More
RAIN in the Valley. Visits with Idita-Support friends, GB Jones and
Lynda Plettner.
Today we drove over to ITC Headquarters to see who was around.
A couple of dog trucks were in the
lot for their team's vet check and EKGs. Clint Warnke of Washington
and the Norwegian contingent were inside. Clint was heading over
to Zach Steer's area to get in a training run. Robert Sorlie told
Bill there was much more snow in Norway but he felt confident about
the race. Jason Barron passed through while we were there also.
Bootie Brigade members, Bob and Becky Griffith, were shopping for
souvenirs at HQ.
We headed over to Knik Lake to visit G.B. Jones next. He was busy
hooking up to a four-wheeler to give a ride to a young fan....in
the rain. The dogs were raring to go in spite of the weather but
I'd have to say it just plain looks weird to see sled dogs splashing
through puddles of water instead of kicking up snow as they run.
Idita-Support Group members June Price, Joyce Joyce, Bob and Pat
Ford, Rosemary, Brenda Sperry, Marlene
Daniels, Betty Walden and a few others joined the group as we all
had lunch at Knik Bar. June and Becky Griffith had lots of gifts
for G.B. including some really neat red, white and blue bandanas
for his team plus matching booties. One package was wrapped Alaskan
style in a large blue tarp, sealed with red and white duct tape.
Later the Griffiths, Bill and I headed up to Plettner Kennels to
see Bill's dogs. The dogs were SO happy to see him. Some were marooned
on top of their dog houses which were surrounded by moats of water!!
Fisher was overjoyed and hugged Bill and I over and over. Pony had
to be retrieved from a different section of the dog lot as he had
broken his collar. Pinky, Crystal, Comet, Mischief, Hazel, Priscilla,
Tonto, Smoke, and Popeye all tried to see who could get the most
petting and hugging.
Before we left, Becky got to talk booties with Lynda who was mixing
up the evening feeding for the dogs. Bob and Becky joined us for
dinner at the Nobody's Inn and then for a brief shopping spree at
the local Fred Meyer store. And it was still raining.............
February
28, 2003
Start Position — Musher —
Hometown
1 — Howard and Julie Farley — honorary
2 — John Baker — Kotzebue
3 — Ted English — Willow
4 — Cali King — Denali Park
5 — Perry Solomonson — Whittier
6 — Jason Barron — Lincoln, Mont.
7 — Tyrell Seavey — Seward
8 — Jessie Royer — Fairbanks
9 — Ed Iten — Kotzebue
10 — Dexter Kancer — Nenana
11 — Blake Matray — Two Rivers
12 — Ben Stamm — Argyle, Wis.
13 — Jim Lanier — Chugiak
14 — Paul Gebhardt — Kasilof
15 — Martin Buser — Big Lake
16 — Karen Land — Sand Coulee, Mont.
17 — Cim Smyth — Big Lake
18 — Jeff King — Denali Park
19 — Vern Halter — Willow
20 — Lance Barve — Willow
21 — Frank Sihler — Wasilla
22 — Gerald Riley — Nenana
23 — Robert Sorlie — Hurdal, Norway
24 — Cindy Gallea — Seely Lake, Mont.
25 — Aaron Burmeister — Nome
26 — Lynda Plettner — Houston
27 — Charlie Boulding — Manley
28 — Ray Redington Jr. — Two Rivers
29 — Todd Capistrant — Emerald, Wis.
30 — DeeDee Jonrowe — Willow
31 — Jack Berry — Salcha
32 — Debbie Moderow — Anchorage
33 — Ramey Smyth — Big Lake
34 — Carla Kelly — Anchorage
35 — G.B. Jones — Wasilla
36 — Ken Anderson — Fairbanks
37 — Bruce Lee — Denali Park
38 — Karen Ramstead — Perryvale, Alberta
39 — Randy Chappel — Arlington, Texas
40 — Peter Bartlett — Willow
41 — Linwood Fiedler — Willow
42 — Ramy Brooks — Healy
43 — Mitch Seavey — Seward
44 — Sonny Lindner — Fairbanks
45 — Aliy Zirkle — Two Rivers
46 — Melanie Gould — Talkeetna
47 — Rick Swenson — Two Rivers
48 — Tim Osmar — Ninilchik
49 — Gerald Sousa — Talkeetna
50 — Ellen Halverson — Wasilla
51 — Mike Williams — Akiak
52 — Bill Pinkham — Glenwood Springs, Colo.
53 — Palmer Sagoonick — Shaktoolik
54 — Adam Scott Gibler — Chugiak
55 — Dean Osmar — Clam Gulch
56 — Jon Little — Kasilof
57 — Jim Gallea — Sterling
58 — Bob Hickel — Anchorage
59 — Keith Aili — Ray, Minn.
60 — Jessica Hendricks — Copper Center
61 — Russell Bybee — Willow
62 — Kelly LaMarre — Geneva, Ill.
63 — Lachlan Clarke — Colorado Springs, Colo.
64 — Robert Bundtzen — Anchorage
65 — Clint Warnke — Bonnie Lake, Wash
lot for their team's vet check and EKGs. Clint Warnke of Washington
and the Norwegian contingent were inside. Clint was heading over
to Zach Steer's area to get in a training run. Robert Sorlie told
Bill there was much more snow in Norway but he felt confident about
the race. Jason Barron passed through while we were there also.
Bootie Brigade members, Bob and Becky Griffith, were shopping for
souvenirs at HQ.
Daniels, Betty Walden and a few others joined the group as we all
had lunch at Knik Bar. June and Becky Griffith had lots of gifts
for G.B. including some really neat red, white and blue bandanas
for his team plus matching booties. One package was wrapped Alaskan
style in a large blue tarp, sealed with red and white duct tape.
