Texas Water Safari Road Trip
Details
We have in the state of Texas one of the most unique and challenging endurance races in the country. That race is the Texas Water Safari, which is a 265 mile nonstop ultra marathon canoe race.
The race begins at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos at the headwaters of the San Marcos river and travels 90 miles via Martendale, Fentress, Luling where it joins with the Guadalupe River near Gonzales. The Guadalupe then continues approximately another 165 miles via Cuero, Victoria and enters San Antonio Bay near Tivoli. After that its a 10 mile bay crossing across San Antonio Bay finishing at Seadrift.
Contestants are required to complete the race in under 100 hours PLUS CARRY ALL PROVISIONS AND EQUIPMENT IN THE CANOE, the only outside assistance they may receive is ice and water from a designated Team Captain.
The record for completing this race is about 30 hours but most of the entries complete this event in the 50 to 80 hour range with a few that get in just under the wire of 100 hours. Each year over 130 canoes enter the event with the teams varying in size from a 50 foot 6 man canoe to one person going solo on his on.
I am planing on following and cheering on two of my Canoe Racing Friends. One is entered in the Solo C-1 division the other in the Solo Unlimited Division.
You are welcome to join me and follow along as we travel from bridge to bridge watching the race. We will be basically living and sleeping in lawn chairs while living off the land as we travel south to the coast.
Here is a rough schedule of where I think I might be along the way.
Day 1
9:00 AM – Aquarena Springs – Race Start
10:30 AM – Cotton Seed Rapid – Good Place to Watch People Destroy there boat
12:00 PM – Staples Dam – Nice Hectic Portage with lots of Action - OFFICIAL SAFARI CHECKPOINT
3:00 PM – Stairtown Crossing
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Luling Hwy 90 – OFFICIAL SAFARI CHECKPOINT
6:00 PM – Zedler Dam in Luling
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Palmetto State Park - OFFICIAL SAFARI CHECKPOINT
11:00 PM to 12:00 AM – Sladen Crossing – Nice Spooky Bridge out in the Middle of No Where
Day 2
2:00 AM to 8:00 AM – Gonzales Hwy 183 - OFFICIAL SAFARI CHECKPOINT – Lots of Drama, Pain & Misery as Racers Contemplate Quitting of Going on with the Next Bridge Take Out being 37 Miles.
The first day can be pretty exciting as boats jockey for position while trying to get as far down the river in daylight before entering the more treacherous logjam infested sections in the evening. As the day goes on boats become severely damage or destroyed with exhaustion starting to take a toll on the contestants, as a rule the race has an attrition rate of about 50 percent. This years Low Water Conditions combined with the expected High Temperatures should make this race especially Tough.
The race starts at 9:00 am, Saturday on June 11. Try to arrive at 8:00 am just to look around and inspect all the different boat and the teams, it is really pretty interesting. If you are contemplated doing this Race in the future you should bring a Camera & Notepad.
Should you need to get back home you are welcome to cut loose and head back home whenever you want.
Things to bring:
The Roads of Texas Map Book (Not required but helps in finding Bridge Crossings)
Comfortable lawn chair (Recliner Recommended)
Sleeping bag or Blanket
Swim suit
Change of clothes
Towel
Sunscreen
Windbreaker
Poncho or rain suit ( Yea Right)
Ice chest with beverages or lunch
Flashlight or headlight
1 or 2 citronella candles
That’s it for now.
Gib Hafernick
210 – 492 - 7517, home
210 – 355 - 1726, cell
or
Gibguy76@Yahoo.com