Hello all- we are in Fairbanks after a busy week following the Fur Rondy--

Tuesday we were guest speakers at a local Boy Scouts club, there was 60 or kids and adults attending, and I did a 1 hour talk about the sleds, and equipment, then took lots of questions, after that I let the dogs out so the kids could pet them. It was a nice evening, and Im not sure who enjoyed it more, the kids, or their parents.

Wednesday we went to a hockey game, I was the special guest, and got to drop the puck for the ceremonial face off- The Alaska Aces are a professional hockey club, and play in the ECHL. Lance Mackey was in attendance and I spent a few minutes talking with him, he was looking forward to his upcoming race, he also had lots of questions about the Wyoming Stage Race, as he intends to run it next year. The Aces won the game 5-2.

Thursday was training day, we rested the main dogs 3 days after the RONDY, and drove out to Big Lake to go for a longer run. Lina drove 13 dogs, and I ran 14, we went 34 miles. The trail was in very good shape and the dogs did awesome. It took a long time for them to pace down, and stop driving, but all dogs finished strong and were happy at the finish.

That evening we went to the Iditarod Draw and Banquet- It was a sold out event- with 2000 people. Tons of merchandise, silent auctions, and drawings. We ate dinner and mingled around, I got to see lots of friends, and wish many of the mushers good luck. It was a very impressive event, and we all had a nice evening.

Saturday was an eventful day- It was the Iditarod ceremonial start and I was guest rider for Jeff Kings sled. Jeff would ride on skis in front of the sled, and I would guide the 14 foot freight sled, and passenger around the trail. We got their early and walked the streets, I tried to great all musher’s who I know and wished them a good race. Jeff was Bib 15, so I made my way to the start line and seen him come up, I jumped on the runners and rode the sled to the start. It was clear this was going to be a fun ride, as I was not only responsible for the 12 dog team, but also Jeff’s life, as he would be riding an old pair of skis, hooked the gang line directly in front of the sled. The starter counted us down and we took off in front of thousands of fans- so many people, lined the streets, stood out of windows, sitting on roofs and looking down from high rise buildings.

It was a10 mile run, and we finished at the Campbell Airstrip, we passed 3 teams, waved at 50 000 people, ate 3 hot dogs, that were handed to us at TUDUR RD, and posed for a few pictures. We averaged 9.9 mph, and the dogs looked really good, Jeff would run 10 of them in the big race.

Saturday Night Lina and I took part of a new race, caller “sprints at sundown” it would be an exhibition with 10 teams starting in dual starts on 4^th avenue, the trail was 3 miles long, running to the bottom of Cordova, then back. Their was special prizes for best dressed team, and crowd favorite. some teams looked awesome. And the best dressed clearly went to heather Hardy as she was “The RUNAWAY BRIDE” she was wearing a wedding dress, and all her female dogs were wearing little brides mate dresses.

Sunday we packed and headed north, we trained 28 miles in Big Lake, then went and seen Bill Kornmuller and Family, after a short visit we drove to Fairbanks and got their at 9 pm.