The Texas Water Safari can be a dangerous race even in the best conditions, but the drought has added several more hazards that aren't normally seen during the world's toughest boat race. Generally speaking, rocks have been exposed, water flow is more concentrated in new rapids and "sweepers" are more prevalent with the river finding the deepest areas to flow. Sweepers occur when water flow takes a sudden sharp turn towards the bank to avoid a gravel bar or bend in the river and forces the boat sideways into the bank or foliage. The foliage draped into the water is revered to as a "strainer" because it allows water through, but traps boats and paddlers in a dangerous net of limbs and vines.

It won't take long before racers find hazards. Just below the island as Spring Lake where paddlers portage back into the river there are several pieces of jagged metal jutting up from the old dam and mill works. Moving on downriver, the mill slough at Thompson's Island is still dammed after having washed out several months ago, leaving racers a high bank to climb to pull their boat out of the water for the portage. Cottonseed Rapid, in Martindale, is flowing much slower, making conditions easier to maneuver, but more rocks are exposed, so paddlers should slow down and be quick to respond.

Immediately below Staples' Dam a log is crossing the river except for a small open space against the left bank. Ten minutes later another log crosses with a small open space next to the right bank. Racers can walk through ankle deep water at this second log. The two old rock dams between Staples and Fentress are very rocky. The first has a slough just to the right of middle, but the water is slow and ankle deep, so racers can get out and walk the boat through. The second dam has been illegally widened and raised by a local landowner so a complete portage over the top is necessary. A few minutes before Fentress a log jam blocks the entire river, requiring a 20 yard portage overland on the right. After the Fentress bridge several logs block the river, but they can be carried over quite easily.

As mentioned earlier, several shallow places exist where water speeds up. In many of these places the water is very shallow. So, instead of wrestling the water, many racers plan on jumping out of the boat and pulling it through until they reach deeper water. The river takes a sudden left hand turn into what used to be the Prairie Lea Cut. A tight space has been carved out at the entrance and a log spans the entire river halfway through. At this log the water is shallow, allowing racers to stand thigh deep and heave the boat over to the downriver side and continue. A small dam just prior to the Prairie Lea 1.5 Bridge has become more rocky. I've found the best place to run it is just to the left of the big rock in the middle. The section between Prairie Lea 2 Bridge and the Stairtown Bridge is extremely cluttered and shallow requiring patience and quick maneuvering.

Many racers will be hitting nightfall around Luling. Shortly after Interstate 10, below Luling, the river takes on sharp turns with numerous stumps and partially submerged solid logs. Racers should slow down and be cautious so as not to damage themselves or their boats. Remember, there's still 200 miles to go. Son of Ottine is a small dam about 30 minutes to an hour below I-10. It is very rocky and shouldn't be run. Most people portage down the face on the far left side, next to the bank. From Palmetto State Park to the Slayden Cemetery Bridge the river is littered with stumps and log jams. Someone has gone a bit crazy with bright green spray paint, marking hazards and possible safe routes. So keep your eyes peeled.

The portage at Gonzales Dam requires a steep climb up the bank on river right. A bow line will be handy at this point. The Gonzales to Hochheim section is strewn with twelve to fifteen shallow areas that require portages and a new rapid has been exposed. When rushing water is heard, some racers are getting out and walking the boat until the rapid is in clear view, then picking the safest route to run. None of the rapids are treacherous, however it doesn't take much to put a hole in a boat.

The next section for concern is between Thomaston and Nursery, where three sets of rapids require some attention. The first set is shallow and easy to navigate through the middle. The second can be run on the left or right, but standing waves may splash water into the boat. The third has a two to three foot drop on river left and a large standing wave on the right, so may racers portage over the rocks in the middle or on river left.

Below the Victoria, at the DuPont Plant, racers will begin to see alligators. The big kind, with blood and broken paddles hanging from their sharp teeth. They've come to down to the water from their dried up swamp areas. No one has ever actually been attacked by an alligator in the Texas Water Safari, but encounters have been memorable and the stuff of legends. I for want don't care to have my name mentioned alongside an alligator in a Safari legend, so I'll be very alert at this point. Thirty minutes to an hour after the trestle below the DuPont Plant, racers must portage a log jam into a cut that will help them avoid an even bigger log jam downriver. The jam that blocks this cut is marked by a large bright green spray painted dot. The easiest way to portage is to find the dot, then paddle about fifty yards back upstream and portage across the land. It's a long portage, but it's marked by surveyors tape and the ground is relatively flat and clear.

Thirty minutes to an hour before Seadrift, the Saltwater Barrier Dam has been raised to protect the local drinking water supply from saltwater flowing upstream from the bay. If you haven't seen this prior to the race, it is recommended you portage on river right. Some racers will run the slough on the left. The only natural obstacle remaining is the crossing of Guadalupe Bay, which will contain high wind and waves this year. The safest way to cross is to go directly across to the east side of the bay then turn right (south) and follow the shallow shoreline around the bend to Seadrift. Be careful to avoid the barge canal and barges.

Does anyone remember the last line in the book by Richard Bach, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"? It goes something like this: "All of this may be wrong." Which is the case with the Safari. Last year we got a freak thunderstorm a day before the race, which raised the river and changed the face of every hazard. Also, I've received reports of River Fairy sightings. River Fairies show up during the last week before the Safari to carve out faster routes and move logs to create an easier path for long boats to travel. In fact, rumor has it that two teams of rival River Fairies worked together to remove a particularly large log blocking the river. So some of the above-mentioned hazards may be a bit more clear.

The bottom line: stay alert and play it safe.