We follow Mr. Horsey to the end of the beginning of the Iditarod; he gets eaten by a big fish; Balto comes to the rescue
Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 4:00AM ;)
We did not arrive at Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod until near the end, when just a few teams were left to go. We were not concerned about this, because the real start is on Sunday, at Willow, in the afternoon and we are pretty sure we will be there.
Still, Jacob and Lavina wanted to take Kalib downtown so that he could experience some of the flavor of it all and I wanted to go, to. Margie wanted to hang out with Jobe and he needed a babysitter. So I dropped her off at the house, then accompanied Jacob, Lavina and Kalib to Fourth Avenue.
But what is that little Mr. Horsey doing tucked into Jacob's coat as he and Kalib walk down Fourth Avenue?
;)
Here. Read the story for yourself. The above letter came to Jacob and Lavina in a box along with a disposable camera. So, before Mr. Horsey makes his next journey, before hopefully one day in the near future returning to his first grade class in Killan, Jacob, Lavina, and Kalib thought they would give him a chance to experience the Iditarod.
;)
Jacob is photographing Mr. Horsey with the banner that marks the Iditarod starting line in the background.
;)
I believe this is the third to the last team to go. Jacob takes a disposable camera picture with the sled dogs in the background.
;)
Shortly after the last team had left, this man, wearing a wolverine hat, and this woman, wearing a wolf hat, posed with Mr. Horsey.
I am not sure how such a scene will play in a first grade classroom in Southern California, but it does represent life in Alaska.
;)
Shortly after that, Mr. Horsey sat in on a dog team line himself.
;)
Melanie and Charlie joined us, under a real, live, snarling, angry, grizzly bear. I was terrified, but, as you can see, these three were very brave. The bear did not frighten them at all.
;)
Across the street from the bear and a few steps down the sidewalk, Mr. Horsey took a short nap on the wing of an airplane flown by a rather odd pilot and his oddball passengers.
I don't think this airplane would pass annual and I am certain there are some aviation safety violations going on here.
;)
From there, we walked down the hill to the train station.
;)
"Take my picture, quick!" Mr. Horsey shouted at me. "Before we get run over!"
;)
Then we met this fellow, whose name I forget. I wasn't worried about that, because he directed us to a table womanned by his wife to get a brochure and he said his name was there. So I got the brochure and I just now took a look at it for the first time and it has no names in it at all.
Anyway, he had some puppies for sale. These are a mix of great dane and something else - I forget what, because I thought that was going to be on the brochure, too, but it's not. His web address is, however, and maybe the information is there. I haven't looked yet and it is late and I am tired and want to get to bed, so I will leave that to you, if you are interested.
He said he also had some small breed pups and that Bristol Palin had bought one from him in the morning.
He and his wife also cater pony-parties for kids. All that information should be on the website, I would think.
;)
Next, we moved on to the snow sculptures, where a giant halibut took an interest in Mr. Horsey.
;)
Oh no! A leaping salmon got him!
How are we ever going to explain this to that first grade class in Killan?
;)
Assuming that he and Melanie would be able to get tickets to the Miners and Trappers Ball, Charlie planned to enter the beard contest at 8:00 PM. I would have liked to have gone to take pictures of him competing, but, I didn't have a ticket and I was pretty sure that Margie and I would be back in Wasilla by eight.
;)
We tried a couple of other places, but there were no seats available. Melanie called ahead to Snow City and by the time we reached there, walking, there was a table for us.
I ordered a portabello mushroom sandwich and Charlie picked up the tab.
I had never thought of Snow City as a place to eat any meal other than breakfast, but, that sandwich...
superb!
;)
Kalib ordered some hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. He found it superb as well.
;)
After lunch, Melanie and Charlie parted company with us and went their own way.
;)
As we walked the mile or so back to the car, Jacob said he wanted to stop by the Balto statue to pay his respects to this great lead dog who saved so many people in Nome during the 1925 diphtheria serum run.
When we got to the statue, I could not believe my eyes. Balto had saved Mr. Horsey. I have no idea how Balto did it, but, as anyone can plainly see, he did.
;)
Jacob, Kalib and Mr. Horsey, under the banner that marks the ceremonial starting line for the Iditarod.
;)
We walked on, past the Fur Rendez carnival. Kalib had grown very sleepy.
;)
He fell asleep in the car immediately.
;)
I guess everybody was pretty tired.
;)
In fact, I'm tired. Too tired to describe what is going on here.
;)
These two had enjoyed a lovely time together while the rest of us followed Mr. Horsey about.
Reader Comments (20)
Mr. Horsey is a great idea. Although, next time, I'll bet the letter is going to ask that he be sent to people who will not stick him in front of trains or let him be eaten by leaping salmon. Betcha.
Nice day all around. Enjoyed the pictures.
Imagine me laughing out loud! Terrific post!
What a great day you had. Jobe is growing up so fast. : )
I'll bet the 1st grade kids will really enjoy this. The fur hats, too.
You are just too cool! I love Mr. Horsey, and I love that he went to the start of the race. Thanks for taking us along. I always learn something new over here :)
looks like a great day for everybody including Mr. Horsey ...great story
I miss a week here, and look what happens!! Jobe IS growing so fast! Too fast! He looks so happy and sweet and all that!
Great post Bill! love all the pics!! Kids will love em too!
I think this is my favorite post ever. Kalib's sleepy eyes touch me. And I think your wife is in love with another!
Fabulous post! Laughter the whole way. (Love Melanie's gloves!)
I hope when you add your location to the letter you will include a link to this fine blog. I bet the kids would love it!
What a fun day out for Mr. Horsey! :)
That is one lucky horsey!
Love the horsey and how he made his way through such a great event!
My family and I will also be in Willow today for the Iditarod, but we will be on one of the lakes the race crosses, to avoid the crowds and to just get a more personal feel with the racers. I'm looking forward to it, as its the first time since we've lived here that I havent had to work on race day!
Have a great time today!
So how did Charlie's beard do in the beard contest?
Very enjoyable post, very busy post, appears to have been a very large day........Charlie and Melanie are a good looking couple, they got that look about 'em........Jobe is going to need a haircut pretty soon!
Thanks for sharing
I hope no one sends Mr. Horsey my way...I would never be able to compete with his Alaskan adventure! Although I'm sure he would try his best to be polite about it...he would yawn and try not to seem too bored.
Thanks for taking Mr. Horsey on an Alaskan Adventure. I am sure the kids in my cousins class in Rowland Heights, CA (Killian St) will love to hear about this adventure. I will share this blog with my cousin so that she can share the picutres with the kids.
Great pics of Alaksa. Makes me want to go and spend more time up there.
Thanks again! :)
I am the teacher responsible for Mr. Horsey. I can not wait to show my students your creative pictures. They are so funny. They are going to love them. Thank you so much for taking the time to show Mr. Horsey around.
Mr Horsey is my new hero! Such a brave guy, to hang out with you all day... :-)
Kalib looks like he appreciates whipped cream on hot cocoa as much as I do. Smart kid.
I need to send you a picture of my beautiful Great Dane-Basset hound mix, Daisy Lou. If anyone needs a laid-back sweetheart of a dog roughly the size of a miniature horse, I highly recommend the combination!
Hey bill if i had known you were watching the start of the iditarod i would have gone and met your family we took our girls to watch from the firth avenue parking garage and they enjoyed it and thanks for stopping by and saying hello we'll see you again whenever we make it back down that way