Organizer of 465-mile canoe trip planning another adventure

Three diehard canoeists completed a 465-mile ironman adventure from Belle Isle to Chicago through the Huron and Grand rivers and down Lake Michigan, and its organizer said it is a feat not likely to be duplicated soon.

"I frankly question it -- it's a pretty tough goal," said 87-year-old Jim Woodruff, the Delta Township man and topologist who asked the brave souls to duplicate British trader Hugh Heward's 1790 feat.

With the Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge in the books, Woodruff said it might be time for a new test. He has crafted a trip emulating a journey by 17th century explorer Robert de LaSalle. Cars, bicyclists or walkers would go from St. Joseph to Dexter, canoe down the Huron River to Belleville and then trek on land to the Detroit River.

"I've got this all laid out and I'd be surprised if I don't get some gung-ho guys to at least try it," Woodruff said.

"I'm trying my usual thing -- coming up with an idea and getting some suckers to sacrifice their bodies."

Jon Holmes, a 43-year-old kayak instructor at Bill & Paul's Sporthaus, 1200 E. Paris Ave. SE, took 16 days to complete the Heward challenge -- staying ahead of the others to reach his own personal goal.

The other participants included Mark Przedwojewski, 38, of Irons; Dan Smith, 58, of Portland; Toby Nipper, 58, of Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Charlie Parmelee, 52, of Leslie. Parmelee dropped out early, but didn't plan to complete the trip.

Holmes attested to the strain of the trip -- a tribute to late paddling icon Verlen Kruger -- but said it's a big feather in the cap.

"I had a plan and I had a vision," Holmes said. "Everything in my plan worked very well.

"It was painful and it was physically challenging, but I smile when I think about it. It was a good time."

Holmes plans to recap his travels at a presentation 7 p.m. on June 4 at Bill & Paul's.

His exploits included one 11-hour day on the Big Lake, being whipped by 45 mph winds on the Grand through Grand Rapids, and sharing some words with curious U.S. Coast Guard officials near the Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman.

Those waters are federally protected, and the officials boarded him, ran a background check and then let him on his way.

"They did their job," Holmes said. "They got their message across, but they were very personable."