And So We Wait - Bet

Like you, the reporters at the BCBC are pretty grumpy at the lack of news coming out of the Torch River Run. 

To our advantage, we do have the alien tracking device, and according to the aliens, we're pretty sure the Musher is at the Lower Fishing Point checkpoint, and are assuming that Richard and the 6-Pretty Sled Dog team are at the River Trail Country Vacations checkpoint.  I guess no news is good news in some cases.

In case you're wondering what we all do here at North Wapiti while we wait for race news.  Well, we play cards.  Tonight we have Tramp sitting in, and trust me when I tell you; she will not SHUT UP!

Kara is winning.  She wins all the time.  I don't know how she does it.  We have to pay her off in Dentastix, of course.

Speaking of Kara, since we didn't get you the video of the start of the race, I thought I would give you a video of the Pretty Sled dogs in action, along with a cool song.  This little clip is from the movie: "Pretty Sled Dogs" which was written, produced, and filmed and everything by one of the Musher Minions: Donna Quante.  You can even purchase the video and the soundtrack from the Musher's Amazon affiliate store, along with some of the books that the Musher recommends to help you pass the time in between race updates.  Trust me, its a lot better than listening to Tramp yammer non-stop all night.

Here is your video, and I promise its not some annoying guy singing this time:





- Bet

Lake Piprell Checkpoint Update - Bet

Your not-so-roving Border Collie Reporter, Bet, here!

I want to apologize for that Kara trick.  You would have thought I had learned my lesson when she sent poor Bait over the mountains to be captured by Sherpas.

We just found a picture of the Pretty Curly Tails and the Musher at the start of the race:

 So we got some exciting news by way of the Torch River Run blog site that said that the Musher arrived first at the Piprell Lake checkpoint!  Here's a link to the current positions (it'll change as the race proceeds), but right now the Musher is in FIRST PLACE!

Waahhoooo! 

Apparently, there was a bit of a mix up on the trail, and although the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails found their way just fine, the other mushers took a break on the trail and then got a little lost, so the Musher has a two hour lead on the group!

Now, we don't have the whole story about what happened, but shortly before the team reached the Piprell Lake checkpoint, I got a text message from Rocket saying she found a really cool souvenir from the race that she was going to bring me.  She sent me this picture from her cell phone:

I'm thinking we should probably just keep this between us, huh?

-Bet

An Announcement From The BCBC - Cricket

As the General Manager, and head of Security for North Wapiti compound, and the Border Collie Broadcasting Center (BCBC), it has come to my attention that one of the BCBC correspondents, Kara, has played a practical joke on the North Wapiti viewing audience.

Kara's use of the "Rick Roll" was inexcusable and will not be tolerated.

I assure you that as GM and head of Security, I take my job very seriously, and the correspondent has been summarily suspended from reporter responsibilities at North Wapiti.  If Kara had used the annoying, yet addictive "Numa Numa" video, or the mind numbing "Cat, I'm a kitty cat" video, we would have fired her from her position immediately.

I will not stand for frivolity and mischief on my watch!

I have also investigated reports that Bait has returned from Sherpa jail with a tattoo and demonstrating deviant  behavior.  My investigation has found that the "tattoo" was merely a sticker, and forensics have shown oddly familiar black husky fluff and dentastix residue on the sticky side of the sticker.  We are investigating some leads at this point, but do not have a definitive suspect.  Bait is not cooperating in the investigation.



Kara has decided to end her lease on the Cloud for use by the BCBC as the nerve center for reporting, and as General Manager, I am looking for another site for use in reporting on North Wapiti events.  Space is at a premium here at North Wapiti.

I think I have found a suitable location for the BCBC, and construction on the nerve center will begin this spring. 

In the meantime, Bet will be reporting from the living room chair.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled race updates.

Regards

Cricket

And She's Off... we think - Bet

Bet here, your not so roving Border Collie Reporter, reporting here from the North Wapiti Nerve Center, the Border Collie Broadcasting Center (BCBC)!

As I write this, the Musher and 10 Curly Tails are off (we think) on their exciting 200 mile race at the Torch River Run in beautiful Saskatchawan!  Unfortunately... the Torch River Run web site is a bit... slow.  The Torch River Run "blog" is a bit... really slow.

Lucky for all of the North Wapiti fans, you have a crack team of reporters to give you the insider news and tidbits during this two day race!

I will be providing color commentary throughout the race.

Kara tells me that she has contacts inside the Torch River Run organizers and will provide information even before the organizers know about it.

