Update from Daquaam!!! the international dog sled race (like the Olympics for dog sled racing!!)

Finally made it to Daquaam!!!!!!!!!!! Worst day of recent memory (note that probably tells you that there have been many on the road that have been bad!!)- did leave Warren, Ontario and had a pleasant surprise to have our friends from NH (Keith Bryar and his wife Claudie) pull us over on their way back from dog racing in British Columbia to visit a few minutes on the roadside. Before we left Warren I did go out for a walk on the trail for about 1/4 mile to see if I could find the "illusive" sled runner, to no avail. We did get a bonus from the race sponser that had the concession stand, 10 gallons of french fry oil!!! The dogs' coats were looking dry and I thought oil might help!

The roads were good, made it through Montreal (after a really bad rush hour in Ottawa) and stayed in the same town we did last year overlooking a night-lighted ski area on a mountain 2 hours east of Montreal (Randy made a good choice to feed 2 hours before we wanted to stop for the nite and then we were for bed) Then the bad started.......I thought the last time we came to Daquaam we went through too much hilly/mountainous country going north and east of Quebec City........well the way I chose was much worse and to further stress my husband, we went through the city of Sherbrook because we missed my intended turn-off, and ended up getting lost twice in the city and having to stop and find someone who could speak English and tell me how to find our way north!!!! the worst of it was coming up on a really steep hill with Randy trying to hold the dog truck and the trailer at the crest of the hill trying to wait for the light to turn green- one of those experiences he hopes never to repeat!!! and in spite of it all.......no bad words, no blaming (though there were certainly some close moments!)

Made it to Daquaam just at "sunset" and Max was very happy to see us but as usual, very busy getting things ready which this year includes, an International Dogsled Race and trying to finish the remodeling of the lodge that got flooded last spring! Several dog people alreay here and I know it's going to get crazy!! already Max had forgotten that all the dog drivers need hot water for feeding so he told the plumber working on the lodge that he needed hot water from the women's bathroom plumbed outside by tomorrow ( that's Randy's interpretation of what he said in French!)
Aeja, Caitlin and Zen - there are horses here this year!!! So Grandma will be able to go over and pet them- may be even ride them while we are here 2.5 weeks!!

We have excellant computer coverage here so you will hear lots over the next 2-3 weeks!!!