Uh oh. Free puppy holding at the Iditarod Headquarters…..
Can You Say “Scooby Snack?”
I would totally sleep in here.
(Just outside Wasilla, AK)
On the road to Wasilla and..What’s That I Hear?
Sunny and mid-70s as I make my way to Wasilla and the famed Iditarod Museum.
Yup – Houston, Alaska.
Betcha didn’t know that.
Had to climb up a hill through tall grass to get to the sign.
Thought nothing of the rough path, but now with branches breaking in the nearby woods, I’m rethinking the warning sign for moose and I’m outta h………………………………………….
Letters on the Road…
Received this email today and was greatly encouraged!
“Hi Judy…Attached is a photo of my grandma, Stella Ligino Malcolm, 12 years ago with my son Joe. She was 92 and still taking care of her home and garden on her own. She’s now 104 (or will be in August), has severe dementia and lives in a nursing home in Illinois. She’s still sassy, but I miss the mischievous sparkle in her eyes. At age 3, she came over on a ship with her mother and big sister from Yugoslavia to meet up with her father. (In a rush, the trunk holding their valuable possessions got left behind on a train between New York and Chicago – can you imagine?!) Eventually there were 7 more siblings and 8 cousins living next door. I grew up knowing them and credit that experience with my love of geriatric nursing. Although I’m now a “full-time mom”, I miss the patients and might like to return to that field one day. Who knows…maybe at Cedar Community! Thanks for fund-raising for a noble cause. I love reading about your biking adventures…and your column in general (=. Enjoy Alaska!”
Sincerely,
Kirsten
Hats off to Cedar Community in West Bend, WI!
Yesterday I received a great donation in honor of all the wonderful caregivers at Cedar Community in West Bend, WI. I can attest to the fact that they are, indeed. GREAT! Thanks for all you do….and today, I’m riding in tribute to ALL of you!
ALL proceeds from this benefit – Ride2Remember – go to Cedar Community’s programs that assist Alzheimer’s residents, allowing them to attain the highest quality of life. Read more HERE!
It’s not too late to donate….just click HERE for more information. Every dollar is a great encouragement to me as I ride in honor of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, as well as their families and caregivers.
Fun with Bob and Jayne (and a little inspiration, too!)
I was resting comfortably at 6 p.m. at a church Sunday in Cantwell, AK when a man came in and offered to take me home. It was Bob Hempstead. “You’ll be more comfortable at my house and my wife Jayne is making dinner; you’re welcome to join us.”
Bob Hempstead
Bob, 56, was an elder at the church; the pastor explained to me that Bob and his wife often adopted travelers.
I had heard about Bob while in Fairbanks. Someone at Fred Meyer grocery mentioned I should look him up because he participated in the Iditarod sled-dog race.“That was in 2000 and I came in 56th,” said Bob, acknowledging he finished toward the back of the pack. “Lack of sleep is probably the toughest part of the 1,049-mile race. You’re trying to sleep and people are stepping over you and talking.”
Bob, it turns out, had quite the Alaskan resume. He summitted Mount McKinley. “I made it to the top on my third try,” he said. The first expedition he was called back because of a family emergency. “The second time we ran out of food ,and this last time I made it. Actually, I’ve completed seven summits,” he said, having returned a couple weeks ago from summiting Mt. Everest in Nepal.
Bob was fit; a high-energy wood chopper kinda guy disguised behind a very mild-mannered demeanor. Unique to his summits – he did rope tricks when he got to the top.
Originally from Nebraska, Bob relocated while in the Army and stayed in Alaska. For the past 23 years he’s worked on the slope in Prudhoe Bay for BP as an instrument technician.
“So you race sled dogs, climb mountains, work for BP and run the vet clinic,” I asked referencing the sign, Cantwell VeterinaryService, at the entrance to the driveway.
“No, Jayne is the doctor – that’s her clinic,” said Bob.
Jayne was originally from West Virginia. She graduated from the University of Georgia, lived in Soldotna, Alaska but fell in love with Cantwell and built a home.
“I’m going to apologize for the size of our bathroom – when we were designing the home I didn’t realize it would be this big but I love it,” she said.
Jayne had short reddish hair and a homesteaders efficiency that was on display as she made dinner, got me settled, and contacted a friend so I’d have a place to stop for water and a rest the next day.
My comfortable upstairs bedroom was filled with books on Alaska and posters commemorating past Iditarod races.
