Parked around the corner from Travis Beals is Martin Buser who’s NOT taking his 24-hour rest in McGrath.  Buser was booting his team preparing to head to Takotna and perhaps beyond before taking his long lay-over.

It’s no secret that Martin is heading to Seattle via Nome.  His oldest son, Nikolai was involved in a serious car accident back in January.  Nicolai is recovering from his injuries and is now in the long process of rehabilitation.  Having been at his side since the accident, Martin came home for Iditarod.  Buser says he misses the daily contact with Nicolai and looks forward to getting back to participate in Nikolai’s rehab process.  It would be fair to say that Martin is incredibly inspired by Nikolai and the determination he’s showing is recovery.  

About his own health, Buser confirms that he’s feeling much better.  Just before taking to the trail for this Iditarod, Martin came down with pneumonia.  He saw his doctor and is on the mend.

Ever the innovator, Buser is always looking for ways to make his dog care more efficient.  Well, take a look at that little pink thing on the back of his hand.  It’s a “K” cup with paw cream that normally comes in a squeezable tube.  When doing a team of 16 dogs, 4 paws each, think of how many times you’d have to pick that tube up, squeeze some cream out, drop the tube, apply the cream and put the booty on.  Martin’s little invention of having an open container of creme on the back of his hand is very efficient.

While he was booting, some fellows were interviewing him about the coat he was wearing.  Companies, like Martin, are always developing new lines of clothing that are more efficient.  Who better to test cold weather gear that mushers.  It’s a drastic change from the heavily insulated monster coats mushers are traditionally seen in.  Technology is affecting the sport of mushing in multiple ways, not just SPOT trackers.

Buser was conversing with his athletes as he put boots on them.  There was a very handsome wheel dog who’s name was Fiddle.  That one happens to be one of Rohn’s dogs.  Nice of Rohn to let Martin use one of his stars.

My favorite harness

This harness reminds me of my very old but most favorite flannel shirt.  I have one or two newer shirts but I always prefer my oldest.  Perhaps this dog feels that same about the harness.