Neanderthals, Us, and the Nation Within

Interesting stuff!

http://www.wsj.com/video/dogs-may-have-played-role-in-extinction-of-neanderthals/6DEC6FC3-B481-448D-A866-DD7DC1CCAA47.html?KEYWORDS=neanderthal+dogs

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 26th, 2015 at 8:15 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

80 Responses to “Neanderthals, Us, and the Nation Within”

  1. Herd of Hounds
    8:28 am on March 26th, 2015

    Good morning, everyone! Mmm…wolf dog to woof dog, makes sense to us. Our 1st, Sonja was part wolf and Mama Luna probably would agree,too. Wasn’t a grandparent part wolf? We are still chuckling over the pig in a pick-up story.
    Goood to hear from ML and the note from poor BooBear. Fella, cllimb under the quilt and enjo the dancing giraffes.
    Sprung has springed and wacky weather is everywhere. What ever yours is, hope you are safe and dry on the thunderous Thursday.

  2. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    8:56 am on March 26th, 2015

    Good morning HOH and all. That is an interesting theory and has some merit. Not sure how they can ever prove it.

    Interesting things last evening on the blog, after we retired for the night.

    Glad Boobear is feeling better, if not tip top yet.

    Sounds like Boo’s mama, the Howlers and Rio’s friend all have some decisions to make and possible changes in the areas of work.

    Barb took early retirement from her high stress sales career, but does enjoy working part time. 2-3 days a week, 7 hours per day, with no sales quotas. Perfect.

    When they took Mr. Piggy back yesterday the lady commented “Well we learned one thing today, he doesn’t like car rides.

  3. Herd of Hounds
    9:17 am on March 26th, 2015

    Thinking of our Wose and her Grizz since on the Weather Channel they just mentioned fog in the Hudson Valley.
    Mom is with Barb on the early retirement! She wonders how she ever has time to go to work! After all, 30+ years in any job/task/profession/asylum should be enough. (And please don’t think the DDD helps. Like he says, “Her money folds, mine jingles.”)

  4. Tupper's Mama
    10:13 am on March 26th, 2015

    Just something to start your day off right:

  5. BARB, MAGGIE AND LUCY
    10:15 am on March 26th, 2015

    Had to call Kelly in Hawaii, 3:00 a.m. there. Dog sitter locked herself out, one dog outside, two dogs inside, has to get to work, what should she do? Would you believe they don’t have a key hidden anywhere?

  6. Herd of Hounds
    10:34 am on March 26th, 2015

    Barb, keep smiling, otherwise you’ll cry!

  7. B.Stover
    10:44 am on March 26th, 2015

    I couldn’t get a complete version of the article for some reason.

    Good morning all.

  8. dawson
    11:07 am on March 26th, 2015

    Good morning.

    I couldn’t get the complete article either.

    Barb, Maggie&Lucy: No hidden key!? Did the dog sitter have to climb in a window? Or what?

    BooBear: Ouch! Your poor thing. You’ll feel better every day now that those bad teeth are gone. I’m glad you are at home. We were really worrit. Now, if only Linus will start eating some yummy food.

    Tupper’s Mama: That is the cutest pug bug but…we have to quit voting “pug” for everything or soon we will have nothing but pugs.

    Rio: Your friend will never let you starve and she will have more time to spend with you if she packs it all in at the busy place. Low cash flow but much less stress.

  9. BearSpiritDog
    12:31 pm on March 26th, 2015

    That was a Great Video! Thanks, Chet.

    WolfDogs and LadyPugs and BooBear & Linus home. Yay!

    Before coming on the Blog we were reading Snowhook’s latest update and smiling & sniffling over He Who Has Good Dogs Is Not Cold & BDHW and the Finish Line Prayer.

    A Morning Salutation to the Sun.
    Sending Blessings to All who need lifting up.
    Lots of Love and Bear Hugs too.

    Bear

  10. Masquers
    12:55 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Maggie & Lucy: So then it was up to Barb to drive over to the house to unlock the door for the embarrassed sitter?
    I guess getting locked out has happened to the best of us, and we can guarantee that that particular sitter will never go out the door w/o the key in her paw again.
    Still chortling over the pig in a truck tail.
    We here agree with all of youse about early retirement.
    Best case scenario when a company is down-sizing they will often offer a nice severence package to the employee. This gives you time and leaves you freed up to find another way to fill the food bowls (with something extra for the treatie jar, of course)…ideally a way to work from home…either your own business, or working as a consultant for a larger company.

