IDITAROD REPORT
If you're viewing this for the first time, please click on the archives on the side. Then you'll need to scroll to the bottom, then scroll up some, read down, then scroll up again. It sounds complicated, but it's really not.
March 19, 2005 Afterthoughts
Nome was very interesting with Richard being one of the highlights. When he took me to the airport, he made a detour to a pulloff just to show me the beautiful sunset. But I think Nome is just too cold for me and this wasn't even a cold year.
I felt pressured just about everywhere--Nome, Shishmaref and the Iditarod to buy stuff. I know the ITC and locals depend on visitors and tourists for income, but I'm not rich, wish I were.
The volunteers are dedicated, some of them year after year and treat their role as a job, at which they excel. I don't think the race could exist without this great team.
I've loved hearing people's stories and was surprised at how eagerly they shared. A lot of places I've visited, people have been reluctant to share. But, on this trip, everyone was very open and friendly.
The race is amazing, and after being at Safety in a white out and freezing, I'm doubly amazed at how the mushers can do this, sometimes year after year, along with all the training and planning. I admit I'm star-struck with the mushers, or, as Fred says, I'm a groupie. The access to the mushers is just awesome and doubt there's any other sport where a fan can just walk up to an athlete and talk to them, get their autograph or take their pix. The big-time athletes would have a bouncer show you the sidewalk in a heartbeat. Shows you these mushers' hearts.
Most people say it's all about the dogs, but I have to differ. If this were so, we could just go up to a pound and ooh and ahh at them and pet them and think what a hard life they've had. To me, it's the whole event--the dogs, mushers, ITC, fans, volunteers, family and friends and the memory or history of the original serum run. It truly is The Last Great Race and I'm privileged that I was able to experience it. Like Cabela's says, it was the trip of a lifetime and I'm glad I was able to share it with you.
I'm tired now and glad to be home. (Is there a song titled "I Survived the Iditarod?") But in a few days, I'm sure I'll be thinking about "next time."
March 17 Day 15 II
Well, I lied. Didn't know I'd have more fun Thurs evening. Saw DeeDee at Headquarters and got her pix, think that was her mom with her, but didn't think about it till later. Martin Buser was signing teeshirts at the table next to us and I asked him if I could take his pix while he signed and he said sure. Told him we'd had dinner with his sons the night before and he asked if they'd behaved. Told him yes, they were very nice and a joy to be around. He said "good."
Also, saw Swingley, a Seavey (not sure which one), Jeff King (passed him on the street and said hi and he said hi back) and Jesse Royer. Asked Jesse if she knew where Greg was and she said he'd left for home today. Fred and I had our pix taken with her. Talked to the woman, Cheryl, who was in charge of Sales at the Headquarters and it seems she had a tour out of Mich several years ago and I contacted her re going with her, but she was getting married that year. She had told me she told Cabela's how her tour was run and they based their's on hers. She had sent me a pix she had taken at the Iditarod. I told her re the history and she remembered my name! Awesome. She and her husband moved to Wasilla and she's now Director of the Chamber of Commerce there. Small world.
Richard's reading of Robt Service was fantastic as usual. Bought more souvenirs and had supper at the Polar Cafe where a grilled cheese was almost $8. It was neat sitting at the window overlooking the Bering Sea and watching the small planes parked there and snowmachines racing by.
Met two freelance photographers in the airport, one from Anchorage and the other from Japan.
They had been up the trail taking pix. The one from Anchorage gave me his card with his web site on it--www.nbphotos.com. Told him I was going to look at my pix before I looked at his!
My seatmate on the plane was a woman from Norway who is connected with the Norwegian Embassy in Anchorage and she teaches Norwegian at a school there, the only one in the country who teaches Norwegian. Sorlie's wife stayed with her for two days and she showed his wife Anchorage. So, she came to Nome to be part of Team Norway and she's good friends with Sorlie. He's staying at Leo Rasmussen's house in Nome and the night of his win, he had a party for Team Norway and they all stayed up till 5 AM. She was carrying her Norway flag.
Buser's boys were on the plane and as they walked by me, I asked them if they were going home and they said yes, with the dogs.
I guess Charlie Boulding was in Nome, but I never did see him. His dogs were in Unk, along with his wife, who was helping at the checkpoint and he was afraid that because he'd scratched, he wouldn't get as much for his team.
Posting my after-thoughts next and I promise I'm through.
March 17 Day 15 II
Whoops, sorry about that.
circlecr@bellsouth.net
March 17 Day 15
This is the last day, kinda sad. Had to check out of my room at 11 am and my flight isn't until 9:57 pm, so I'm homeless now. And it snowed in NC today! Can you believe it?
Watched the St Patrick's Day parade, with Hello Central walking. It took about 2 min to go by.
Been doing some more souvenir shopping and pix taking. Fred and I have walked a lot, had lunch. Saw Gerry Sousa's wife and kids again, she so nice. She used to mush.
Still haven't gotten to meet Dana Stabenow. She wasn't on Richard's show last night. Been looking for her today. Mushers cont to come in and they finally got the siren fixed, so have heard that. Fred still hasn't gotten to see the Fire Dept here and exchange patches with the fire captain. Know he's disappointed.
So, this will be my last posting from Alaska. In a few days, will try to collect my thoughts re the experience and post from home once. Also, saw the question on the Cabela's forum re who my tour was with. It was booked with Cabela's and they contracted with Sky Trekking here in Nome. Am also going to give you my email address if you have further questions. I know I've left out a lot, but it was so hard to get it all in in a half hour and people talking and radio on and all the commotion. But please give me a few days to get home and get my mailbox cleaned out, I'm sure it's full. I wouldn't have enough time to check my mail and clear it out. Thought posting was more important!!! Also, I have lots of pix and it you would like to be able to view them, I'll need your email address to send you an invitation. I upload on Kodak site and that's how it works. But it won't cost you anything.
