Comments on: Iditarod Preview

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:20:04 +0000

A dog cart would probably be faster than walking, and certainly faster than driving, in Destin. There would be a major challenge to train dogs well enough that they not “investigate” things along the route, nor attempt to “converse with strangers” by chasing them down.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:47:05 +0000

it’s actually something i’ve thought of doing before, but i do have some [small] sympathy for the authorities in this case. the interesting places a tour might go to might also disrupt the birds and sea turtles, and the less-ecologically-sensitive areas would be crowded with tourists.

i wonder if a sleddog taxi service between the hotels, eating spots, and shopping would fly….

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:17:23 +0000

In reply to hipparchia.

You could probably run a four-dog team with a wide-tired cart on the beach at low tide. The harnesses and tow line are the same, but you need steering for the cart.

The “authorities” would have a hissy fit over dogs on the beach.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:46:02 +0000

They have a cart and run it along the beach, which is my idea of fun after seeing the real thing. i've always kinda wanted to run a sleddog team in the iditarod, one of those more fun to think about than really do things, but a sleddog ride on the beach? i can picture myself doing that.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:36:40 +0000

Oh, given that almost all radio stations are now programmed via computer links from a central corporation headquarters, I doubt most of the existing radio stations have the ability to play a tape.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:34:44 +0000

Jimmy does a lot of things in Jamaica and it is good for business to do good works, especially when it has the WTF potential of a Jamaican Dog Sled Team racing in the Far North.

They have a cart and run it along the beach, which is my idea of fun after seeing the real thing.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:33:01 +0000

a jamaican! way cool! i had some good friends in college who were jamaican, from whom i learned some new cooking skills.

and running a dogsled tour with rescued dogs! in jamaica! even cooler.

good for jimmy buffet for supporting the enterprise. i’ve liked him ever since he was a nobody who sent a demo tape to my favorite local radio station back in the day. do radio stations even know what demo tapes are these days?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:25:04 +0000

Well, yeah, he is insane, out there laughing while obviously freezing his nose off. I’ve never really trusted Jamaicans, they always seemed to be having too much fun in situations that were definitely not fun.

I had a good friend at college who was Jamaican, and he was always up, even in cold and miserable winters. I think it was the sure knowledge that he would be going home to Jamaica during the breaks.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:50:47 +0000

Ohhhh… I see. 🙂 Well, good on him and the team then! 😀 I hope they do well… Charity is always a good enough reason to do what most would normally consider insane! 😉 😀

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:44:24 +0000

Newton's major sponsor is Jimmy Buffett of Margaritaville, and he has been training with Lance Mackey for months. In Jamaica he runs a dog-powered tour business with dogs rescued from the pound, but the team leases the sled dogs from kennels like Mackey's. The Jamaican Dog Sled Team [that's their actual name] has won some sprint races in Canada. It is part of charity that rehabilitates people and dogs. Newton's teenage years were not exactly every parent's dream. People donate money based on how well the team does, and Buffett, the singer, covers most of the expenses. The man completed the Yukon Quest, in spite of a nasty bit of frostbite, and he's back for more.