MR340 – loveyourbigmuddy expeditions

Dave Marner has very graciously given me permission to post his photos of the MR340 (Missouri River 340-mile race). I have credited each photo to him per his request. Thanks, Dave!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. They are an outstanding documentation of this very unique and extreme paddling race that began Tuesday July 31 at 7:00 AM in Kansas City, Missouri, and ended Friday August 3 at 11:00 PM in St. Charles, Missouri. Every racer is a rock star!

I speak for many giving special thanks to Missouri River Relief and all of the safety boats watching out for all of the racers’ lives. And, kudos to all ground crews, race personnel, volunteers, and supporters, on the river or at home. Good job.

Missouri River, MR340 Race: Team Cat-astrophe – Hermann Checkpoint (DTRS photo)

Boat 3256 early Thursday Jefferson City (DTRS photo)

Larry Chrum and partner Hermann Checkpoint (DTRS photo)

A family affair Leaving Hermann early Friday (DTRS photo)

Joe Wilson’s Serenity Point Noren Access Checkpoint Jeff City (DTRS photo)

Johnnie Ortiz and Fred the Turtle Hermann Checkpoint (DTRS photo)

Last Light at Hermann Thursday evening (DTRS photo)

Marek’s blog-Fitness2Paddle (DTRS photo)

Midwest Mayhem leaving Hermann Wednesday afternoon (DTRS photo)

Noren Access Checkpoint Jefferson City (DTRS photo)

Night time checkpoint resupply (DTRS photo)

SoloPaddler Ryan Koppy of Crestwood MO with Dad (DTRS photo)

Checkpoint relief. That boat is too cool. (DTRS photo)

That’s gotta hurt, but maybe not. I think maybe. (DTRS photo)

Racer with an awesome tatoo, and brat (DTRS photo)

This is a good interview with race sponsor Missouri American Water’s Kim Hudson this morning in St. Charles:

This event, with over 500 racers this year, is about “thinking about the River and focusing on how important it is to us.”

http://fox2now.com/2012/08/02/mr340-canoe-race-ends-in-st-charles-mo/

Another newsclip from KCTV5 KC

River racers battle water, sweltering heat – KCTV 5#.UBqKh_uRN-U.facebook.

Here is a local article from the Columbia Daily Tribune. Again, it’s all about the river. We love our Big Muddy!

Cooper’s Landing: SuprMan headin’ down stream Aug1

Safety Boat crew River Relief’s Steve Schnarr-left, and Soda Popp-right. And, Mike Cooper in the middle.

Cooper’s: Joe heading out into a full moon Aug1

LoveYourBigMuddy Expedition

My name is Janet Moreland. I am a Missouri River paddler from Columbia, MO, most often found at or near Cooper's Landing, Rivermile 170.

I graduated from the University of Missouri in December 2012 with a degree in Education, and am now certified to teach middle school social studies and/or science.

In December, 2013, I completed a 3,800-mile source-to-sea solo kayak expedition from the Missouri River source at Brower's Spring, Montana, to the Gulf of Mexico. On April 24, 2013, I skied into the source at 9,000 ft. in the Centennial Mountains, and arrived via South Pass at the Gulf of Mexico on December 5, 2013. My mission included elements of empowerment, education, and environmental stewardship.

In 2016 I successfully completed a solo kayak expedition from the Mississippi River source at Lake Itasca, MN, down to the Gulf of Mexico. And, in 2017 I solo journeyed the entire Yukon River from the Llewellyn Glacier on Atlin Lake, British Columbia, to the Bering Sea at Emmonak, AK.

It is believed that I am the first person ever to successfully solo kayak, from source to sea, the three longest rivers on the North American continent.

Status Updates

The journey is not over until the mission bears fruit:
Empowerment ~ Education ~ Environment

I reached the Gulf of Mexico on December 5, 2013.

Thanks to everyone for their heartfelt support. This was OUR expedition, and for that I am grateful.

Here is a synopsis:
I completed the challenging yet successful ski into
Brower’s Spring with Norm Miller on April 24-25.

I completed three days of incredible
bike riding 100 miles from Hell Roaring Canyon
To Clark Canyon Dam.

I paddled down the Beaverhead River from Clark Canyon Dam to Twin Bridges, where the river worked me hard and I suffered two holes in my boat and a sprained wrist by the second day.

From Twin Bridges, the Beaverhead River turns into the Jefferson River, which is deeper and wider, and one of the more beautiful stretches of this journey. This leg of the journey is neatly tucked under my belt.

I arrived in Three Forks, the headwaters of the Missouri River, on Saturday, May 11, approximately 300 miles downstream from the ultimate source, Brower’s Spring.

I spent the next four months paddling down the Missouri River, stopping at my home base, Cooper’s Landing, on September 16.

My birthday on September 28 marked my arrival in St. Charles, and I paddled through the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers the next day, September 29.

Proceeding down the Mississippi River, I arrived in Memphis, TN, on October 17. Here, I took an extended break of two weeks because of a speaking engagement I flew out to in Bend, OR, at the Conservation Lands Foundation ‘Friends Rendezvous.’

November 1 found me on my way again down the Mississippi River until December 5 when I reached the Gulf of Mexico.

Oh, what a trip it was!

Then, I couldn’t leave the upper Mississippi untouched, so I paddled the whole thing in 2016, Lake Itasca to the Gulf.

Might as well make it a Triple Crown, so I paddled the Yukon River, source to sea, Llewellyn Glacier, B.C., to Emmonak, AK, at the Bering Sea in 2017!

Do what you love and love what you do.

I now want to start writing my book about paddling the Missouri-Mississppi, LoveYourBigMuddy Expedition. Stay tuned.

Every day is a new adventure! Live fast ~ Paddle slow

Category: MR340

MR340 photos courtesy of Dave Marner, a.k.a. Dave the River Slave

MR340-race from KC to STL is all about the River

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