Outside of a dog a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.
— Groucho Marx
We may never know if these dogs would prefer, even if we assume dogs can prefer, to be at rest on a comfy bed of sawdust munchin a Milk Bone. The question usually arises in the context of what’s best for the dog. I don’t claim to know the answer to that or even to have a particularly insightful one. But judging from their apparent alacrity on the gangline these doggies want to run, yes all one thousand miles to Nome. Others will see anxiety, not alacrity, and conclude abuse. When faced to make a judgment about a matter you little understand, if you count a lack of consensus as evidence then be assured the latter viewpoint is in the minority. At least here in Alaska. And Alaskans rarely give a flip what some Cheechako from Outside thinks.
The Happy Wife and I visited the mock start in Anchorage yesterday morning. Today in Willow, AK the real race begins.
Enjoy!
Hugh Neff’s Team
Travis Cooper’s Team
Lance Mackey’s Team
Ramey Smyth’s Team
The Happy Wife in her Faux Fur Helmet.
Probably a veteran — “I don’t do no stinkin mock starts.”
These dogs are amazing and the true athletes in this race. Godspeed to Nome little ones. Be safe.
It’s not the Iditarod, but the Copper Dog 150, in the U.P. of MI, kicked off on Friday (03.02). We’re planning on attending next year’s race (Copper Dog 150), since I don’t think we can make the Iditarod.