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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:08 am 
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Tom,

I don't think any AI will ever try to do the Wilderness Waterway during an Everglades Challenge. Someone might try it just as a relaxed expedition trip--maybe you!

I've sent a note to Bob Nichols aka Backwaterbob to see if he can post here about his tandem mast problems. Maybe we can also find out who gave him (& his boat?) a ride in the last 10 mi to Flamingo.

Keith

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"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:36 am 
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Chekika wrote:
Tom,

I don't think any AI will ever try to do the Wilderness Waterway during an Everglades Challenge. Someone might try it just as a relaxed expedition trip--maybe you!


It may not happen during the EC, but my point is that the other class 5 (and many class 4) boats could not do it at all, or could not do it nearly as easily as an AI. They blast down the Gulf, but they are not backwater craft.

An all carbon Super AI might one day do it in the EC, just to make the point. ;)


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:53 am 
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ArdieO, the superpaddler, reached Key Largo 15 min after Josh aka Tidetraveller finished. That was Thursday afternoon. But, that was not the finish for ArdieO--he still had about 900 mi to go in the Ultimate Florida race--circumnavigating FL. So, he left Key Largo the next morning. As far as I can tell, in the 2 days plus up to 1 pm today, Sunday, he has put on about 110 miles. He is currently passing through Boynton Beach, FL. At this point he is averaging 45 mi/day.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to happen to him so far is the following (reported by his wife, Sherry)
Quote:
Ardie called me this morning while taking a break on Teachers Island. He had a coast guard encounter this morning. When approaching the first bridge a coast guard boat pulled up with a man aiming a machine gun from the front of the boat at Ardie. They told him that homeland security wasn't let anyone cross under bridge on that side. Where they wanted him to go was a long way around. He whined a little, they told him a kayak could hold 700 lbs of explosives, he explained his journey to Sebastian Inlet, who he was and probably gave them his sad look because after a few calls they let him proceed with an escort. Half way under the bridge another coast guard boat came in from the side but was called off by his escort. They were nice and it's nice to know we are so protected. sherry o


Sherry has also posted his typical 1 day food intake (calories, calories....) It is
Quote:
Sample 1 day gallon size ziplock food resupply

Two packs of pre-cooked bacon - 1120 calories per pack = 2240
4 tortilla shells 320 calories
4 individual wrapped cheese sticks 480 calories
4 little Debbie marshmallow treats 640 calories (he wants more of these at next stage point and less trail bars)
5 Gus 500 calories
3 candy bars 720 calories
2 trail mix packs 300 calories
1 cliff bar 240 calories
1 M&M 250 calories
2 kashi bars 280 calories ( these are getting replaced next time with the msrshmellow treats)
1 Nescafé Coffee cafe mokaccino 90 calories
10 hard candies 300 calories
Total 6360

He also mixes and drinks powdered muscle milk when he comes to water sources. He had 2 small and 2 large servings for EC but left Key Largo with 4 large servings. Small serving 280; large serving 560. So that is another 2240 calories.

Total 8,600


Keith

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"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:24 pm 
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ArdieO is out of the race. No explanation why.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


Last edited by Chekika on Mon Mar 12, 2012 2:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:44 pm 
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MosquitoMagnet, a very strong paddler from Miami, is now leading the race. Sandybottom & Son, SOS, on their fast stitch & glue trimaran are second. Several kayakers follow them, and Pelican--our last AI competitor is nearing Key Largo--go Pelican!

Keith

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"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:28 am 
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Location: Virginia Beach, VA
I returned home yesterday noon. The 1,000 mile non-stop drive was a challenge by it self. After the first full night sleep in week and a half I feel like someone hit me over the head.

I see talk about the Wilderness Waterway and the AI. My original intention was to do the Waterway. I strongly believe it can be done by a AI. After seriously bending my drive in Chocoloski I put that idea out of my mind.

I see that there are no takers to retrieve my video camera out of the mud ??? That is my biggest personal loss for the race. I had a lot of good stuff on the camera.

I need to spend a few days putting my life back together. Oh yes, I have to go to work this morning. This was the first time in my life that I put work completely out of my mind. Is this what retirement will be like??? I can't wait...

