title A day at the Husky Races, Thetford Forest, 29th February 2004
intro At Jess's suggestion we piled out to the forest near Lakenheath AFB on the morning after the party (actually, more like the afternoon by the time we found it). It was a gorgeous blue-sky day, crispy cold, and the Huskies were in fine voice. It's the first time Nosher has been Husky racing, and it was a top day out: a good walk around the forest followed by a pub lunch. Hurrah! (phrase of the weekend). The event was staged by BSHRA (British Siberian Husky Racing Association) - more here...
dcp_8257 It had been snowing again overnight (yay! at least we got a few days of real winter this year)
dcp_8259 Scoobert mills about in the sunshine no doubt looking for a Scooby Snack
dcp_8260 Kitchen clean-up, Guv-style
dcp_8261 Andy brushes Tyler's teeth
dcp_8262 A view up the road in Pulham Market
dcp_8263 Parked up, after we finally find the location of the venue (talk about "middle of nowhere")
dcp_8267 A team of three Siberian Huskies at the starting line, yelping with eagerness
dcp_8270 The UK is not known for permafrost and tundra, so these sleds are on wheels
dcp_8271 Another team roll into the finish line (check out the tongue-length on the lead dog).
dcp_8274
dcp_8278 Another team makes ready. The noise (especially from a distance) totally reminded Nosher of the bit from John Carpenter's "The Thing", were the dogs in the cage go nuts
dcp_8281
dcp_8283 On the trail of the Lonesome Pine
dcp_8285
dcp_8287
dcp_8289 I'm not entirely sure whether this is fair or not :-)
dcp_8291 In the woods, as we follow a mystery trail into the darkness (so many horror-film references are possible here...)
dcp_8292
dcp_8293 Blair Witch, anyone?
dcp_8295 John grabs a quick rest on the roof of a small resevoir
dcp_8296 Jess looks up at Nosher and Phil in a fire-watch tower
dcp_8297 "Wrong Turn" movie reference here? Shortly after we'd climbed down, we ran away as we thought "The Man" (on a quad bike) was after us. In fact, during much of the walk, we pretended that we were all "on the run" from some un-seen foe
dcp_8298 Even in the sticks, you're never far away from civilisation...
dcp_8303 Back at the car, Jess plucks up courage to meet a team of Huskies
dcp_8304
dcp_8305
dcp_8307
dcp_8308
dcp_8312 These were Malamute Huskies (apparantly), and are truly spectacular dogs
dcp_8313 In the South Lopham Kings Head for lunch
dcp_8314 John speaks to the landlady and gets the beers in
dcp_8316
dcp_8319 Tyler eats a crisp
dcp_8320 Hurrah for everything!
dcp_8321 Cute