to  paddlers other than your own. 

Next check point- Tecumseh Low Head Dam.
This is again a verbal checkpoint, with no access or hospitality for ground crews.  Although they do not have a bridge to be trolls under, your hosts are The Other Steve and his buddy Craig.  Again, racers will call out boat numbers and the no-bridge trolls will repeat them.  Your racer will be called in to Barbara and logged though. 

And finally, the FINISH!
Friends of the Kaw (FoTK) have been excited to host us here in Lawrence.  The menu has been revised to offer burgers, all beef hot dogs and, courtesy of Kansas Wildlife and Parks, ELK BURGERS.  Sides include chips and veggies and dip.  Lemonade or water will be served with your meal.  A suggested donation of $5 covers a meal.  Please be generous with your contribution, FoTK is largely responsible for the ramps we've been visiting!  Show your appreciation with a donation.
Free State Brewery is hosting a beer tent, with donations again going to FoTK.  Do I need to encourage you to enjoy a cold one while recovering and telling stories?  I know you and I think not!
We are working with Lawrence Parks to get some rocks moved to provide additional parking.  I meet them tomorrow, so have nothing to post other than we are working with a terrific partner in the Lawrence Parks Department.  They'll move mountains ( or rocks anyway) to make the finish line hospitable!

Please let you friends and families know that they can follow race updates here, on the 2011 Kawnivore Official Race Tracking thread at the top of the Kawnivore Forum.  We will keep the document as current as possible.  Barbara just loves to stay up all night and listen to her telephone ring!  We appreciate her availability!

My number will be on your safety cards, but I will post it here.  If there are questions, please let us know.


See you on Friday!
Vicki
816-812-5166

Scott
913-244-4666

racer's meals are covered in your registration.  And Laura from FoTK will have a roster to get you checked off- no need to keep track of a ticket.
Groundcrews and spectators will be asked for a $5 donation. 
Although an elk burger is certainly a bargain at any price.

Safety card getting finalized.  We'll post it on this thread tonight for preview.   It will contain a small map, emergency contact info and cutoff times.

Scott

There will be water and other good stuff available in Wamego.  

But be ready for the 40 miles unsupported Wamego to Topeka.  Though it will be night and not so hot.

Dispatch #1 lists spare paddle as suggested equipment.