Moose on the Loose
Trip Start
Oct 16, 2007
1
26
52
Trip End
Dec 16, 2007
Anchorage,
Alaska,
United States
Saturday, March 15, 2008
I also have to tell you about my other favorite musher. Ramey Smyth passed under the buried arch with eight dogs for his career-best third place finish. He got emotional talking about his geriatric dogs who don't act their age - sort of like some of us. Babe and Dude are going to be 11 this spring. Smyth lost count of the number of races they have finished and said they just needed to "keep their noses to the wheel and they did. Really good hearted dogs that work hard no matter how hard it gets. They've been around a long time!" The picture in the Anchorage Daily News showed #48 crossing the finish line with one his dogs, Flame, riding IN the sled
Sleeping Lady
. Babe, the lead dog, paced Smyth's team at a time when most sled dogs his age are retired. For this they honored him with the City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award for completing his eighth Iditarod in standout fashion. Go Babe.The word is that these guys have a way with dogs. A musher doesn't win races by making dogs run. He wins by making dogs want to run. The pros say that they have to be extremely disciplined because the training is almost endless. Well, for some of these guys and their dogs it all paid off.
Perhaps the saddest thing was having a snow plow run into one of the sledder's team. One dog was killed immediately and another was air lifted out. Of course the other sad tail was the lead dog that had a history of eating rocks and ingested one that ruptured his colon and caused his death. His owner spread his ashes along the trail during the race. These guys love their dogs. I have never seen so much canine kissing (a lot of tongue on the canine end). The names are also great. Mackey's lead dog is Hansom who runs with Rapper, Lippy, and Larry.
Volunteer vet Paul Nader won the Golden Stethoscope Award when he went the extra mile to call a special veterinary internist because the dog he was treating wasn't responding to antibiotics
Anchorage
. They decided that the dog was hypoglycemic. When he couldn't get a blood testing kit one of the locals loaned him his personal kit and the dog was treated with sugar water and soon doing fine.Like the pickle boat of the Mackinac Race the Iditarod has its Red Lantern Award for the final musher to cross the finish line.
Last week ended with an outing to the Oasis Water Park to chaperone a gaggle of teens. It was hot. It was loud. And it was all day.
Upon my return to the hotel I immediately gathered my buds who debriefed me over a cold beer. They were all appropriately supportive and understanding. I then went immediately to my room where I sat in complete silence and bathed my chlorine irritated eyes with liquid tears.
Saturday dawned overcast and cold. I was off to the Empty Bowl, an annual event to raise funds for the homeless. For a small donation I purchased a local artisan's hand made pottery bowl of my choice and had a quick lunch of chili and cornbread. It was a huge success and I met a lovely couple while standing in line. I also hooked up briefly with Nanci's friends Gary and Susan
Palmer
. Gary has been sending me regular e-mails about the local events here in Anchorage. He is a plethora of information. We are planning to get together some time next week. The people, who numbered in the hundreds, and the noise inspired me to head on to the Anchorage Museum where I was to learn about the history of the state and hook up with my fellow consultants. On the way Carl, Ralph and I crossed paths and I talked them into checking out one of the local fur stores. While we were browsing, the owner was more than happy to answer every question we might have about the fur underwear and/or fur jock straps. The three of us could hardly keep a straight face as we were inundated with information including the fact that he sometimes sold 60 per day. We couldn't keep a straight face when he kept suggesting we rub the fur on our faces to see how sensuous the textures were. We headed on to the museum.
A great little museum but quiet it was not. We arrived in the middle of a dance exhibition - loud and filled with repetitive percussive pounding. After our tour, the guys gave up and I headed on to find a local fish store where I learned all about the types of crab and received the latest halibut update. I also checked out the New Sagaya Market which is really worth the trip
Driving Home
. Saw the famous Italian ugly fish which turns out to be a Scorpion Fish. Must be caught around here because the price was quite a bit more reasonable than in Italy. Just as ugly.
On Sunday the sun came out and we headed to the Musk Ox Farm. On the way we happened to see dozens of eagles flying overhead and seemingly headed in the same direction. It was our lucky day. Betty was feeding the Eagles at the local Eagle River VFW. There were 50 eagles souring, landing, dive bombing and grabbing at the raw fish. It was paradise. What a thrill to see so many of these majestic birds in one spot. Betty is quite the local figure. Only she can feed these guys and only with special foods. Soon she will have to stop as spring comes to the area and they will have to go back to being self sufficient. This is where I vowed to get a new camera. Not only does my little point and shoot have too limited a telephoto lens but in trying to fix my camera I had applied a little too much Super Glue to the battery compartment device and managed to glue it to the point of immobility. Try as I might I couldn't budge the flip door that releases the battery and memory card.
It was a memorable day and I'm going to let the pictures tell the story. The only thing they don't show and tell is the part where I was rushed by Goliath the alpha musk ox
Taking Orders
. It was a little terrifying especially since he got terribly close and and kept stomping his front legs. I didn't make eye contact and backed off with as limited movement as possible. 800 pounds of hard headed massive simmering fur was more than a little intimidating.The week has continued to be filled with wildlife sightings and thrills. Last night June took me cruising up and down Tudor Street in hopes of a moose sighting. We were rewarded for our efforts and we pulled to the side of the road to watch a young moose only 20 feet away nibbling on a roadside tree. Mom was close by and 3 times larger. She was keeping a close eye on us. Of course I didn't have my camera.
Today, however, on the way home from work, I was detained by a good sized male who was crossing the road in front of me
Eagles
. I pulled the car ahead and began to snap away through the window. It was exciting until suddenly he changed direction and came from the side to walk behind the car. I looked in the rearview mirror as he raised his antlered head and peered into the back window. I held my breath waiting for him to bang himself against the back of the car. After what seemed like hours he finally lowered his head and continued to walk past the back of the car, up the side, and then off to the park playground
OX
. WHEW. A little too up close and personal. A whole lot tooooooo big. Notice the glare of the car window. Not only did I not roll down the window, I was also afraid to make any sound or move so all I got was the side and rear of a very big animal as he passed by the car!This morning I was greeted by the hotel guard moose as I went to the parking lot for my car and head for work.
Comments
shopping for morey
moreys nickname in our house is moose and i would love to order the'moose' a fur jock. that would be a hoot!!!
amazing
You continue to amaze me...I am so proud of you, how you learn about each place are at and how nothing stops you from experiencing the culture....each blog is a joy...the table is set and your place is always there.
annie