On Tuesday afternoon we were able to get the dogs out of Nome on a cargo flight directly to Faribanks, then were all greatly relieved to hear from Kaz that she had picked them up at the airport and returned them to the Kennel. Getting the dogs home was our biggest concern, so that was a huge relief. Aliy and Allen were also able to get on a flight to Fairbanks later Tuesday night, and all of us left in Nome were happy to hear that they made it back to the Kennel as well.
I was finally able to get out of Nome yesterday morning and flew to Anchorage, where I found the dog truck and drove up to Wasilla to pick up the last four dropped dogs: Betsy, Huey, Petunia and Skittles. The five of us then headed north for the 350 mile drive to Fairbanks, which thankfully only took us 7 hours. We pulled into the Kennel a little after 10pm and had a grand reunion with Aliy, Allen and all of the dogs.
So, as of late last night everything and everyone was back at the Kennel, and just in time! Aliy and Allen are spending today sorting and packing all the gear they will need for their month-long Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the ANWR on the North Slope. Early tomorrow morning we will load about 35 dogs into the trucks, say our farewells and see them head out on their way. I will spend tomorrow catching a flight back down to Anchorage to get my car and a bunch of other gear that is left there, then drive back up here to the Kennel. Once that trip is complete, our Iditarod expedition will truly and finally be complete.
So, Aliy and Allen will be off-line for a few weeks, and I will be off-line for a couple of days. Once I get back I will wrap up the last of our Iditarod coverage, sort through all the emails and try to create some order out of the post-Iditarod chaos. I will also be working on “what’s next” for the Dog Log… Stay tuned!
Hello Aliy!
I am Cordelia. I’ve been following you on the Iditarod website for a project I am doing for a Gifted class school project (I am in fourth grade.). It’s amazing how you suddenly bounced back from the time lost with a broken runner! I am the only person in my class who followed you. All the other people are doing boys. Even my all-girl table all of a sudden wanted to follow Martin Buser,even after we’d decided on you! I think you are one of the best female mushers EVER! I think you could best all of those boys runnning in the Iditarod.
Your loyal fan,
Cordelia
P.S. I liked the “Happy Dance” thing too. it looked like that dog was either sick, or really wanted to get off the leash1 Hahahahaha!