MARCH 19, 2017

15th and FINAL DAY OF THE IDITAROD

The final 3 mushers into NOME came in minutes apart:

In 62nd place ALAN EISCHENS into NOME at 5:30 pm yesterday
In 63rd place  PETER REUTER (r) into NOME at 5:45pm yesterday
In 64rd place  CINDY ABBOTT into NOME   at   5:57 pm yesterday

CINDY ABBOTT was the last in winning the RED LANTERN.  For persistence and finishig
the race no matter what position one is in.

Today was the MUSHERS BANQUET. Its wonderful everyone was here for it. If a musher is not
in before the banquet another banquet would be held for them when they did arrive. EVERYONE is a winner.

Few notes before any award winners from the banquet.

The MAYOR of NOME--MAYOR BENEVILLE will certainly be at the banquet. He is usually at
the finish line as well, greeting mushers as they come in. He is such a character!! To understand his character a bit better is to realize his background. He is from NEW JERSEY (can you believe that)
His Dad was a Dentist in the Air Force so he travelled the world. His passion is theater. He was an actor in NEW YORK CITY then moved to BARROW, ALASKA in 1982. THAT's a transition!!!
He then moved to NOME in 1988. He is very active in the community with quite an animated voice.

A few of the awards from the MUSHERS BANQUET today:

Most INSPIRATIONAL award went to JESSIE ROYER coming into NOME with all her 16 dogs--quite an accomplishment.

Outstanding CHECK POINT to MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

HUMANITARIAN award for outstanding dog care to JESSIE ROYER--quite a race for her and for her dogs.

ALLEN MOORE voted the most helpful to all the mushers.  A person always willing to stop and help a fellow mushers out- no matter how long it took.