Windy Creek Kennel Blog

Monday, 21-07-08 22:53

Ken,
I received your journal last week. It has really messed up my routine of going to work, cooking meals, etc. I didn't want to put it down. Thank you for sharing your journal with us. It was almost like standing on the runners, except its 102 degrees today.(We are 80 miles east of Dallas)
We are new fans of the Iditaquest. We accidentally found the Iditarod when we were researching every thing Alaska prior to our cruise to Alaska.
The first year was the year Mackey won wearing #13. We didn't know any of the mushers, but after hearing a few of the snide, rude remarks made by King, we decided Mackey was our man, and saw nothing from King this year to change our mind.
I feel like we became aquainted in your journal and now we have another favorite musher.....and its not Buser !
Again, thank you for letting us into your private world with your dogs and your thoughts.
We wish you the very best of luck this year in all your endeavers and that includes the impending birth of the TWINS. What a blessing !
Sincerely,
Barbara Andrews and the entire Andrews Clan

Thursday, 17-07-08 23:04

Ken/Gwen, I hope you two are both doing well. We're expecting our 2nd any day now and the last weeks are always very anxious and exciting. Hope Gwen is feeling well. Please, and I mean this, let me know if you've registered anywhere for some baby gear, we'd love to send you all something. Glad you had a good trip back home, haven't been to Stillwater or Forest Lake in about a year or so. I, too, love Stillwater, especially that restaurant on main street that serves the BEST beer-battered walleye.

Tuesday, 08-07-08 01:17

Small world isn't it... and I agree with you... Stillwater is an amazing little town. This is going to sound kind of odd, but I know someone who used to work with Patty, and this person asked me if I knew who Ken Anderson is... ;) I have been up for Iditarod twice now, who knows, maybe I will finally get to meet you!!! Take care!!!

Tuesday, 03-06-08 21:08

Ken/Gwen,
I just viewed, with great anticipation, the video from this year and I was totally disappointed. Here's what I wrote to the Iditarod folks:
Wow, the camera footage quality over the past couple of years has radically improved each year. Unfortunately, the actually STORY the each video has told has decreased at the same rate each year. I was incredibly disappointed with this year's video. The 2006 video was great in how it told the many stories throughout the race, the many backstories and you just got a better appreciation for the race and the history. This year's was awful, it was pretty much about the Lance and Jeff show, with a lot of commentary from Paul Gebhardt. What about Lance's dogs being sick? What about the remarkable finish between Ken Anderson and Martin Buser? What about the horrible snowmobile accident with the Siberian team, and the fact that husband and wife were running together? What about the story of Karen Ramstead's dog and bring her ashes to Nome (last year)? What about Jeff and Martin pulling crazy stunts/jokes. What about the plane crash? What about the red lantern musher? What about the Rookie of the year race? You missed so much this year. The race among the top 10 was WAY more exciting than what the video showed. Some GREAT mushers made some GREAT pushes (Swenson, Iten, Baker) at the end, only to fall short. Then there's the really really neat story about Lance pulling the 2nd Idita-Quest and the fact his neighbor, Ken Anderson, who trains with him now, was compelled by Lance's success last year and ran the Quest this year too (his first ever) and finished 2nd in the Quest and 4th in the Iditarod. This is a MAJOR change in mushing strategy and it's particularly compelling because they are neighbors. Wow, you really really really missed the boat on all of the cool stories from this race. I get a LOT more from the free BSSD forum than Insider, which is why I didn't join Insider this year. Now, next year, I will not only not join Insider again, but I will NOT get the video unless changes are made. Please, dig into the stories and produce something that actually promotes this one-of-a-kind race.

Monday, 21-04-08 17:23

Ken/Gwen,
I am so thrilled for you both in the blessing of the babies coming. Kristin and I are expecting our 2nd and no matter what the circumstances in your life, the arrival of a newborn is just the greatest blessing in the world.
Congrats on the TREMENDOUS, ESPY-worthy, run in the Kobuk. I'm really glad nobody got hurt in that ordeal (except for the split lip, sorry dude). Definitely sounds like an AD/HD or Autistic dog. :)
Quick request, please send me an e-mail and let me know if you have registered anywhere for the baby/babies, we'd like to get you something.

Erik
FLHS, Class of 1991