Next time I'll bring a laptop. I've enjoyed sharing my adventure with you, thanks.
The end for now.
March 16 Day 14
Well, this is what we've all been waiting for. A winner. We saw Sorlie come into the chute and receive his check and the truck. The dogs looked good and he seemed ok, too. Lots of media there. My overall feeling those was anticlimatic. Thought there would be lots of cheering and pandemonium, but there was clapping and some cheering when he actually got into the chute. I've talked to a lot of people on this trip and the only person who said they were pulling for him was the owner of Sky Trekking.
It's still stormy and cloudy, so we couldn't fly into White Mtn, so we took snowmobiles into Safety. I wanted to drive one by myself so badly, but we'd just gotten out of town and I realized I couldn't do it, cause I couldn't see with my glasses or a shield. I could have cried. They should have told us to bring some of that de-fogging stuff for glasses. So I rode the rest of the way with the guy who provided the snowmobiles, or snowmachines as they say up here. We were only going about 20 mph, but it sure seemed fast, lots of moguls. We followed the Iditarod Trail and met Brooks and Gebhardt on the way. We would stop and turn the machines off when a musher came by. My camera died--had it in a coat pocket, but it was still dead. Then I put it in my pants pocket and it came to life.
Went thru a little village, Nook, that is a summer fishing village, some nice houses there. Also, went by Cape Nome, a small mtn/hill.
Got to Safety and got to warm up! Was so cold. Anyway, it's a roadhouse with dollar bills stapled all over the walls that people have written on. Of course I put one up by the women's restroom, the one place I always hit! And the restroom consisted of a square box, commode seat and plactic bag. There was a box of wash-n-wipes.
It was a bar and the guy who runs it, Tom, was a native and so nice and friendly. He had trailmix on the bar and would meeting each musher and help them hold the dogs. Also, met the checker, Jessie, and he has a website,
www.iditarodupdate.com, that he journals on. Can't wait to read it when I get home. The pool table was the operating desk for bibs (this checkpoint is where the mushers put them back on) and the vet. Jessie communicated with everyone via ham radio (no phones there).
Dan had brought food for us and set it out. I had been talking to a native and he asked Dan for some food and Dan told him after his clients were fed. I felt bad about that, but he did feed everyone in the bar.
Now for the important stuff. I missed DeeDee checking in!!! She was in and out so fast. Jesse Royer was hot on her tail and trying to catch her. And she did and also passed Gebhardt, to come in 8th, as you know. So Greg's talk helped psych her up. Hope I told you about that. I asked Buser how his sit-down sled worked and he said "good." Told him I had been pulling for him and he said "thank you." Timmie was there with his blue hair and Martin told him that if Rohn, his son, has a mohawk, Timmie would have one, too. Jeff King came in with Buser and they left together.
Swingley came in and I asked him how his eyes were and he said ok. Jessica Hendrix came in, too.
Dan wanted to take everyone up to the Railroad to Nowhere, an hour and a half trip. I didn't want to go, wanted to stay at Safety, so they picked me up on the way back. I told Jessie and the vet that I had volunteered in Anchorage and got to get warm water for the vet (and picked his brain, too) and bibs for some of the mushers. So I felt productive. Really hated to leave Safety, it was so neat (not literally) and friendly. My sort of place.
Rode back with Dan. Safety is 21 miles from Nome and took us about an hr each way. We returned a different way, went by a quarry and more mtns/hills.
Then Roger, the leader with the machines took us out on the ice crabbing. I shouldn't have gone on that trip. I was really cold and my tailbone was so sore from the ride in the wooden sled the day before. I was miserable when we got back, which I thought we'd never get back. Roger's spots were a hole about 4x4 in the ice with a styrofoam center between 2 boards. They'd pull that off after shoveling the snow off, then use spear to break off the ice on the sides of the hole, then used a smalling net to get loose ice out of the hole. The traps were hooked to a pole set in the snow/ice with a rope and they pulled that up. We got about 35 out of about 4 holes. He said they sell them on the street for $5/lb and they avg 2.5 lbs each. He has 2 partners. He carried his supplies on a sled behind his snowmobile. Then he wanted to clean them before taking them to our chef. I didn't watch that, some of us climbed around an old dredge.
Went to dinner and they had a theme of Mardi Gras. I tried the Alaskan King crab (red, supposedly the best kind) and it was ok. Didn't think it had any taste except for the drawn butter. So didn't waste it, didn't actually take one. Fred gave me a leg of his. You get the meat out by cutting the shell lengthwise up the leg.
The staff gave out silly awards. I got the Safety Roadhouse Queen award cause they think I'm quiet (really!) and Dan was amazed to see how excited I got at Safety. Fred said they should have given me the "groupie" award.
Gary said she had talked to Buser and he said he should have scratched early in the race because of his fingers, but he remembered something Jeff King had said earlier, so he kept on. He said the dogs carried him this race. His two sons, Rohn and Nickolai, were there with Timmie. They were both in the Jr. Iditarod, along with Ramey Smith's brother, who was there. They were all neat kids. Then Gerry Sousa's wife, daughter and baby came in and sat beside me. She was really nice and said Gerry wouldn't be in until Thurs night.
We all kinda were worried about tipping Sky Trekking, but we got through it. Was so tired when I hit the bed at midnight.
