The ceremonial start in Anchorage through the re-start in Fairbanks

I don't know this movie will work for you - it won't for me

 

Ready coming off to the side of the team in the chute at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in Anchorage - we had led Connor McMahon's team up to the start line which was very exciting!!!!

some of my very important features were missing from our new air b and b that we will be staying in for thinnest 2 weeks - wine in a solo cup doesn't cut it!!!1

Randy's favorite feature of the air b and b in Fairbanks

the view from the picture window at our air b and b

not so good picture of the the dog trucks lined up in a half circle this morning for the re-start of the Iditarod

picture of Michelles sled

Michelle Phillips with a native just before the re-start today - we volunteered to help get her to the line bur we were able to go only 50 feet or so - the dogs were going faster than we could - much faster than they were at the start in Anchorage!!

today- Monday eating lunch at Brewsters in fairbanks - my plat on the left is halibut tacos!!!!

Lots has happened in the last 2 days accounting for my lateness is getting posted on the blog = I beleive I left you at Anchorage at the start -Thursday was the banquet and I showed you pictures of that - friday was our "dog handler class" that was mandatory - we didn't really want to handle dogs unless it was on our terms but wanted to be "where the action was" with the teams so we had to take the class - a team of 8 Siberian huskies that had already run a couple test runs wit other in the class - hook a leash into the team and pull back........... Moe and Lydia had done the same thing last year only their class was in an icy parking lot!!!!  thankfully ours was on a bit of snow and mostly grass!!!

the rest of Friday we went to Kinkaid park to try and see moose and did not - also had our last meal at our favorite place - White Spot Cafe!  we got the picture with our waiter-son of the owner- who never writes and order down and delivers it perfectly every time =====halibut dinner and was wonderful - we have now, as of Monday March 3 had halibut at 8 different restaurant and never been disappointed!!!!

Saturday was up early because they wanted the dog handlers to be downtown Anchorage between 7 and 9 - we were there at 8:45........just in time to find out that we would not be assigned to a team to bring up to the line early on because we had actual dog experience and she would assign us to someone who needed that expertise = so we finally got assigned to Connor McMahon = he was great and said he would try to keep them slow as possible - so we led his team from his parking spot, 3 blocks in downtown Anchorage to the start line - what a privilege!!!!!   Exhausted we went back to the b and b and Randy napped and then back downtown for me to do the Running of the Reindeer!!!!!! I have wanted to do it since we have been up here in 2010 (should have done it then.....)) better body then..............

It was great fun and unfortunately Randy thought he was filming me all the way and it didn't turn out - I ran most of the way and had to walk the last half block (the reindeer next to me was walking so I figured it was OK............

Then to Mass downtown at the cathedral

Sunday up and packing to leave for Fairbanks - lots of icy road made the trip into 8 hours instead of 6 and a half - saw our first moose!!!  2 on the side of the freeway just outside of Anchorage!!!!

Got to our new "home" at about and met out host Mark - beautiful window to look out on the sky for northern lights (which were not out last nite when I got up to pee!!!)

Up early again supposed to be at the dog yard by 9 and waited around until we volunteered to help with Michelle Phillips' team - she is the person that was in line with me to get a drink at the banquet and when I found out she was running the Iditarod I bought her a drink - so friends forever!!!!!!! hug on Friday in Anchorage and then today in Fairbanks - as I already mentioned we got about 50 feet and they were going so fast I dropped my leash on the team - once I collected myself, I looked around and there was Randy!!! both with the same limit!!!

could not even thing we could help Connor McMahon as we had promised this morning so we watched teams go by on their way to the start line - Connor's looked like they were going slow enough that we actually might have made it all the way to the start line but too late..........

So now our favorites to watch are:  Connor, Michelle, Ramey Redington (who knows Randy from the first time Ramey ran the Rondy), Jessie Holmes (who says he wants to party with us again in Wisconsin and loves us!)

We will be watching!  so now we start to see people we know as the Limited North American is this weekend and the Open North American Championship is the next!!!