Note that solo boats start at 7am and their finish times will be calculated as such.  All other boats start at 8am.  I am not inclined to shorten cutoff numbers for solos at this time.  Rather, these cutoff times are now even more generous for the early starting solos.  But it should also be remembered that there will zero mercy for a solo boat that misses a cutoff by a few minutes... as that means you've actually missed it by an HOUR and a few minutes, relative to the tandem boats around you.  Remember solos, if you're paddling with a tandem boat, they are actually an hour ahead of you timewise.  If you have a desire to beat them, you should be at least 60 minutes ahead. 

We are having a dual start for space and safety issues.  We should have about 400 boats starting the race.  Roughly 200 are solos.  200 is a lot of boats to launch and get through downtown KC.  About the time the last one gets through the bridges and into the wilds, the tandems and teams will start hunting them down.  Actually, I think it will be kind of neat for the slower solos to get a chance to see and even paddle along for a minute or so with the fastest multi-person boats.  And also fun for these really fast boats to get to pass 200 or so solos before it just becomes open river ahead.  Of course, some of the faster solos will hold them off for hours and hours.  Maybe even until night.  Then possibly grab a draft and hang on longer. 

When the 7am gun goes off, there will still be solos launching.  It takes a long time to launch 200 solo boats.  If you want to be assured of being on the water at 7am, you can't wait until 645am to get in line to launch.  Also, tandems will need to start launching prior to the 7am solo start in order to be on the water by 8am.

We will have the dock in the water again at Kaw Point and will have launch zones in multiple areas.   

Could you tell us which side of the river the checkpoints are on?

Oh, I didn't point it out but the Rs and Ls are in there for which side of the river.  You can even throw in those cutoff times.  I didn't because I plan to be way ahead of that curve. 

In addition, here is a map and matrix with checkpoint mileage, which side of the river they are on and a bunch more.

I've attached a pdf of the map and checkpoint matrix we created for safety boats. Although you may want charts or more detailed maps (we bring three different kinds of maps!), it's nice to have a one-pager you can quickly refer to.

This is two-sided designed for printing on legal size paper. The first page is a map with checkpoint mileage, open and closing times (for you, checkpoint open time is when you arrive). There are a few extra ramp rivermiles thrown in, too.

The back is a matrix with checkpoint open and close times, sunrise and sunset, moonrise, checkpoint mileage and miles from previous checkpoint.

I find this helpful for quickly answering a bunch of questions. Hope you find it helpful.

I would welcome ideas on additional helpful information that could be incorporated into this.

See you on the river!

As an unsupported paddler, I am trying to map out refueling (water, ice, food) at the various checkpoints.  2011 was my first MR340, and since it was postponed to October, it was a smaller field.  Some checkpoints were great Oasis' (Miami, Jeff City, Herman) and some were bare bones.  Can someone tell me, if they know, what food/beverages I can plan on buying at the checkpoints.  Thanks.

Arizona C-1er...Last year, there was a festival-type atmosphere at Miami, Jeff City, and Herman.  I bought food (Bar-B-Que) and drink at each of these spots.  What concerns me is the other checkpoints, which did not have any tap-water access or food purchase.  I know the fantastic support people will certainly help any paddler out, but I'd hate to count on that.  With the expected heat, I fear that I'll run out of water and food before the next Oasis-stop. 

I've thought about reaching out to a ground crew and see if they would be willing to dropoff "milk crate care packages" that I'll prepare in advance at various checkpoints to just leave there with my boat number on it.  As I'm certain to be in the bottom third of finishers, I'm not concerned about getting to a checkpoint prior to my milk-crate.

My brother and I are also first time competetors without a full time ground team. We will have one for the first, and last day but nothing in between. Does anybody else have any suggestions of how they carry their water? We are carrying instant potatoes, bagged tuna with a jet boil, for quick meals in the canoe. Our only concern is running out of water.

I can't imagine that any paddler who pulled in and asked for water wouldn't be inundated with offers. Ground crews have opportunities to resupply and I for one would not allow anyone to go thirsty. Buy food whenever it's available and save your "boat stash" for late nights or when you stop on a sandbar. Also you will see some of the same crew folks at each stop, offer them a fiver and ask them to pick you up something for the next stop. I'm supporting multiple boats already or I'd offer to carry those crates for you.

I've attached a revision of our checkpoint map and times matrix with updated sunset/moonrise times for 2013.

The barge was a surprise that night.  And while we're appreciative of the barges pulling over for us at night, that was not the best spot.  But we got it corrected later that evening.

There is a camp store a bit further up that road.  Though it would have been closed at 11pm.  We're working with them to see what the hosts plan to have this year.  They are telling us they plan to have more stuff right at the ramp.

Jeff City is going to be better this year, too!  There will be bathrooms right at the beach instead of hiking over the levee.  And Joe Wilson is designing some primitive showers (two stalls) that will be near the beach as well. 

Showers in Jeff City.  We are getting spoiled now.

There will also be a floating food boat at Jeff.  A pontoon that serves tacos.  NOT a hallucination.

Scott