Greg and Tule Loowit came over today for their first run with Ferrari. His first lesson was untangling a team. Koyuk is ready to show her daughter how to mush but Trask in his excitement to play with Tule tangled grandma Cedar.
OK - the back of the team is untangled and now...
I have crashed several times on this corner. The dogs are usually at full speed as we go around. But today the team came to a screeching halt. Only on the return trip, when they again halted, did I notice that Greg had thrown an invisible fence collar into the basket during harnessing. The dogs heard the beep and "knew" they couldn't go any further. I didn't hear the beep over the quad motor. Unaware what was up, I got off the quad and pulled them back onto the road. "Let's Go!" got them over the invisible barrier and charging ahead.
My plan was to drive the quad ahead of the team so I could untangle as necessary and get them turned around. It took third gear just to catch up. Sixteen paw power pulled Greg right up the hills.
Not much further on a couple of wild turkeys were flushed. Fortunately they ran on the road and didn't head off the cut-bank with dogs in chase. (been there - not fun) Visions of an inevitable crash flashed through Greg's mind as he applied the dual sets of brakes to slow the excited dogs. There is a reason he has a helmet on.
One-half mile and time to turn around. Tule is looking great next to her mom Koyuk.
"Those turkeys came out right here." Another tangle.
Visitors always wonder about the
Caution Sled Dog Trail sign.
The hot dogs were rewarded with a cooling swim.
All-in-all, it was a great first run of the season for Team Nookies.