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DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island


http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:55 am 
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Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
For anyone interested in the race, here is a good article one of the participants posted. The week before the race his truck and trailer was totaled and the boat was heavily damaged when a lady drove into them. They were still able to get into the race doing last minute repairs. Very good story of having the odds stacked against you.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5A ... edit?pli=1

Paul, A few of us are heading out to Chokoloskee this Friday for another AI/TI trip. I can view your track out of Chokoloskee on the wt forum. Can you pinpoint where on that track is the most likely place where you think the camera was dropped. Post a picture and if possible gps coordinates of your best guess. I really doubt it can be found and unfortunately I DO NOT have a metal detector but I will try to get to our departure point a little early and see if I can poke around in the area that you pinpoint. I'm almost as disappointed as you in the loss of your camera as I was looking forward to your race videos.

Also, I took some video of you and Josh (Tidetraveler) just before the start of the race and will post that when I have some time next week.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:05 am 
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Dogs, great to hear you and your son made it back OK. You probably don't realize how work stopped and retirement routines were shelved while we all watched this year's great EC. You, Josh, and Brian thrilled us with your skill, endurance, and perseverance. Wonderful.

DogsLife wrote:
I see talk about the Wilderness Waterway and the AI. My original intention was to do the Waterway. I strongly believe it can be done by a AI. After seriously bending my drive in Chocoloski I put that idea out of my mind.

My prediction (maybe it is a challenge to you) is that no one will ever do the WW on an AI during the Everglades Challenge.

The AI does have one big advantage in the Everglades backcountry (it is all backcountry, but it is really 2 separate areas: coastal Gulf and inside creeks, rivers, bays.) The AI would solve a big inconvenience that the backcountry kayak traveler has to endure: chickees--12'x12' roofed platforms used to camp on. It is very difficult for kayakers to access these platforms--they have no ladder and are frequently 3' above water level. An AI with folded akas would serve as a good platform to access the chickees and unload gear. The downside would be that you might have to shoo an alligator off your AI in the morning.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:11 am 
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A crab net is good for retrieving things out of the mud. More stuff that I know, but should not.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:33 pm 
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Pelican and his new AI have stopped for in Key Largo for the night--shower and real food are the first order of business.

Mosquitomagnet, kayaker, is in the lead but took a rather long break this afternoon--he may still be stopped. In the mean time, Sandybottom & Son on their tri have been making good time and are only about 7 mi behind MM. The other 3 kayakers had a good day, but are 8-12 and 20 mi back.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:49 pm 
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Ellen and I stopped in choco on the way home yesterday. It was low tide and i spent 45 min. in the mud looking for your camera, no luck. I really wanted to see the side by side vids of you and Josh! When i get some time in a few days I'll post about my breakage for other TI users to learn from Fair Winds bwb


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:35 pm 
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Thanks Bob. We are all looking forward to "the rest of the story."

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:48 am 
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The Ultimate Florida competitors are all moving this morning except for our Pelican and his AI. He is probably replenishing supplies in Key Largo. All competitors are pretty beat up after doing 300-450 mi in very rough conditions. However, Sandybottom & Son on their fast tri have gone out onto the ocean and are streaking up the coast doing 9-10 knots, 10-12 mph. They will undoubtedly overtake kayaker Mosquitomagnet today, probably in an hour or so. Most of the kayakers are making about 4-4.5 knots this morning.

Sandybottom & Son will likely build an insurmountable lead going up the coast, however, once they start up the St Mary's River, switch boats & do the portage, switch back into their boat to go down the Suwannee to the Gulf of Mexico, they will lose ground to the kayakers. My feeling is that the winds in the Gulf will determine the winner of this race. If there are no winds or unfavorable winds, the kayakers may be able to catch up to Sandy & Son. Time will tell.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:16 am 
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Here is a great update from SharkChow aka Warren Richey. He has done the UF and written a book about it. Excellent read.
http://www.amazon.com/Without-Paddle-Racing-Hundred-Florida/dp/B004NSVF40/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331651340&sr=1-1

He can provide great insight about problems and real dangers along the route. His update:
Quote:
Mosquito Magnet continues in the lead in a terrific display of strength and stamina. At 10:30 am he was approaching the Jensen Beach Causeway.

His lead may soon be in jeopardy though, with Sandy Bottom and SOS outside in the Atlantic Ocean with sort-of cooperative winds -- East at 5 to 10. The key question for them is where will they reenter the ICW. Will they choose the safer inlet at Fort Pierce and then face a long slog up to the Sebastian Inlet checkpoint or will they attempt the often treacherous Sebastian Inlet and gain a clear lead on Mosquito Magnet? Time will tell.

