On My Way to Southeast

This trip for Iditarod 40 was full of special moments, including the celebration of 100 years of the trail, watching Susan Butcher's family come in under the arch to celebrate the anniversary of Susan winning her first Iditarod 25 years ago, seeing my canine and human friends in the Taggart team, the Buser arrival, it can go on and on. There was some cold nights in the dog lot,but I won't forget being seranaded by a howl in and how I love that. Thanks again tomy host family the Handelands (some of whom are at left) who make my visit wonderful. Cheers from Anchorage, Faith

Red Lantern and green Auroras

The last siren signaling the last mushers into Nome went off about quarter to three in the morning. The 40th Iditarod was oil most over As Angie tried to catch some last minute shuteye. Deb was also resting and came out about 2 am to spread hay and get dog beds ready for Jan and bob. Jan came in with 9 dgs, Bob with 13. As they closed the safer y checkpoint behind them the auroras were perceptible from the dog lot. It was marvelous to see them, even if we had dogs to feed, we were exhausted after the arrival of the last two mushers. Jan received the red lantern, Angie was taking pictures and she and I were welcoming familiar dogs.

Stovepipe, Chop, Rainy and Riot, Carmack, we're all there with Jan's and Bob's dogs-Pepe was in the Dodge lodge (vet Clinic) waiting for them all , he was fine, kind of bored waiting until his buddies came home.It was a happy and exhausted early 5 am when I rolled into bed. I got up at noon and packed to leave tonight on the late flight to Anchorage. Deb and Hunter are off to Fairbanks for her great mushing adventure with Aliy. Adieu from Nome and the 40th Iditarod!

Sunday at the Race

Blue skies greet us on the last full day at the Race! See the example at right from SP Kennel's Zirkle coming in second two days ago. Dan Seavey came in this am to celebrate the 100 year anniversary. The last teams I am waiting for come in tonight at midnight. I am very excited to greet my dog buddies and give them homemade treats! Angie is hot on the trail for kennels and we are all making banquet plans. My nose still hurts but I am so looking forward to the teams coming in and so glad to see them all before I fly out tomorrow in the morning for Anchorage. Look for a late night update tonight!

The Top 40 are In and Musher's Signing is Today

The sirens have been going off non stop in town during the day now as the top mushers came in two days ago and have been coming in at all hours of the day and night. I was not working so I got to see Martin Buser and his Son Rohn come in together on Thursday, his dogs all released in the chute and then running for their dog loos across from the mini !! Deb witnessed the latter and what a sight that was. Yesterday after running the three dog Businessman's race along with Deb and helped with my personal musher Angie (See her at left in the new kuspuk I sewed for her) we got to see the Barrington twins come in holding hands side by side down the chute.... Pretty neat I have to say. It was sure fun today hanging around with Angie and friends!!

That kuspuk fabric attracted a lot of attention-unfortunately I bought out everything the store in Juneau had to make the dress...

The mushing was really fun but I think I broke my nose- it's a story I will have to tell another time. Earlier in the day I received a call from Region 10 NAI's Leslie Murray that I was the Grant Sharpe Award Winner this year-Wow, I was so elated!!

The winners are about to arrive!!

It is too close to call, with A Zirkle mushing towards the finish line, Dallas Seavey ahead by eight miles and other mushers not far behind. Go Aliy Go!! Both the leaders are expected around 6 this evening no speed records won, but youth and strategy tested by beauty and expertise. Several of her dropped dogs have made it to the dog lot so far. See Deb at right sporting her SP Kennel Go Red face tatoo!

Now an update on Angie Taggart, who has left Galena checkpoint, headed this way; her dogs are still racing on Jan and Bob's team, and we are expecting them later in the week. We hope to see Angie before the banquet on Sunday.

There is palpable tension in the mini - families are beginning to show up. The trail breaker was sighted in town after lunch. We have the race for the finish on the 40th Iditarod, and we are witnessing history.

It is 2012, and I am really looking forward to getting back to Nome and working the Iditarod. This year Angie will be checking or working at a checkpoint, and Deb and Hunter will also be working in Anchorage and Nome. Deb is even going on her own mushing adventure after the race is over. I am lookinge forward to seeing the Taggart dogs: Stovepipe, Carmack....anyway, see you there!

Here are some photos of our first day on site at the Mini-showing that because of volunteer work (Hunter Davis building signs) the arch is now up over the chute and we are ready to roll....

March 23rd A Dream Ends and Begins

Right: Happy Dog handlers in the snow!


It is now Wednesday morning, and we've been preparing to leavesince the doggies are now on their way and back with Angie. Packing after the Iditarod is like finding ten books after you sat on the suitcase to close it. I mailed one box home,and I was not alone. Deb, Hunter and I zip tied kennels so they would make it back to Anchorage. I washed two loads of laundry. I tried to keep the stinky stuff segregated until I could do dry cleaning. The rental car in Anchorage was so full we could not fit another suitcase in. It looked like the Clampetts were arriving! You know, the three baggage rule for AK residents....hah! Jolene met us at the airport to transport Angie's flowers, her return drop bag of clothes, and the broken (New, but junk) kennel back to Angie. She's planning a kennel return to Walmart in the near future. We could make a large sum of money figuring out how to make great kennels for shipping that went together in cold weather-if we were engineers....

We have reports that the whole team is now AT HOME IN WILLOW-my bet is the dog yard is full of canine gossip-and those left behind are now being regaled with doggy stories about what happened at which checkpoint and how the others missed out. I envision a very happy Angie to be back in her cabin. Anchorage is delighfully balmy. Tomorrow we'll be home in Ketchikan.I have to get back to the epic poem tonight! Angie has fulfilled her dream-whatever the future holds, it will always be influenced by her remarkable journey! Congratulations and mush on!!