IRON DOG RACE 2010

BIG LAKE, ALASKA


The Iron Dog Race, known as the world's longest, toughest, snowmobile race. Brave men and this year a team of women, blazing through freezing temperatures and snow -packed trails hoping to reach Fairbanks via Nome.


SYNOPSIS




*The Iron Dog Race is in it's 27th year.
*Was first called the Iron Dog Iditarod
*This year race from Big Lake to Fairbanks is 1,971 miles
*There are 34 Pro class racers including, former first dude, Todd 
 Palin 
*Todd is 4 time winner of the Iron Dog. 
*There are 28 checkpoints with the furthest being 120 miles 
  apart
*Winning prize, $50,000
* The race started this past Sunday and will end in Fairbanks 
  coming Sunday 2/28
*Todd got injured and fell out of the race by Monday
* Racers use duck tape to tape their cheeks and forehead to prevent frost bite. 

Cabin that we stayed overnight on Saturday: Me, Joe and Curt

Frozen lake 4 feet thick

Miller and Miller: father and son rookie team (15)

The start of the race

Tyler and friend. Tyler is Curt's nephew and 2 consecutive years runner ups. Tired of being bridesmaid

The Army National Guard - proud sponsors

My first upfront encounter with the machine. Many more to come

The Islander- restaurant on the edge of the huge lake. In the winter patrons drive their vehicles or snowmachines. In the summer, boats dock on the jetty. Funny!

A sumptuous meal at the Islander

The beast

    Tyler Johnson, #8

The  Welches plus Joe

Reindeer... that's Santa's friend. No sir, I am vegetarian..no reindeer dog for me

Pose before the big and crazy ride, from the crazy dude who had no quams about going 80 miles per hour and jumping banks. See the video on FB.

Now this is me calmly learning to drive one of these big iron dogs. Exhilarating!!!!

Chris calmly navigating me through the process. What a difference a dude makes!

Bunny boots with duck tape

All the kids as young as 3 years old, drive their own snowmachines.

Joe and I standing in the middle of a lake..unbelievable!

Cars driving on a frozen lake

Only in Alaska. Ice fishing on frozen lake with the BBQ grill going in the background

www.irondog.org for the latest update.

Baby Hanna, grandma , and aunty Michelle

Crepes for breakfast. Yumm

Sunset

As I got out of my car and walked up the flight of stairs that led to my front door, I looked back and was greeted by the familiar Alaskan sunset, and what a beauty it was. It was like a breath of fresh air to me as today I felt like I was suffocating at work. I need to remind myself that I am a traveling therapist and in a temporary situation, so should not take on things  whether mentally or physically which is but fleeting. The reality is, in a matter of weeks or months, this  bothersome situation will only be a part of my repertoire of experiences.

Yes, let's get back to sunset. A sunset is usually seen at the end of the day or at a memorial service where there is always the reference of sunset as the day the deceased passed on; or yet still, the term sunset years to suggest the later years of one's life. Used in these contexts, sunset suggests finale, the end, the close of another chapter.

But I would like to look at sunset from a different perspective. I dare to suggest that instead of seeing sunset as the end, why not look at it as the beginning.

If we go back to the creation story, the Bible refers to the evening and the morning as the first day, therefore suggesting that the day begins not at midnight as popularly viewed, but at sunset. Could we possible allow our minds to view sunset through different lenses? Lenses that imply a new beginning, a fresh start, new horizons and opportunities?

Last night I had one of those sunset experiences. Remember Darcy my ski instructor that discovered me on the trails? Well  she was gracious enough to invite me out on the trails again this week, only we could not go because of inclement weather. What were those weather conditions? It is been said that because of the "El Nino" climatic conditions, the weather situation as gone topsy turvy world wide. Here in Alaska it has been an usually warm winter where currently this week the temperature had gone up to a high of 49 degrees. Now for my friends in the Lower 48, this may seems cold but the moisture that is experienced there is not here, so the 40's actually feels like a 60 degrees spring day. Needless to say, the snow is melting and everywhere is icy. This makes for treacherous driving and very sleek slopes and trails. So instead of skiing, Darcy invited me out for dinner, and not only that, she invited her teenage daughter to meet me too. How cool was that!. I had a great time in their presence and the lovely tofu wrap that I had for dinner was off the chain, as a friend of mine would have said. Heres to the beginning of a new  friendship!

Another sunset experience, today my nephew CJ, whom I share the same birthday, left home for training camp. He is going in the service- the Navy. Of course being the protective and worrisome aunt that I am, I got very upset this morning and bawled my eyes out on learning of his departure. In reply to my, text he told me not to worry too much.  A new horizon, a new beginning, new prospect for my baby boy as he venture out of the comfort zone of home and into the sunset. I pray the Lord's guidance and protection on him.

