Day 10

Cosmos - Kenai
Ltl. Bear -
Yeti - Sakari
Ulric - Dancer

48 F (4 miles)

Today the dogs ran like a true team and everyone pulled and ran fast. Not a single tug was loose. We ran hard to the end of the two mile trail where we came gee (made a U-turn to the right) and headed back. It was up hill the whole way there so the run back was downhill and gave them a little break but they still ran hard. We had on tangle up when we passed the gee turn that we normally take and I gave the command to go straight on by. Cosmos went by then I stopped the team to take care of Ulric who was running straddle of the gang line. While I was stopped Cosmos turned the team and thought he was supposed to have made the right turn so he took the team back that way. I had to take him and lead him back on the trail that ran straight. We had half the team on each side of a tree and they began to get tangled and they all thought it was funny and lay down for a belly rub. We finally started running again and it was uneventful from there. As we ran down the road to get back in our driveway we had a car following us. I motioned for them to stay back while we made a left turn into the driveway. The swing dogs (dog in the middle) cut me short and ran me into a ditch with the cart. Of course it did not stop us but I did have a nice bounce and a fun time holding on through the big bump and then fast down the driveway and across 4 speed bumps in the drive way. We got to the kennel door still running at top speed. All the dogs went into the kennels and jumped into the water barrels and walked around and drank. They love to "swim" after every run. Plus, for me I find it easy to check their feet after the water has clean them and before the dog walks in the dirt again. I always check each dogs feet and ankles after a run. But I also watch during a run to see if anyone is having a problem. I carry a first aid kit with me in case I need to take care of a dog while running. I also carry dog booties if a dog were to need one for a sore foot. But of course they can ride on the cart and don't have to run.

Day 9

Cosmos - Kenai
Sasha - Ltl. Bear
Yeti - Sakari
Ulric - Dancer

54 F (1.6 miles)
This morning we ran with a new dog in the team. Sasha. She has lived in the kennel with the race team now for several months and gets along well with everyone. As we ran since this was her first time she had some problems getting used to the all the ropes. She kept stepping over the main gangline and has it ride between her legs then she would somehow get her tugline between her legs. Each time I had to stop the team and either let her get out of it or help her out of it. That is to be expected with a new team member so I watch for this and stay ready on the brake to stop the team. I mostly try to ride the brake so the lines stay tight and she can't step over them. She ran well for most of the run then near the end she was tangled and I immediately stopped and ran up to help her and noticed that she had cut her foot. I made the whole team lay down while I took care of her. My leaders allowed me to get Sasha out of the gangline and secured on the cart so she could ride and not have any further injury. Cosmos on his own doing turned the team around and headed for home although we still had more trail to run. This is the sign of a true lead dog to know what needs to take place to take care of each member of the team. He knew she was hurt and I wanted her at home to take care of her. Sasha stood up and enjoyed the ride back to the house except for the bumpy driveway. I came home and quickly put everyone back in the kennels and took care of Sasha. I will give her some time for the scrape to heal and then us a bootie on that foot till I know it is completely healed. Sasha came back to her kennel and ran and jumped in the water then ran and jumped on me to kiss me and roll on me. She is a very affectionate girl and I don't mind getting wet and muddy. Cloths wash and Shout makes a wonderful product to clean out dirt. Of course Cosmos was rewarded for taking it upon himself to turn the team around and bring us home. Cosmos doesn't like food treats nearly as much as he likes a belly rub. So he had a nice long belly rub.

