One Last Paxson Update
Not sure if I’ll have WiFi at Chisto so I wanted to give one last update because the next might, I stress might, be at the end of the race. At Paxson the dogs came in looking gassed and really weren’t interested in eating they were so tired. Cole bedded them down, put on their blankets, and then just let them sleep for a bit. She grabbed some grub in the lodge then went back out and it was like she had a new team. The dogs stood up just seeing her coming, so we knew right away they were hoping for a meal. They ate like wolves. She then let them sleep a few more hours and herself went in for some rest. HOwever, her fears of the winds to come wouldn’t let her relax. She only ended up getting an hour of sleep.
Back outside she gave the dogs more grub and liquids, and rubbed down everyone’s sore muscles and feet. The dogs continued to take everything they were offered, and before she left the dogs were so well hydrated their pee looked like it was coming right out of a bottle of purified water. Getting the food on the dogs will help with what is to come, but Cole is still concerned about her leaders. With losing our lead dog Karma last year to a brain tumor, and another main leader, Oaky, being home with a pup, Cole is asking a lot of the handful of dogs she is using at the front end. Penny could likely lead all 300 miles of this race, but she is so tiny, she isn’t much help in the strong wind despite her strong heart to be out in front. INstead COle lead out at 10:02 p.m. with HIldy and Cyder, two of her biggest dogs. Also, it is worth noting (I’ve been so busy and tired I’ve hardly focused on each individual dog) that COle took our two two-year-olds Kawlijah (in photo above) and Seeker in the race and she has repeatedly said Kawlijah is one of the strongest dogs in her team. He is still learning how to lead, but even if he doesn’t pick it up, he is a real asset due to his size, strength and drive. The funniest thing about it is, since these two are so young, they staqy up watching everything at the checkpoints rather than sleeping like the adults know to, so if these guys are this strong with no sleep, we can’t wait to see how much energy they have to burn once they learn to really rest.
IN other handling news, I have largely been able to park where Shagoo and Metoo couldn’t see Cole, but at Paxson there was no other option. Metoo spotted Cole and went wild once again. In her spite she annilated three bottled drinks I had on the vent to keep from freezing, so now the entire front seat in soaked. She or Shagoo also finshed a bag of Ginger Snaps I brought formyself, and the little monster chewed up my indoor/outdoor thermometer. This last one is really annoying because it was a very special gift to me from Cole, and a very valuable piece of equipment in this kind of weather. I think I’ve learned from this trip that next time I’l bring Shagoo and Buckwheat, and leave Metoo at home. All for now.