I am thinking of my time here in Anchorage and how many new things I have tried and  learned and the people I have met. I was taught to knit by my 86 year patient who unfortunately passed on but what a legacy she has left behind. Currently I am knitting my first project,- a yellow scarf, in her memory. I have gone snowshoeing, sledding and skiing with lots more to come.  I have learned to bake various breads from scratch and to a certain extent give up buying breads in the store. Of course I am still practicing in getting a nicely shaped bread. I have  also learned how to prepare very sumptuous vegan dishes. So I welcome the sunset and all the possibilities that it brings. Just like the varied hues in the sunset give for a beautiful picture, so these varies experiences makes for a wonderful life.  I will enjoy the sunset. I will look for ways and means to create new experiences and new opportunities. I will try and refrain from borrowing rays for sunsets of yesterday that are already gone and in the same vein, try not to reach for sunsets that are not yet, but live for the moment and enjoy the sunset that I am currently blessed to have!!!!!!

SKIING, DOGGIE DAY CARE & VALENTINE'S DAY IN AK 2010

SKIING
For at least 7 years when I did my beginning of the year goals, in the area of social development, going skiing is always on the list. This was kind of far fetch as one, very few Blacks, for one reason or the other, go skiing. My good friend Martha, who is from a Hispanic background, had gone often with her then African boyfriend, now husband and encouraged me on my quest. 


Second, most of my friends and family know that over 20 years ago I was assaulted, one in which my leg should have been amputated. Needless to say, my strength, sensation, coordination , and balance in my left leg is significantly impaired. For all intent and purposes, I should not be walking on it, but I serve a God who is in the restoration business. Needless to say, there are many things that are still difficult for me to do, couple with the fact that over the years because of my abnormal gait pattern, my knee joints, hip joints, and back are out of sync. Skiing I know would be challenging but it is one of those bucket list things.


So on this past Thursday, Paulette and I- she dubbed herself the Medicare skiing grandma, rented skis from REI and decided we were going skiing- skiing at night might I add.

 Sunset at Russian Jack Trails minutes before our skiing excursion.

Here are the gears needed for skiing, boots, skis, and poles.

So after struggling, I got the boots to fit on to the skis. The time of reckoning was approaching. Paulette was there coaching and encouraging and just when I thought I got it, bam, I fell on my buttocks and could not get up. I concluded that I would of to spend the night laying in the snow. By some Divine intervention I got up back on my feet after about 5 minutes of struggling. Mind you, it felt like eternity. I was going again and bam, fell another time. This time this damsel in distress was rescued by Randy- an expert, skier. He give a few tips and then moved on.

It did not take long for me to get up and go only to fall again.  Do you feel like that at times, you try to get up and move on, only to fall again. Hold on though, help is on the way. This time Darcy, my help, came to our rescue. She suggested that I walk with only one ski on, showed me how to snow ploughed with two skis on, turning the knees in when walking up hill, ect but most of all she was so nice and giving. Turned out that we both needed each other that night. Darci admitted that she had a terrible week and the fact that she was able to help, actually lifted her spirit. God is amazing! So the plan is to go out again this coming Tuesday evening.

Darcy and I

Paulette down the slope

On the skis

Adventurous Paulette, learned so much from her. Will miss her dearly!!

DOGGIE DAY CARE

Paulette has the most beautiful Sheltie call "Foxy". While here in Anchorage, Foxy went to doggie day care. It was fascinated to see the set up, it was just like a child's daycare. There were little cubbies for each individual dogs and Foxy made Paulette a Valentine card. It was cute. I am thinking of getting a little Bichon  Frise.

Foxy's friends at Doggie Day CareFoxy in the snow

Foxy and Paulette went back to Georgia this past Saturday, gonna miss them both!

VALENTINE'S DAY

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. He was executed on February 14th. There is also a pagan past that is associated with this holiday. Source  www.history.com/video.do?name=valentinesday&bcpid

So this is a day for lovers as some would say. A day when roses, chocolates and the likes are showered on individuals. Personally , I am affirming what one of my FB friends said, that love and appreciation should be given 365 days of the year.

So today was a warm and balmy 34 degrees in Anchorage with a little bit under 9 hours of daylight. Today the sun was in all of its glory. It was a beautiful day spent visiting one of my former patient's, watching a classic at the Bear Tooth Theater, "Casablanca" starring Humprey Bogart and Engrid Bergman. One in which an imperishable love was portrayed. I had a thai spicy chicken pizza and top off the day by shopping at costco. Overall a wonderful day with the highlight being catching up with friends on family on the phone and spending time visiting  my former patient.

A beautiful day

Ready to go on the roads

First floor of one of the local hospitals