He's Movin!

Right now (12 midnight! I've been beading...) he is out of Nikolai and is in 11th place! WOOHOOO! Go 58!!!! I knew he would move up and give the leaders something to think about! YIPPEE!

Beaded Alutiiq Design

I wanted to show a beaded bracelet I have designed and completed. I used the petroglyph designs that are found at Alitak Bay on Kodiak Island. I don't think anyone really knows what the drawings depicted in their day. Some suggest it marked the fishing and hunting areas of those that lived in the area. Could be territorial markings. Some even said whalers did similar drawings to bring luck for the hunt for whales. More info.

Alutiiq Museum has a book they sell about the petroglyphs. "The Cape Alitak Petroglyphs: From the Old People" by Woody Knebel. The Alutiiq Museum Bookstore site is still under construction so check back another time for the book. I have not read it, I do plan to purchase it and do that soon!

Bib 58

I sure hope that Buser has been resting.

Looks like he did not stop much during the beginning of the race. Right now he is at 49th. I have not heard if he is taking a mandatory stop or not. I hope he isn't have troubles. I'm expecting to see him climb the list and become a real threat to the leaders whenever he gets going again. WAKE UP BUSER! lol

There are three mandatory stops. Two mandatory 8-hour stops, one on the Yukon and one in White Mountain. One mandatory 24-hour stop to be taken when the driver feels it's best for his/her team.

You can watch a video of the Restart in Willow here. I watched it at Buser's website. Those dogs are fast!

We have been getting light snow here all day. Not much accumulation, but very pretty.

I pray that God will keep all those on the trails safe, racers and workers and doggies.

I wonder ----if I could get to the Iditarod Trail would I be able to find two sets of blown-off dog booties for my doggies.... ?

GO 58!!!!

Iditarod Restart

The restart in Willow will begin today. It is probably going on right now. I won't be watching live, but will be keeping tabs online this year. I did a lot of reading yesterday about this years Iditarod news. Susan Butcher's leukemia and the groomer Richard Strick Jr. who got caught in the avalanche near Pass Fork in the Alaska Range was definitely heart wrenching. (Story of Strick)

I admire all the people behind the scenes for all the work they do in preparation for this Alaskan Dogsled race. I watched a video yesterday of those anxious dogs and they are incredible the way they want to just take off so badly! Yelping and jumping! That is so cool.

I guess my favorite racer is still Martin Buser most likely because he is from this area and especially because I just love that smile! Here is another picture of him from the internet with his family in 2003.

The Official Site of the Iditarod
Alaska Daily News Iditarod Photos GREAT PICTURES!
Cabela's Iditarod Coverage

Some people say these dogs are mistreated. I suppose there could be the few instances of that as it is in any other type of animal race. I don't believe the Iditarod dogs are mistreated. They are just too happy! SUNHUSKY.COM writes in response to sled dogs being mistreated.

Someday I will have my camera ready when I see the dogs running past our place here in Big Lake. They train all year and every time I see them they look just as excited and anxious to run faster! No, we don't have snow all year, we barely have enough snow to start the races here, during the summer the dogs around here pull atv's!

Now it's just about time to head out for church.