Yukon Quest '09

How is Madonna today?

Are the dogs loose in their Dawson tent?

hugs 'n howls,
-Pat
 

It's 9:10 in the morning and I really need to be heading back to Brent's dog truck to go over to the camping spot. However, I really can't resist giving you guys another update.
Madonna is still really sore. She seams to also have a sore back, which most likely means that the race is over for Madonna, but her non stop loving is about to begin. For anyone who knows me, they know that I love, LOVE Madonna. We've tried a lot to see if she can get back in the race, but it's just looking too risky to try and run her anymore.
At the Musher's Meeting last night here in Dawson we got a trail report from Mitch of the RCMP Ranger Squad who trailbreak on the Canadian side and John Shandelmeir who coordinates the trailbreaking on the American side. Sounds like the trail is going to be hard and fast. This is not what Brent wanted to hear, however, when they said the jumble ice on the Yukon could slow you down, or end your race if you didn't stay on the trail, Brent responded for the room to hear "Bring it on." I don't think he was referring to the cheerleading movies either. The comment got a laugh from the room, and a few looks from some tired musher's who were thinking "who is the crazy guy, and why is he so much tougher than I."
O.K. I really need to go. We've been feeding Brent's dogs on six hour intervals with meat snacks inbetween. That means that the last time Kyla and I were up, it was 4:00am and we were rubbing pink cream on their feet and massaging them full of confidence.
I'll try to post another update after this feeding.
Brent will depart Dawson to do a short warm-up run at 3:15. He's going to rest for some time after the warm up run at a hospitality cabin, so if you don't see any updates on the Yukon Quest site, just be patient, a plan is in progress.
Lastly, to answer Pat's question. No the dogs are not allowed to be loose at any time in the race. They have a chain they are hooked to burried under the straw in the tent. We individually unhook them and leash walk them around to loosen their muscles and help the go to the bathroom.
A little note for B-Buk, When Walter gets his chance to walk he immediatly goes out to eat some snow, even though he has dumped his water from his dish. It's really funny and I thought something he might have picked up from your Grandpa Shook. I'll try to get a picture. He's done it every time I've walked him which is three or four times. Funny.
Thom
 

Thom! I love your updates!
It's 30 degrees and snowing in Fairbanks...unbelievable. We're hoping for Wild and Free that it will get real cold real fast. Tell Mark to take some close up photos of the doggies if he can!! -Jen
 

This is obviously past due, but here is the line-up under the tarp in Dawson if anyone wants to know.
On the left it starts, like all things do with Silver, Ling-Ling, Taco, The Dude, Walter and Rocky.
On the right is Madonna, Rosie, Molly, Heckle, Maude and Budget.
We kept all the males to the left in case any of Brent's females came into heat. Only Budget was allowed on the female side because he is fixed.
Currently non of Brent's dogs are in heat, which is really nice, because it keeps the male dogs focused on the race instead of other things. Hopefully he will make it through the race before any of them go into heat. It looked to me like Maude might be coming into heat soon from her behavior. She's as rough and tough as they come though, so hopefully she'll be able to fend off any guys should she come into heat.
Thom