Nome Day 7, Steak Night

The mushers continue to arrive, but we are at a bit of a lull right now.  The first half of the mushers have made it, and those who are learning the trail (mostly rookies) are taking their time.  It is 11 at night and we have not had a musher come in since around three.  The next one will be tomorrow morning.  The current red lantern (person in last place) is a guy from Colorado State...  he graduated a couple of years after I did.  It will be interesting to see if he makes it to Nome before the banquet on Sunday or before we leave on Monday.  Maybe I'll try to get a picture of him for CSU Alumni newsletter.

This morning we were finishing setting up for breakfast when the siren went off for a local musher, Melissa Stewart.  She is the daughter of Mike Owens, one of the local guys we have been working with, so I thought it would be fun to see her come in.  When I walked the three blocks to the start, there was no one there... not even the official checker.  I was wondering whether I had imagined the siren when I saw Mike pull up in his truck and his wife was right behind him in her car.  They had been out on the east end of town watching her come across the ice.  Within minutes her high school friends were gathering -- it was kind of like a class reunion rather than a finish line.  The checker didn't arrive until the police escort vehicle was in sight. 

With the time change 8:30 in the morning is still pretty dark, so Melissa was wearing her headlamp.  New LED technology has improved the ability for the mushers to see.  It also makes a team more visible, because many of the collars and harnesses have reflectors.  Here's Melissa coming up the ramp. 

Melissa was raised in Nome but now lives in the Mat-Su Valley near Willow, so the first thing she did was call her husband back at home.  He couldn't come to Nome to greet her because they have a business making goats' milk soaps -- he had to stay home and tend the flock. 

After her call home she got big hugs from the family. 

Mike gives her a hug

note how her pant legs are different

(see below)

I went back to work, and, about an hour later Mike stopped by the church with Melissa in tow, asking if there was any chance a cold, tired musher could get something to eat.  She chowed down on cheesy eggs (scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese).   Over breakfast she was showing her father that she had ruined the brand new down bib coveralls her mom had made -- she rolled over one night as she was sleeping and brushed up against her "cooker" (the equipment to heat water/warm food).  The rip-stop nylon melted... she almost went through two layers of clothing.  Luckily she had a set of down chaps so she was able to cover the damaged area.

the damaged pants (the chaps are folded

back... they attach to her belt with Velcro)

Today, with the lull in arrivals, we had a chance to get all the volunteers together for a special dinner.  We fed 38 tonight -- a full steak dinner (grilled outside at -10).  Steak, baked potato, garlic bread, salad, and scratch-baked strawberry shortcake.  Even the CEO and COO of the organization came to dinner... as did the head of the race and a number of other officials.

you can see our little kitchen area in the upper left

One fun thing - Melissa came to the dinner too.  Her father was dragging her around to try and keep her awake so she could start sleeping at normal times.  She told us she had taken one of her leaders back to her dad's house and was trying to get the dog to curl up on her dog bed so she just curled up with the dog.  She was so exhausted she fell asleep before the dog did.  Dad showed us the pictures of her on the floor with her dog.

I had a half hour after lunch to go over to St Joe's Church where they were having an art show and crafts sale.  Many natives brought bead work, carvings, furs, jewelry and other crafts -- it was fun to see all the different pieces. 

I bought a print (31/50) from a 29-year-old local Inupiat artist.  He does prints, his mom does intricate drawings of musk ox and other wildlife, and his wife does crafts -- a very talented family.