Tibby's Blog: MARCH 17, 2020 ST PATRICKS DAY

MARCH 17, 2020
HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY EVERYONE.

In the past, NOME has always had a St. Patricks Day parade. EVERYONE comes out--kids, animals inc. dog, cats, goats, pigs, chickens etc etc with homemade articles on their bodies, pulling them or pushing them. It is certainly classic. EVERYONE is invited to parade along or just enjoy watching.
Its a hoot!!!I also remember in NYC after the St. Patty's Day parade you could go into bars and some restaurants for a FREEEE corned beef and cabbage dinner.
One year when Hank and I were in NOME for St. Patty's Day we entered the golf tournament on the frozen Bering Sea. They set up the "green" with evergreen trees and it looked almost authentic.
Lot of participants and lots of fun. After the tournament we were given a free corned beef and cabbage dinner at the local bar. Good memories. Nothing like that this year. All cancelled.
Little info about population at some of these villages:
TAKOTNA 51
MCGRATH 310
RAINY PASS 2
RUBY 187
UNALAKLEET 882
KOYUK 258
NOME 3576
So you see some of these small villages rely on and anxiously anticipate the IDITAROD. The schools prepare signs and gifts and cheer the mushers on. Much excitment to look forward to.
Coming from SHAKTOOLIK to KOYUK is 50 miles and as I said before they just pass thru KOYUK. You saw the tent set up there. Just stop for a check.
JEREMY KELLER (the Edge of Alaska series guy) made it back home. He is the one that scratched, turned around and drove his team back to ANCHORAGE to be with his family and friends at these stressful times. They kept an eye on him with GPS to make sure he got back safely.
LARRY DAUGHERTY scratched at KALTAG in the best interest of his team.
MARTIN MASSICOTTE said the race took a wrong turn on day 2 when his dogs started chasing
buffalo en route to NIKOLAI. There is a place called Buffalo Tunnel so he wasn't kidding.

***Complete geographic isolation has allowed this race to continue amid changes in the world.***