Oh, my God, folks, you won't believe this. Today I rode a snow machine, a sled behind a snow machine and a dog sled!!! And the musher was Jeff, the son of Herbie ?????, the Shirmaref Cannonball. Is that fantastic or what??? I'm still high from it.
OK, I'll try to give you a play by play. We flew to Shirmaref about 8:30 this am on a little 9 seater, prop. It really was a smooth ride, but they flew entirely on instruments cause we couldn't see a thing. Two snowmobiles with sleds took us to tour a tannery, the only full service one in the state. It was old and crowded and small. The man who runs it, Dennis, said he couldn't get help that was willing to learn. It was all interesting, tho.
Then we went to the 2 stores in town and bought some souvenirs. I had to go potty really bad and went to the first store before the others. It was thru a dark storage room and was a camper commode. Oh, and Gary showed us a female urinary diversion. Didn't know there was such a thing. The village didn't have a place for us to eat the food our chef had sent, so we went on the ice below some big chunks and they cooked for us. I was starting to really get cold. A guy came down and had 4 seal skin hats that his mom made and wanted $200 ea. They offered him $175/ea and he went back and asked his mom and she said no, they were worth $200. So they paid him the $200 ea for 3.
Then Dennis came riding up on his snowmobile and asked if anyone wanted a sled ride. I jumped up and jumped on the back of his snow mobile and away we went. When we stopped, the sled was attached and Fred was in it. Jeff was there and we loaded up and were off. He took us about 4-5 miles and the dogs were going 7-8 mph. My tailbone will be so sore tomorrow, we bounced hard on it. Then when the dogs went out on the ice it was even rougher. But it was so awesome, I almost cried. Jeff wanted us to go meet his dad and mom and see all his trophies (he ran in 11 Iditarods). But his mom came down to the dog lot and I went to the house, but Herbie couldn't hear me knock, so I didn't get to actually meet him, waved to him thru the window. Those dogs were so beautiful, they all had some obvious siberian in them and one of his lead dogs used to belong to Ramy Brooks. There were people going out on the edge of the ice hunting in their snowmobiles.
Flew back in a Beechcraft plane, bigger than what we went up there on. What a day! And 4 mushers are in While Mtn now and the town is getting crowded. Know I'm forgetting stuff, but the library is getting full and they're going to call my time anytime. Will try to remember and tell you tomorrow. We're supposed to ride out to Dexter with Richard at 6.
March 14 Day 12 II
Watched a teenager show us Eskimo games and they were something else. Saw a guy do ivory carving and that was really neat. It's still snowing sideways. Gas and diesel is $2.95/gal. Dinner was good again and Richard read Robert Service again. Some pix were shown as a slide show, but I didn't see it. Timmy, Lori and Dan's son who died his hair blue with Rohn Buser, said with the storm, there are no checkers in White Mtn and she's the only one there, so guess who'll be checking??? Isn't that funny? I bet ITC guys are having a fit. Sorlei is due in there next. Someone told the story tonight of DeeDee and another musher racing neck to neck down the chute in Nome and some drunk vomited on the side and the other musher's dogs veered off to eat it, so DeeDee beat him. That musher was mad and just went in a bar, said it didn't matter cause the closest one behind him was hours away.
March 14 Day 12
Had good breakfast, then Richard gave us tour and lectures re Nome. We walked out on the ice of the Bering Sea. Temp 32, wind chill of 18, wind 35 mph, spitting moisture of some kind. It was hard work to walk back to the van. This approaching storm is going to affect the mushers someway, but we're not sure how. I would like the storm to lock them all down for a few hours, then all those front runners take off together. Wouldn't THAT be a race?
The rest of the crew came in at lunch time, good meal as usual. I have a roomy, which I wasn't expecting. It's ok, just wasn't planning on it. We went to a craft show they're having at an old church. Beautiful stuff, especially things made out of fur, but really expensive.
Fred and I messed around town and he went back to hotel and I'm here at library. We're to go to a native dancing and ivory carving at 4:15. Will be back when I can.
March 13 Day 11 II
Don't know if I told you the Aurora Inn is like a Motel 6, very clean, and newish. They have more tv channels than the Millenium.
After getting thrown out of the library, I made my way SLOWLY up to the convention center where they are just setting up. Was still dying for a Coke and what they say is true--Front St is bar after bar. Didn't want to do that scene, so went in the Nugget Inn to what I thought was the dining room, but, in fact, was a bar. But guess who was belly up to the bar? Yep, Richard. He introduced me to everyone in the room, of course, as his client. When he picked me up at the airport, he also introduced me to Mike Owens, the dad of Melissa who won the Jr. Iditarod this year. Man, it was like an alcoholic going in that bar, but my drug of choice was cigarettes. The smallish, dark room was cozy and everyone was drinking and smoking. I wanted a cigarette SO badly (I quit 12/2). But I just kept talking, drank my coke and got out. They have a live webcam, in real time, at nomenuggetinn.com.
After checking out the convention center, I wandered back down the street, took pix of the burled arch, which they just put up today. I used to wonder how vehicles used the road when the chute was in, but they just built up the middle of the road and there's room for cars on each side. There aren't many people in town now. I've watched the cams and live finishes so much I feel like I've been here before.
I stopped in a store that one side was all liquor and the other side was groceries. Looks like their food is about 3 times what we pay. Gal of milk $7.59, 6 pack "pop" $5.59, one bottle pop $1.89 (small bottle), bread $3.89.
Stopped in the visitors center and got great stuff for school classes including beautiful posters. Thought I would get frost bite walking back, but I didn't fall!
I guess the other Sky Trekkies aren't coming back tonight due to freezing rain and ice in Unakaleet. The other "client" who was due here earlier is still stuck in Anchorage. So it may just be Richard and me. We're supposed to have rack of lamb, which I'm never had, but will try. Maybe.
