Background for "Hugh Heward Challenge" Paddle

The trip was starting out just a little too smoothly for my liking. I'd already had my gear put together two days in advance rather than an hour before leaving and most of the honey-do list was done. Just didn't feel right being so prepared. Anyway, at 9:00 AM, after saying my goodbyes, I headed down the driveway only to turn around about a mile down the road and head back to the house. Half hour later, after searching all over the house, my mother-in-law who's 94, found my glasses and I started out again! Thanks Glenys! Things were getting back to normal real quick.

First stop, bank in Solon Springs for some cash. Quickly done and I was off again only to stop for gas in Minong and realize I left my credit card in the ATM back in Solon. A mad dash back! No credit card in machine. Went into the bank with the hope it was turned in. Found out something I never knew before - that if you do not take your credit card from an ATM the machine will either pull it back in to store it or shred it. Fortunately, in banks it is stored. Thank you very much!

So, now that I've forgotten a couple of things already, things really are back to normal and I feel a lot better. Hopefully when I get to Detroit I still have my canoe and paddles!

The rest of the trip to Racine, WI where I'm meeting my friend, Jim McIntyre who's taking me to Detroit, went smoothly. I even made a couple of bucks at the casino near Black River Falls, WI!

Tomorrow, Thursday, Jim and I will head to Detroit where I will hook up with 7 others who plan to do this challenge starting on Friday at 8:30 in the morning. The challenge is actually a fundraiser for The Verlen Kruger Memorial which is being built in Portland, Michigan along the Grand River, which is one of the rivers we will be paddling. Verlen is considered the guru when it comes to long distance paddling. It is a Kruger canoe which he designed that I used to paddle from the Atlantic to the Pacific and will be using on this trip.

When I was doing research for what type of canoe to use on my cross country trip, a friend told me about Verlen Kruger and his adventures and canoe designs. The day I called I found out he'd passed away the night before. Bad timing, but I was intrigued and continued to learn as much as I could about this man and his adventures. Needless to say it's an amazing story and suggest you take a look at: http://www.verlenkruger.com

So, it is in honor and memory of Verlen that I decided to participate in "The Hugh Heward Challenge" in the hope I can be of some help in drawing awareness to the project so the many friends of Verlen's will in the near future see the memorial become a reality.

The following is the memorial park website: http://www.verlinkrugermemorial.org/

Hopefully this will give all that follow my journey a good background.

Note: I will attempt to post journal entries as often as possible and hope to post the first day's paddle this coming Saturday or Sunday.