Watching the River Be Run

Joe Wilson would be proud.

A Pedal-Power Canoe Departs the Jefferson City Checkpoint
With the Missouri Capital in the Background

Joe poured his life blood into developing Noren Access beneath below the Missouri River Bridge at Jefferson City.  So much so that it was renamed Wilson’s Serenity Point at Noren Access after he passed away last September 21.

Today, Wilson’s Serenity Point is a beehive of activity.  It is a checkpoint on the Missouri American Water MR 340, the longest non-stop canoe and kayak race in the world.

Heat, Exhaustion, and Obstacles Like This
Floating Tree Trunk Challenge Paddlers

Paddlers started in Kansas City yesterday and are now spread out between Kansas City and Hermann, Mo.  The finish line is in St. Charles, Mo.  My friend, Tom, and I stopped by Wilson’s Serenity Point Wednesday afternoon to watch the activity as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, etc. checked in and then hit the current again en route to the finish line at St. Charles, 115 miles further downriver from Jefferson City.

As I write this blog at 5:18 pm on August 9, the Jefferson City team of David Ganey and Tod Wilson were in 38^th place.  These guys, not content with a mere 340 miles of grueling paddling on the Missouri River, rigged their kayak with wheels and pulled it behind their bicycles from Jefferson City to Kansas City.  After they finish, they will get on the Katy Trail at St. Charles and pull their kayak back home to Jefferson City. 

If you are interested, you can follow the results of the race at:

Volunteers Assist Paddlers Checking in at
Wilson's Serenity Point

MR 340 Race Results

The Ganey/Wilson team is in boat number 680.  They have named their team “TEAM 680”.  They seem to be a lot better at paddling than they are at thinking up catchy names, unlike entry 7279 (Ship of Fools), entry 3764 (Paddling Pfefferkorns), and entry 1300 (Horse With No Name) which currently leads the race.

When Joe was alive he was in his glory when an activity like the MR 340 was in progress and he was able to introduce visitors to Wilson’s Serenity Point. Some became lifelong friends.

Rest in peace, Joe.  

Wilson’s Serenity Point is still a show place.  

And “Big Boy”, that ancient tree trunk that flood waters deposited at WSP and you tied down is still in place, still securely tethered to the shore at the high-water mark (At least until the NEXT new high water mark is established).

Before Joe died, I wrote a blog about him and a blind dog he rescued and subsequently paid to have its sight restored.   You can find that blog at:

He Once Was Blind But Now Can See

It tells you a little more about the kind of man Joe was.

GOOD LUCK RACERS and REST IN PEACE, JOE!