Well, the Trekkies, Lori and Gary (female born in Ft. Gary, Tx) did come back commercially and left their 2 planes in Unakaleet. Tomorrow we'll fly back with them commercially and return to Nome via their planes or if the weather is bad, tour town and fly there Tues.
Gary is a retired Air Force helicopter pilot. Supper was hor deurves (?sp), they had lamb and I had a plate of veggies. It was delicious, didn't try the lamb. Richard did a very dramatic reading of several poems of Robert Service. He was so good. He does a talk show on TV on Wednesday's and this week he's supposed to have Dana Stabenow, who is doing an article for Alaska magazine. Told him I have to meet her, she's my idol. He said he'd fix it. We'll see.
When I got back to the room, Sky Trekking had laid out a bunch of souvenir stuff, rain parka, warm stuff, etc. It was a pleasant surprise.
March 13 Day 11
Was worried about the wt of my suitcases, but they were fine--32 and 31 lbs. So I didn't have to put all my clothes on!
We flew to Kotsebue first and as we were landing there, I started feeling a little weezy from the rocking of the plane and it seemed to be going in circles, so I got dizzy. Weird, know what turbulance is, but don't remember ever being "rocked." But Kotsebue has snow! Finally, everything is white! Woohoo. It's flat, but there are a few rolling low hills, can't see the Bering Sea yet. And Kotsebue is above Nome, I was thinking it was below. Saw some familiar faces on the plane from the Millineum. Now I'm one of those people that knows other people in strange places. Hmmmmm. Met Vern from NY who had a lot of stories to tell of his own. He just spent a week with a friend near Anchorage snowmachining (they don't call it snowmobiling up here) and was on his way to White Mtn to stay with the ex-mayor there for a week or so. He was just atalking to everyone.
There was a State Trooper on the plane in full uniform, including vest and gun. My seatmates said they are required to dress that way at all times, even when they're off duty. I didn't know that even with my reading of Sue Henry and Dana Stabenow.
I'm in NOME!!! There's still snow and it's snowing a little. I'm so sleepy (got up at 3 AM), but am afraid if I go to sleep, all the snow will be gone when I wake up. It seems to do that where ever I go.
"Hello, Central" Richard met my plane with my name on a card, holding it up. Aren't I special??? And he did treat me like a queen. Took me to the hotel, and there it ended. The clerk was overwhelmed with me standing there and couldn't find my reservation or Sky Trekking. Richard stayed with me to make sure I got a room, then took my bags to the room and left me his phone # if I should need him. Don't know what the joke is about "Hello, Central" yet, but will find out. He's supposed to come back and eat supper with us tonight.
I feel kinda lost, thought Sky Trekking would have left me instructions or something, but they didn't, so feel like I'm wasting a day. Richard said the Sky Trekking crew is coming in from the trail about 5 and then we eat, so guess I'll have to go on that. He said the chefs are here. Wow. So, I took a nap and shore 'nuff, it wasn't snowing when I woke, but at least the snow is still here. Richard is a character. He dressed up last pm for the miners ball as a girl of the night. He acted on stage in NYC for 20 yrs and he's been in Nome 20 years and loves it.
The closest internet is the library, 2.5 blocks from the hotel. So I put on my lightest winter duds and set off. Good golly miss molly! It is cold here. Thought my face would freeze. Stopped in Subway and put my headband on. Was crossing the street and fell right in the middle of it!! But I'm ok. Guess I'll have to put my heavy duty gear on. They only let me on here for 30 min, so I better go before the madam comes after me with a ruler to my hands. Will be back when I can.
March 12 Day 10 II
We ended up working later than we expected at Sales. People kept trickling in and spending lots of money, so we kept staying. Just worked with Delores and Earl, the people who run Sales. They're from Iowa and come up for 7 wks every year. ITC pays for their room and Earl makes a daily trip to Wasilla for re-stocking. They're both retired from the Post Office.
Just about all packed. Tomorrow, Nome!
March 12 Day 10
Boy, time is flying. I've lived with these dates for so long and now they're actually here. No dogs coming in that we know of, so I've had some free time to get some stuff done. It's 48 here.
Ate lunch with another Dog Drop person, Jane, from Anchorage. She's the one I loaned 90 cents to the other night when she didn't have enough on her. She paid me back today.
Finally got into the laundry room, was excited to find it. I'm going to have some clean clothes, woohoo. Got a box from Sales and packed up my souvenirs and the shuttle guy took me to the post office. This P.O. stays open 24 hrs!
I'm about tired of working now, ready to go to Nome and be pampered awhile. lol These people in charge of a particular activity can be a little snippy. I've heard several comments and just let it roll off my back. They should realize that people are actually working and not just sitting around. Oh, well, it was an experience.
Supposed to work Sales this evening, but it was really slow and Delores said we'd prob. close early if it didn't pick up. So, going to finish laundry, keeping checking on the dogs and work Sales if possibly. Pack tonight and head to Nome at 6 AM. If anything interesting happens, will post again this evening.
March 11 Day 9 II
Guess yawl saw on ABC that Rachel was named Person of the Week? Her dad was watching it in the lobby. He is everywhere--lobby, sales, picking up dogs, even saw him in the phone room getting lunch.
Forgot to tell you yesterday Bridgette has always worked at the check points since 1990, this is the first year she's worked in town.
