It’s 10pm Yukon Time (PST).
The Team has been in Dawson for nine hours and for the most part, they have been sleeping. Both human and canine.
After arriving into the chute you might have seen the video where both Aliy and Allen took the sled over to camp while Bridgett drove Hollywood over the river.
Once there a huge, meaty calorific meal was ready for the dogs which they all ate hungrily. They also had more snacks to fill their bellies ready for their first long Dawson sleep. Each dog was stripped of their booties, leggings, harnesses and jackets and put into fresh, warm fleece lined sleeping jackets and a fleece blanket to curl up under.
The vet crew came by for the mandatory vet check and evidently they were surprised at the weight the big lads Rodney, Clyde, Five, Bruno and Jefe were carrying. They dogs are all in good shape, those boys’ shape is just a little porky!
Each dog got a massage that sent them off to sleep. They’ll be up again in a few hours for another huge meal – the name of the game in Dawson is sleep and eat, sleep and eat, sleep and eat.
The crew then split up as Aliy stayed with the dogs, Bridgett took Allen back to the hotel and settled him in for his first long Dawson sleep.
Did Cody really say cattywampus? I had to look that up, I have never heard that word before in my life! (Sorry about sound quality, website refused to upload Bridgett’s version so I had to do a workaround)
Bridgett then took the sled and dog gear to the RCMP garage shop that they very generously open up to Quest mushers to dry their gear and fix equipment. I’m sure the hotel managers are pretty pleased about that also!
It’s dark there now and all is quiet. For now
We’ll bring you more from Dawson tomorrow.
Wow…sounds like a tough time on the river…and sled problems certainly didn’t help! Hopefully this rest will rejuvenate Allen for the next 500! Dogs look like they are enjoying their dog camp spa, all cuddled up after a big meal! Stay cozy in the artic oven…that fire sure looks inviting!
Great interview. Thanks for taking the time from your rest to give some insight on the trail Allen. “Cattywampus” is a word that explains a lot, LOL. Now rest, eat, rest, eat, rest, eat Team and enjoy the remainder of your time in Dawson because work is coming again soon.
Allen sounds tired! Rest up, eat up, and fix up are in order. The dogs look like snuggle bugs in the sleep place. Bet you miss being there huh Moira?
Thaetnks for the interview Bridgett. Sounds like it was brutal out there on the river. Sure hope the sled can get fixed! Amber looked so cute looking out from underneath her blanket. Hope Chipper eats well as she may be
small but her attitude is huge! Rest Well Everyone!
Get some good sleep..good food…fix sled…kick butt in the next 500. You folks, and Dawgs, are awesome. Go Jefe!
OMG!!! Wonderful interview!!!
If I heard this correctly, once the sled issue is resolved, it will be a better second 500 miles!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
GO BLACK TEAM!!!
It’s a testament to the excellent trail care and genetics that the big boys are porky after 500 miles!! Loved the YQ pictures of the power couple riding across the river together. I so enjoy the pictures of sleeping babies and stories from Dawson every year. Rest well Team!
Oh I hope all the issues can be fixed. THANK YOU all of you at SPK! for the marvelous interviews and all of the updates!!!! Dawn – yeah – Allen sounded tired, I agree. Everybody on the Black Team SLEEEEEEP!!!!! I’m sending love and good energy your way. The dogs look great. Good work, SPK, for taking such good care of your 4-legged teammates and they all look so good coming into Dawson after such a challenging bunch of miles. Make sure the 2-legged in the black gets lots of TLC. 🙂
I always said cattywonkas – to mean what should be straight is at an angle. Could be sliding “cattywonkas”, or something falls cattaywonkas – you get the idea.
I am interested to hear about the sled problems. Padee alluded to that earlier when we chatted, but I didn’t have details.
Let me be honest – I came into this year’s race without expectations of Allen and the team. I did not want to always be looking at the tracker wondering if he will go faster, what could be wrong, is the team getting tired (I mean – what sport fan hasn’t been frustrated by what their team is doing? You wouldn’t be a fan if you didn’t want them to win – dagnabit).
But my husband had shoulder surgery last spring and also recovered well and quickly. There was still some tension in the shoulder after the all clear. There is healed and then there is fully healed. Healed is enough to do everything you could ever do. Fully healed is not having to worry about that shoulder one bit because it is like you never needed surgery. I felt – and still do – the fact Allen is on the race at all is just flat out amazing! Because of that I decided I would far rather see him come in among the top finishers without doing anything that could cause trouble in that shoulder.
That has been my attitude. Then I find out he could be placed better with no sled problems. Dang, that is impressive.
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I notice that the one side of the tent has a visible gang line, but not the other. Is the gang line tucked under the straw on the other side or ???.
I meant to say earlier how great the dogs look…all snuggled down and resting. Amber is so cute peaking out from underneath her blanket. You guys are awesome!
Hey don’t call our Clyde porky! There’s just more to his awesomeness than some of the other skinny dogs!
Wowswer- Having to claw your way through this Yukon with wind, high drifts and cattywampus!!! the dogs look good though. Allen and dogs – rest, eat! Cheering hard for you in Cincinnati!!
Loved the interview. Allen sounds spent. Thank you Bridget.
Love the picture of “Aliy and Allen took the sled”. Hopefully this will be available for purchase in the future! Thanks for a quick trip home with cattaywompas and dagnabit commenters! Go safely Allen and team, your drive and determination is unbelievable.