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| 2004 5th Year Girl’s Camp Our Second Voyage of the River Belles  Carl and Crew pulling away  Weldon Springs ramp of last resort Five Boats this year.
6/12/04 Sat PACK GEAR, pick up boats and store at the Olathe Stake Center. High wind storm that night, about 12 PM, I attempted to move the boats to the back alley of the church to protect them from the winds of about 40 MPH, with very strong gusts. The high profile of the Lexington could be over turned, ending the trip. 6/13/04 Sun, STAGING AT FT. OSAGE 2PM collected at Payzant’s to begin taking boats to the put in point. Dave Staley, Brandon Payzant, Lacey Payzant were our return drivers and took the trucks back to Olathe, Carl Whitcomb, Scott Mansker and myself stayed to tend the boats that night. Took an hour’s travel, the ramp was crowded with kids and cars and fishermen. We put in the Lexington, RiverKeeper, RiverHound, and Charger. Left the Coronado on the trailer until morning, it was huge. We’d camped on the boats that night. We lifted the Charger’s trailer onto Lex’s trailer—it took all of us to do it, only to find on Friday that it broke the bunk boards off Lex’s trailer. Scott and I spent the night time hours running into town to refill gas cans and top off all the boats. We stopped when the gas pump wouldn’t take our credit cards anymore. Afterwards, we started to work on installing the radio in Gramp’s boat and then radio checks with the other boats. Worried about it raining during the night but it remained dry.  Preparing to load on passengers at Ft Osage Ramp 6/14/04 Monday START OF THE RIVER TRIP Had the ramp all to ourselves at 3 AM. I fell asleep until 5:30 when we started getting ready to put the Coronado in the water. Some starter problems for the big inboard motor, finally we got it off the trailer and we were watching Gramps and Scott put her out into the river’s current. All eyes were on the classic boat, would it work on a river? We didn’t know until that very moment; brinkmanship in a sense. Josh arrived and Scott took him out to get use to operating the 75 hp Charger. We waited for the bus to arrive, it was 7 am, then 8 am. We didn’t know it then but all the girls were up at the Fort waiting for us to come up the hill. It was getting hot and we could see there was poison ivy everywhere. I went up the hill to warn and make sure the girls didn’t get into it on the way down. When I got to the old Fort, it was then that I realized the girls and leaders already arrived and were waiting for us. I saw a big pile of stuff on the lawn in front of the Fort. We had too much gear again, and too few support trucks—a lot of hand work loading. The 8-person van was filled with food and cooking gear.  Riverbelles going into Fort Osage to get tickets for passage down river. Getting everyone on the boats went much better this year. We launched all the boats, started up the motors and we were off. We were on time and Lexington was our next stop at 11:30. The river was up, the normal banks were almost covered. Landings would have to take place on the smallest of areas. The walkboard we made became very handy. The first stop went better than I hoped. The City of Lexington was clearing the ramp site even as we disembarked. The Mayor was there to meet us with a bus. He came aboard our boat for a picture. Scott and I went up with the girls to see the dedication—last year we missed it.  Coming into the City of Lexington's public ramp (note black walkboard on port side)
 A visit from the city's mayor This left Cy (Gramps), Carl, Rob, and Drew back at the boats. Unfortunately, we would not return again until after 4 PM. This was a problem because these men were sitting in the hot sun (90F) with little protection or food or drink. I worried that they would become impatient or upset with the trip. To their credit, they were in good spirits and trying to help. The service projects were very well done and seemed to impress many or all that we met. Back at the boats, storms were building to the west and we still didn’t know where we would land for the night. We questioned whether the island would be flooded (Scott had visited it the week before). So we asked the Support Crew to meet us in Waverly. We were relieved after getting the big work done of the first day. Back on the water again, things were going well, except we could only hear Carl on the radios, we could not talk to him. His transmit button would not work. Cy had a problem with his boat, a vibration. I was pleased with the Lexington pontoon boat, she was carrying the weight and after getting the idle control repaired during the spring, she responded well. We learned a trick for landing, we put her nose in the bank and held her against the current by running up the RPM of the motor while in gear. Steering left or right, I can overcome the affects of current and wind while the crew get us tied off.  Captain Mansker aboard the Riverkeeper We all made it to Waverly and put in at the ramp, it looked like we should stay there for the night because of the low dark clouds. Set up tents after planting the boats in knee-high mud. I kept seeing poison ivy. Found a Canoe Guy who dug out a boat from a log, met the Lewis & Clark’s Meriwether Lewis reinactor (named Scott) and he agreed to talk to the camp that night. Cy’s boat was pulled out on the trailer and we found a bent prop or shaft. We changed it with the help of Drew Dokos, put it back in the water and it worked better. Put it back on the trailer for the night because of space on the bank was limited. The river was rising steadily and weather was worsening. Putting up tents, still no rain, fixed dinner and listened to Lewis for some time. The girls and their leaders seemed to be in good spirits, everyone was settled in and doing their part. About 11 PM, I retired to the boat to see if I could finish making the shower. It worked, I cleaned things up a bit, put up a tent on the top and fell asleep. 