I just went down to the Saint George landing and took MM a Fat Burger and Fries to him talked a bit with him , .....Big Oak Tree
UF2012 MosquitoMagnet Trip Report
(142 posts) (36 voices)-
sailorbob
MemberScareman, thanks for the tide information link.
These competitors are warriors.
The tracking map, forum messages, pictures and videos bring so much of it to life, yet they're only a glimpse of the challenges they are overcoming. When I think of all the regular activities I've done during the the time period of this event and then think about what the competitors have done and are continuing to do, I'm in awe of their efforts and accomplishments. The commitment and perseverence of the competitors and supporters is inspiring.
Though some may have fallen short of their goals, none have failed, all are succeeding.
Posted 9 years ago # -
sailorbob
MemberHopefully, someone will post some pictures or videos of Wayne during his portage. I'm left to my imagination wondering what supplies he might have been carrying all this way to help him in this stage of the challenge. In my craziest imagining, I see him with some wheels strapped to his kayak and some modified two bladed paddle, paddling his way down the road. If anyone could make something like this work out, I think it might be Wayne.
I'll also be interested in seeing Whale and Riverslayers setups.
Boy Oh Boy is this challenge intriguing.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Scareman
MemberBOT - every October RiverSlayer coordinates the Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon from Fargo and Hwy 6 to White Springs. Last year they added a 100 miler, but it was messy with the low water. ACA1 Canoe hosts this event and opens their shop for campers with a few showers (I now know how to turn on the hot water).
Regarding MM's cart...I think I saw a machete on his deck at Ft DeSoto. So I imagine he might whittle something at the landing so he did not have to carry the weight. Or maybe he was prepared to make a new Greenland paddle?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Whirlwind
MemberWine sounds great!
The portage set-up -- Mighty Might Kayak Carts, several straps and a Greenland paddle for a handle. The machete is a shovel with a sharp edge : ) It's an old mob design, crack 'em and pack 'em. The rig is simple and seems to be working well. I hauled the boat loaded over sand and it moved well without excessive effort. However, it is 40 miles so let's see how well it holds up over the distance.
Posted 9 years ago # -
BigOakTree
MemberI just got here at the Resturant and was checking to see how far MM made it. He had told me he was gonna go on to Fargo when we was talking yesterday, and I thought to myself rite, But he did I guess that Fat Burger Fries and Sweet Tea must have done the trick. Wow he is TUFF Big Oak Tree
Posted 9 years ago # -
MicroTom
Key MasterScareman wrote:
You can see some of these t 2 min 20 seconds into in my video of CrazyRussian running Big Shoals from 2010 UFC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozWsfaR_7LY
That was cool! I hadn't seen that before.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Whirlwind
MemberThanks for the concern StripBuilder. I spoke with him a few hours ago. He's at the river already, has been for some time. Not sure what the trouble is but the mapper position is inaccurate. He is exhausted and his feet are pretty torn up but otherwise he is okay. He may just have missed turning his SPOT on. He is quite mentally exhausted. Wayne prefers to move at night. We'll see how that works for the remainder of this race.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It takes longer to wash your clothes by hand down by the river than in a Laundromat. I wonder where he kept that washboard in his kayak?
Posted 9 years ago # -
sailorbob
MemberGood news, it's 10:40 am EST and I just noticed that Waynes SPOT track is working again on the Tracking Map. I've been concerned for him since I noticed his position on the Tracking Map hadn't changed for much of yesterday. It was certainly a relief when Whirlwind posted their update about 15 hrs ago.
I'm rooting for and following all the competitors, hoping that they all arrive safe and sound at the end of their challenge. As the challenge evolves, I've gained a better understanding of the events organization and operation, and glimpses of the supporting efforts by family, friends, watertribers and strangers. All the support is amazing, but not unexpected. Regardless of the support, so much of ones fate depends on their own decisions and actions.
I appreciate the advantages of planning, preparation, talent, skills, training and experience. I believe in the safety of numbers. So, I'm comforted by seeing Riverslayer and Whale following so near behind Mosquito Magnet.
This Suwanee River portion with alligators in addition to all the regular river challenges is the most foreign and worrisome portion for me. Fear of the unknown. When I first heard of the challenge, my immediate fears were wildlife, particularly alligators and pythons. I've camped a fair amount in the Midwest and I'm reasonably comfortable with my skill and experience in identifying and avoiding poisonous snakes. I gained even more confidence during the monthly campouts while my boys were involved in Boy Scouts.
I suspect that unwanted dangerous interaction with the wildlife is best avoided by the good old common sense method of keeping an ever watchful eye out for them and maintaining a safe distance. What other reasonable and sensible precautions are competitors taking? Staying in open areas? sleeping in boats, tents, hammocks? Having a knife or machete readily available?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Scareman
MemberThe wildlife on the Suwannee is amazing. It is tough to sneak up on the alligators, but I have crept by a few smaller ones that stay on the bank.
Suwannee's mysterious creature...I do not know, however, what I have seen on numerous trips down the Suwannee over many years. North of White Springs and Big Shoals, I have encountered large splashes downstream of me in the middle of the river. I do not know if this was a gator tail, fish, or ???. I have heard there may be large sturgeon. Maybe these long distance sightings are of an unknown RiverMonster.
Others may know better.
Worst thing I have seen was a carcass of a black bear at the water, just South of the Hwy 6 bridge one year. It was hunting season, and I was afraid Bubba was gonna try to get me too.
Wild turkeys, other birds, all other animals make paddling the Suwannee a wonderful escape for humanity (until you get to the lower Suwannee where you encounter waterfront properties and docks where the river widens).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Whirlwind
MemberDon't fear the pynthons. Not only are we not in their food chain but they opportunistic predators that will lay in wait for their prey to stroll by. They are more active at night. Even if you do encounter one, they much more managable than the tall tales declare and much smaller too. Not to mention that north Florida is not their stringhold. I would be more cautious about water mocs, pygmy rattlers, and other local favorites.
We are approaching mating season for our scaled lizard friends. If you are approached by a frisky gator, don't hit it. That only serves to start a fight. Push it away with your paddle. It works, I swear. They will do more to avoid us than we will to avoid them..
Can you tell I love reptiles?
Posted 9 years ago #
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