    Beautiful sunny day here with birds chirping and hope springing eternal.

  11. Siber's Mom
    1:12 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Very interesting idea about the wolf dogs. I don’t know, but I think it is possible. Something happened to the Neanderthals.
    The video just below the wolf dog story is very important. That beautiful country belongs to the Navajo.

    BooBear, I am glad you are on your way to feeling much better. Linus, You need to eat, please.

    Howlers and Rio’s friend, You are in my thoughts and prayers and my paws are crossed. These decisions are always so difficult.

  12. Masquers
    1:15 pm on March 26th, 2015

    SHM: I didn’t see the second video…going now to check on it.

  13. Siber's Mom
    1:16 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Barb, How was the no key problem solved?

  14. B.Stover
    1:22 pm on March 26th, 2015

    I read somewhere quite a while ago (so can’t remember where) that Neanderthals developed arthritis which is a reason they did not survive. Also there is apparently evidence that Neanderthals and humans produced offspring together.

  15. dawson
    1:23 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Siber’s Mom: That video of the beautiful country is awesome. I want to see that country some day.

    Here is a view from the top of the Mackinac bridge in Michigan.
    http://www.michigan.org/googletrekker/

  16. Herd of Hounds
    1:23 pm on March 26th, 2015

    B&M&L, Tell Barb that she is a hoot and should consider writing down these incidentsas short stories. If for nothing else that for the family at some time later.
    They should be able to laugh then!

  17. BARB, MAGGIE AND LUCY
    1:31 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Thank you HOH. The solution was that the carpenter who was there to do something for them got a window open and the sitter climbed thru. Not sure how, or if she got in without breaking anything. And I do not have a key either. No one does. Dumb, right? They need to make sure they get a key hidden somewhere. Usually when I go there I use the garage door code to open the garage and then go in thru the laundry room, which is never locked. Sitter had that locked too.

  18. Herd of Hounds
    1:43 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Ha ha ha ha ha laughing my fanny off.

  19. B.Stover
    1:49 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Thank you Dawson. Michigan is beautiful! The bridge is awesome. There was a very brief view of the front of the hotel on the island which is a great place to stay. Cars are not permitted and one has to walk or ride bikes. And have I mentioned the fudge….

  20. Siber's Mom
    2:01 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Dawson, I promise you that if you made the long trip to see Canyon Country you would think the journey was worth it.

    Beautiful Michigan video. So much water! I am like Bernie about water.

    Teddy and Wookie’s Dad,
    Dr. George Fischbeck has passed. He was 92 years old.

  21. B.Stover
    2:26 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Many parts of the Great Lakes are frozen or have large junks of ice so barges are having trouble going through the St. Lawrence Seaway to deliver goods. It apparently takes 2,400 trucks to deliver the amount on one barge.

  22. Tupper's Mama
    2:30 pm on March 26th, 2015

    We are so very heartbroken here – we have just read the news that the German airplane that went down in the Alps was deliberately taken down by the co-pilot. He killed all those innocent people for no reason.
    sob

  23. Siber's Mom
    2:35 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Tupper’s Mama, It is heartbreaking. It’s a nightmare. sob

  24. BARB, MAGGIE AND LUCY
    2:40 pm on March 26th, 2015

    150 souls lost for no reason. They do not think it was politically motivated. Any accident with loss of life is sad, but when it is done intentionally it is just beyond comprehension.

  25. Herd of Hounds
    3:01 pm on March 26th, 2015

    No apparent reason, the young man must have something in mind but it will probably remain a mystery.
    HRH B The Earth’s Children series (Clan of the Cave Bear etc. discussed some mixing of human and neanderthal).
    Siber’s Mom, thank you for the info about Dr, George. We loved him, his knowlegde and humor. We are surprised that he lived to such a wonderfully older age!

  26. Diane C.
    3:04 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Oh Dear–A belated good morning to everyone–I’ve been trying to upload an Exam for printing tomorrow and having all manner of difficulty.
    Sorry to hear that Boobear’s mouth hurts, but happy he and Linus are home. Maybe Linus would like some scrambled egg or babyfood or mashed yams (or pumpkin–my friend Tuffy ate that out of a can when he wouldn’t touch anything else ). I’ll be listening for good news later today.
    TM–that is horrifying news, but I’ll bet the co-pilot had a “reason” even if we don’t recognize it as such. Scary as well as saddening.
    B. Stover–I’ve heard about human-neanderthal interbreeding also–supposedly the DNA tests you can have done on a sample of whatever fluid it is that you send in can also see if you have Neanderthal DNA. (My cousin was disappointed to find he hadn’t any.)
    BSD–That was a lovely sentiment. May your sweet thoughts nurture all of us here this day (and–what the heck–forever).

