Sassy Says

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

~Unknown

Happy Trails,

Oh, Pooh!

Iditarod Restart, March 7, 2010

Willow Lake, AK

See the lady on her hands and knees? That's me!

See the pile highlighted in yellow? That's dog pooh!

I had just jumped over pooh, while holding the dog line, slipped on the ice, and successfully completed the "roll away from the sled" maneuver. 

Let's just say, my feelings weren't the only thing hurt.

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congrats, Lance and Dogs!

Happy Trails,

I'm Juz Sayin'

Home is where you go when you're tired of being good.

~Unknown

Happy Trails,

Happy Third "Gotcha Day", Buddy

Three years ago a big, handsome, young, black Lab was found roaming the streets of Helen, GA, picked up by Animal Control, and brought to the shelter where I was a volunteer.

He was absolutely beautiful and crazy, barking and throwing himself onto the cage when anyone walked near him. When I was finally able to get him on a leash and out to the exercise yard, he calmed down and I saw a sweet, confused, gentle soul. We made eye contact and I was convinced this was a pup who would make a wonderful companion. My original intention was to "foster" and socialize the big, goofy boy until his fur-ever home could be found...
And we all know the rest of that story.

I took these photos of Buddy (at the shelter) to show Hubby the "foster" dog I was bringing home. Hubby just smiled. He knew Buddy had found his fur-ever home even before I did!

I Love You, Buddy!

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Daddy and Me

Savannah, GA

~Aug. 24, 1974

Happy Trails,

Thank You Ina, Ron, and Pups

Ina and I spent Wednesday afternoon together, taking Halle to Paw Prince for a new pink harness. I bought a bag of salmon cheddar treats for my own pups.

We then went to Ina's to spend time visiting with her sweet pups before meeting Ron, Ina's husband, for a lovely dinner.

Ina and Ron are wonderful and certainly spoiled me!

Meeting Ina, Ron, and the pups was one of the highlights of my time in Alaska.

I only wish we didn't live so far away from each other.

My Dear Ina,

Thank you for opening your home, your pups, and your heart to me!

Ina's pups' booties...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edited to add (March 11. 10:30 PM EST)
My flight arrived in Atlanta, 8:30 PM, Thursday!
It's great to be home!

Happy Trails,

Warren Palfrey's Dogs

People often ask me why I travel from Georgia to the Iditarod.

Need I say more?

Happy Trails,

Iditarod Restart

(Click photos to enlarge) 


The official restart was Sunday, March 7 on Willow Lake.

I handled for rookie Hank DeBruin and his beautiful team of Huskies from Haliburton, Ontario.

I hugged them all for Khyra!

And, yes, I did fall-TWICE!!!

It's hard to keep a Southern girl down.

Both times I was able to catch up with the team and I made it to the starting chute. Standing under the Iditarod start banner was a thrill!

I wished all the dogs and Hank a safe, healthy, and happy trip to Nome.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I had several comments regarding dropped dogs yesterday. Long-distance sled dog races, such as the Iditarod, require mushers to finish with only those dogs who started the race. Although none may be added to the team after the start, they can be dropped at any checkpoint and for any reason. A maximum of sixteen dogs may start in an Iditarod team, and at least five are required to be in harness to officially finish. Reasons for dropping dogs are numerous. Attitude problems, fatigue, illness, immaturity, injury, being “in heat,” lack of speed and musher strategy, are the more common ones.
Dropped dog care and management is highly organized to provide for the safe return of the dogs to Anchorage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Return to blog homepage:
http://kit-dogdaze.blogspot.com/

Happy Trails,

Flight to Skwentna Checkpoint

 Click on photos to enlarge.

I flew on a Cessna 182, (in the co-pilot seat), out to the Skwentna checkpoint today...all the dog teams were gone, but we saw several dropped dogs being transported by plane to Anchorage.

Return to blog homepage: http://kit-dogdaze.blogspot.com/

Happy Trails,

Iditarod Ceremonial Start

My friend Jan and Rootin' Tootin' Newton Marshall

Pretty in Pink

After the restart in Willow, I'm heading to Talkeetna. Monday morning I'm flying to the Rainy Pass checkpoint on a deHaviland Beaver with skis.



