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May 13, 2010 by

Alive and well …

We have no excuse … really … just the end of the dog mushing season blues and taking some time off.

Here is a quick recap starting from the last Blog Post.

Iditarod went well. Both the Red Team and the Black Team reached Nome with wagging tails and smiling faces.

Many of you folks know that SP Kennel operates Natural Extremes Mushing Adventure Trips after the racing season ends. This year, instead of our traditional journey to the North Slope of Alaska, we stayed on the Seward Peninsula and ran our trips directly out of Nome.

After some limited “couch time” the dogs and mushers were out on the trails again. For the next 3 weeks, we explored the traditional routes north and then west to Pilgrim Hot Springs. It was definitely challenging for all. And in the end, Mother Nature even got the best of us and ravaged Nome with a Spring blizzard. Luckily, the dogs and mushers were all in Nome (actually trapped in Nome for 3 days). And our final attempt to reach the Hot Springs was deemed impossible with 5 foot snow drifts and limited visibility.

We flew the dogs out of Nome the third week of April. During a window in blizzard conditions, Allen flew out first and waited for the dogs in Anchorage. Aliy was able to load the gear and huskies (of course with Bridgett’s constant help) later that day. She then flew out that night. The entire entourage arrived in Two Rivers April 18th. (Exactly one month from when the Black Team arrived in Nome.)

Two Rivers was much closer to Spring – compared to the blizzard conditions we had just left. The dogs were delighted to get to their houses, roll in the dirt and sunbathe on their roofs. There was plenty to howl about now.

On April 22 nd, Allen and Aliy flew to Dallas, Texas for Mrs. Chevie McDonald’s (Aliy’s maternal grandmother) 90 th Birthday celebration. What a blast!

A few days later, they flew to Mexico (Baja) to visit their dentist and relax. The warm temperatures began to thaw them out.

Of course, when ever Allen and Aliy fly to the Lower 48, they swing by Arkansas and visit Allen’s family.

So…. they’re not exactly “Off the Face of the Earth”, but they could see it!

So, enough about the humans … what about the dogs??

The dogs are on vacation. They have a super caretaker – Fran. She was a helper at the kennel all winter and knows everyone very well. Kaz is acting as daily over site and has made several Vet visits (nothing major) and moved dogs in and out of pens and around the yard. The kennel’s good friend and neighbor, Susan, keeps a mindful “ear” out for any disturbances as well. So, with this threesome, the kennel is in summer mode.

Mac is taking a well needed break as well. He and his invincible truck/camper combo “Darth” are on the move through out Alaska.

So, there you go….

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13 Responses

  • so glad you are posting again. It was quite an Iditarod withdrawal period for your readers! How kind we are……get out there, mush those dogs, work, work, work…no rest….because we, your readers, like to know what's going on!

  • Thank you SO much for the update. I was getting concerned since we had not heard any news for some time. I am happy to hear all is well with Allen, Aliy and of course my favorite race dogs!

  • excellent .. thanks .. was wondering if we'd here a bit more from all of you. May you all have a great spring and summer!

  • Thanks for the update Aliy. Good to hear you're all getting a little physical, mental and emotional spring cleaning and downtime.

  • First of all, I want to say Thank You for this blog and sharing your lives with us total strangers. "Happy" to hear everyone is enjoying their well deserved break! I was actually getting alittle concerned (I'm a mother it's my job to worry about everything!). We really miss Mac ~ I feel like he just vanished into thin air, but then I remember how he posted last year that it was very difficult for him to say goodbye to everyone and all the dogs. Can we look forward to him returning next season? Hope so!
    Looking forward to a pup update!

  • Thanks for the update, I have to admit I was wondering what happened to everyone!! Do you have any video from the trips out of Nome?

  • After being glued to the dog blog for months prior to and throughout the Iditarod, it was such a let-down to have it end! I'm glad the new Natural Extremes tours went well for the most part! I saw Lynn Owsley's dvd of her trip out of Nome – Beautiful!

    Anyway, so happy for the update as to what everyone is doing, the dogs, Mac, etc.! Life goes on, eh?

    Looking forward to the start of the season next Fall!

    Linda Finkel

  • What a great year for you and the dogs, the videos are great to watch over and over. Welcome
    home! (are you home?)

    Julie and Dogs

  • Glad everyone is doing well! I have finally found time to get back on this website and start keeping up with you all! Looking forward to catching up on the posts and hearing about the dogs!
    Kelly

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