AuSable Run 2014

AuSable River Run 2014

Every year, usually on Labor Day weekend, a small group of Krugerheads meets in Grayling to do an unsupported run of the same course as the AuSable Canoe Marathon, perhaps the most renowned canoe race in North America. The guide books suggest a week. For some, the Run is an opportunity to challenge friends to run the river in less than 24 hours. Last year, our attempt resulted in a not-too-shabby sub 25 hour run, and Ben was right behind us in his Kruger Seawind. After completing the Campus to Coast on Michigan's Grand River in April and the Krugerhead 340 on the Missouri River in July, we knew that this was our year. We challenged Ben that this was the year that we would all do this in under 24. He took the bait, and we took the liberty of scheduling the event for the weekend after Labor Day, a controversial move among Krugerheads, but necessary for our schedules, and proving to be a much less crowded weekend on the river.

A Stormy Start

As we drove north after work on Thursday, we headed into one of the more spectacular storms of a stormy Michigan summer. When we were approaching Grayling in the dark, we saw bolts of lightning that seemed to stay fastened to the ground for seconds in a not-too-distant northern location. After spending a little time worrying whether we were hardcore enough, we decided we'd rather spend the night in the Super 8 in Grayling and enjoy a dry bed and sound sleep. It seemed to be a fortuitous sign that the art in the bedroom was appropriately themed.

Wall art in the Grayling Super 8. This really is Canoe Country!

After spending a dry night in the hotel, we met our collaborators in Grayling, where we silently, but mutually agreed to all stay in our cars while the front passed overhead. Luckily, we had planned for some wiggle room in our shuttle schedule, so waiting a little to start the shuttle allowed the front to pass and still allowed an on-time 4:00 pm departure.

Jumping the Gun

Eager to get their paddles wet, Lori and Wendy launched ahead of the "official" 4 pm start. Their plan was to take three days to complete the run, camping along the way. Once the rain quit, it ended up being a perfect weekend for a camping trip down the river.

Go!

At precisely 4 pm according to our respective watches, we set off, with Ben and Keith taking the lead. This was Keith's first run of the river expedition style, but he has completed the marathon several times. The skies were clear, and remained so throughout the entire event. The storm that had spent the night earlier part of the day in Grayling gave us a little boost in river discharge, providing some encouragement that this would, indeed, be our sub-24 hour run.

The daylight hours passed with some companionship from Ben and Keith, and lots of beautiful river scenery.

Keith, going expedition-style

Ben on the move

Photo of mergansers inspired by the thank you card from Bob and Joy of Canoe 80, whom we fed for the AuSable Canoe Marathon this past summer.

8pm at the Bra Tree (donations accepted)

Throughout the event, there was a constant mystery as to whose time table was correct. Ben's or ours??? Were we going to make it under 24???

A cut too far

This is what happens when I decide which way to go, despite the GPS being in the back with Mark...

Ben, you should know better than to follow us!

Nightfall

10pm

A little research on Google Earth, and a last minute tip from Keith, allowed us to thread the Mio cuts in the dark.

Midnight on Alcona dam pond

Ben kept with us all they way across Mio pond. It is amazing that he can pull this off solo. Paddling through the night is a treat with guys like him!

Mio Dam in the night

Portaging 

We were well ahead of 24 hr pace, but the ponds and portages were slowing us down as we entered the time of night that shouldn't exist.

Our minds were blown sometime after midnight, when we passed one of the many fishing camps along the river. Although it wasn't Labor Day weekend, there were several groups having parties on their docks and in their screen porches. At one point, a group of revelers saw our lights bobbing in the river and cheered us on a bit (this is the one river where it is not too strange to see lighted canoes passing through the night). Then, I heard a call I hadn't heard since I was a teenage Girl Scout. A woman hollered out a call that my Chalk Hills Camp counselors told us was the way to identify groups of Girl Scouts on a trip. Of course, I knew the response by heart, and hollered it back. I don't know who was more amazed, the other woman, or me! We heard her whooping with glee for a mile down the river. That perked us up for a while.

Getting sleepy, but working to fend that off...

2 am... "The Drowsy Hours"

4 am... "Those Dam Ponds!"

6 am. "The first gray light of dawn"

There is nothing more enlivening than sunrise on calm waters after a night of paddling. This is the moment when we often find ourselves singing "The Doxology." We also enjoyed eating a thermos meal of mac & cheese with pepperoni and veggies.

Sunrise on Loud Pond

8 am. Slowing down on Cooke Pond. "Stay focused!"

10 am. "Getting a little tired and loopy."

Noon. "The home stretch!!!"

2 pm. Huzzah! "We managed to stay awake! I'm ready for a little rest."

4 pm. Ben finishes with a smile. 23:23. Great job, Ben!

For the play-by-play commentary and amusing tangents, take a look at the Team Kruger Canoes blog.

Geeking out with GPS data

Ben posted a plot of his GPS speed on Facebook, and inspired us to geek out with our GPS track data.

By comparing the slope of our 2014 track to the marathon cutoff times, you can see that we were pretty much on the marathon cutoff pace on the moving sections of river, but lost time on the dams and in the portages. With a lighter, faster pro boat, we just might be able to pull it off.

Fortunately, our good friend Jack happened to have a pro boat in his garage, and was nice enough to lend it to us. It is an oldie but a goodie, and has a good pedigree. Maybe next year will be the year we do the Marathon!