HERMANN — The bright orange Buck Moon caught my eye as I was driving southbound over Bond Bridge into Hermann on the evening of July 24th.

Gazing at as I crossed the Missouri River I remembered my years spent in New Mexico, and thought about all the Mule Deer whose antlers are emerging for the first time of the year under the same moon. Then I remembered that this is Missouri, and a full moon in July also signifies another yearly ritual — the world’s longest non-stop river race — The Missouri American Water MR340. At that moment hundreds of paddlers en route from Kansas City to St. Charles. Where better to pitstop than the Hermann riverfront?

The next day I made my way to the riverfront to see what action had arrived while I was sleeping comfortably in my pillowtop bed. Plenty of participants and volunteers had shown up. I was curious and sought to understand what inspires them to make the arduous journey. 

The first friendly face I spoke to was a volunteer, Tracy Amos from Des Moines, Iowa. She herself had done the race multiple times. First with her boyfriend (each in a solo kayak) with the goal of completion. Then they set the goal to complete the race in under 60 hours. Both goals were achieved. She told me some of her keys to success were preparation and mental toughness. However when they went for the more ambitious goal of “sub 60,”nutrition was overlooked which had a significant effect on their time.

I asked if there was much pain from pushing so hard for the sub 60.

“Pain, it hurts. Anyone that tells you this doesn’t hurt is lying…your muscles hurt from paddling, your hands…blister up. You’re just a mess,” Amos said. She even told me the “sit bones” hurt from sitting in the boat for so long.

With all the pain she was describing, I asked her if it was worth it. “Yes,” she said, and explained to me why. “It’s beautiful. The sunsets, the sunrises. You’re on the water. You’re paddling in the dark with the moon. It’s good.”

Despite her telling me preparation was critical, I was pleased to see the community and others from Missouri River Relief were there to support any paddlers who were not as prepared as they could have been, and could use support as basic as getting out of the sun for a few hours and filling up their water containers.

Scout Troop 116 was showing their support under the pavilion with food and snacks for depleted paddlers. There I caught up with racers Jeremy Brown and Anthony Ryan from St. Charles, Mo. Brown had done the race six times already, and his goal this year was to do it in his tandem boat, a Libra XT, with his life-long-school-friend Ryan (I thought it was funny to name a boat “Libra” considering that’s an air sign.)

Brown told me he keeps coming back for new challenges. He had finished numerous time solo, but had never finished in tandem. The team set that goal last year, but were forced to exit early. The race was called off due to dangerous water levels. So here they were back at it looking healthy, happy, and in good condition to finish later that day.

Before wishing them good luck on the rest of their float I asked what Brown’s next challenge would be after finishing in tandem. “I’m done,” he said. Adding, “I’d probably only do it again if one of my boys wanted to do it.”

Not much sounds better to me than being on the river with dad, well maybe being in a race on the river with dad. I think we will be seeing him at the riverfront again soon.

Certainly, this group of pain enthusiasts are unique. Average citizens would rather spend three days doing something more comfortable than spending three days in a little boat under a hot Missouri sun.

However, are they unique? Considering their ambitions I think of Mark Twain, and speculate that there is a little Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in them. As an English teacher I would say there is a little Twain in every American, specifically in those who spent their formative years in Missouri near a river.

Furthermore, as an English teacher I discourage sophomoric immaturity, but one element I try to encourage in my students is not to lose contact with the inner child. When we grow up, it’s all too easy to forget how to play. Reminded of this, it pleases me very much to see all these adults on a weekday playing on the big river. Just like Like Tom Sawyer playing “hooky” from school, and getting out on that other river with his friend Huck.

The Moon controls time, tides, light and affects animal behavior. It certainly affects mine. This time next year, I’ll be on the river, in the MR340. Wish me luck.