Okay, and we're back at the intergalactic offices of the Tour du Teche with results from this weekend's Battle on the Bayou.

We did BEAUTIFULLY!!

Here are our results:

In K1 Long:

Denise D'Abundo finished in 2:01:25, 37th overall, and 2nd in class.

Susan Orgeron finished in 2:06:46, 51st overall, and 4th in class.

The results on the BOTB say that Topher Tape's finish is questioned, I don't know what that means, but I know I have a standing from our Awards show correspondents on a tablet at home. I will update his standing later tonight.

In K2 Unlimited:

Brad Rex and Robin Lashway finished in 1:35:24, 4th overall, and 2nd in class. (I was pulling up at the finish point just as they were pulling their kayak out of the water... they beat me to the finish line and I was in a CAR!)

In K2 Rec:

Terry Ginn and his son Tyler finished in 2:14:32, 67th overall, and 5th in class.

Frank Pellerin and Conrad Pellerin finished in 2:46:28, 128th overall, and 8th in class.

Monise Dupuis and Carson Pellerin finished in 2:47:46, 131st overall, and 9th in class.

Will Cordon and Peyton Pellerin finished in 2:51:53, 136th overall, and 10th in class.

John Davis and his daughter Hayden finished in 2:57:59, 143rd overall, and 11th in class.

Paula Davis and Jessica Turner finished in 3:02:45, 149th overall and 12th in class.

In C1 Unlimited:

Ken Grissom, DNF (Paddlers had to go south into headwinds past a point on a little island, then head north upstream to The Shed, Mr. Ken made it to the point but couldn't turn his boat because the winds were acting against his boat not allowing him to turn it and were pushing water into it. Any kind of momentum he would get to turning the boat made him flip over. He then swam to the shore of the little island and began bailing all of the water out of his poor canoe. The wonderful Sheriff's department came to his aid and helped him bail the boat, get back in and gave him a lift to a little opening to get back to the start point. They called Ms. Debbie to go back for him after being concerned he would get hypothermia. We went pick him and his boat up and got a nice warm change of clothes. He showed up to work this morning and he looks like he's doing fine, he says he's a little embarrassed, but we're just glad he didn't get hurt or sick!)

In Custom Boat:

Team Pont Breaux, a 4 man team consisting of Andre Pellerin, T-Mike Hebert, Dennis Wise, and Mike from Anytime Fitness finished in 2:15:15, and 71st overall. (These guys flipped the boat about 4 times, from what I understand. They showed up at the finish line soaked and frozen with a slight change in crew. T-Mike got on the Coast Guard boat when he realized the boat was just going to keep flipping, one of Andre's triplets, I think it was Peyton, climbed into the 4 man boat and Mike from Anytime Fitness climbed onto the banana boat with Will. Again, we're just glad that no one got hurt or sick. Brrr it was cold out there.)

We had 12 boats representing TDT and they did an AWESOME JOB!! This cheerleader couldn't have been more proud! The weather was very overcast and the temps hovered in the mid to upper 50s and the wind blew around 20 mph. It made for a very cold, tough race!

I'd like to also send out a SUPER SHOUT OUT to the Battle on the Bayou organizers and thank them for their hard work, I know it ain't easy! And also thank them for letting us pass out our rack cards and tell people about how awesome our Tour du Teche is. I hope we get to see some Battle on the Bayou people out our way in October promoting it to our racers!!

Also, if you're going to the Buffalo Bayou Regatta this weekend in Houston, keep and eye out for Brad Rex and Robin Lashway, and Andre Pellerin, I know for sure all those guys are going to be out there! Best of Luck, I'll let you know how they do next week!!

P.S. I will also post pics from this weekend later tonight!

The boats are at the put in point and they're on their way to drop off the trailer at the endpoint. We're getting ready to rock!!

Updating from the iphone now, we ate just about ready for the battle on the bayou. As of last rough count looks like we'll have 12 or 10 TDT boats in the race. Wooo hooo! I'll keep you posted on the progress of our paddlers and how they finish!

This was shared with me, now I will share it with you: http://globalsurfski.se/training-concepts-for-paddlers/

Not much to say today, getting prepared to leave for Battle on the Bayou tomorrow. Will post pictures either from the hotel tomorrow night, or on Sunday afternoon! Looking forward to it!!!