  27. B.Stover
    3:34 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Diane: Here is a link to a very good bird guide in case you didn’t know about it. I have it on the page for Cedar Waxwings.

    http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id

  28. B.Stover
    3:38 pm on March 26th, 2015

    At one time I had a Mt. Ash tree in front and in the fall the Cedar Waxwings would perch on the branches passing one another berries. It was fun to watch.

  29. Mpop's and Loulou's Mom
    4:36 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Barb, Staff and Dawson. I put two Niagara Falls booklets in the mail for you. They were meant for the hotel visitors so I could only get (steal) two. Staff and Dawson can share. I had you here but snow and a driving ban stopped us from going to the Falls. So close and yet so far. This is my shameless ploy to get you back.

    Also, I extend the invitation to all Plunderers. Here’s the cover from the booklet. We would have been standing right there. This could be you!

  30. Masquers
    4:46 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Dawson: Love the views from the Mackinac Bridge!
    Remember when we were in Anchorage there was a Google Trekker kamera covering the Ceremonial Start? Try as we may we cannot find the footage.
    Sharing your sadness and disbelief that someone could have intentionally caused that plane to crash. A copilot no less.

  31. Masquers
    4:48 pm on March 26th, 2015

    MPM: A very enticing invitation!

  32. Martha
    4:51 pm on March 26th, 2015

    It is national geographic that does the DNA project. My daughter and I had our DNA analyzed and we scored big! We have DNA of humans (mostly), as well as Neanderthal and Denisovan.
    What is that?
    Genographic.nationalgeographic.com/denisovan/

  33. BearSpiritDog
    5:03 pm on March 26th, 2015

    For those of us here who are in the process of Making Life Altering Decisions, and that includes us, we offer this advice:
    Saint Ignatius Loyola, the warrior-father of the Jesuit order, recommended the following means of making a sound decision:
    “Suppose I am at the point of death. What course of action would I then wish to have followed in coming to this particular decision? Let this be the rule for settling the whole business.”
    Please accept this in the spirit in which it is offered…with Love and Good Intentions.

  34. Tupper's Mama
    5:10 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Guess we can no longer call certain politicians and law makers Neanderthals as an insult, can we?

    MPM – we are going to take you up on that sometime in the near future. Would love to see the falls once again – we were there about 25 years ago. That’s a lot of water over the dam, huh?

    Back from a visit to the human v e t. Seems that flying back from New Mexico with a head cold triggered all kinds of wonderfulness with sinuses. woopie. After battling the problems with hot packs, eucalyptus, Airborne, Vit C etc, we finally had to give in and face the fact that it was simply not going away, and was in fact getting worse.

    Interesting thing is that the doc not only recommended antibiotics, but also prescribed an herbal tea infused with fresh ginger and cayenne pepper. After just one cup, the difference is already noticeable. hmmmm

  35. Herd of Hounds
    5:22 pm on March 26th, 2015

    MP&LL’s Mom, We sure want to visit NY state and y’all and the falls. We have a friend in Rexford (near Albany) who mines in Herkemer(?) NY. We will work on it.
    Tupper’s Mama With spring (for y’all) just around the corner, you need to get healthy. Today here was beautiful, low 70′ and scattered clouds. Almost everything is blooming or in bud (achoo, can you say pollen?). Next 2 days will be 20* cooler with light frosts at night. Think we will wait for Easter to put things out.

  36. dawson
    5:33 pm on March 26th, 2015

    MP’s&LL’s Mom: I do wish! I still haven’t seen Niagara Falls.

    Martha: Very interesting nationalgeographic site.

    Spence: Charles de Gaulle resigned as president of France on March 25th, 1969.

  37. B.Stover
    5:39 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Martha: Here is a link to the Wikipedia article about Denisovan origins:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denisovan

  38. dawson
    5:43 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Carpola!
    I was invited by my s i l to an Easter dinner this Sunday. She is a good cook. Then I got uninvited because Easter is the weekend after and I will be gone.

  39. Masquers
    5:46 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Dawson just reminded me to check out the link Martha recommended earlier, and it is absolutely fascinating! (thank you, too, B)
    B: I can’t remember…how did we get on this subject in the first place?
    Tupper’s Mama: Your vet is very unusual in that he recommended herbal tea.
    So glad you are feeling better.