Worked the Computer Room and Diane was a little calmer, so I could ask her questions. She was a science teacher in NJ for many years, she and a female buddy decided to travel around the country seeing places they've never been. Went to Key West and on to Alaska. I guess it's a mess getting your teacher certification in Ak, so she hasn't done that yet. Worked at a residential treatment facility for teens out of detention or whatever you call it wherever you are. They closed and now she's working at a gym. She's 52 and has a Cajun boyfriend. She walked 5 mi yesterday and was feeling it in her hips and knees. She has 9 siblings. Wonder if that's a requisite for residency in Ak? ha
Worked with John, who came to Ak in 1983 when his company sent him. He was nice, but quiet and I was too tired to pull him out.
Did yawl like how fast we got it posted when DeeDee beat Sorlie into Grayling, even tho she hadn't pulled her 8 hrs? That woke us up. We take info from the checkpoints via phone or email and have to upload to the website at a maximum of 30 min from the oldest news. We had JUST run a log and uploaded when the info came in. But we booked it and got it out to everyone. We were psyched.
March 11 Day 9
Another awesome day, sure hope I can remember all of it. Thought about all of you today, wishing you could all be doing this.
Gwennie's had clam chowder and tuna salad sandwiches for lunch, my breakfast.
Worked the Dog Drop from 12-4. Several dogs had come when when I reported on, so got one out of the box to take and chain up. Well, I fell with him, but I was up out of the snow in a heartbeat. Didn't know I could get up that fast. But I didn't lose him!! Just cut my fingers a little on the snow/ice. Then I got to go with the crew and dogs to the prison! I was thrilled. Apparently it's a medium security prison on the Glen Highway, about 10 miles out of Anchorage. We got them out of their boxes and turned them over to the prisoners, telling them if they were male or female and what their number was on their tags. Guess how we told what sex they were? Yep, we reached under and felt! I sure was glad I had some glove liners on! We only saw 2 prisoners, a guard and a woman, don't know who she was. I guess in the past they've tied them up under a big tree, but something happened, some kind of bad write-up and now they have them in a big covered bay that's open on all sides. It's really nice for the dogs. They have chains in rows to chain them to and straw down for all of them. The males are on one side and females on the other. They're only supposed to stay there for 24 hours, but one of the crew said some had been there more than 48 hours and they were going to have to get Mark Nordham(know that's not the right name, but you know who I'm talking about) to get on the handlers or get fined cause the ITC is responsible for the dogs while they are out there.
Started talking to one of the other handlers, Bridgette, on the ride out there and she has a fantastic life. I asked her if I could share it with all of you and she said yes, so here goes. She is the Deputy Fire Marshall for Anchorage and has the state arson dog, a 2 year old mellow black lab (did you know there was such an animal?) They can go all over the state to look into fires and she takes him with her everywhere--planes, helicopters (he had to be specially trained for that one), restaurants, everywhere. His name is Jody and is insured for $60,000. I saw him and petted him and he was very well behaved. She drives a state Ford Expedition and the back seat is made into a kennel. It was unbelievable. I didn't get a pix of that, but did get a pix of her and Jody. They are always on call.
Bridgette's dad came to Alaska in the Army when she was a little girl, so she's pretty much native now. She has 9 siblings! Can you imagine? And they all live around here. Two brothers are policemen and her boyfriend of 20 years is a retired paramedic. She has a son in the Navy and they're thinking about getting married when he comes home on leave. lol She's a fantastic lady.
Then some dogs came in at the airport on a NAC flt (that's Northern Air Cargo--everything here has an acronym) and I got to tag along! It was so interesting watching them forklift the empty dog boxes off the trailer and forklift the 30 dogs in their boxes onto the trailer. Back to the hotel and we unloaded them and chained them up to the fence for the vet check, food/water, etc. I finally got the hang of getting those big bruisers out of the boxes. Now watch me lose one since I've gotten a little confidence! One more day of volunteer work.
Talked to Kate, one of the ringleaders of the Dog Drop. Her story is interesting, too, but felt like she just told me the tip of the iceberg. She doesn't live anywhere, just housesits in Anchorage and surrounding areas. She has a kennel of 23 dogs in Knik. She hasn't done any serious mushing for 15 years but feels like she could run the Iditarod if she wanted to, but not to win, just to go. She said her team is getting old now and dying off. She runs a wildlife tour in Denali Park during the summer. Sounds like it's just driving a bus and narrating. Know she would be interesting to get to know well.
Yesterday I felt like the Dog Drop crew was a closed society and I would never feel comfortable with them, but today they seemed to loosen up some. So, I guess they just had to get to know me a little.
By the way, when I get home, I'll upload my pix and tell you how you can view them.
Worked Sales again tonight, met more interesting people. Everyone I talk to has a fascinating life and job. I know somebody has to be bagging groceries somewhere! A couple from Anchorage worked with me and he works for Princess Cruise Line and in the summer supervises mechanics for the buses touring Denali. Can't remember what she does. They've been here a long time.
The other lady I worked with works for the University (I'm assuming of Alaska) writing grants that are somehow connected with the school system and she goes out to a lot of little village schools. Don't remember how long she's been here.
Jeannine came in for a few minutes tonight, she had been working in the Zuma email room. She said Zuma got over 500 letters today, so she answered some of them. Would like to know her better. Asked her what she was doing this weekend and she is volunteering on the ski train that goes upstate somewhere (forget where). That's the place that was written up in Alaska Magazine, where they have a German band playing on board and beer and it's a big party. She said it's so much fun.
I'm about in sensory overload now and still have 4 hrs to work in the Computer Room. Kinda hope there's nothing exciting that I need to remember details on! More tomorrow.