Happy Trails,

Dog Handler Class

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is run primarily by volunteers. I'm volunteering as a dog handler at the restart this year. Handlers help bring the dog teams up to the starting line at the ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday and the restart in Willow on Sunday.

I received my handler certification training Friday morning.

Two of the most important things to know:

1. Don't step on the dogs' feet!

2. If you fall down, release the line and roll out of the way.

When the dogs hear the harness, they go crazy.

Once they're hooked to the line, they go crazier.

Since they aren't able to go forward until the musher releases the brake and gives the command, they jump straight up in the air.

I stayed on my feet during training and hope all goes well at the restart. I consider it a privilege to be able to spend time with these wonderful canine athletes.

Happy Trails,

Ina and The Pups

You know how sometimes you meet someone and feel an immediate connection?

That's exactly how I felt today when I met Ina.

  

I've been reading Ina's blog for almost a year and knew we had several things in common, especially our mutual love of dogs.

Toby, Ginger, Jeter and Halle welcomed me with lots of excitement and kisses.

They are all sweet, well-behaved pups, who love their mom very much.

I felt so comfortable and "at home" with Ina and her fur-babies, and our time together was over much too soon. 

Thank you, Ina, for the warm hospitality, lovely lunch, and for sharing your furry family with me.

xxooxx

Happy Trails,

Vet Check and A Musher is Born

Wednesday was Vet Check day at the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla.

Every dog that runs in the Iditarod must pass extensive medical examinations. Blood work and ECG recordings are included in the exam process. All dogs have microchip implants for identification. During the race, vets are along the trail at checkpoints to examine the dogs. Keeping dogs healthy before, during, and after the race is priority. The dogs appeared to take it all in stride.

(click photos to enlarge)

Hanging with Hugh...

I met Dick Mackey and his wife!

Joe Redington, Sr. Statue

Iditarod Headquarters

Wasilla

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the vet check, we headed to G.B. Jones Iditarod Trail Kennels.

G.B. told us everything we needed to know about mushing in one sentence: 

NEVER LET GO OF THE SLED!

Then he showed us how to stand on the runners, slow down using the drag, and, most importantly, how to brake!

I am proud to say, I didn't fall off!

What a ride!

Return to home page: http://kit-dogdaze.blogspot.com/

Happy Trails,

Thoughts for Mushers and Dogs

May the Great Spirit guide you on the

Trail and in each decision you must make for yourself and your team, and

may you have a happy, safe journey.

 

  Regardless of slippery ice, in spite of overflow, wind that comes in sideways, cranky moose, or masters who might lose the trail, may the Great Spirit run beside each dog and may each dog have a happy, safe journey.

The above photos are by the Official Photographer for the Iditarod, Jeff Schultz. I've admired Jeff's work for years and was excited to watch him "doing his thing" at last year's race. 

Anchorage Webcam

This is a cool site to watch the preparations for Saturday's Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 2010.

Enlarge the photo, find red arrow in lower left hand corner.

That's me at last year's Ceremonial Start.

My friend, Jan (above), is an Idita-Rider and gets VIP Passes each year, pretty cool, huh? That means we're inside the fences, with the dog teams, where all the action is! Jan has ridden with Lance Mackey three times, last year she rode with Harry Alexie , and this year she will ride with Newton Marshall. Newton is a rookie from Jamaica (Mush Mon!) who has been training with Lance. One of Newton's sponsors is Jimmy Buffett, from Margaritaville fame. Sure would be cool if Jimmy showed up this year!

I wasn't supposed to be as far out in front as I was in the photo, but I innocently wandered off. When a nice man asked me to move back, behind the official start banner, I realized where I was and replied, pouring on my sweetest Southern charm, "Oh excuse me, Sir...Am I not allowed to be here?" He smiled at me like I was Forrest Gump and I stayed a little longer.

This year, I'll have my own inside pass, as a dog handler volunteer.

Happy Trails,

Monday's Memory-2009 Iditarod Sled Dogs

The True Heroes

of Iditarod

The second from left, top row, is Lance Mackey's Larry.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm flying to Anchorage tomorrow.

I'll be home March 11.

I'm taking my laptop and will post when I can.

Mush On!

I already miss them...

Happy Trails,