Thread: Need Missouri River Volunteers with boats.

A story of how they saved my attempt last year.

I pulled out of Miami at ~3:00 am after getting a two hour nap, get a few miles down stream. I had my rain jacket on because it was cold and I was stiff after paddling 104 miles the day before. I'm starting to work up steam and go to remove my jacket. In my sleep deprived state I forget my PFD. I'm on the river at night without a PFD!!! About that time I see a smoldering fire river left and in the full moon I see the boat and flag. It is a saftey crew. I paddle over, one is awake, of course, I tell her what happened, she wakes up her partner, they take me eight miles up river to retrieve my PFD in the wee hours of the morning.

Gordon, can you pm me the dates of the race and maybe a phone number of whoever I need to talk to to find out exact details of when and where they need boats? I'm not sure I can help because I have a few fishing trips planned here in the next couple months but it never hurts to ask.

Gordon I have committed right now I think I will be stationed at the mouth of the grand. I will be going all the way and motor back with the other boats. Any info from your past trip that we can do to help would help me help you. This will be my first trip Thanks

Excellent!!! The boats are a big part of this and without you there is no way the Coast Guard would let them get away with this many inexperienced paddlers going day and night. From the paddler's POV, if there is a paddler laying on the sand besides his boat, on a tarp or other cover, let him be, he's sleeping. If he's passed out face down in the sand, render aid. I was the sleepiest in the afternoon, every time I tried to nap every paddler and boat that went by: "HEY, PADDLER!!! YOU OK???!!!"

I know its their job, but dog dam, I just wanted to sleep.

Have you ever delt with the mentally challenged? I mean way off their rocker type? That far down the river, you'll have some sleep deprived goof balls that will tell you they are ok and ask if you were at the circus, rodeo, fighting the dragons in the trees, etc. the night before. I had communication problems with my body parts. They were sending messages and yelling at my brain about the problems they were having and how much easier other body parts had it.

As a consolation prize paddlers could buy passage back to KC on the saftey boats going the distance. How cool would that be? Paddle the darn thing all the way down, drink, sleep, camp all the way back. I would do it, but I'd be toast for a whole week after the fact. As it is getting right by Monday morning hard enough.