March the 19th: Angie TAGGART finishes!!

13 Days 1 hour, a very few minutes and second later Angie and her Team Taggart finished the Iditarod. Phew What an accomplisghment. Deb and I worked the dog lot and prepared her hay and doggie traveling kennels. When the siren sounded we all streamed out from our warmth to the finish line-the winds were there, but we seemed very warm amongs all the family and friends that has traveled from all over to be there-it was an awesome homecoming for our special team! Here's (from left to right) her mom, Joann Flora broadcazsting live for KRBD, and her Dad at the finish line under the arch. There were people festooned with balloons, gifts of fresh flowers, hyacinths for the smell of spring, smoked salmon, and yummy/pampering gifts.

As she made the turn off the ice a enormous yell and hoot went up in the chute. I was crying and Deb was crying, and we hugged each other and screamed and yelled her name. Before you couls realize it, she had made it to Nome, and incredible feat!!

Deb and I caught the leaders of the team at the end of the chute, removed booties and let the crowd descend on Angie-we'd have enought time in the dog yard visiting after she came down out of her arrival. DeeDee Jonroe was there for her and offered to mush the dogs to the yard so we could get them set up and bedded down-they looked terrific. Stovepipe, the dog that I had sponsored, looked so sweet in the chute-I gave him a big hug and kiss on the nose-he managed to wag his tail!!

The doggies were getting greeted by the kids and petted a lot. It took a few hours to get them bedded and set. And, after that we retired to the mini, Angie munched on a cheeseburger while she set up her flights home for her and the dogs, and began taking calls from everyone. The mini was essentially closed down except for the front desk-all in preparation for the mushers banquet Sunday night, Friends brought in a latter, and Angie decided the next order of business was-A HOT SHOWER! Yahoo, team Taggart-what a wonderful accomplishment for Angie and her team!