Date: March 11, 2010
Official Sunrise @: 7:27 Photograph Taken @: 7:26
Temperature: 1° Wind: None
Photographer: Ron Day Camera Used: Canon G9
More cloudy skies this morning in Wasilla. I’m certainly ready for more beautiful sunrises but they are in short supply recently. Just as I was about to photograph some boring gray clouds with trees in the foreground to use as today’s sunrise photo, my favorite little tweety bird stopped by, settling on the suet block I’ve provided for birds like him.
I quickly snapped a few photos and after some tough negotiations he finally agreed that I could use one of them for today’s blog, under the condition that I replace this suet after he eats it all up. At first I was upset. I told him that his demands were totally unreasonable, but then I relented, agreeing to his terms after he reminded me that there was absolutely nothing else to photograph on this dull looking morning.
The above picture shows him being firm during our business meeting. This is one smart little Chickadee.
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“You know the snow is bad when they cancel school in Homer, Alaska. =)”
~Facebook Comment March 5, 2010~
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Continued photo coverage of the 2010 Iditarod re-start
I am continuing my photo coverage of the 2010 Iditarod re-start, held last Sunday, March 7, in Willow, Alaska. This series of photos will continue through Thursday, March 11, with approximately 25 new pictures each day.
Rather than focus my attention on the race itself I thought it would be interesting to document the pre-race activities, preparations at a mushers home and kennels, and in the staging area during the hours before the actual start. I felt like this was something many fans of the Iditarod have never seen up close and I felt like I should share these images with my readers. I am very grateful to Dee Dee Jonrowe for giving me the opportunity to do this.
Again, if you find any photos where I have not identified someone, or have identified the incorrectly, please e-mail me @ rondayvous2000@yahoo.com with the correct information and I will update it immediately.
The official web site of the Iditarod has an informative web page which lists all of the mushers in the 2010 race, along with their biography’s and photograph’s. It is interesting reading and will enlighten you, not only about the people themselves, but also about the history of the Iditarod.
You can find the web page here:
As I published this morning’s post Dallas Seavy was leading the race. He arrived at the Cripple checkpoint at 1:26 a.m. this morning. John Baker(2nd. place) and Martin Buser (3rd. place) are also at Cripple.
You can track your favorite racer and check current race standings here.
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Dee Dee Says Thank You Then Begins Her Race To Nome
With only minutes remaining before her scheduled starting time, Dee Dee chatted briefly with each of her handlers and volunteers, giving them a personal thank you for the work they had done.
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All Creatures Veterinary Clinic of Wasilla, Alaska has been one of Dee Dee’s race sponsors for many years. Jo Rehn, pictured here, is owner of the clinic, Dee Dee’s Veterinarian, and also her very good friend.
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Bill Collins of Willow recieves a thank you hug from Dee Dee Jonrowe.
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This volunteer introduced herself to me but I feel bad that I have forgotten her name, a mistake I will try to fix as soon as I am able.
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Cindi Martin and her husband, Dr. James Martin, own Valley Chiropractic Clinic in Wasilla. For many years they have sponsored their friend Dee Dee in her Iditarod races.
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Dee Dee adjusts a harness while speaking to two of her dog handlers, giving them her appreciation for all of the time and effort they have put into this years Iditarod race.
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As race officials instruct them to be ready, Dee Dee and husband Mike climb aboard the sled, awaiting the signal to advance to the starting line.
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While bystanders cheer her on, Dee Dee and her team slowly advance towards the starting line.
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The announcer counts the seconds backwards from 10 on the PA system, then says GO. The excited dogs bark in excitement as the handlers release them, allowing them to run freely, like they’ve been trained to do…like they want to do. The crowd, tightly packed against a protective fence, cheers wildly as Dee Dee passes by waving to them.
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As a cameraman from a local television station captures Dee Dee’s entrance into the 2010 Iditarod, her loving fans take hundreds more pictures with their digital cameras.
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An arm appears in the crowd lining the fence, waving to Dee Dee, wishing her luck. She gives a small smile in return, then encourages her dog team to pick up the pace. It has already been a long day for her, and there’s a long night ahead as she races to checkpoint three, Skwentna, which is 52 miles away. She’s already tired, worried about her mother who will undergo treatment for cancer while she’s gone, but Dee Dee is strong, she’ll do just fine, thank you. This is her 28th. Iditarod start, she knows exactly what needs to be done to finish well, and she’ll do it too, or at least give it her very best shot. That’s the kind of girl she is.
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I Have More Pictures From the Iditarod, So….
As I finished up my Iditarod re-start story today I realized that I have many more pictures that I wasn’t able to use because they didn’t quite fit into my story line. So I think tomorrow, Friday, I’m going to post them here on my blog “Alaska At Sunrise”. I hope my readers will enjoy viewing them.
