Teaching the Musher - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

As you may already know (and if you don't, where have you been, my goodness, keep up peoples!) I'm teaching the Musher how to herd sheepy sheeps.

Yes, yes, I flunked out of the Alta-Peet Stockdogs school of herdy herding, but it was a lifestyle choice really.  I had a higher calling to herd Pretty Curly Tails, but whatever, the Musher started going to her friend's house and they have sheepy sheeps, and they have herdy dogs, and she seemed interested in the whole process, and she also likes whistling really loud, so seeing her interest in the job I figured I'd oblige her by giving her some training.

Frankly, I hope she loses interest in this soon because I'm the one doing all the running around, but I can't resist giving her something fun to do.

Anyhooooooo, so we went out to a real field the other day.  It seemed as though she was ready for that next step.  You start out doing it in a small field because if the sheepy sheeps go all wackadoodle and run off... well, that's never a good thing

Photo: Alamy

Instead of going big, we went small, with a nice bunch of sheepy sheeps.  I didn't want to overwhelm the Musher on her first big field event.

It's ok Musher, they're very nice sheepy sheeps, they won't stomp on you

I had a talk with Manny, Frankie, Lou, Nelly, and Lucinda and told them to go easy on the Musher, as she was new to all of this.  Then I took the Musher aside and told her that she would do just fine, just lay off the "down" stuff.  Even though it's a big field, things still poo on it, and I'm not laying down in poo.

So I started them off for a leisurely run to get some real estate between them and the Musher, just to see if she remembered the whole "come here" command.

Beautiful grouping guys, but don't make it too easy on her!

The Musher is having a LOT of difficulty remembering to say Come-Bye or Away to Me because she's so used to Gee and Haw.  When that happens, I just glare at her.

Seriously?  Gee?  Do we not remember our sheepy commands?

Sometimes I just can't help myself and just take over... I mean I don't want to go chasing the sheepie things when she lays out a Walk Up while the sheepies things are running full tilt bozo in the opposite direction.  The Musher gets a bit frustrated when I take over, and I try really hard to let her make mistakes, but eeesh.

Watch out Musher!  Don't walk in front of the sheepie things, they'll smoosh you!

She gets frustrated too, so when that happens, I ask the gang to cut her some slack, and hopes she remembers the "There" so I can "Walk Up" and move the sheepie things at her.

Ok, seriously?  How much closer do you want them, and NO, I'm not laying down, there's a bug on the ground here

She also likes to have things "just so" and all perfect.  I guess she's never heard "close enough for sheepy things work", so I asked Manny to step on her foot.

There!  Um... how about a "That'll Do?"  I'm thirsty you know

She did very well today, despite some challenges, and I think she has a lot of potential, if she can forget all of those mushing commands, but I have a feeling that this winter, she's going to be out on the training trail and TOTALLY freak out the team by yelling COME-BYE!!!

That'll be fun to watch.

- Bet

Race to the Sky - The Finish and Other Stuffs and Things - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

In case you weren't keeping track of stuffs and things on the Facebooks (and why weren't you?), the team finished, everybodies is fine, everybodies had fun and there were some good parts, and bad parts, and the bestest part of all was the team finished and the Musher is back (I worry when she's gone).

Since most of what happens during the race from my point of view is pretty much waiting, and waiting, and more waiting, and eating, and waiting, and arranging my ensembles, and then some waiting, and more waiting... I figured I'd post a few pictures that fans and my fantabulous personal assistants took while we were waiting and waiting, and doing some waiting, and before the race, and other stuffs and things.

They are in no order whatsoever, so try not to get dizzy and fall off your chair.  The Musher will do her after race report when we get back home, and I'm sure that will make a lot more sense... or not.

Okey Dokey, so here we go.


Here's the team!  That's Leigh, The Musher, and Julia.  Leigh and Julia have been extra special personal assistants this race, as they actually went out shopping for new ensembles for me before we left the Kennels to make sure that I had stunning and never before seen ensembles.  They went above and beyond the call of duty for me this race, and I really appreciate it!

These are pictures that super fan Anne Trygstad took of everybodies at the vet check thingie.

Yes, I look very serious because it is my duty to ensure the vet checks go well

The Pretty Curly Tails getting ready for vet checks and the race

Turtle getting vet checked

The vet is checking Turtle for tickliness

The color coordinated Musher and Vet 

psssst, Musher.... can I please have a snack before the vet pokes and prods me

Before the start, there's the Musher meeting, where the Musher drew bib #15, then there was some waiting.

The Musher was having a hard time deciding who the final dog on the team was going to be.  I truly thought that I could make a hugey huge contribution in this race, and decided to play "rock, paper, scissors" for the final spot.

Turns out I didn't make the cut... get it... scissors... make the cut...


So, that meant more waiting.

Some braiding

Then I got into my Start ensemble.

Then it was time to start, but they moved the start of the race because... um....

... there was a bit of lack of snow.

So, everybodies had to convoy up to the new start place where there was some snow.

Where we saw this sign and I tried to convince the Musher to just turn this truck around and go back and get a pizza.

At least they said there was snow, and there was... sorta... if you consider slush to be within the snow family.

I can tell you... that stuff when it squishes between your toes... not pleasant.