March 10 Day 8 II
Worked in the Computer Room tonight from 10-2am and it was fine. Thought it was really confusing at first, but they slowly brought me around so I knew a little of what I was doing when I left. It was exciting to take those calls from the checkpoints telling us who was in or out and times and dogs. There was a lot of misinformation, too, that had to be clarified, so now I understand how the logs can get so messed up. But they eventually do get things cleared up.
Worked with Derek, a member of the Coast Guard who has been here since July. He caught his wife on a bad day and asked her if she wanted to move to Alaska and she said yes. Gulp. He was super nice and patient. He had taken a lot of pix at the restart and had them on a CD. What I found so fascinating was his camera has a power switch that he holds down to take a pix and keeps holding it down and it just takes pix after pix. So the slide show showed movement. It was intriguing.
Worked with Dianne, too, and here again she was nice and helpful. Not sure she's not a little manic, though. She sure does have a good time. Couldn't get a word in to hear her story.
Gwennie's served the volunteers soup for lunch and someone brought in pizza.
Did anyone see White Fang last night? I can't watch the end, it's too sad.
Got to bed by 3am.
March 10 Day 8
I am SO stupid. I finally made time to ask at the front desk if they had a way I could get on the Internet and they do! They have a computer room and it's $5/24 hrs. Jeez. And I was planning on going back downtown to use that one. Anyway, here I am.
Worked the Dog Drop today from 12-4. Since I was new and hadn't had training, I wasn't allowed to do anything when the first dogs came in on my shift. I could only observe. But there were 26 dogs and like last year when I saw the dogs, I felt sorry for the few that were skinny. There were only a couple today. After they are brought in on a plane, they're brought to the Millineum and tied up to a fence in back. Today they had 2 vets who checked out every one and made decisions re meds, food/water and whether they could go home or to the prison. A paper is sent with each dog with info re why they were dropped--lame, diarrhea, not eating, sore, etc. The vet pays particular attention to that. One of Hugh Neff's dogs was really skinny and he had a puncture wound on his right rear leg that was so swollen and infected. So he started him on antibiotic and had us soak his foot in warm epsom salt water. Then he was to go to the "Bering Sea." When I heard that, I thought, well, they were half way there when the dog was dropped, why not just send him home from there? But...Bering Sea is the name of the local vet that treats sick dogs. Good joke on me.
So, after the vet said it was ok, the dogs were fed warm water in dry food. When one or 2 didn't eat, the vet took a second look. He ordered ID food, which is like Ensure for adults. It's canned food. Then they were either picked up by their handlers or put in the boxes to go to the prison. The prisoners there take care of the dogs until the handler or musher picks them up. The prisoners love doing it and vie for the chance to do it.
After that, someone had to stay with the dogs in the boxes and I went inside, where there wasn't anything to do. But I got warm and dry (it had rained the whole time I was out) and ran an errand for the "leader," Tracy. She finally had time to give me a crash course on handling the dogs.
Then someone came in and asked us to cart stuff that had come in by plane into a tractor trailer. So we did that. It was stuff the mushers had returned from different check points. It was neat seeing their names--Buser, Swingley, M Seavey, Mackey, etc., know it was their personal stuff.
After two hours there were still 6 dogs in boxes on the truck, so they needed to be gotten out and allowed to potty and given water and let stretch. So I got to get a dog out of a box and put one back in when we were through. I was kinda nervous cause the cardinal sin is to let a dog loose and Tracy said I had to hang on for dear life and may get drug around. But I made it and didn't lose one!! Thank goodness or I would have had to slink home disgraced. Still have 2 more days of it. Those dogs are so strong.
Then I worked sales from 5-8, sold 2 more raffle tickets and met a couple that live on the Outer Banks in the summer and Colorado in the winter. He wants to get into mushing and couldn't find anyone to come with him, so for his birthday his wife came with him. They didn't know a whole lot, so I showed them the dog drop area and they went down there and showed them the standings board and told them a lot. Told them when they come back to stay at the Millineum where the action is. They were real nice.
Met a nice woman, Jeanine, who lives here and we talked a lot. I asked re where the closest Taco Bell was so I could get some of DeeDee's bracelets and she insisted on taking me to one. So I got several. She was so nice. Working with her again tomorrow evening.
Am going to work in the Computer Room tonight from 10-2 and I'm caught up on this blog. So I've accomplished a lot tonight. More tomorrow, stay tuned.
March 9 Day 7
Had to leave Juneau today. Still raining, had rough takeoffs and landings. I had deliberately chosen that flight so I could see a little of Ackatat and Cordova. Couldn't see either town, but Ackatat was flat with lots of pines. Cordova had lots of snow covered mountains surrounding it and I even saw a glacier.
A PS from yesterday--Mike took me to his unit at the hospital, at chemical dependency unit. It was small and clean, forget how many beds, think it's 16. Met a couple of their nurses and talked for a few minutes. Well, one of the nurses sent a message that she wanted me to come back and come to dinner at her house so we could talk CD (which is my specialty as an RN). The other nurse, a guy, brought me some smoked salmon to the hospital and told Mike to be sure and bring me by so I could take it home with me. Can you believe that? I talked with them 5 min and they were that cordial.
Worked from 5-8 at sales at the Millineum. That was interesting. Busy place. Now I know why people are pushing you to buy a raffle ticket for the new truck. If you sell one of the winning tickets, you get $500. I sold 2!!! I don't win things, though, so my poor customers don't have a chance.
March 8 Day 6
I had 9 whole hours of sleep!!! Woohoo. Felt so good when I got up! Mike and Elizabeth were happy, too, cause it was sunny. They were so funny, thought we were going to go out in the road and do a sunshine dance! But it quickly went away and Elizabeth lamented the lack of all day. Told her I didn't know what I was missing and I thought the whole area was beautiful anyway.
