We are still in Grand Forks – for the nite. We had such terrible weather leaving the fix-it shop (blowing snow, white outs) and found out from the gas station attendant that it was supposed to be -25 tonite – so we decided to stop here and look for a place out of the wind to feed and sleep. When we pulled into a McDonalds to check the weather reports for the race this weekend to be sure we still wanted to go further north where it might be even colder we saw a spot that was pretty enclosed at a trailer sales place – we just fed and it was cold, but not as cold as it would be out in the wind!!!! The final diagnosis for the 2nd truck repair was that the block heater needed to be re-mounted and the fuel filter re-placed because it was frosted……cold weather does terrible things to old vehicles!!! So we “got away” with only spending $180!! Spent a cozy and uneventful nite – this morning it was very cold - -45 with the wind chill as predicted. Dropped dogs (Randy said the poop froze before it hit the ground!!!) and nobody was enthusiastic about getting out but very excited to get back in!!! Left about 9am and the roads were very snowy and lots of white outs (that is just from the wind blowing – it isn’t even snowing!) 2 semi trucks in the ditch before we made it to the Manitoba customs – we even saw a “snow rainbow” from the snow blowing so high and with the sun out! Got across the customs without problem and the weather didn’t change even though we were in Canada – got outside of Winnipeg and the truck started acting like was fuel starved agaoin so wer’e in Portage and at a NAPA store getting more fuel filters and hoping that is the problem again!] Surprising to me – all the signs in Manitoba are like in Quebec – in both French and English!!

Soooooooooooooooo...the problem was a broken wire off from the starter. A very nice man pulled us to get the truck started and then has us follow him to a truck service place. They fixed the started for a mere $74 and then as we were pulling out of the garage the truck sounded like it was missing and the service guy saw a leak under the engine........so back in we went. Now it looks like the problem with the engine was just probably the diesel gelling up because it is so cold (even though Randy has fuel treatment in the tank...) and the leak is from the block heater which is a very necessary thing to have. They are currently trying to decide whether the heater is broken or just needs to be re-sealed and remounted or replaced - so I got the password for their internet connection..........

Last nite we stopped at Bagley MN next to a parts store - it had be misting all day long and about 31 degrees but the roads were not slippery. So good traveling through the UP and Duluth. Up at the crack of 9 again and the weather had changed drastically - we are snug as bugs in our trailer but my first clue was the frosting on the windows! While we were dropping and feeding dogs a guy from the local paper came by and interviewed Randy - someone in the town had told him there was a very unusual rig and that he should come and check it out - he took our address and said he would send a copy of the article!! So off on the road about 10:45, travelled to Crookston to drop the dogs for their "2 hour relief stop" and then decided to feed the owners at McDonalds - got our food and guess what - the starter wouldn't turn over - so now I am in the trailer typing to you and Randy is trying to fix the starter - I don't know how other people travel without a "Randy" along to fix things when they go wrong - will update you soon on the "fix"!!!

Helloooooo from the UP!!! It is Monday, January 28 and just yesterday we decided where we were going to go (at least for the immediate future………………) and the lucky race is………………Preeceville, Saskatchewan!!!!! We heard from Fast Eddy Streeper that he was going and he thought we might stop and do the race on our way to Alaska (which by yesterday’s reports still does not have enough snow to even train at the Tudor Track in Anchorage…….Ken Chezik and Laurie are having to truck their dogs up to Montana Creek to train (whereas they usually can train right from their yard at the house they own in Alaska) and the temperature has been very cold – like -30 to 40 – so they are still on hold deciding about having the Fur Rondy which is Rind’s favorite race – and if they cancel it we may not even go to Alaska = so this is the plan: to Kevin Cook’s race (whom we met last year at the Rondy with his parents) in Preeceville (which is, by the way a 6 and 10 dog race, 10 and 23 miles respectively……………and ……………a mass start!!!!! – Randy already decided he would run both the races which takes me off the hook for “very likely physical abuse and trauma……….”) and after this weekend we will go to Edmondton, AB to see our friends the Hartum’s = we also have a pup to deliver to them that we got out of an old well-bread male that he gave to us. So that is the plan right now………….. Got everything packed (including walking the 25 dogs all the way from the kennel to the house (about50 yards one way) because the truck was parked up there on a slight incline and we thought it would be the best chance of getting out of the driveway without getting stuck…..which worked good. On the road at 3:30 (it takes a long time to shut the house down including the water, propane, etc..) and over the bridge at 7:30 to drop and feed dogs. Things going very well…………… However, just in the last 15 minutes (about 9pm)ran into a glitch with the temperature gage going bonkers/high – Randy has not yet figured out what the problem is and has added a gallon of water to the radiator. We are parked just south of Newberry in a church parking lot….more to come…………… Well Randy figured out what the problem with the radiator was………whichever poltergeist that last put antifreeze in forgot to put the cap back on so it was running without pressure and evaporating – 3 gallons of liquid later we were back on our way. Made it to a rest stop that Randy likes that is just outside of Seney for the night – the dogs are getting the hang of the in and out; you can sure tell which ones are on the trip for the first time! Randy built a ramp for the back ½ of the dogs so they can walk/trot up to the boxes and it’s working well unless you get it wet with rain or snow and then it’s a bit slippery! Went to bed about 11 and not long after a semi pulled in and not only let his diesel run but he had his even noisier refrigeration unit running – by that time one of the first time dogs – Al (short for Almond from the “spice” litter) decided he was bored, afraid, restless, nervous…………etc. and began howling and talking and chewing his box – that went on for what seemed like hours (and of course he is in a box right next to the “people quarters” until Randy started our generator for the furnace to work and then he finally quieted down! I think I probably got 2-3 hours sleep tops! Up this morning about 9 with it raining and very very slippery dropping dogs for both the humans and the canines! We got on the road after cereal by 10 and the roads are not bad – it was a good thing we didn’t start out at the crack of dawn cause the county trucks have been busy with the salt. Think we might make it to North Dakota today………….