Whisper lite

Revelation #325: I am not an animal whisperer. In fact I think I give off a tasty scent of some sort or maybe just an odd odor. On Sunday, 13 miles into my bike ride out in the country, relatively in the Middle Of Nowhere (any distance greater than a few miles out of Nome feels MON) I was chased by angry dog #423 (not really that many but feels like a good number). Then about ½ mile later I turned a corner still looking back for the dog when a muskox charged me. I didn’t see them hovering off the road. It wasn't really that dramatic but I ended up turning around since they wouldn’t let me pass.... oh yeah and my freewheel was freewheeling. So much for the planned 40 mile outing.

Domesticlife is hard enough, so when wildlife interferes with my outings I'm not a fan. Lately, it seems every time I go out in the country it’s always something. Last weekend my free wheel started rebelling for freedom. What an odd feeling to anticipate resistant only to rapidly spin the pedals. Luckily they eventually engaged. Of course, after a week long weather bound stay in Gambell through turkey-giving I forgot about that problem. It sort of floated into the recesses of my mind and I sure wasn't going to let it stop my fun. That's one way to learn how to fix things I suppose, out on the trail in the cold.... sandwiched by a dog in pursuit and stubborn muskox.

Bluebird day

This is one my very favorite things about Nome, the storms. Finally after a month of mellow weather, this is my bluebird day and a chance to get out try some new gear. Three hours of 47 mph gusting winds in a snow storm is always exhilarating on a bike. Chris enjoyed his first taste of a winter storm in Nome.

In a van down by the...

Fairbanks. Hahnah sleeps in our magic van while I wait patiently for Sarah and The Box of Candles to finish the last "show" at the UAF Pub. It was a late event so I gladly hung out with Hahnah this evening. This week has been another whirlwind tour as usual but great fun. Pics to follow but check out Sarah's interview and photos on Wholewheat radio when we stopped in Talkeetna earlier this week. Thanks Jim and Esther for a great time and hospitality!!!

On the road again

Not quite Willie Nelson but we are leaving Nome with a little Nome entourage for a music tour in Fairbanks. If you are in the area come see Sarah C Hanson and A Box of Candles:

Talkeetna:
10/5 Tues, 11am- Whole Wheat Radio Interview

Fairbanks:
10/7 Wed,6-8pm Lavelles
10/8 Thurs,7-9pm College Coffee House
10/9 Fri,9-11pm UAF Pub

Just Moosey

Sarah recently was a finalist in a small business initiative sponsored by Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. NSEDC deserves a good plug not only because they helped Sarah but they are probably one of the few for profit companies that help this region so much; rural clean up programs, education scholarships, grants, and they even recently donated a percentage of one of their boat profits to the Bering Sea Womans Group. Very cool.

It sure was nice to get a moose last weekend. Tyler and I headed out on Saturday early squirrely and by the afternoon tracked a bull and had it packed out by early evening. Lots of work but really worth it. Tastes so good and hundreds of pounds of lean meat where you know they are not shot full of hormones and antibiotics.



I was pretty rusty but between us we did a nice job getting all the meat out properly. The meat hung for a few days then Sarah and I spent last evening and well into the early morning cutting, packing, labeling and vacuum sealing the meat for the freezer. Quite the chore, I'd much rather be exploring than hunting but glad we have meat for the winter.

Old man candy, maybe no-so-good...

Over the past two years I have struggled to come up with evidence to support that Ibuprofen can shut down kidney function. It's certainly possible (according to research physiologists) but I have not heard much first-hand direct input... until now. I'm sure there are more out there but I finally read about a well known ultra athlete who had what he felt like kidney failure due to Ibuprofen. We had virtually identical symptoms except, like an idiot, I never went to the hospital or have my enzymes tested at the time.

I have researched my issue the past two years ever since ITI 2008 and repeated the McGrath leg in ITI 2009 to evaluate a recurrence. One interesting facet this year was that I did have swelling in Rohn and waited till it went down. It just so happened I took one 200 mg IB at Rainy Pass 16 hrs prior to the swelling and we all ran out of water before Rohn (dehydration + IB = no-no). I was ok in McGrath, just a little swelling in the knees and feet until I took an 800 mg dose of IB after the race. Then I swelled so much I looked like a freak. I even consulted some high falutin ultra-sports-university-research-Ph.D.-type-physiologists. While I sincerely felt like a catalyst of events led to an ultimate kidney failure that first time in 2008 all I really had was speculation. Particularly since swelling never presented itself in any of my previous trips, even during my 53 day kayak excursion.

I'm definitely no ultra runner nor follow those events with the exception of Geoff's blog and it was through his last entry I found the blog and article. I'm glad the runner will be ok but it sure helps me as I felt out in left field with my "theory".

Laborious Day

I am not much into hunting, however, filling the freezer with quality moose or caribou meat is always a good idea. Most folks use a motorized boat or 4-wheeler to get where they need to go. Not having any of the motorized fun toys I used both of my kayaks. I was hoping for a small enough antlered moose I could kayak out myself. To see if I could even haul 400-600 lbs in my boats I filled both cockpits full with water, I think there was easily about 50 - 60 gallons between them and it was entirely manageable but not exactly a good time.



It seemed fitting to go down to Topkok Labor day weekend to end the summer when I entered the summer down here on Memorial day. I haven't been back here since that bear encounter on the beach side. I was hoping the lagoon side was a little more bear-free.



It ended up being both bear and moose free (at least none I saw). Just some muskox...



.... and tons of cranes, geese and ducks. I'm not a big fan of the taste of wild bird so I didn't hunt those, though the north wind was so strong I doubt I would have hit anything flying. I stopped periodically and glassed all the willow creek beds almost up to the last lagoon before the cliffs. It was hard to get a really good look b/c the wind was so strong and the vantage points were low.



It ended up being a fairly labor intensive 10 hr 12 mile outing and was almost glad not to have to go through the tremendous effort of prepping then hauling a moose by kayak.