Thank you to all of the awesome LIBRARIANS and TEACHERS from our East coast trip! Noggin and I were honored to visit so many wonderful libraries and schools in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. WE LOVE LIBRARIES!
This upcoming May and June we’ll be visiting public libraries and schools in Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Email us now at mymusher@gmail.com to set up a visit!
This morning Noggin had a difficult time staying awake during our Skype session with students at Meeteetse Branch Library in Wyoming. I imagine the poor dog thinks I’m just sitting on the floor (in front of the computer) talking to myself! She sees no reason to participate in such nonsense.
When I’m Skyping, Chloe always looks concerned for me…
Little do the pups know how much fun I have talking with the students. Their awesome questions make the hour fly by!
After giving school talks all week in Connecticut, we’re back on Long Island and loving it! I had no idea the beaches here were so beautiful. Chloe, Noggin, and I had the entire place to ourselves this afternoon. We have school talks tomorrow, but if you’re in the area on Saturday at 1 pm come visit us at the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton, NY.
What a welcoming community! Noggin and I had a great time talking trail with the folks of Hanover, MA. We especially enjoyed the questions from the very young man who seems destined to become a medical doctor (human or animal). What happens if a dog is pregnant on the Iditarod? What if a dog gets a virus? His parents looked a little bewildered by his seemingly out-of-the-blue questions but, actually, I was thrilled to discuss some of the details of mushing.
When you’re running a big string, the dogs on the team become very close… sometimes too close (wink, wink). Mushers wouldn’t knowingly run a pregnant dog on the race but every now and then it happens without a musher realizing and then… surprise! I’ve never had a dog give birth on the trail but my main leader, Pig, was famous for running the Race to the Sky in Montana and then giving birth to an unexpected litter just weeks after finishing the 350-mile race. This was before I knew her, but that story fits with her tough-dog demeanor. She was 40-pounds of all-business.
My main leaders: Pig on the right, Lolo on the left
Also, it’s not uncommon for mushers to spay and neuter their dogs. A great portion of my kennel was “fixed” which made this, of course, a none-issue.
Viruses can sneak up on a team out on the trail. When you’re bringing together hundreds of dogs (some years, over a thousand) from all over the world, they can carry different bugs and make each other sick (think hundreds of human kids crammed together in a school building). We vaccinate and worm our dogs for everything possible, but lots of animals in a small area can still equal some sick dogs later on down the trail. Sometimes, a stomach bug running through a team can cause a musher to decide to pull a team from the race (scratch). But more often, if a musher just sits back at a checkpoint, hydrating, feeding, and resting the team for however long it takes, the dogs bounce back. Alaskan huskies are incredible athletes. They never cease to amaze those who love them and work with them.
Thanks to the young doctor for the fun conversation and to all of the other kids who thrilled me with their great questions and knowledge (the girl who said bison could be a problem on the trail… yes!). I felt like I was at a checkpoint on the Iditarod, talking sled dogs with my musher friends. Hanover has some mushers-in-the-making!
Noggin, Chloe, and I wish you a happy Monday! Maybe we’ll see you tonight in Hanover, MA at the John Curtis Memorial Library? Sure hope so! Our Iditarod talk starts at 6:30 pm… come early to rub that very long Noggin nose.
Noggin and I really enjoyed our time at South Hadley Public Library. We love visiting libraries and making new friends. Thanks for hosting us! See you up the trail…
Can’t get much friendlier than this!
Noggin is resting up for her talk tonight at Goffstown Public Library in Goffstown, NH at 6 pm. And then tomorrow we’re at the Medway Public Library in Medway, MA at 7 pm. See you up the trail…
PS… bring a pillow for Noggin
Contact Noggin and Karen at mymusher@yahoo.com (please put “Iditarod” in the subject line) to reserve your space on their 2019 Dog Mushing Talk Tour.
Think you live too far off the trail? It never hurts to ask! Karen, Noggin, and Chloe are ready for a road trip! Mush!
Noggin, Chloe, Romano, Jigs and I witnessed a long and lovely sunrise this morning driving east towards Dayton, Ohio.
For the second year in a row, we presented our Iditarod talk to a 6-week “Iditarod Class”organized by our good friends, “Marty and Kenny,” at the beautiful University of Dayton.
We enjoyed visiting with everyone, and look forward to seeing you all next year! Both Noggin and I especially loved talking with Chuck Ritter — Professor Emeritus, University of Dayton Geology Department — who gave me a wonderful pep talk supporting my current studies aimed towards a geology degree. I could have chatted with him for hours. Thanks, Chuck!
All that love can be exhausting…
Borage at a library talk, date unknown.
String of Dogs 