The Low-Tech Times

After posting a photo and audio clip from yesterday’s Pageant of Steam, I uploaded a couple of short steam tractor video clips taken at the event.

Today, my wife and I went to the Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine Association Pageant of Steam in Berryville, Virginia. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm arrived just in time to rain on the parade of steam, but the event went on as scheduled. I used a cassette recorder to make a short audio recording of the noon whistle blow and parade of steam tractors.

The event also featured model-T fords, Stanley Steamers, a hay baling demonstration, a sawmill demonstration, corn dogs, and more. Fortunately, the weather cleared later in the afternoon.

I also shot a couple of short video clips, which I will try to upload in the coming days.

In 1925, there was a severe outbreak of the diphtheria illness in Nome, Alaska. Modern transportation could not deliver medicine to the area due to a blizzard. Instead, serum was heroically brought to the city by way of dog sled teams.

Today, in commemoration of the events of 1925, the 2008 Iditarod is underway with mushers and their dogs traversing 1150 miles through the Alaskan wilderness from Anchorage to Nome.

My wife and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to give dog sledding a try last year while visiting New Hampshire and we would highly recommend it to anyone interested. Our instructor taught us the commands for the dogs and how they respond. Being pulled by dogs across the snow through beautiful mountain scenery was a unique and exciting experience we will never forget.