Riverslayer and Whale are moving very quickly toward Jupiter, having spent the night on a spoil island in Lake Worth. Based on their pace, they must have gotten some good rest.

Salty Frog spent some time on a golf course, and then shifted to a spoil island in Lake Worth. It is not clear how long he will remain there. Hopefully he will be headed northward soon.

Pelican was at Key Largo at midmorning. With cooperative winds he could be back in the pack in a day or two.

WEATHER OUTLOOK -- The forecast on Tuesday is for East wind 5 to 10 and a light chop on the ICW. Tonight the ICW should be smooth -- which mean this is the time to move for those boats inside. The ocean should be windy enough to propel SOS and Sandy Bottom toward Sebastian at a good clip.

Here's the problem. Wednesday's forecast suggests northeast wind at 10 to 15. That's not too bad, but many sections of the ICW in the central area -- particularly north of Sebastian -- are wide and the wind is a big factor. Watch the pace of paddlers. It may slow down a bit. The other factor in this area are inlets. As the boats approach inlets the tide is either coming in, going out, or slack. If they ride the outgoing tide toward an inlet watch what happens to their speed when they reach the other side and start fighting the outgoing tide.

Tides will not be a factor for Sandy Bottom and SOS -- at least not until they try to navigate one of the inlets. When they do -- watch carefully. It might be tricky. Hopefully they will ride the incoming tide in fast and straight.

One other factor to keep in mind. These guys are approaching the halfway mark (500 miles ) and have been running hard since March 3. Body maintainence and recovery time will become increasingly important. Sorry to say this but the real race hasn't started yet. Stay tuned.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:53 am 
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Nick Hall aka Pelican piloting an AI and participating in the Ultimate Florida Challenge (1200 mile circumnavigation around FL including a 40-mile portage, or longer) has dropped out. Here is his initial statement after ending this year's campaign:

Quote:
I'll be posting more details very soon, however, have wrapped up the 2012 UFC due to more miles than time would allow for. The math would not have made it possible to complete the event before having to resume teaching and the lecture circuit. A number of factors contributed included a heavily loaded boat, which made for painfully slow progress against the easterly winds we all encountered heading to Key Largo. I was carrying sufficient povisions for a run to Sebastian Inlet, the only place I was able to arrange in advance reprovisioning. It's amazing how much multiple power bars, trail mix, dehydrated packs etc. weigh. Plus, the folding bike and heavy duty cart for the portage allowed barely room for me on the AI. 3 days were lost due to a busted dagger board (human error), and then having to return to CP2 when the boat began taking on water and almost sank due to a bizarre set of circumstances related to the excessive load. But the deciding factor was the leaking dry suit. The constant spray had me drenched within a hour of starting out each morning. When the sun went down, it was darned uncomfortable preventing the overnight runs that would have enabled me to make up lost time. The wet conditions also took a toll on equipment. I had to replace my VHF in Key Largo, wiped out a brand new SPOT when water leaked into the battery compartment (covered under warranty), destroyed my supposedly waterproof navigation lights and powerful flashlight (also replaced in KL), and noticed my new GPS was oozing brown stuff from the battery compartment, and responding sporadically to button presses when I arrived at Sebastian Inlet (covered by extended warranty). I was aware of dry suit loan offers, but thought that would have been a rules violation unless it occured while under way, and only by a Watertriber in the race. There were other factors including what began as a minor thumb cut on day 1, which still has not healed more than 2 weeks later. Indeed, it's been getting worse and has opened into a v shaped wedge. Forget the human brain. It's the opposable thumb on our dominant hand that sets us apart from all the other primates. I learned to become a lefty very quickly. The AI was predictably superb and had the conditions not been as harsh ( or had I been more skilled), it would easily have been amongst the few entries capable of running the entire course from start to finish. Had I been willing to accept the boat switch option (something I don't personally agree with, but accept the reasoning) I would have used the Hobie TI for the run to Ft Clinch. I discovered in 2010 that the back seat is reaonably dry even in rough conditions, plus there's plenty of room for the extra gear required for the UFC. Then, a switch to either the AI or Hobie inflatible for the portage and river segment to Ceday Key. I've entered all the UFC's to date having been spoiled with a finish during the inaugural 06 event due to certainly the best overall conditions of the three. I've logged two partials since then, but I have lots of incredible memories as well as a treasure chest of new material for the lectures. I'll be back for number 4 with hopes that my choice of boat along with weather conditions make for a successful run. If not, there's always 5, 6.......


Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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