Printer Friendly
Send this page to a friend
Random Patterns and Events
by Lynne Price
Copyright March, 2009 -
Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race
Many would say that I am a person of questionable dog-interest and background. For me, there’s something about all that invasion of personal space, need for attention and dog slobber that generally turns me. Yet a few months ago, while on a solo trike/cycle trip of Oahu a terrible incident occurred and I found myself with no place to stay yet needing to recover. Complete strangers stepped up and took me in. They had two dogs. Dixie, a seasoned well-mannered sleek golden lab and Brodie, a fresh and energy filled tawny brown 9-week old Pug. It’s hard to admit to but I fell for these two canines. Their innate sense of care and protection kicked right in despite our not knowing one another. I was seriously hurt and these two, as I sat or lay in a stupor, would ever so gently come to my aid.
 |
Eagle Cap Extreme memorabilia |
They’d just show up and be resting by me, then find a place where they could ease over & connect, lean or press themselves to me. It seemed like they came with the intention to relieve some of or to take on some of my discomfort. This deeply grounded me and helped me to rest peacefully. In a way, it told me that everything was OK, that all would be right and good again. It was amazing, how they’d be there, secured against my legs, side or backside. These dogs and the excellent care I received from their owners, one of whom was a doctor and a gourmet cook (what luck!), gave me a quicker than normal recovery. Obviously, woman and beast, knew how deeply I was scared, displaced, and hurt. I think the dogs sensed that a great violation had happened and it brought out their innate instincts to protect, even a stranger. This obviously is a whole other story but it sure changed how I feel about dogs and it opened my heart to understanding why dogs are so revered and loved by humans.
So - back to my tale about the sled dog race that’s held here in Wallowa County. A series of events, random events with random patterns, began the evening before the start of the 5th annual Eagle Cap Extreme sled-dog race. A friend of mine emailed to ask if I could take her place the next day selling memorabilia. I was glad to help her out, glad to return just one of the many favors she has done for me, and glad to be going to the races. Sitting behind a table of ‘stuff’ didn’t quite appeal to me but getting out from under my Forest Service contract work did. I made plans to drive to Joseph, park my van and ride my bike with trailer of ‘stuff’ up to the designated parking area that’s just below Fergi, then catch their shuttle up to the lodge and race area. In Joseph, I ran into a friend and it took some time to catch up, so I peddled hard down the Imnaha highway. Not being a watch-wearing person, I sensed I was running late and decided to peddle only as far as the historic red round barn, ditch the bike and trailer, and quickly hitch a ride up to Fergie.
A few folks passed me by, no problem, non-locals heading to the race I guessed. Then came a truck complete with the ‘dog condominium’ full of dogs, sleds on the roof, and their musher, Rick Katucki, who’s from Eagle, Idaho. He too was late as he was trying to locate his ‘handler’ who was traveling up from La Grande to help him. No luck, so he had left Joseph ‘handler-less’. At the staging area I quickly found the table of sled dog and race goods only to find that they had plenty of volunteers for the day.
 |
Rick and Goose on main street |
 |
Eagle Cap Extreme memorabilia |
Joyfully, I switched gears and went to offer my volunteer help to Rick. He was bouncing about, getting things done but mostly he was planted in front of a camera crew or the newspaper reporters who were interviewing him. I got a chance to mention to him that I had spent a few years working with purebred Suffolk Draft Horses on a 44-acre farm in western Oregon. I figured handling and gearing-up dogs must be easier than the heavy weight gear involved when handling draft horse equipment. I figured that I could ‘figure out’ how to help him with his dogs. I think I might have forgotten to directly mention that I was, well, not that much of a ‘dog person’. I was though, excited to be of service and learn something new.
« Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next Page » | Single page version
Lynne Price is a long time naturalist, adventurer and observer of life. She is transitioning from a life of being a supportive partner of the second oldest Zine in the nation, Moonlight Chronicles into the field of freelance writing. She definitely doesn’t have any dogs. Just 4 cats, an awesome aspen grove, pond, son/daughter/grandson, gardens, old wore out outbuildings, woven fruit trees and definitely a small cozy home, all of which is affectionately called Ruby Peak Retreat here in the valley of the Nez Perce.
A good site for Mushing Terminology, see: www.everythinghusky.com/features/mushingterms.html
See www.eaglecapextreme.com
Site about litter theme dog’s www.vernhalter.com/OurAthletes/