Finally, we'll get the "cat's eye view" from our foreign correspondent Bait, just back from his stint in the Sherpa jail thanks to Joice Himawan's generous bail donation.  Um, just between you and me, Bait's been a bit weird since he's been back.  He's sporting a fresh new tattoo and insists on being called MC Kitteh, so just humor him, ok?  He also appears to be using his claws to file a blade out of a Popsicle stick, so we'd rather not set him off until we can get the counselor in here.

When the Musher was back home, we managed to tag her while she was sleeping with a special type of tracking device similar to what aliens use, except we just hid it in her hat.  We hope the technology holds up in the cold weather so we can track her as she and the curly tails enjoy their race, but in the past its been a bit problematic due to user (Musher) error.  You may recall that during the Iditarod, the Musher dropper her Iditarod tracker on the trail and a snow machine picked it up.  For a while we all thought the pretty curly tails were running at 35 miles per hour and were quite impressed.

On top of being able to track her using high tech satellite something or others, Kara has just delivered to me raw video footage of the start!  I told you Kara had insider contacts!  I haven't seen the video, but she assures me that its very exciting, and she also doesn't want people to ruin the cool surprise in the video by posting the surprise on the blog comments (or Facebook comments if you are reading the blog from Facebook), so that everyone can enjoy it for themselves!


I can't wait to see it for myself, I hope you enjoy it... click here for the start video!

- Bet

Let's Get Ready to MUSH! - Bet

Howdy-ho everybody, its your roving Border Collie reporter, Bet, reporting from the North Wapiti Border Collie Broadcasting Center (BCBC): AKA the cloud!

Yes, its that time again!  Time for the Musher and Richard to pack up and head out to another race, and this time its the Torch River Run in scenic (been there, done that) Saskatchewan. 

Yep, just when you think its time to kick back, relax, eat some waffles, its time for another race!

I'm sure all of you will be disappointed that I won't be going along on this trip (I'll pause here while you all weep a little), but never fear!  I will be able to keep track of the mushers right here from my cushy reporter nerve center!

This trip, which will begin at midnight tonight will consist of only the Musher and Richard, and of course, the curly tails. 

The Musher will be taking on the challenging 10-dog race, which is 200 miles and starts tomorrow.

Richard will be taking on the equally challenging 6-dog race, which is 80 miles and starts on Friday.  Both races will finish on Saturday.  Since I don't have opposable thumbs and can't drive a stick, I won't be able to move the truck where it needs to be, therefore I will be staying here for this trip.

Don't fret though, we have ways of keeping track of events and I also have to post some tidbits from the last race, so keep checking back for updates and don't forget to cheer on the Musher and Richard on the North Wapiti Facebook page (we're so socially networked you know).

And now the moment you've been waiting for, the line up for the race!!!!

Karen's team consists of:


Jinx!

Jinx is sponsored by Kathy Clark!  Thank you Kathy!












Rocket

Rocket is doing the dance of happiness because she's sponsored by Deb Custer!  Thanks Deb!










See

 See is sponsored by Marlene Daniels!  Thank you Marlene!











Tess

Tess is sponsored by Marlene Daniels!  Thanks again Marlene!











Charge

Charge is currently on hold for sponsorship















Turtle (the Amazing)

Turtle is sponsored by Kathryn and Pete Trussell, and Frank and Paula Langenstein!  Thank you all!










Crunchie

Crunchie is sponsored by Dana and Judy Keveldar!  Thank you Dana and Judy!












Q

Q is sponsored by Donna Quante!  Thanks Donna!











Wolvie

 Wolvie is sponsored by Carolyn Martin, Rob and Colleen Wolf, and Brenda Potter!  Thanks everyone!










WiFi

WiFi is sponsored by Tammy Taylor, Marlene Daniels, & Diana Miller!
Thank you all!










Richard's team consists of:

Runner

Runner is sponsored by Maureen Zavodjancik!  Thank you Maureen!












Bang

 Bang is sponsored by Kathy Carmichael!  Thank you Kathy!











 Shooter

 Shooter is sponsored by Tammy Taylor of Maryland!  Thank you Tammy!










Astro

Astro is a true rookie and will be racing for the first time in the Torch River Run.  Astro doesn't have a sponsor yet, so if you'd like to Sponsor poor Astro so he can at least afford a bath, click on the  "Sponsor A Dog" Add to Cart button and sponsor Astro for $250.00!







Irving

Irving is sponsored by Mary Curtis!  Thank you Mary!











Barq

Barq is sponsored by Cheryl Dawson, Gloria Scheetz, and Laura Slay (Friends of Harnessed to Hope Northern Breed Rescue)