  40. Masquers
    6:10 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Dawson: Sorry to hear you had pass up your sil’s yummy Easter dinner.
    On the other paw you can look forward to Mr.Fireslipper’s famous
    Key Lime Pie.
    HOH: We’re twins!..it’s 70ish here too!
    But…Oh, no…the day is almost gone and we have not gotten anything done.

  41. Tupper's Mama
    6:26 pm on March 26th, 2015

    This discussion of origin is indeed interesting.

    We can’t help but wonder if there was as much bias against these ancient races co-mingling as there is in the “modern” world.

  42. B.Stover
    6:29 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Masquers: I was responding to Siber’s Mom’s post of 1:12 regarding Neanderthals.

  43. Herd of Hounds
    6:35 pm on March 26th, 2015

    DAwson, sometimes your “luck” amazes us. An invite to a great Easter feast and you have other plans 🙁
    Masquers, probably today for twinship only since the front comes through tonite and manana will be around 53 for the hi and 30 for the low. Saturday 2 degrees below that. Spring is always interesting.

  44. Herd of Hounds
    6:41 pm on March 26th, 2015

    At the restart in Fairbanks, the last sled was #80 and was the google trekker. They implied its pictures would be available later in the srping. #9 was the teacher on the trail.

  45. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    6:45 pm on March 26th, 2015

    I sent in a sample a couple of years ago for DNA testing. It came back mostly as expected – no Native American, no eastern Europe, no Russian, Indian or Asian. It was almost all Western European except for one ping on “Sub-Saharan Africa”, which is basically central Africa. That was interesting.

  46. Diane C.
    6:57 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Martha–thanks for the information (I’m never sure how seriously to take any of my cousin’s new enthusiasms).
    T&G’s Mamma–We can’t call them Neanderthals (or subhumans either, I guess), but we CAN call them dorks and fatheads. AND we can do so while drinking cayenne and ginger infusions–I’m glad you’re feeling some improvement.
    I finally got my exam printed and will have to hand carry it in tomorrow for repro. (So much for technology and the paperless society.)
    Going to pick up Pretty and Edgar from being wonderfluffed–I LOVE that word.
    Dawson–Surely your SIL will invite you to other meals–be of good cheer.
    Going to pick up Pretty and Edgar from being wonderfluffed–I LOVE that word.

  47. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    7:10 pm on March 26th, 2015

    T & G, your comment about bias of co-mingling reminds me of two books I recently read. First was Rio’s recommendation of Sara Canary. There was much in that book about the bias against the Chinese railroad builders, and how they were treated in the mid 1800s. Then I just finished Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, who has a Chinese great-grandfather. Her great grand parents were not allowed to marry and there was so much racial prejudice against them. I learned a lot from reading these books.

    My first personal exposure to a Chinese person was my ex-sister-in-law, who had the last name of Fong before marriage. I thought she was the most beautiful, most talented person I had ever met. Yes, I idolized her. I was just amazed when she told me she experienced prejudice growing up in Chicago. I couldn’t understand it.

    I hope we have made advances since then, the mid 60’s, but sometimes I wonder if people will ever be accepting of those they perceive to be different than themselves.

  48. BearSpiritDog
    7:17 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Remember the Geiko’s Neanderthal Commercials a couple of years ago?
    The Neanderthals were always very insulted when folks referred to them as such.

    Hounds: Yes, Clan of the Cave Bears. We read that book a long time ago. And wasn’t there a Movie too?..Believe Daryl Hannah was in the lead role.

    Barb,Magpie,Lucy: You are right about the Prejudices…there is always someone different who we don’t like because we can’t understand them.
    The Irish and Italians experienced this big time when first coming to America.

  49. Masquers
    7:28 pm on March 26th, 2015

    DianeC: I agree…wonderfluffing is the best…the word, and the experience.
    HOH: Our temps will be dropping here tomorrow too. So I make no apologies for enjoying the day in lieu of getting something done.
    Carpe diem, as they say.

  50. Herd of Hounds
    7:33 pm on March 26th, 2015

    BSD, several of Earth’s Children series by Jean Auel. There are 6, also Valley of the Horses and the last was The Land of the Painted Caves. Have forgotten the other titles but yes, Daryl Hannah was in the movie.

  51. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    8:37 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Bear, You are right. Part of my heritage is Irish, and they were considered the lowest of the low for many years after they first immigrated.