“Bob never wanted sled dogs,” said Jayne, standing in a perched yoga position with the sole of her right foot resting against her left knee . “He said it would be like having dairy cattle with the commitment and amount of work.”.However, looking outside my bedroom window the lot in back was full of 13 dogs; huskies all chained to their individual raised sleeping quarters.
Luke was Jayne’s special dog. A hearty white-and-black husky that liked to nuzzle. (more below)(Me, Luke and Jayne)
“If you’re up before me just hit the coffee button, and then, if you want, you can ride along while I run the dogs,” said Bob.
Early the next morning, dressed in insulated overalls, a winter jacket, knee-high rubber boots and a red knit hat, I watched Jayne and Bob perform a well-rehearsed dance getting nine dogs ready for their daily exercise.
The two managed a cat’s cradle of ropes and harnesses, hitches and clasps. The dogs eagerly cooperated, answered to their names and showing their personalities… nudging, jumping and squirming to be picked as the lead.
Howl = Let’s get going!
Jayne’s dog, Luke, stayed behind.
We climbed aboard an ATV, the dogs were already tugging and lunging at the line. Jayne fired up the engine and we were off down a rocky trail through the woods. The dogs were in their element.
Loving it!
They pulled and ran and loved it; following a familiar 5-mile trail that led us over hills and through streams. Jayne killed the engine as the dogs laid down and lapped at the water.
“If we don’t stop, they’ll overheat,” she said adding, “This was the area where Sean Penn shot that movie “Into the Wild.“
Jayne said they had a replica of the Magic Bus just up the road. “Only a couple businesses really made out financially – many Alaskans didn’t actually like how the main character was framed because he just didn’t know enough to live through a winter in Alaska.”
We chatted a bit more about the movie and then I asked about Luke.
Jayne said she got a call one night from the State Troopers to come euthanize a dog that had been tied to the back bumper of a pickup with a yellow tow rope.
“The guy was drunk and I’m sure he just forgot he was back there,” she said.
“The guy never made it home; wrecked his pickup. The troopers said the dog had been dragged 17 miles.”
Jayne went to look at the animal but was adamant with the troopers. “I didn’t even want to see the owner,” she said, with a tone that still carried back to that horrible day.
“That poor dog. I drafted papers to put him down and had to wait a day before anyone got back to me. I couldn’t believe that dog was still alive the next day and I just thought – he’s tough, and he’s fighting to live so I’m going to help him.”
Jayne’s coworkers thought she was nuts. “He needed tons of medical attention. He was recovering for three months and in that time withered to just 35 pounds.”
Today, Luke is like a gentle giant. He has icy-blue eyes and can’t get close enough for Jayne’s affectionate pats and soothing words.
Upon our return, Bob helps untether the team and gives them food and water. Jayne quickly whips up breakfast which is when I learn she has her pilots license, has run a marathon, a triathlon, and run the Alaskan Seward Mountain Marathon eight times. “That one makes you feel like a kid,”‘ said Jayne about the 4,600-foot climb overlooking Resurrection Bay. The “up” takes more than an hour; the descent is completed in 10 minutes.
Jayne also summitted mountains and she’s a familiar face each March caring for the dogs at the Iditarod.
We were just finishing breakfast at 7:34 a.m. when the dogs started howling. I sat up and took notice, but for Bob and Jayne it was a regular song, like the opening hymn at morning Mass.
Dogs waiting excitedly for an exercise run.
Shooting for Wasilla
View this morning as I hit the road in Trapper Creek…
Midway point…17 miles in. Should easily make it to Wasilla today.
Gerard – another kind of hero
This is Gerard, a veteran and an athlete competing in a handcycling bike race in Fairbanks.
Met him during a rest stop this morning outside of Talkeetna. He served from 1995-1999 and was injured when he was run over by a boat. Gerard was very quiet-spoken, had beefy arms and was missing his right leg. Our meeting was brief, but it was an honor.
Veteran’s Memorial
Very surprised to find this awesome tribute in the middle of my 98-mile scenic stretch. All five branches represented – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Nice rest stop.
Sunny day with temps in the mid 70’s. Great biking day!
Monday – a record-setting day
Got 98 miles in on Monday, which is the most terrain covered on this trip so far – Cantwell to Trapper Creek (see map on left). Two major climbs and one “odd incident.” Story coming….