-Nicole

Happy Leap Year!!! February 29, 2012!!!

Enjoy the day and do something fun you wouldn't ordinarily do on any of the other 365 days a year.

Looks like Doggie Paddle registration will open on Friday (March 2) and close on March 30. We are still on the fence about what the sussie will be, but we've set our minds to $25. All of the proceeds of the event will benefit the SMP Animal Services!!

I got the insurance for all three of our events last week. This week I will try to put them in the mail to their respective owners.

Everything is set for the doggie paddle. I think Michelle and I are hoping to open early registration at the end of this week :0 ... or maybe sometime next week. This should be a fun fun event and it supports a good cause. I'll post more specifics tomorrow on how much and when. But, it will definitely be Sunday April 22, Earth Day and it will definitely be from Breaux Bridge to Parks. I know All-O-Cajun DJ services will be providing us some FREE music!! And there will be like microchipping, etc. So if you aren't into paddling, come join the fun in the park anyway. It will be an ALCOHOL FREE event!!

And this weekends big news!! We had wonderful showings at two races this weekend!!
This is a listing of the results from the Town Lake Race Series IV (I bolded the TDT names that I recognized -- this race happened Sunday):
Handicap Results

Russel Adams 1:10.35 Rec Solo
Budy Hudson 1:1039 Rec Solo
Ian Rolls 1:11.52 PRS
Debbie Richardson 1:12.04 Mohican
Mark Addison 1:13.17 Fast K1
Jeff Glock 1:13.36 C1
Kyle Mynar 1:13.38 C1
Johan Dahl 1:14.55 Fast K1
John Baltzell 1:14.56 Fast K1
Mike Pritulsky/Doug McCoy 1:15.20 Tandem Aluminum
Joy & Ginsie 1:15.21 Female C2
Bob Spain 1:15.29 C1
Shelia Reiter 1:15.37 SU
Phil Bowden 1:17.29 SU
Mike Brooks 1:17.41 OC1
Maria Shelton 1:18.00 Rec Solo
Hoang Pham 1:18.09 OC1
Drost & Glos 1:18.24 Tandem UN
Cody Ackerman 1:18.45 C1
Lilly & Gaston Jones 1:18.51 C2
Mike Gordan 1:19.00 SU
West Hansen 1:19.36 C1
Ed Jones 1:19.41 PRS
Nathan Tart 1:19.56 C1
Andrew Pellerin & Mike Herbert 1:21.01 C2
Lindsay Stillman 1:21.09 PRS
Stuart Berthiandme 1:21.17 OC1
David Carson 1:21.18 Solo rec
Mike Rendon 1:22.10 Ski
Morris Paillet 1:22.48 K1
Erin Magee 1:23.02 K1
Chuck Zeugn 1:23.46 Rec Solo
Will Myers 1:24..03 Ski
Garret & Trey Jones 1:24.18 Rec Tandem
Chris Chandler 1:24.24.45 F Rec Solo
Edmonson/Woodward 1:24.45
Brad Rex 1:25.37 K1
Justin McGuire 1:27.13 Oc1
Nancy Bowers 1:27.14 PRS
Curt Slaten 1:28.29 SU
Max Hambly 1:29.57 C1
Susan Dageron 1:32.42 Sea kayak
Michael McGuire 1:33.25 SU
Chock Hawala/Stambaugh 1:34.39 Rec Tandem
Stephen Mack 1:56.00 C1

Actual Time

Mark Addison 49.57
Johan Dahl 50.55
John Baltzell 50.56
Mike Rendon 1:00.10
Drost/Glos 1:00.24
Morris Paillet 1:00.48
Phil Bowden 1:01.29
Ian Rolls 1:01.52
Will Myers 1:02.03
Mike Gordan 1:03.00
Brad Rex 1:03.37
Jeff Glock 1:04.36
Kyle Mynar 1:04.38
Debbie Richardson 1:06.04
Bob Spain 1:06.29
Erin Magee 1:07.07
Mike Brooks 1:07.41
Lilly & Gaston Jones 1:07.51
Hoang Pham 1:08.09
Sheila Reiter 1:09.37
Cody Akerman 1:09.47
Joy & Ginsie 1:10.21
Andrew Pellerin/Mike Herbert 1:10.01
Russel Adams 1:10.35
West Hanson 1:10.36
Budy Hudson 1:10.39
Ed Jones 1:10.41
Nathan Tart 1:10.56
Stuart Berthiandme 1:11.17
Curt Slaten 1:12.29
Mike/Dave 1:13.20
Lindsay Stillman 1:15.09
Justin Mcguire 1:17.13
Michael McGuire 1:17.25
Maria Shelton 1:18.00
Max Hambly 1:20.57
Nancy Bowers 1:21.14
David Carson 1:21.18
Garret and Trey Jones 1:22.18
Susan Dageron 1:22.42
Edmonson/Woodward 1:22.45
Chuck Zeugn 1:23.46
Chris Chandler 1:24.45
Hawala/Stambugh 1:32.39
Stephen Mack 1:47.00

