Thursday before Iditarod - Jan is BUSY

      I imagine Thursday for mushers is somewhat fun, but somewhat tedious. They have a mandatory musher’s meeting from 8am-4pm, followed by the Musher’s Banquet at 6pm.  Last year we left the banquet around 9:30pm. That’s a long day! I am sure there are times when they all wish they could be home doing other things, like last minute packing, or maybe even sleeping. Heaven knows they won’t be doing much of THAT for the next couple of weeks!


      But for those of us attending as spectators, it’s ALL fun. The mushers meet their Iditariders over lunch. These are the folks who have bid $$$ for the opportunity to ride in the sled of their favorite musher during the ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday. This money does not go to the mushers. It helps fund the race itself. There are lots of other fundraising activities as well: Souvenirs for sale, a huge raffle with some fairly Alaska-ish items up for grabs (trucks, chain saws, shipping between Seattle and Anchorage, outdoor adventure trips, Alaska airlines flights, etc.). I encountered one of my all time favorite fundraising ideas at the Musher’s Banquet. Every year a winery bottles an official Iditarod wine. Each musher has his/her photo on a bottle, which they autograph. People bid on the bottles, minimum $50! And for those of us who aren’t particularly wine aficionados, you can buy a GLASS of wine in an etched souvenir wine goblet! Sweet!

Travel buddy Patti bid on Jan's bottle and won!

Jan Steves, Rookie


 

 

Earning souvenir goblets for folks back home was tough



 

     The most fun thing about the Musher’s Banquet is that every musher is there and accessible and usually eager to meet you and autograph your official Iditarod poster. It's like the Academy Awards without the bling. So many famous people in the room: Lance Mackey, Aliy Zirkle, Dee Dee Jonrowe, Jan Steves, Dallas Seavey, John Baker, Jeff King, Martin Buser! It is at this banquet that the race bib numbers get assigned. As each musher is introduced, he/she comes to the podium to draw a number from the mukluk and then gets a bit of time at the microphone. We’ve all heard Rick Steves talk a million times, but you know, his sister Jan is pretty polished in public as well. Perhaps it’s a family trait to speak eloquently about their dreams and passions. I wish I could have been there tonight to hear what Jan had to say now that she’s no longer a Rookie! Sleep well tonight, mushers! Sleep well!    posted by CindyK