  52. Herd of Hounds
    8:38 pm on March 26th, 2015

    We need to mention that mom has read the first 2 of the Miss Julia books. She has to say that after living a while in the south, she has met several similar types.
    “Bless her heart” is never pawsitive and “I don’t want to be a bother” means the opposite but enjoyable and true to life characters. She will use the humor to intersperse with some mysteries and crime novels. Oh, and WOOF next month 🙂

  53. Rio - The Evil Pug
    8:47 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Niagra!….Me and my friend want to be there…snort!…I am a world traveler now, right?…chuckel!burp!

  54. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    9:22 pm on March 26th, 2015

    HOH, we read the firs two also. will continue as you are.

  55. Mpop's and Loulou's Mom
    9:25 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Well Rio, you were here along with the other guys. We just couldn’t make it with the one-day snow storm and driving ban. Jay and Tyb made it here and stayed over night too. Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency. But the very next day we were headed down the thruway to Massachusetts.

    You’re such a travellin’ dog, come here and I’ll take you to the Falls. You, me and Loulou.

  56. Staff
    9:27 pm on March 26th, 2015

    You almost got to Niagra Falls Rio. You were ‘that’ close. Just a darn blizzard away…snort.

  57. Staff
    9:28 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Heh, Hi Judith!

  58. BearSpiritDog
    9:36 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Staffie: Forgot to Say…Too bad about that Dent in your New Car. sniff.

  59. BearSpiritDog
    9:40 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Rio is Indeed an Intrepid Traveler.
    He’s been all over North America. Flying in Planes, Riding on Trains.

  60. Herd of Hounds
    9:42 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Not to mention automobiles. Hey, maybe Rio has a career ahead as a comedian.

  61. Barb, Maggie and Lucy
    10:00 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Staff, We are sorry about your van too. Isn’t that always the way? Couldn’t be the old cars with no dents!

  62. Rio - The Evil Pug
    10:13 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Tripping!…Plan the trip in the good ole summertime when blizzards are not allowed…grunt!…But not August 14th. I have a special wedding to attend…heh!heh!

  63. c.hobbit
    10:14 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Belle Starr: A baby polar bear to add to your collection of “animals I must have or I will be in a very bad mood.” You might have better luck obtaining one of these arctic cuties if you ask SHE WHO RUNS THE KENNEL.

  64. Staff
    10:20 pm on March 26th, 2015

    AWWWWWWWWW.

  65. Rio - The Evil Pug
    10:46 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Crazy!…Those of youse who want a Polar Bear as a house-pet are out of your freakin’ mind…grunt!

  66. Rio - The Evil Pug
    10:48 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Monkeys!…Right up there with peoples who have monkeys as pets…grunt!…Right out of yer freakin’ minds and mean too…sniff! …Get off that band wagon right now.

  67. Tupper and Gilly
    10:50 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Oh my dog…is that truly a baby polar bear? No, it can’t be. They aren’t born that small or have eyes open when that tiny.
    Really?

  68. Tupper and Gilly
    10:53 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Rio – if we ever feel the need to raise an exotic, dangerous pet….
    we’ll get a pug.

    Tee hee

  69. Rio - The Evil Pug
    10:54 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Bah!…baby-bull.

  70. Rio - The Evil Pug
    11:04 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Tupper!….My friend thinks you will be sorry….heh!

  71. Rio - The Evil Pug
    11:09 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Siber-Maw!…OMY-DAWG!..snort!…We here are watching an episode of Elementary and who shows up on the show?…None other than the old Mexican guy who banged his bell in his wheelchair on Breaking Bad….gah!…I had the heebie-jeebies just seeing him and I haven’t even finished watching the scene yet….gasp!

  72. ALR
    11:10 pm on March 26th, 2015

    About The Clan of the Cave Bear books….read them all. I hear the author has or had a beautiful home on the Oregon Coast. As for Miss Julia, she is a perfect remedy for relaxation and laughter after any book that makes you a little tense! I can’t wait for my next visit with her and it is coming up soon.

  73. Rio - The Evil Pug
    11:15 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Bad-ness!….All youse Breaking Bad fans should know that old Mexican guy in the wheelchair with the bell…heh!…He is not as old as he was portrayed – he is old – but he is NOT that old…and he has a NY accent in Elementary….snort!…WOT a Great Actor!…wheeze!

  74. Rio - The Evil Pug
    11:17 pm on March 26th, 2015

    ALR!…I have a book to recommend if you would really like to get riled up for about the rest of your life-time after reading it?…heh!…What say?

