The Ceremonial Start of the iditarod, Pt 2
(…continued) Willow, Alaksa My mother stands on the main dog sled and i sit inside it. Her friend Cindy is trailing on the back in another sled… this one to keep us from going to fast. The ceremonial start, taking place one day before the official start, is not competitive. Photo by Donna Quante We […]
The Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod Pt 1
Alaska I wake up to the sound of howling sled dogs once again. It’s the early morning rooster crow of Willow, Alaska. Today is a special day. It is the ceremonial start of the Iditarod and I get to go for a ride in the dog sled with my mother. We head into downtown Anchorage […]
The Iditarod, Why? Pt 2
(Continued) Picking the brain of vetran Iditarod racer, Bob Chupack on why he loves this race. He continued, “not to sound kooky or anything… but I feel that there’s a whole spiritual world that we’re not functioning with. When you are out running the dogs and your brain loosens up, sometimes you can pick up on […]
The Iditarod. Why? Pt 1
When my mother first told me that she was training to run the Iditarod, I have to admit my first thought was why?? Why run the Iditarod? Why spend so much time and so much effort, and a whole lot of money, to do this thing that to me seems kinda masochistic and downright dangerous… […]
Alaska… and the Iditarod
Anchorage, Alaska I am in here to send my mother off on her third Iditarod dog sled race and also have the exciting chance to ride in her sled during the ceremonial start. The Millennium Hotel in Anchorage; Iditarod race headquarters and supporter of the Iditarod for the last two decades Jet lagged but curious, […]
Preparing for the Iditarod
Willow, Alaska I wake up on the couch to the sounds of sled dogs howling in the yard. I’m sweating in front of the wood stove which has burned all night heating up the house. Wearing a double set of leggings and a fleece, i throw off the blankets and open the door to get some […]
The Viennese Flea Market
Vintage porcelain dishes, colorful plastic trinkets and toys, worn miniature playing cards, embroidered turkish clothes, big, warm fur coats, and people of all stripes; The Viennese flea market is open every Saturday from early until about 6pm. The best time to go in my opinion is either early- to get all the good stuff, or […]
Onward to Alaska!
I am on my way to Anchorage Alaska to ride in my mother’s sled at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. The Iditarod, called “The Last Great Race” is a long-distance dog sled race from Willow to Nome, Alaska. It spans over 1,000 miles and “mushers” have to sled over glaciers, through forests, past wild […]
The Naschmarkt, Vienna
After days of overcast, the sun breaks triumphantly through the grey bringing with it a crisp, blue sky. Perola and I, after hermiting ourselves up in the apartment painting for a several days, decide we must get out. We step into the sun and make a beeline for the Saturday flea market. We are staying […]
My Mother is a Bad Ass- The Iditarod
I am in Vienna until Wednesday and then I will board a plane to go to Alaska for a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in a sled for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. But not just any sled, my MOTHER’s sled. The Iditarod is the most known and challenging dog sled race […]