Iditarod Thursday is always a bunch of fun! First things first, however, is the most important task of driving the dogs down the Parks Highway from the kennel to Anchorage. Thanks to Karolyn and Ryan our 16 athletes made it safely to the hotel. It’s always a little tense until they arrive so we are happy they are here.
As soon as they arrived they all ate a big meal, relieved themselves and got to stretch their legs around the car park for a while. They are all pumped up and ready to run but have a couple days to wait first.
They stopped along the way for a quick, scenic pee break.
Late afternoon was the Musher Meet and Greet and the lines snaked around the room and out the door. Aliy was pleased to meet everyone from all over the states and international visitors. Thank you for all your well wishes, support, prayers, good vibes and gifts! Here are a few pics from the event.
After the Meet and Greet everyone moved downstairs in the Dena’ina Centre for the Bib Draw and Musher Banquet. A packed programme included speeches from dignitaries and sponsors, awards, live auctions, and music by Hobo Jim – would it even be the Iditarod without Hobo Jim? Then came the bit we were all there for – the mushers drew their bib numbers. Aliy and her team will wear bib 23.
Here’s Aliy’s speech: hear which dogs Aliy feels most sorry for during this year’s Iditarod.
And a few pics from the event.
As I write, the dogs are out of the truck again having another walk around and enjoying bed time snacks. They’ll get a good sleep and up early in the morning for breakfast and to check out the new smells overnight.
I can’t wait for the Iditarod to begin on Saturday and Sunday !! I have the Insider and I, of course, chose Aliy as my top favorite musher!! GO SPK!
What a wonderful address to the 2 and 4 leggeds – family, those in the audience, those watching from home and those who might be watching all over the world via the internet!!!
PLAY THAT NUMBER – 23!!! A quick internet internet search finds that there is a “23 Skidoo Cafe (with great coffee)”- a sign??? (In Bloomfield, NJ)
COFFEE Litter alert – this is your race to make SP Kennel shine even more than it does all by itself!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF and an extra WOOF for Moira!!!
And here we go, Bib #23! Kudos to Karolyn and Ryan getting the precious cargo safely to Anchorage….and all the other things you do to get the team on the trail! And Moira, Lisa and anyone else I can’t remember right now. Love the mitten centerpiece….Stay Warm Aliy!
It baffles me how “dog” people would agree that a dog needs a job, but then there is criticism about sled dog racing. Pulling a sled is these dogs job. It fulfills them and gives them a better quality of life. Humans find fulfillment in their work too, so why not the same for these dogs. For me the most important thing is the care of the dogs, which SPKennel does so very, very well. I know other kennels do the same, but I’m an SPKennel fan to the core! I’m done with my speech now😂
Go Team!
Watched the draw live last night! Go Aliy go! Montezuma, Iowa /Sun City, Arizona fans are cheering for you. Love the photo of you and sun behind the team. Is that along the sea? Safe and speedy trails to team red!
I think that truck would look fabulous in the drive at SPK.
What do you say Cloud, Jefe, Bruno, Five, Rodney, Violet, Junior…… are you ready to bring it home?
Go 23, SPK Red Team, Aliy!
#23….my new favorite number for the next week or so! You can tell how bad Aliy feels leaving the others home….and must be agonizing about paring down the 16 in Anchorage to 14 for the restart….can’t wait to see the final roster! Always nice to hear all the appreciation for fans, sponsors, kennel crews, Vets and volunteers at the Banquet….now on to getting this race started!!!!
#23 Is a great number!! Go for that truck also!! Thanks to SK Crew watching over the precious canines
now till the race begins! Love and prayers for a safe and successful journey!! GO SPK!!
I am looking forward to watching another Aliy / SPK Iditarod. It crept up on me really quickly this year.
I appreciated Aliy speaking directly to the voices of those who do not understand the role of the sled dog. Unfortunately, there were a few years just recently with deaths on the trail and that fuels the protests.
My observation, however, is that many of those who protest sled dog racing are also the strongest voices against dog breeding for particular tasks, i.e., AKC standards. They also want to enforce severe restrictions on breeding – and all dogs should be pets and not have a job.
I have concluded the simply don’t like dogs. They say they do. But, in reality they don’t because they don’t want them to enjoy the work they have been bred to do.
Thanks for speaking up.