Nome, Day 4 - the lull before the storm

Lunch is over and we have prepped for dinner, so I can take a break.  I just went out to get a quick look at how things are setting up around town.

We are staying in the United Community Methodist Church, at the corner of 2nd and C. 

Here's a glimpse of inside the church sanctuary...
which has turned into the sleeping quarters.







Debski and I have a private room...

About two blocks away from us is St. Joseph's Catholic Church -- an easily identifiable landmark as its steeple is probably the tallest thing in town.  At night the cross atop the church is lighted ... a nice addition to the evening sky.

The church sits on Anvil City Square, an area lined by mining buckets -- remnants of the town's gold rush past.  At one end of the square is a giant gold pan, as well.





Yesterday, I had noticed a bunch of people working on blocks of snow, so today I went over to see what sculptures had been completed.  This is nothing as fancy as the world snow carving championships in Fairbanks, but there were a few good ones.

Behind the snowbird you can one of the gas stations... current price of regular here is $4.67 per gallon... and diesel is $5.26.

From St Joe's I headed downtown.  I got a closer shot of the forest -- note the polar bear, penguin and camel.

Here's another shot of the finishing ramp.  The banners have been hung and the flags of the nations whose mushers are running. 

I also went down and checked on how the dog lot was being set up. The city moved the containers in place and the volunteers have strung the chains between them. 

the office

lines ready for dogs

The dog food that the mushers sent up from Anchorage is being offloaded into the containers and soon there will be straw for each musher to use for their dogs. 

unloading food bags

The dog yard is right on the edge of the harbor... nice view.

Tonight's dinner - chicken parmesan, salad, roasted potatoes and brownies with strawberries and cream.  Yummy!

10 p.m. update... three people just arrived from the airport.  Microwaving leftovers.

Word has it that the leader may be in to White Mountain by midnight... that means we could see a winner around 3 pm tomorrow.  Fast race.

Bye for now.