And these are the results for the Battle on the San Jacinto (This race happened Saturday -- and again, I bolded TDT names that I recognized):
Solo Unltd:

Mark Addison 39:05 1st mens
Tommy Yonley 39:44
Brad Pennington 40:35
ChristianMassow 40:40
Nic Coute 43:20
Jacquo Odemaere 44:48
Murray Hunkin 45:06
RD Kissling 45:20
Richard Ameen 46:50
Morris Pallet 47:00
Dennis Palin 49:51
Charlie Stewart 50:55
Haung 54:56
Grady Hicks 56:59
Jim Stevens 59:45
Nancy Bowers 1:02:00 1st women
Robert Rollen 1:03:00

Tandem Unltd:

Morgan Kohut - Gary Kohut 1st mixed : 45:13
Robin Lashway -Brad Rex 1st mens 47:46

C2:

Bob Spain - Joy Emshoff 50:01 1st mixed
Mike Herbert- Andre Pellerin 54:22 1st mens
Steve Unreh- Jonathan Fessendren 59:30

Rec Canoe aluminum:

Frank Grey - Hau Pham 1st 56:40

Recreation solo:

Russell Adams 1st mens 56:09
Mike Butler 1:04:11
Susan Orgeron 1st women 1:05:02
Rich Schwalbach 1:09:21
Luz Paillet 1:09:43
Lydia Westbrook 1:10:04

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Way to represent Cajun Country guys!!!!!!

THIS WEEKEND!!! We are sooo pumped to be going out to the Battle on the Bayou!! I'm REALLY looking forward to meeting more racing friends and letting them know about the BEAUTIFUL Teche country that we have to share!!!

If you are paddling in a race, I would LOVE to keep up with your progress!! So PLEASE let me know when you are paddling and let me know how you do, so I can BLOG about it and tell everybody how awesome TDT paddlers are!!!!

:)))

That's a picture of me from the dress rehearsal at the Rotary Ball this past weekend. It was such a fun time, I just had to share. Thanks to Ms. Gini McKain for such and awesome picture!

Yesterday, I talked to the Mayor of Parks and we are ONNN for the doggie paddle. He's excited and so are we! The event will begin at about 9 am and paddlers and their dogs will paddle from the launch in Breaux Bridge to the launch in Parks. Once there, there will be microchipping, grooming, a DJ (All O Cajun DJ Services has donated his services! Thanks SOOO Much!) food, drink and much more! All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the St. Martin Animal Services!

Wooo! Matter of fact, Mr. Ken took his dogs, Lola and Sam, out for a paddle and he said they were more scared than they knew what to do with. Check em out in the picture.

All the insurance has been applied for and most of the applications have been filled out for our permits. Once I finish getting all the nitty gritty things together, I'll send them off. Permits should be had soon. Insurance too. Woooo!

I've also heard from the Evangeline Downs Hotel about special TDT rates!!! Here's what they have to say: "We would love to be the featured Opelousas accommodation for the 2012 Tour du Teche event. We would like to offer a special rate of $79 plus tax for any participants that reserve a room at the Evangeline Downs Hotel by May 31st. Between May 31 and August 31, we will offer a special TdT rate of $89 plus tax, and $99 for reservations made in September up to October 3. These rates would be valid for the nights of October 3rd and 4th, to accommodate anyone that would be arriving early for the start on October 5."

If you want to get in touch with them to secure these rates, call them at 337-407-2121.

Wooooo hoooooo! Things are coming together!!