6/15/04 Tuesday (THE NIGHT STORM) Somewhere around 3 AM I heard my name being called “Russ, get out of there, the tent is blowing over!” The only “over” I could think of was into the water, which was racing by us toward the work barges behind. I followed the voice but in my sleep I could not open the tent. I realized the voice was Scott, I said “Scott, I can’t open the tent” He reached up and started pulling stuff down to the deck. About that time, I noticed the wind was blowing in both directions at once (up and down), once again it seemed I was fighting for my life in nothing but my underwear. I got down the ladder , the boat was under the old Waverly bridge now, river was up, lightning flashed, we were banging into the bride, wind was everywhere, in the flashing we could see what looked like a huge wall cloud approaching from the west. I thought this is a bad place to be. I thought of the boat Lexington, for all the work we put into her, it was about to be demolished. We hoped for some protection against the storm and prepared to leave the boat and get to ground. I turned on the searchlight to show the bank we’d have to climb up, the mud flat was now underwater. Scott had called Carl on the radio and he answered, much to our surprise. We could see his boat in the searchlight. “Was he okay?, yea, fine. Do you need help?, nope” I thought maybe he’s in another storm that’s not as bad as this one. Made sure I had all the keys and cards, put on our PFDs and jumped into the water abandoning the Lexington to her fate. Odd, the water was only 6” deep; I stood up and followed the ropes through the weeds. Scott was patiently following behind and had the courtesy not to mention my frenzied state of mind. I was thinking the beam of the Lexington’s light would be the last we’d see of her as the storm bashed her into scrap against the barges below. Found the tents, woke up Cory and sounded the alarm. I thought we had lost the Lexington (which meant there would not be enough boats for the trip) We needed to find shelter for the girls. Did not seem people were moving fast enough. I pictured everyone lining up and marching off at quick-time to safety and shelter from a benefactor “who offered his building for the night if the storm got bad.” At which point I heard the same reassuring voice, “now wait a minute, the Lexington is not lost, we can still see its light.” I looked and sure enough, I could see the light. Scott again, “Cory, everyone is in tents and they’re dry lets wait until light and see if the storm passes.” I thought, “gee, why didn’t I think of that?” I always trust Scott Mansker. Through all of our adventurous trips, I had confidence in his cool reasoning and practical approach. Listening to him, I relaxed and saw the wisdom of what he said. We waited under the shelter, talking of different possibilities, it was 4 AM. It was decided that Gramp’s boat would be taken back to the Ozarks by Drew, several hours away. We’d continue the trip by having 5 girls rotate on support trucks for each leg of the trip. That way everyone got on the boats sometime during the day.  That's right Russ, the Lexington is still where you left it . . . Storm in the Morning Morning light came the same time the Missouri Water Patrol guys showed up. Also, the barge workmen were moving their equipment onto the ramp and told us to get our boats out of there. This is where it gets dicey. Had to swim to the boats in chest high water, cut them away, get the motors started, and pull away down the river. The girls would be transported to the next landing by the trucks and break the camp for us. We just had time to get the boats moving. Last boat was Lexington, it was a mess from all the falling debris from the old bridge. As I cut it loose and the current caught the bow, she pivoted sharply down river just as the large Tow was passing. The current and the wake of the tow boats all compressed under the bridge, it was a challenge that I’d rather not face again. I cleared the two barges and was on the river again. Funny how much the world changes in three hours.  Saving Janel's shoe, lost the other Carl got his radio working, he was up front, we were going into some big dark clouds. Cory called from the ramp and asked if we could come back and pick up 5 girls to save them another round trip. Scott went back in the Riverkeeper to get them. Now we started to get separated on the river. The wind was coming up and we started looking for a way to get off the river because I was concerned about the lightning we saw coming. About this point we saw the Lewis & Clark flotilla coming up river. Passed the flotilla about the time Scott caught up to us, we transferred five girls onto the Lexington, Josh was with me at this time. This was when we lost Janel Bertagnoli’s shoes overboard, took waves from a barge, and I went in the river trying to rescue the shoes. Met up with the rest of the company at Brunswick ramp. Storm broke up and with the calm we had lunch at the Brunswick ramp. Landed at Glasgow early afternoon.  A glamor shot of the 04 Riverbelles Camped at the shelter and showered at the High School. The four men used the boy’s side of the gym to clean up. All of the women used the girl's side but it took them a little longer.  The flags of Glasgow River Park We all assembled and went for Ice cream at a small diner, bus driver ate with us and had a great time. Back at camp, had a warm meal, a pleasant fireside program and most turned in, it was the first sleep for Scott and I since Saturday night when we were fighting the storms at the church parking lot.  