Flood lights illuminate the river on the downstream side of McMasters Bridge. It is almost midnight, and as I stand amongst the crowd of spectators that have gathered, I watch under the bridge and into the darkness upstream. A solitary light glows on a the porch of a riverside cabin, but its not enough to allow my eyes to see anything that might be on the river. But I know that it is only a matter of minutes before the subtle humm of the crowd becomes an all out roar. The top five canoes have already passed and I am wondering who will be the next team to arrive. Suddenly the horde of spectators on the bridge begins to get loud. Whistles and cheers erupt as a light appears in the still darkness. The light seems to have a slight, but steady, bobbing motion as it nears. What team is it? I hear from above me on the bridge. There are two of them someone else shouts. Here they come In a flash, out of the black shadow of McMasters Bridge two canoes appear. Almost side by side, four athletes and their paddles propel their canoes at an unbelievable pace, each not wanting to give an inch to the other team. Less than one second seperates the 6th place team, canoe # 78 with Michael Schlimmer and Samuel Frignon,from the 7th place canoe, #38, Cameron McClain and Patrick Armstrong. But that thrilling moment of the marathon is not over as the fans continue to cheer. Those two canoes no sooner clear the lighted area and fade into the darkness downstream when another light appears approaching from upstream. Then another, and another. Within 18 seconds, five canoes come and go in yet another exciting moment at the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. Since 1947, One of the Greatest Canoe Races on Earth! 2014 AuSable River Canoe Marathon* July 22 - 27 Presented by Michigan Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Battalion and Consumers Energy AuSableCanoeMarathon.org @AuSableMarathon #HupAllNight
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 20:00:00 +0000
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