So off we go to The Shrine of St. Therese, near Auk Bay. It's a retreat and always has been since the 30's. Saw the stone Catholic church and it was really pretty. Talked to the caretaker there and he gave us a lot of history. Went to the house where we were staying and it was gorgeous. An octagon-shaped post and beam, 2 bedroom built onto the side of the hill of Lynn Canal. The living room and one bedroom windows looked straight out onto the water. It was so awesome. No TV or radio. While we were first looking around, we saw 3 deer on the bank right outside one of the windows. They saw us and didn't seem alarmed, just wandered on up the hill.
Went to lunch at a Thai restaurant, first time for me. It was really good, would go again.
Picked up Jacob, Elizabeth's 13 year old son and went back to the retreat. Jacob spotted an eagle diving for fish and then he (the eagle) perched in a tree real close and let us take pix. That was nice of him, huh? He was beautiful.
I taught Jacob and Mike how to play poker while Elizabeth made a delicious dinner and we were in bed by 9. I got another good 9 hours sleep! Oh, Elizabeth said the house was built to withstand earthquakes and she felt the house move twice. No one else felt it.
March 6 Day 4 A couple of things I don't think I wrote in the last post--as Greg rode by in the sled, he threw Jane and me booties. We scrambled to get them! Lucy was a dog handler and had to be downtown by 7:30 am. She said it was hard work. Did I tell you Deb, Marcy, Tom and I sat on the berm, within arm's reach of the dogs?
Those of you who are on here just for the race may not want to read/hear re my Alaska adventures, but, too bad. Some people want to hear it all.
Today was the restart in Willow. Rode the bus with Cabela's group up the Glen Highway, then it became the Parks Highway and was it ever beautiful. Mtns on all 3 sides just about all of the way, snow covered. They were the Chugach, then the Talkeetna Mtn ranges, gorgeous!!!!On the way saw lots of trees beside the road that I thought had been in a forest fire, but the bus driver said it was from the earthquake of 1964. The land dropped 2 ft I think he said and water from the rivers flooded the valley with its silt and killed the roots of the trees. And they're still standing. It's odd to hear people on the tour say "down" in Michigan. Bus driver played "North to Alaska" and of course we old poots knew all the words and sang with the tape. Then as we were pulling into the Iditarod Trail Headquarters, he played The Iditarod Trail song by Hobo Jim and we sang that. I sang some of it, learning it. A no host bar in Anchorage means a cash bar.
We walked around the Headquarters, took pix, saw lots and of course bought stuff.
Denali was out today!!! We actually saw it for most of the afternoon.
The bus parked right beside the chute where the teams went down to the Start line. I could have sat outside the bus and taken every musher's pix. But Jane, Deb and I worked Security. Which consisted of wearing arm bands and stand inside the fence of the chute after the mushers left the start line and kept the public from tearing the fence down. We also had to get down when the mushers came by so the public could see. Well, I wasn't going to kneel 80 times, so I piled up some snow and sat everytime one left. It was getting kind of low when it was over. GB Jones' dogs got tangled up after the countdown, so he had to straighten them out before they could take off. He looked frazzled as he went by us. Felt sorry for him.
I'm sure I forgot to tell you yesterday how in my mind the dogs and sled were big, but in real life they're kinda small. The dogs weigh between 40-50 lbs and the sled is small. It would rock and needed guidance. Now I know.
Packed up to go to Juneau tomorrow, took 1.5 hrs! Jeez. Ran into Greg in the lobby and he told me re his day. He and his pilot flew to the restart and watched a little and then just went flight-seeing. Tomorrow he goes with Jon Little (reporter for Cabela's web site) up the trail. He's SO lucky.
March 7 Day 5 Flew to Juneau to visit friends who just moved here in Sept. They drove me all around Juneau and we hiked thru a rain forest to the shore of Gastineau Bay (I think). It was fascinating. We hoped to see some otters, but guess they had to do laundry today. Then ate lunch and walked around downtown Juneau, had a beer. Juneau is so beautiful. When I was here on a cruise I just thought Juneau was downtown, but it's lots bigger. We also walked on Perseverance Trail a little, where their gold mine was at the turn of the century. Mike and Elizabeth were just married in October and I'm their first company and they're so eager to show me the area and I'm lapping it up. I'm on their laptap, and it's driving me nuts, so, more tomorrow.
Hello, all! I made it! I'm in Iditarod Heaven here. What an amazing 3 days. The hotel doesn't have internet access, so I'm at a book store downtown Anchorage. Well, here goes......
Day 1 Mar 3 left Greensboro, NC, flew to Cincinatti, had 5 min to make my next flight, but that gate was real close, so made it ok. Flew to Salt Lake City and had 15 min till my next flt took off and had to walk a mile. Finally made it and finally got to eat. Napped a little and watched 2 movies on the way. The mtn ranges with snow on them were beautiful out of Salt Lake City. But they paled in comparison to the ones surrounding Anchorage. Ye gads, they are magnificent.
Landed in Anchorage and met a lady from Ga at the airport who is staying at the Millineum, too, and volunteering, so we became instant friends. Her name is Lucy and we do things together sometimes. She's really neat and we have a lot in common.
Met up with the Cabela's group and went to the Musher's banquet at a sports arena. Met a guy named Greg from South Dakota and he was neat, reminds me of my son-in-law. More on him later. Back to the Banquet. I was like a kid in a candy store. All the mushers have to attend and they were just standing around, and we could walk up to them and talk to them, take their pix and they would pose with you. I was just amazed. Here were all these stars available to me. Had contact in some way with Martin Buser, Norman Vaughn, Gary Paulsen, Rachel Scordis, Karen Ramstead, DeeDee, Dean Osmar and Jessie Royer.
