Over 400 boaters will take to the waters of the Missouri River on Tuesday, July 8 for the start of the 20th annual MR340 race, and several towns in our area are preparing to welcome them through.

Participants from across the nation will launch from Kaw Point in Kansas City, Ks., for the 340-mile journey down the river to St Charles. The race for soloists will begin at 7 a.m., with teams and tandems launching at 8 a.m. Along the way, competitors must report in at five checkpoints, including two in our area. All boats must pass through Waverly no later than 8 p.m., and be through Glasgow by 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Checkpoints and paddlestops along the river will have food available for participants and spectators. The checkpoint in Waverly will have hamburgers and hot dogs available from Boy Scouts Troop 243, while the Waverly Lions Club will again have their fish fry. The Glasgow checkpoint at Stump Island will have a food truck on site.

Paddlestops include Lexington, where Boy Scout Troop 611 will have their grill going, and Miami, where the City of Miami will also have hot dogs and hamburgers available Tuesday night, and breakfast service beginning at 3 a.m. Wednesday featuring pancakes and sausage. A paddlestop is also available Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Franklin Island, where Cub Scout Pack 105 will serve breakfast burritos in the morning and quesadillas and fruit in the afternoon.

Complete details about the MR340 are available on the race’s website.