Good dinner and good friends and dry pants NOTE: During this night, the keys were locked in one of the trucks. Scott knew waiting till morning to get help would put us behind. So he found a patrolman, asked him to help. They drove into town about 2 AM, found a locksmith who came out and unlocked the truck. This meant that Scott, in his service to the camp had no sleep since Saturday, which was 72 hours working hard. And the next day, he would be called on to perform a high drama rescue on the river. 6/16/04 Wednesday Got away early, the girls got the tents down in record time, support would meet us above the river at Rocheport. Lots of drift in the river! Kept getting branches caught in the props. Landed at Rocheport, or rather we crashed into the trees there, and fought the battle of the swirling logs. There was a large eddy by the trees about 100 yards long; huge trees coming down the river were sucked into the swirl that ran like a race track. Drew and I stood on the front boat and tried to pole the large trees away from striking the boats tied to the bank. The pontoon boats seem to funnel the drift into the center and it builds up like a beaver dam against the motor. We were trying to dig this out when we heard Carl on the radio as he went past on the other side of the river. Drew asked Carl if everything was ok, and Carl said, “yep.” He also mentioned that he had lost his steering . . .  At this point all activities ceased as we tried to figure out what to do. Carl, it seems, was hanging off the back of his boat, holding his motor. While the girls were up front telling him which way to go. They were headed toward the I-70 Overpass Bridge. Scott could cut the Riverkeeper loose faster than any of the rest of us. So he forged out into the swirling caldron of floating trees. I can’t forget the picture of him standing at the helm as the Riverkeeper plowed through tangle after tangle to reach open water, all while seeing the receding image of Carl drifting toward the bridge. Scott reached them, and gave a radio report back to the Caldron landing site. The steering bolt came out of the motor, so Scott came along side of Carl and held onto the side of their boat with one hand while he piloted the Riverkeeper against the river to reach help. He brought them to an outcrop of rock just below our position. I had a spare bolt on my boat. I gave it to Cory, who ran it down to Carl’s boat—we were back in business again. But it was an experience that had shaken some of the girls. Afterwards, I heard the phrase being used by some of the girls, “Mansker to the rescue.” Landed at Cooper’s Landing for fuel. They had their dock replaced from the year before and the operation went much easier than last. It was much easier than hauling cans out to the boats. Even had time for the girls to get some cold drinks. We had about two hours until an approaching storm, and we ran hard to the Osage river two hours away. Good run, boats working well, drivers getting the hang of it all. Landed across from Soda Pops on the Osage River, set up camp next to the ramp on the grass. Dinner of hot dogs. Great show on the river with the captains doing “rollin on the river” Bathed at the ramp, wonderful clear water of the Osage. The pilots were on the boats having some good stories about the events of the day. The laughter was hardy and funny. Drew’s stories were the best. Lights were working, motors running good, gas was across the river and everyone had a good night’s sleep. 6/17/04 Thursday On Thursday, while standing at the helm on the last leg Cory and I talked about how productive the girls had been, and the effectiveness they were having in the communities, and what a good experience it was for everyone. I was thinking, “We’re going to make it!” The boats pulled up to the rendezvous point outside Weldon Springs (Hamburg) about 4:30 and there was a small place to get off the river at that ramp. We waited for the support for some time, we had nothing on the boats to help the people and we were low on drinking water. Still we waited, girls walked around, Scott and I dug a pit toilet. About 6:30 the trucks finally pulled up, but the trailer was missing. This was a new development and posed some logistic problems. Eventually we got all the company together again, but it was pushing 9 PM. When we got back, the girls had prepared a 4-act play and had built a stage and made costumes. They had us stop as we got out of the trucks and made us sit down and watch as the play opened. It was wonderful, funny, and just the right help. It was great. Afterward everyone pitched in to make a camp and to cook the food.  Mansker getting a well deserved 1/2 hour sleep 6/18/04 Friday All through the night, we transferred people back and forth to a hotel in St. Charles for showers. It had taken five round trips which ended about 7 AM. Camp consisted of chairs or blankets on the ground. But the spirits of these young people were remarkable. We broke camp about 7:30 and loaded for the last hour down to St Charles and the taking out lunch. Later we all travel over to the LDS Temple in St Louis for a special service there. Then the trip back to Kansas City and the unloading.  Riverbelles 2004 at the St Louis Temple This year's leaders did good, people don’t usually fare so well when they go without sleep, do a lot of lifting and carrying, live in wet clothes, can’t bathed everyday, and don’t know what is coming next. Yet these people flourished and even helped one another. I was proud of them and would take any of them on another voyage.  Annie, Colleen, and Jenny (shopping in St Charles?) We got all the crew back to Kansas City in the dark, parents had come and there were many hugs and tears among the survivors of the 2004 River Trip. At the end, Scott and I stood in the parking lot sorting out the camp gear. Pleased that others had a chance to see this amazing experience of the Missouri River.  The 2004 Riverbelle cruise was the last trip we made with the Riverkeeper |
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