Report from Jack:

Day Three in the books.
Time of 4:04:59. Compares favorably to 2021 at 4:15. Relief at finishing another one. Looks like 27 for me and 23 for Bill.

Something prompted a reread of the NCMC 90 miler history reported by the “editor” after the ‘99 version. Perhaps it was a text from Tommy as he is referred to by the editor. It’s worth a revisit despite its length which was necessary to record the multiple self-inflicted mishaps experienced by the team that year.

This year’s version of mishap was limited to a stolen watch that hours were spent searching for in a motel room in Old Forge leading to the conclusion the proprietor of the hotel stole the watch when he swapped out our TV, which would not turn on so we could watch the Bills. It was warm this year in Old Forge so the door was propped open for air and after the watch magically reappeared in the morning on the floor next to the bed nightstand it was concluded guilt prompted the proprietor to return it quietly in the middle of the night while we paddlers slept. This is the same group who banned Matukituki from their premises, so clearly not to be trusted.

Pit crew duties were admirably manned by Mary despite observing, ”This isn’t exactly like watching football seeing you guys paddle.” And even the meal tickets made to to the finish.
The finish was hopping with biggest crowd observed in years. The meal tent was moved to the extreme western end of the gathering requiring a 30-minute search to locate. Racing pictures where dutifully purchased and recorded our paddles actually planted in the water for the first time in memory, proving we actually do paddle. We complimented the photographer (is it Kurtz?) who chuckled at the observation and asked if we had any other tips to offer. We noted a beaver dam in the background and he said if you look back 10 years you’ll see it’s been there a long time.

Bill set off in the my car for Buffalo after a quick shower with a 7:30 a.m. tee time scheduled at Cazenovia for a best ball masters’ tournament. I waited for our C4 (which was rented out) to arrive at the finish, inspected for damages and returned damage deposit. The boat was paddled by a group from Tully, Utica and Boston. And they expressed much appreciation for the use of the boat.

An accounting of the remains of the rental fee will have to wait until heads clear from post-race celebrations. Some of it was spent on daily race food supplies and the new yoke, but much remains a mystery the editor will undoubtably call an audit for.

Time: 7:15/5:44/4:05/17:05

Time was 17:03 in 2021 and 17:15 in 2019.

Day Two report from Jack Semler:

Better day today. Time of 5:45 compares with 5:41 last year when river was very high.
Long Lake was a sheet of glass from end to end and we maintained 5.5 mph for entire length.

Yoke worked great on portage. No need for wheels after Day One.
Also made executive decision to leave spare paddle behind.
Very happy with boat and portaging.

(It should be noted that The Editor recommended they not bring the wheels on Day Two.)

The Adirondack Canoe Classic

90 miles.

3 days.

Old Forge to Saranac Lake.

Paddle through history on the original “Highway of the Adirondacks.”

90-Miler update by Jack after Day One:

NCMC represented for 30th consecutive time at 90. Who will the mantle pass to?

Some notable firsts:

Boat number not called at first paddle wave. Executive Director of Northern Forest Canoe Trail (which runs the race now) questioned our golden canoe status (for completing 20 races) and along with it right to first wave.

First in line at Walt’s (diner) arriving 10 minutes before it opened.

Dipping hat in lake to cool off. Hottest day in memory and today forecast as hotter.

Surf skis outnumbered solo canoes (unverified ) but you get the picture.

A woman in a wheelchair snapping pictures at Eigth Lake Campground said as we passed her, “You are the first one moving slow enough for us to get a picture.”

Giant Trump sign with Make American Great greeted us on entry to Utowana Lake. We would have ripped it down if we could have reached it. Mac commented later, “You and 100 other boats.”

Speaking of Mac – he did not catch Bill and I. But just about everyone else did including a perky young women on her surf ski noting how nice it was with Bill responding how miserable we felt. She became alarmed and slowed to try to cheer us up, pointing out the lovely scenery only to speed off shortly.
Mac reported drinking 5 liters of water ( we did fine on our usual 2 liter reservoirs).
Grace is thought to have passed us but we did not see her and her unwillingness to declare where the sledges (??) event occurred encourages skepticism. She is becoming our new Munsons.

Tough day for NCMC at 7 hours 15 minutes on the course. Thank God Mary was at finish having to wait an hour for our arrival. About 12 minutes slower than last year and felt even worse as lack of wind all day made for ideal conditions except for the heat. Bill declared in the middle of Brown’s Tract, “We are in survival mode.” Later, in middle of Marion River there was talk or hope of missing cutoff so we could be pulled out.

Assessment was we may have started too fast as once again we were in top five boats reaching bridge in Inlet. We even caught a 69-year-old Bruce Kennedy paddling with a
partner also 69. Bruce reported this was his 28th race and his partner’s 25th. Both very similar numbers to our boat. We pulled ahead of them for a time on Fourth Lake but then they retook the lead and we never saw them again.

Royal (Brian’s son) showed up in a 3 man kayak passing us in Sixth Lake like a blur.

All for now.
Time to get ready.

Jack and Bill have arrived in Old Forge and are registering for the race. Jack came down from Kimpton with Brian, who is racing this year after passing the torch to the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.