Odyssey BEAST of the East

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Claytor Lake - Startline for the Beast

Corey Rosen / 23.10.2005

As midnight quickly approached, teams loaded up their canoes with all the gear they would need on the first leg of the race. As teams showed up to the startline, they had their photos taken in full gear. The canoes were lined up at the waterfront, right on the shore of Claytor Lake. As Metallica played in the background, Ronny Angell counted down the minutes to the race start.

At exactly midnight, Eastern Standard Time, the Beast of the East began. The teams started at the top a hill overlooking the beach of Claytor Lake. At the start, everyone raced down the hill to their fully loaded canoes. Most teams had no problem loading their boats into the water. A few teams struggled with last second gear problems. Within five minutes of the race start, all teams were in the water, paddling toward the first checkpoint.

Claytor Lake is a significant start and finish line for this race because of the history involved with this area. Not only is this one of the most picturesque areas in Virginia, but the river all teams will be paddling on is recorded as the second oldest river in the world. Teams will be be paddling through areas that predate civilation here.See All Event Posts