All Alaskan

Well I don't know what in the world is going on around here but as strange and different that we've always known Alaska to be...it keeps getting stranger. Right now we appear to be going through the earliest ' break-up ' season ever recorded. It's as warm as 45 in the days and freezing at night with which we throw in a little...or a lot...of rain and walla...the slickest roads known to man. Here's a pic of the road to Rancho Deluxe and then another of our gate and drive way. Yikes, is all I can say. As you can tell it's not just solid ice, it's solid glare ice.

But being all Alaskan we weren't going to miss the Alaska Fur Rendezvous and World Sled dog Championships just because prudent people stay off the roads when it's like this. Chris and Melinda invited us up and as always rolled out the red carpet and we had a magnum dose of Alaska hospitality. But, it's amazing to me that it was clear but a bit drizzly when we left their house Sunday morning and just a few miles south as you looked to Turnagin the sky is black and you can tell....the big bend at Portage Glacier must be the epi-center in the world for wind/rain/sleet/hydo-planning / pot holes / white caps, you name it....here's pic out the wind shield at about 5 miles south of the Feje's house.

For all of you non Alaskans Fur Rondezvous is kind of a winter State Fair that got it's origins from trappers selling furs and dogs racing for money...these things are still the life blood of the event but it's also grown into an excuse to do what Alaskan's do so well....party. When our kids were in elementary school it was the big event for us. We'd stay at the Holiday so the boys could swim in the pool and me and MP would escape for a night on the town and we'd do all the events....H.O. train display, arts and crafts, ice bowling, parade , shopping ,...and well, me and MP still got what it takes. We got to Anchorage just in time for the Parade and they had the usual Royalty of course.

But my favorite Alaskan's in the parade where these guys....the ' sourdough cycler ' was out of control, I kinda figure him for a guy who lives in Talkeetna, maybe Trapper Creek. Then the 4-wheeler club has it  going on....I had no idea you could do that with a truck so I'm figuring to show this to the guys at the boat launch this summer and maybe see if we can get Adam and Dan or some of the guys to give it a try.

And then a nice lady from a church group came by and gave MPeasy a million bucks...She offered me a million to and of course I turned it down, greed is one of the things I dislike in life so if you got a mill, why would ya need two ????  I had no idea that Brigham Young was on the Million dollar bill.

We spent 5 hours on our feet exploring. After we watched Coyote hides sell for 40 bucks a piece we wondered down to Ship Creek for the snow sculptures that are usually ultra cool. But....the warm weather was taking it's toll. As you can see from this pic the snow blocks that were delivered were pitting and melting and it was just the kind of challenge Alaska snow artists are up to.

Some people had given up on the snow carving but most soldiered on. As you can see some of them turned out pretty darn good and these guys I expect were to win the big money. They were pro ice and snow carvers from Minnesota and they knew the tricks and had all the right tools. The water that melted out of the snow was replaced by spray bottles and rubbing water into it when the shape was complete. Then they'd cover it with a tarp until judging....they were great guys and we shared a pretty good laugh when I took a pic of the saws and they told me it was classified info. Being a fishing guide I know what they know...ain't no secrets at work.

Nobody has commented on my last few videos which is kind of a new twist on the Blog @ Mile 14. But I think I'll try it again because I think any of you that haven't been to a Sled Dog race will be impressed, those darn things are so fast I could hardly get a video....It's a short movie.

This next 30 second video will give you an idea of the pandemonium at a dog race that is Alaska. I remember back in the 80's we watched the end of a race and after sprinting 25 miles a dog fight got started, and stopped. But I told MP, those ARE some spirited athletes. Make sure your audio is turned up.

I don't know, maybe it's coincidence but lately I've been feeling like I'm living in some 5th dimension world where the dogs are running the people...a kinda Bizzarro world for all you Superman fans. So I just had to get this pic of one of my neighbors houses. Just when you think you've seen it all...can you imagine the dog owner...." now Fido, you be careful up on that roof "  ,  " and PLEASE, don't do you business up there, it looks sooooo tacky "....