  75. BearSpiritDog
    11:32 pm on March 26th, 2015

    Oh the Cuteness of It! the Little Tiny Polar Bear Cub.
    Who would ever guess it would someday (soon) grow to be 8 Feet Tall and Weigh Over 1,000 Pounds.

  76. Masquers
    11:35 pm on March 26th, 2015

    CHobbiti: Do you and Sadie still have your foster rescue, Mr. Big?
    How is he doing?

  77. ALR
    12:37 am on March 27th, 2015

    Rio! Is the book you would recommend the one by your other favorite author? I have it written on a scrap of paper somewhere, but I haven’t had the courage to read it yet. You must mean We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves! See….I do read your every word and take it very seriously, but riled up for the rest of my lifetime? Yowza!

  78. AJ
    1:12 am on March 27th, 2015

    Hello All,

    I am feeling better a week after finishing the race. Rebecca convinced me to sleep for a day or two largely by giving me Tylenol pm instead of the regular aspirin. She says she roofied me but I don’t think I received the benefit of said roofy. Nonetheless, I feel good enough to get the dogs up and going again… Before I do that however here is the first installment on this year’s race. This year includes the ceremonial start simply because this unusual year started on that day…

    After last year’s Iditarod whenever the drivers get together little needs to be said where memory and expression tell the whole story in the group. It can best be described as a nod to what we all went through and then we change the conversation. And so when we woke up to 5 inches of slushy snow on Saturday morning in Willow and hard driving rain in Anchorage we were all wondering if we weren’t about to go through an urban “gorge” with a rider to share in the fun.
    With reports of mostly water on the trail and large sections of asphalt no one really knew what to expect…

    Luckily though the sun came out and the temps warmed up and before we knew it we were off and running. Through slush, water and indeed asphalt we moved off in slow motion pushing what snow was there in front of us like a plow. Good thing we were number 19 and not 78. Eventually though we got to the end soaking wet, having had a good and fun run and feeling a little like we water skied to the finish line. Later on standing in the parking lot laughing about the trail I was standing bare foot in the slush ringing the water out of my socks. Fortunately the run was nothing like all the drivers speculated. Little did we know we were about to go from 40 above to -65.

    The next day we packed up the final details and headed off towards Fairbanks. Mick saved us any travel problems the day before when he spotted a broken bracket on the trailer. Within 30 minutes we had it fixed and made it to Fairbanks without incident. The events of that day went fast. Take care of the dogs, dinner with Dawson, Digger and Sharon and Mick and Jody and before I knew it 4:30 am came and it was time to get started.

    The restart was a circus. We were 1/2 mile from the starting line with very little snow in between us and the line with several stops in between as teams staged. Within 100 yards I was scraping the asphalt and just barely keeping the team back. It literally took a snowmachine to keep the team from passing the team in front of us. Eventually it was our time though and we were off and running.

    The run to Nenana was uneventful and enjoyable. Upon arriving in Nenana however the circus that was Fairbanks followed us there. Hundreds of people were crowded into a tight spot as team after team arrived. Finding Rebecca, Mick and Jodi I quickly gathered my supplies and straw and took off for an out of check point camp. While it was good to see Rebecca in Nenana it was hard to leave her there more so than at the starting line. With the Nenana check point behind us the race had at last started. Side note: the temperature here dropped to -30 and I later found out they hadn’t officially checked me into the check point during all the confusion.

    Travelling a mile or two out on the river I found a log jam that sheltered the dogs from the wind. Building a camp for the team here I came very close to ending my race by simply walking out to the front of my team. As I went to set the leader hook which anchors the front end of the team when camping I took two steps to the front of the team when suddenly the ice broke underneath me. Grabbing for a log frozen in the ice next to me I pulled myself out from a deep hole in the river. Thank you for your prayers for a safe journey as they were much needed the very first night of the race.

    Rebecca says she’s going to Roofy me now so I will write the more interesting parts of the story in the next day or two…

    Thank you all for your support and friendship…

    AJ

  79. bluecat
    7:00 am on March 27th, 2015

    The “more interesting parts”? The deep hole in the river is very interesting, and scary. Thanks, AJ.

    Good morning, Everybody.
    Hope you enjoy your weekend.

  80. Herd of Hounds
    7:42 am on March 27th, 2015

    Morning, Bluecat! Right now it is slightly cooler here than Anchorage, and it was in the low 70’s yesterday 🙁 We will see what sunrise brings.
    We think AJ had every right to be worried on that water/ice. Scary is right.

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