The Journey Continues
August 7, 2006
“Climb out on the limb. That’s where the fruit is!” – Will Rogers

This has been a tough week. First we lost Jim Brown, the Iditarod photographer who preceded Jeff Schultz and then we lost Susan Butcher. The world will be a poorer place without these two fine individuals.
Back at the ranch things are starting to get hectic. Marti is taking a mental health break in Las Vegas, NV visiting our daughter and grandchild. That means the dogs and I are on our own. I promised her the house would still be here when she got back.

Weather permitting and I can find all the parts and pieces, training starts this weekend. I like to start with two mile runs in the very early morning, the coolest part of the day before sunrise, at the Beach Lake trail system. As an added attraction this year we have bear activity in the area. There is a moose kill on the ski trails just to east, and a bear carcass on one of the trails across the road from where I’ll be training. So far my middle of the night animal encounters have been limited to moose and porcupines, although my wheel dog got loose from the truck once and chased my second team through the brush. We had bear reports in the area that year too and having this large animal crashing through the brush chasing me in the dark was one of the more exciting events of my life. It beat the monsters in the closet when I was a child.

The dogs are bored and have been ready to start training for a month now. I’m feeding in the morning and they have my routine down. Rom is picking up a rock about the size of a softball and running around carrying it in his mouth until I get to his spot. Then he drops it with a “thump” and dives into his dinner. Jewels runs around so fast he raises dust clouds. I keep telling him that he can’t fool me now. I know he’s faster than we’ve been running. Thyme will adopt a stick or a rock. She bats at them with her feet, pushing them around. When they don’t move like she wants she “talks” to them in this high pitched voice “ki yi yi yi yi yiii” almost like a malamute. It’s really cute, I just hope the neighbors have a sense of humor. Lycos lies on top of his house like the king of all he surveys. I tell him that’s great, but he has big booties to fill to follow Bass. I’m trying to make a house dog out of Java since he can’t race. He is a sweet dog, but he comes into the house like the Tasmanian Devil in Bugs Bunny. All you see in this yellow-orange streak. Keiko as become an excavator, but rather than dig a big hole down she is digging one about body size at a 45 degree angle. So far it is as deep as she is long. Characters!

I’m actively searching for corporate sponsors and an agent / publisher for my book (the first draft is about 2/3 done). Suggestions are welcome, contact me at eorogers@gci.net . Don't forget the BBQ “meet the musher” event August 26, 2006.


Keep ‘em Northbound
Eric
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