Wayward was unceremoniously pinned and taped to the sled for good measure

Then at 6pm Montanana time, it was eventually time for the team to start.

They were wearing their stylish and super cool Head-lites (proud sponsor of North Wapiti Kennels).

And just like that... the team left.

At this point, the Moose Gnome had become unbearably annoying, so I took care of that...

So that meant driving back to the hotel to start our waiting and waiting.

My personal assistants had a surprise for me, they arranged a date with Triad, one of Jackie Wepruk's team dogs (he has a leg owie).

He was very nice, and quite a gentleman, but he did hog a lot of the bed.

Don't worry, nothing happened.  I'm loyal to my Pretty Curly Tails (even though he comes from Pretty Curly Tail lines), it was purely an innocent sleep over.

Then we waited, and waited some more, while the Pretty Curly Tails and the Musher made it to the checkpoint for their rest.

The next morning we had breakfast (bacon on waffle), I was wearing my green ensemble.

Then we waited and waited and waited, and then when the team got closer, I got into my finish ensemble.

with matching doggles... of course

Before we knew it, here came the team!

Yippeeee!!!!

Here's the video!

We all drove back to the hotel, and I took a nap

Yep, that's pretty much what happened.

- Bet

Race to the Sky - Our Trip

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!!

Yes, we are on the road... well, we're actually here, but yesterday we were on the road to Montanana!

The Musher and Pretty Curly Tails are racing to the sky in the Race to the Sky this weekend!

We packed up our gear.  My personal assistants (and handlers) this race time are Leigh and Julia.  They are good personal assistants because they brought me some NEW ensembles and made sure my ensemble bag was packed IN the truck this time (harmpf Lisa Oi).

The Moose Gnome good luck charm is making the drive with us (in case you were wondering what that thing was on the ground in front).

With everybodies and everythings and stuffs packed, we were on the road!!!

... and made it all the way to a Timmy's... sigh... this trip is going to take a while.

We made it to Grandma's house to spend the night, and then off we drove again...

There was driving, some more driving, a lot more driving, and lots of stops at Timmy's and Starbucks... amazingly enough.

Meanwhile, back at the Yukon Quest, "Apprentice" Trail Breaker Musher Mark was doing some awesome trail breaking work and stuffs and things for the mushers and pups at that race.

Here are some fantabulous pictures he took along the Yukon Quest trails so you can see the conditions and the snow and snowy snow and some icy ice and prettiness.

Lots of pretty snow

pretty snow and other trail breakers breaking the pretty snow for the mushers and teams

more trail breaking and pretty snow and a trail marker and a beautiful sunset... or sunrise, or the sun doing something

euuuw, that's not pretty snow, that's oogie icey stuffs and things and water and junk

More Yukon Quest pretty snow and trail breaking

A trail breaker about to put a trail marker on the pretty snow

More broken trail with a pretty sun... set or rise or something

Meanwhile in Montanana

Um... where's the snow?  WHERE'S THE SNOW?????

Even the Pretty Curly Tails are all like "WHERE'S THE SNOW???"

It's like a tropical island around here!  It's so warm (how warm is it) that I was overcome by the heat and needed to spend time in the air conditioned cab, where I did some research.

It says that Montanana is cold, it isn't cold.  Clearly we made a wrong turn and landed in Florida!

The Musher insisted that we were indeed in Montanana.

Not cold, no snow

Still not cold, and no snow

Humungous cow on wheels, small ploop of snow behind it ummm, at least I think that's snow....

FINALLY we get to Seeley Lake and check in at the FANTABULOUS Wilderness Gateway Inn

Of course, the Pretty Curly Tails were all...

Where's the snow?????

snow???

Ok, seriously... this isn't the place is it?  There's NO SNOW??

We've been assured that there is snow higher up, and the race start has been moved to the Morrell Creek Trailhead (wherever that is) and changed from 4pm to 6pm.  I have to say that this warmness is affecting my ensemble choices, as I packed for snow!

Thankfully my personal assistants made sure that I was prepared, and now I have this blingity bling high viz ensemble

My ensemble is so bright, I need to wear shades... no seriously, it hurts my eyes, stop pointing lights at me!

So after all of that kerfluffle of warmth, no snow, the drive... the highlight of the day was when a car pulled up, a guy got out with a box and gave us a pizza!!!

Shelly (RAGBRAI) Minion thought we may be exhausted after the trip and had ordered us a pizza!  It came to our door!  It's sitting right there!!!  I'm drooling!!!  Thank you Shelly Minion!

Okey Dokey, so here's everythings and stuffs you need to know about the race today...

The start got moved.
The start is at 6pm Montanana time.
That idiot Wayward will be safety pinned to the sled, which means you can follow the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails by clicking this link right here... this link... click this.

As usual:  The Musher and Pretty Curly Tails come first, so the Handlers will get pictures and video as they can, but they have more important duties to perform first.

We will give you updates on the Facebooks when we get them, so go to the Facebooks fan page (you don't have to have a Facebooks account to view things).

You can also check out the Race to the Sky Facebooks fan page for updates there too.

Wayward is supposed to be holding on with both hands, but he may do some posts.

That's about it I guess.  Any questions??

- Bet