When I'm at home in Perryvale, it is rare for me to run into folks I know when running errands or away from the kennel.
I spend a fair amount of time away from home - and when I'm home I'm usually busy with dog stuff, so I don't have a big social circle in the Perryvale area.
Sure, Rhonda at the post office knows me, but she knows everyone. I once stood in the Store/Post office next to two women discussing the fact that 'Karen Ramstead - that woman' that runs the Iditarod lived in Perryvale. With hair sticking in 10 directions, holes in my sweatpants, and a dog hair covered sweatshirt on (hey, Perryvale is small, you hardly ever run into anyone in the post office) I declined to introduce myself.
Thanks to the newspaper and local radio station, lots of folks in the area know about us and what we are doing, but the only time they have actually maybe put a face to it is when I'm bundled up on the back of an ATV on a training run, so they really don't 'know' me to see me.
And then we come to Alaska!!!
We headed out for our first run here in Two Rivers on Sunday. About 7 miles into the run we did a head on pass with another team. "Hi Karen".
A few miles later we ran into not only another musher I know - but a dog I know too - friend Mike Ellis with former NW dog Boom in his team (I pulled to a stop next to Boom and said a quick 'hi'. He wagged his tail and briefly nuzzled my fingers, but then turned his nose back down the trail. He was working!!)
Moments later I pulled over to let a fast traveling team by. The musher stopped and said "Is that you Karen??" It was Tom Lesatz, a fellow Iditarod musher. We chatted for a moment or two before the dogs all started to fuss and it was time to get going again.
I miss home, but it is good to be back among friends!! (with no disrespect intended to that friends that I do have back in Perryvale, of course!)
Karen
Home of Iditarod Finishing and Best In Show Siberian Huskies - 11-Time Iditarod Participants
4 comments:
Awesome! Sounds like the rumors are true...more dog mushers per capita than anywhere else in Alaska.
In Alaska, even bundled against the cold [for personal identification], who in the mushing world---at what ever level--would miss Karen, or Mark and the North wapiti dogs. Those gorgeous dogs appear on all kinds of posters, publicity stuff. Karen and Mark, take a big bow for the work and dedication for creating an awesome, awesome goup of dogs. Hip Hip Hooray for North Wapiti.
Hi Karen
Well actually I had seen your truck the day before at Freds and so when I saw that you and your Siberians were not one of the 4 other mushers that I know of in the area that have sibes, I knew it was you. I'm glad I could help you feel at home.
Ken Brown
ask Mike about me
Ken,
Thanks for 'outing' yourself!!! You were too bundled for me to really be sure who it was or wasn't!!
So on your YQ300 bio earlier this year you list your kennel bloodlines as being 'Matray, Ramstead and others'.
Where does your NW connection come from?? Feel free to email privately (northwapiti@xplornet.com) if you'd rather!
Karen
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