DUKETT

It was a sunny warm morning with lots of snow on the ground. A perfect day for fair-weather mushers. The dogs waited anxiously on their picket line as we got the two sleds ready. Excitement grew as we hooked the first team of dogs to the gang line. Upon command the dogs took off down the shoot! I do not know who was more excited them? or me? But it was good to be out with the team. "SLOW" I commanded, as I put my foot on the drag pad. "SLOW" I commanded again as the sled started to weave. "WOAH" I hollered as I tried to get out of the snow bank! My team had gotten away! I hollered to my handlers hoping they could hear me. I needed help there was no way I was going to catch them by running. Despite my pleading the dogs did not stop. Nor did they take the turn, they were heading towards the road. I ran down the trail hoping the dogs were ok and hoping that someone was coming to help me. Lawrence came speeding down the trail he stopped at the road to pick me up I got into the Jeep and we barreled down to find our dogs. We got to the intersection of Dix Avenue (a main road in GF) but could not see the dog in either direction. How do you loose four dogs and a sled? Then we noticed a long line of brake lights. Lawrence quickly turned left and barreled down the middle of the road. Traffic was stopped in both directions as everyone watched a couple of Niagara Mohawk guys grab the gang line and drag the dogs and sled to the side of the road. I jumped out of the Jeep before it even stopped. I checked each dog over and gave each one a big hug and a kiss. My dogs and my sled were all OK! Oh, and I figured out what went wrong in the first place... I was standing on the wrong runner. Yes it does make a difference. You see I was making a right turn, when I picked up my right foot to apply it to the drag pad I was putting all my wait on my left runner. This caused my sled to veer to the left, throwing me into the snowbank.

posted by DUKETT @ Sunday, June 13, 2010 0 comments

Wedding Hike

On July 4, 2006 Lawrence and I got married, we (the pastor, friends, and family) hiked up Mount Marcy to commence our vows. It was a long beautiful day.

posted by DUKETT @ Wednesday, August 30, 2006 0 comments