Greg was a sponsor for Jessie Royer and was to be her Iditarider, so she came over to the table and talked to him and of course we all butted in. She was tired, but cute as a button and so nice. She isn't married and neither is Greg, so of course we old ladies were encouraging him to merge with her and start another kennel. He has 4 Huskies and says he's going to run the Iditarod in a few years. He bought a raffle ticket for the truck.
We thought the Banquet would never end, but we finally got out about 10pm and I understand that's really early, it usually lasts until midnight. Another lady I met with Cabela's, Jane from NJ, was nodding off. She's friendly and by herself, too, so we're kinda a couple. ha What took so long was they would call a musher up on stage to draw his/her time to leave Sat and they had to stand there and thank everyone they ever knew and all their sponsors. So that took a long time.
Heard Hobo Jim when we first got there. He's really good and now I've heard his Iditarod Trail song. Going to get his tape before I leave here. Was really tired when I got to bed that PM It was 4 AM Eastern time (my time).
Day 2, March 4 Had breakfast with Cabela's group, food was great and Jeff King talked to us and answered questions for about an hour. Oh, just for the record, he says he didn't fall off his sled last year, but said it was a miracle the dogs stopped for him. He was really interesting. I didn't win the Iditarider seat they drew for. Jeff has a Make a Wish kid riding as his Iditarider and the guy who won the seat gave it away to the Make a Wish kid's siblings so they could ride, too. That was so magnanamous (sp?) of him. Of course they were thrilled. We had a group pix with Jeff after the breakfast.
Then went to Gary Paulsen's talk and it was stupendous. He had us all laughing and I laughed so hard I was crying. He's something else. Has had a really interesting and crazy life. So sorry he had to scratch from the race. I had 4 books for him to sign and he was so gracious about it, the line was very long. Got a pix of he and I before his talk.
Then went to DeeDee Jonrowe's talk and enjoyed that, too. She's not a real dynamic public speaker and said "um" a lot, but the more she talked, the more you forgot about her "ums." She's had an interesting life, too. She is a strong personality and very caring. She's been my idol for years and still is. Bought her book and she autographed it, too and talked a good while. She is so personable. She's also prettier in person than on pix and websites. She dresses kinda sexy, but not cheap. She talked about Alaska and her life story and had slides.
Took about an hr's nap and went to the Idita-support group dinner at Gwennie's. Let me tell you re my taxi ride. The hotel called it for me and I went out to the taxi and asked him if he was there for me and he said "get in." So, I did and we're pulling out on the highway and I asked him if he'd been busy that day and week. He had a Russian accent and said "I no like all the traffic. I come on at 6 and most days no traffic, but today is. I don't like." There was no traffic!!! We have more traffic in my little town than here. So when I was getting out, I told him I hoped his day got better and he said "When traffic stop, my day get better." He was funny.
When I went upstairs in the restaurant, there were only 2 other people, so I sat with them. The woman was kinda cool and I thought "this is going to be a long night." Then we introduced ourselves and I recognized her name as a frequent poster on the support group and I started telling her how much I enjoyed her posts, etc, and she started talking. We were the last ones to leave after dinner. Her husband ran the race 2 or 3 times and did they have some stories about the race, the mushers and their life after moving to Alaska 16 years ago. I could have sat there all night listening to them. And I imagine they enjoyed telling their stories to someone new. They are very special people. She has some hybrid wolves and sorta works as a wolf rescue unit. They're both just fascinating.
The lady who planned the dinner gave me a ride back to the hotel. Finally saw Lucy and we went to the bar for a glass of wine. She had lucked into buying one of the pix auctioned off Fri pm by Jon Zirkle. I know that name isn't right, but you know who I mean. She was so happy and excited. I had tried to call her all day that day, cause I kept getting free tickets to the speakers (Gary and DeeDee) and thought she might want to use them, but couldn't find her, so gave them to other people.
Day 3 March 5, RACE DAY. Deb Cavanaugh, the coordinator for Cabela's, let me ride downtown to Anchorage this am with the tour group. She is so super. They had breakfast on the bus, but I didn't eat it cause I hadn't paid. Did get a cup of tea, tho. Shhhh
Because we had VIP badges, we got to walk in the street, off the sidewalks, and could go up to mushers and talk to them and pet the dogs if they said it was ok. I had to keep pinching myself that I was actually there. All these years of watching the start and reading re it and I was there!!! It was awesome. We walked all the way to the end to see Greg and Jessie. Another couple from the Cabela's tour were Iditariders and I never did see them with their mushers. Then we walked back down before the start and sat on the snow berm right beside of where the mushers and dogs do down. Got quite a few awesome pix. By sitting on the snow, we soon got cold and I left the area and went into some stores and found homemade soup and drank a coke and warmed up. Went back out for the last hour. The start began at 10 and finished at 1pm. The were oodles of people, but I tell you what--Cabela's is the way to go. She got us right up front and personal. Know this sounds like an ad, but they have been fantastic. If and when I come back, I'll go with them in a heartbeat.
The rest of the tour group went to the Native Heritage Center, but I've been there and that wasn't part of my tour, so I stayed downtown and searched for this internet access. Think we're going to all meet in the bar tonight for dinner. This is costing me $$, so I'm not going to proofread it or anything, so you'll just have to take it as is. Tomorrow, Sun is the restart and I'm going with Cabela's and help with the actual start. Don't know when I'll be able to get back on here, but will asap. Till then......happy trails, Carolyn/Carrottop