Day 8

Cosmos - Kenai
Sunka - Little Bear
Yeti - Sakari
Ulric - Dancer

60 F (2 miles)

Well, it started out with me riding the brake all the way up the drive way after pulling the quick release and trying to roll it up and stow it. By the time we got to the top of the driveway I had to stop the team so I could stop Sakari from jumping and biting Yeti. As soon as we stopped she stopped. We started going again and only got out the driveway and on the road and she started again. As soon as we were straight in the road I stopped the team again and went up and niped her in the side of the cheek she stopped the biting on Yeti and we were off. 30 feet later Sunka desided to put on brakes with all fours and was being dragged on her feet by the rest of the team. I immediatly stopped the team and decided to carry her on the cart. I had her unhooked from the lines and had Ltl. Bear snapped into two sets of lines when the team took off down the hill at top speed. I had Sunka in my left hand and I grabbed for the cart with my right hand. I about missed the cart but I made it on the back but in the process I dropped Sunka. I yelled whoa at the team and stomped the brake but they did not even slow down. I turned and saw Sunka run back in the yard heading for the kennels. I figured she would be fine so we went on running. We did not even slow till half way around the block and then only for a short time even though we were running up hill the whole time. I ended up with a nice rope burn on my right leg. As we passed a house where two dogs always run out to greet us several of the team dogs went over to "see" them. I yelled to my leaders to keep the line tight and go "on by". The leaders kept moving and pulled the team on by. But as Ulric was still looking back and running with the team he hit his head on a mail box. He was fine since the mail box was plastic and he only shook it. But in the process it knocked the address plack off the post. (I went back later and told the guy what happened and he thought it was funny and said not to worry about it that he would fix it). Ulric was fine and responded to me everytime I called him and we kept running. From here Cosmos and Kenai were running slow and Ltl. Bear and the team were trying to pass them. I had to ride the brake to keep the team from passing the leaders. This slowed the team down but kept the leaders in the lead. I want to try Little Bear in lead. I think she will do very well. She never lets her tug line go limp and is always wanting to be outfront. Sakari is still rearing and snapping when we get back to the kennels and still wanting to run more. I think I may try her in co lead with Ltl. Bear and see about using them to run a team of girls in the kennel.

Day 7

Cosmos - Kenai
Sakari - Yeti
Ulric - Dancer

65 F (2 miles)

Cosmos and Kenai running slow. The team is overtaking them sometimes and I have to ride the brake to keep the team back. Sakari comes back to the kennel after the run and is still jumping and rearing and snapping and still wants to run more.

Day 6

Cosmos - Kenai
Sakari - Yeti
Ulric - Dancer

60 F (2 Miles)

Dogs ran well. I switched Dancer and Urlic around since Dancer still wanted to run out to the right and pull Ulric. He then pushed Ulric further out so I switched them back.

Kingsport, Tenn Sled Demo Day

Cosmos - Kenai
Yeti - Sakari
Ulric - Dancer

68 F

We drove in the van to Kingsport, Tenn. for a sledding demo. I was intervied on the radio live for about an hour and a half. I was talking about dog sledding and the Yukon Quest. Four dogs ran in a race and wond first place beating the other team by 11 seconds. (Cosmos, Kenai, Ulric, Dancer). Gregg Powers of the Johnson City Press (newspaper) ran the dogs to victory. The win was due to the ability of the dogs to make a U-turn ("come gee" U-turn to the right) more quickly than the other team. Gregg beat a man from the radio. Later in the day I ran all six dogs 3 miles. I was givng rides to people including Jean who rescued Cosmos and helped him to become a better dogs by giving him lots of TLC. After all the running the dogs came back and layed in the dirt like they were very tired. (tired as dirt. Dog tired). They slept all the way home without moving nor making a sound. They were happy to arrive home and see their kennel mates (all girls) waiting for their boys.

Ready for Trip

We have been preparing the van for our trip to Kingsport, Tenn. We had to hang the cart on the back door of the van in order to fit the six dogs in the van for the trip. I bolted a chain to the floor and put pickets off of it to hold the dogs in place in the van. I put blankets on the floor for the dogs to lay on. We took off around 8 AM for Kingsport. All the dogs were laying down and resting quietly after only 4 miles of driving. It was a wonderful trip.

Day 4

Cosmos - Kenai
Sakari - Yeti
Ulric - Dancer

68 F ( 2 mile run)

Dogs ran well. Cosmos did "on by" at the turn to come home. Dancer wanted to stay far out the the right and pull Ulric in line behind Yeti.

Day 3

Cosmos -Kenai
Sakari - Yeti
Ulric - Dancer

70 F (2 mile run)

I ran beside the leaders to get them to run past a dog that was at a house we were passing by. It worked very well. The leaders took off and were excited to chase me and forgot about the dog in the yard they wanted to go see. The dogs ran well.