1 December

Today’s work began at 5:15 with Sue Boyd and I meeting in the dog yard. We got things ready,  harnessed and were out of the yard by 5:45. We went 31.6 miles with water in the middle and several happy breaks. Everyone came back looking great.

I had to run to Eddy Streeper’s kennel to meet a truck bring beef and liver so Boyd did the morning feeding after I left and the dogs cooled down.

It has been crazy with out Tina  but maybe we will find a solution for my situation. I think I have a house on dog trails in Knik and may have a handler. I am going to interview a woman on Friday after I arrive in Alaska to see if that would also work out for her to help also.I know if we just hang in there it will all come together. I am hoping all my huge complications are on this side of the starting line.

I hope you all have a great day.

30 November

Today began with feeding at 6am. Boyd, Sue and I then meet at 7:15 to get things ready. Everyone was harnessed and on the line and I was out of the yard by 7:45. It was a nice cool morning about 24 so the dogs looked great

We went 28 miles with water in the middle and several happy breaks. I wish it would cool off truly so we could get more miles. Tomorrow I am starting earlier and hope to go for 4 hours. I also have to go pick up meat and need to be done to get out of here.

I must say again I do not know what I would do with out Sue and especially Boyd. He repaired a broken piece on my trailer sled yesterday and I’m sure it will not break again

Today’s picture is of a recent sunset.

26 November

Today began with feeding at 6am. I then meet Boyd in the dog yard at 7:15 to begin getting ready to go out. After harnessing and all, I was out by 7:45. It was 24 so the dogs felt good. We went 27.4 miles with water in the middle and several happy breaks. Everyone came back looking good and ready for their treat and more water. I am feeding a few of the dogs lunch as they seem a little thin to me. They are the dogs that did not train hard last year so we are building allot of muscle on them.

No handler news so we will keep working at it until we know for sure there is not a handler to be had or we have one in place.

Today’s picture is the sunrise this morning.

25 November

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY DAY FULL OF ALL THE BLESSINGS POSSIBLE.

We continue to face challenges for this years race. Our newest possible handler has fallen through and so we continue to search for a solution. I am not ready to hang it up as I feel all my bad luck is coming now. I am exploring a few other options and hope I will have a plan very shortly.

Keep us in your prayers that it will all work out.

Todays picture is of our Thanksgiving Table.

24 November

Today began with feeding at 5:50. I then meet Boyd in the dog yard at 7:15 to begin harnessing and getting everything ready to go. It was 28 this morning so much nicer than the last few days. There was a beautiful frost on the ground which makes it tricky when you first take off as you can’t really slow down without having the ATV sliding some.

The dogs looked great. We went 26 miles with our water in the middle and several happy break. They looked great when we returned,and had a nice snack and a romp before going back to their houses. Boyd filled all their water pails and they all took a nice afternoon rest.

Today’s picture is of my radios.

23 November

Today started with feeding at 6am. Boyd and I meet in the dog yard at 7:15 to get things ready. We were harnessed and hooked up by 7:45. The forecast was for rain so we worked at a faster pace and did get 22 miles in before it started.

Boyd shared that he will come to the start and restart this year. It will be great to have him since he has helped us so much to get there. I know it will be fun for him to be there and it will be great to have his calm hands helping before the race.

Tina’s Tony went back to work part time yesterday. I know that it will be good for him both physically and emotionally. No news on when radiation begins.

Over the weekend some of us in the HAM radio club participated in the Sweepstakes contest. The picture is of Ryan, Rod and my after we got a clean sweep. ( That means we talked to all 80 entities we were suppose to.) In all we had 898 contacts in total.

20 November

Today started with feeding at 5:50. I then meet Sue and Boyd in the dog yard at at 7:15. We got the ATV ready , dogs harnessed and were out by 7:40. The dogs were great. We went 23.1 miles with water in the middle and several happy breaks. Everyone got water then a snack when we returned. They got a romp before going to their houses where they got some nice deer meat.

After that I had lunch and then myself and several other HAMS  set up for the weekend Sweepstakes contest on Sat and Sunday. We used my radio room as I have a very nice antannae that everyone has helped get up and working correctly.

Today’s photo is a picture of my antennae.

19 November

The day startrd with feeding dogs  at 6am. Boyd and I meet in the dog yard at 7:15 and Sue was not to far behind. We had some visiters watching hook up. They were from a presentation I did at the YMCA on the 18th. The enjoyed watching. Sue and Boyd showed them around after I pulled out.

We were harnessed and out of the yard by 7:37. The dogs looked great. We did 21.8 miles with water in the middle and several happy breaks. Everyone got a snack and a short romp and then back to their houses and more water. We try to always have water  for the dogs whenever we come in. In the winter I keep heated buckets or tub so they can have some when we return.

The biggest news is I hired a handler. I guess I just need to be more patient. I have known that my whole life but have to be continually reminded. She will arrive here on Dec 1st just before I head to Anchorage. From her references she should be great and a fast learned. She has a degree in Eco Tourism and Outdoor Survival.

Todays picture is the dog yard this week.

18 November

Iditarod did not want me to withdraw yet. They in fact said I would need to tell them again before they would remove my name.. Thank you Joanne.

I have placed an add on Craigs list by suggestion of my friend Gunner Johnson, and will continue training with the help of Boyd and Sue.

Dogs work tomorrow at 730am.

17 November

I have made the decision to end my Iditarod Dream./ I lost my handler almost 1 month ago and have tried in vain to replace her. As you may or may not know Iditarod is a huge commitment in not only time but money and at this point I feel it is not only wasteful, but not practical to continue trying to make arrangements. I thank all of you who have supported me not only financially but emotionally through this great adventure. I wish more than anything that this was not the case but some things you just can’t fight. I hope you all continue to be supporters of  The Last Great Race as it is an amazing event with a lot of amazing 2 legged as well as 4 legged athletes. 

Happy Trails to you all and remember to always Reach For The Sky. If you don’t continue to test yourself you will never know how far you can get.

With tears in my eyes but smiles,

Nancy