4 WHEEL TRAINING

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Dogs were so excited to get back to training.   We tried to get two teams out a day.  It will be nice when I get back up in September.  We will then have two 4 wheelers.  It makes it nice to be able to head out with two teams at once.  

 

So much to do and plan for.  Bob is going to build an open air storage shed.  That will be a great addition.  We will keep the straw for the winter in there and have a place to store the sleds and 4 wheelers.   It is all a work in progress.

 



AT THE AIRPORT---WILLOW HERE I COME !

My flight is delayed.  Bummer.  I now will be arriving in Anchorage at 12:15 am.  ZZZ....  We will have a 2 hour drive to home.  It will be great to be back, even though it will be a quick trip.   Can't wait to see the dogs.  It has been since May.  I got to enjoy having Tok here in Edmonds with me.  He was great at presentations and with school kids.  He was also the "Grand Marshal Dog" for the Edmonds 4th of July Parade.  Sure have missed him since he returned to the kennel. 

Tomorrow we will get up early and run two teams.  The temps are in the 30's.  Can't wait. This will be a team building time as  I am down 6 dogs since Angie is running Iditarod.  Her leaders were really good and I will be missing them.   Chad will have to find a new running partner as Riot will also be running with Angie. 

So, I will be saying good bye to Carmack, Chop, Stovepipe, Riot, Pierce, and Pepe.  I will sure miss those guys.   I will be welcoming Petunia, Kevin, Circus, Garnie, Daisy, and Ursa to my group.  I am also negotiating the purchase of three leaders.  It will be interesting to see how these dogs will integrate with my guys. 

Well, update on flight...departure time is now 11:41 pm.  Original departure time was 9:08.  This will be a long night. 

Our Part is Done...Just waiting on MEA

Well, the wires are snuggled deep in their trench.  Hooked up to the pedestal and ready to hook to the house.  Now we are just waiting on MEA and then....POWER!

I just had a ah ha moment....we can use a crock pot this fall/winter while we are training.  That will be so awesome to come back home to wonderful smells and a hot meal ready to eat. 

TRENCHING FOR POWER

Bob has been working hard at getting the work down around the kennel.    This year we will be prepared for the snow when it comes.  The roughly 250 foot trench that is being dug has about 75 feet to go.  I thought that he was using a trencher, but this morning I found out that he has been digging it by hand.  That is hard work.  My back is having sympathy aches for you. 

POWER

We will have power to the house and kennel in a couple of weeks !  I remember when my brother made the comment...living off grid sounds romantic.   I had to chuckle.  Romantic is shutting the lights off and lighting candles.  Romantic is NOT getting up at 5:30 am and dragging the generator out the door through a foot of new snow or in temps of - 34. 

Preparing and training for last year's Iditarod without power was doable, but I am already thinking of all of the perks of electricity.  It will really make a BIG difference for us. 

The generator will be used for backup.  This winter it will be housed in it's own little generator house.  No more hauling it in and out of the back room.  (That was such a pain!)  There were a few times that we somehow would forget to put it back in the back room and when returning from a run we would have to put it in the house to warm it up so that we could then take it back outside and start it up.

My eyes will be so happy having lights and being able to see at night.  Being "old eyes", they don't see as well in low light. 

We will be selling our wonderful Crystal Cold Propane Refrigerator.  It sure was a lifesaver for us.  Now we can have regular refrigerator and freezer.  Our chest freezer outside will be a working freezer...and we will be able to add a few more.   We will have a happy truck and Subaru Forester...they will be "Plugged In" this winter.  No more waking up 2 times a night to start up the truck!  Sleep !

Just think...flicking a light switch and having lights all the time...not just when the generator is running.  Turning on a faucet and having running water will be nice.  That will ease up feeding/watering dogs, and daily life for us. 

I just keep thinking of how much easier training will be this year.  Living off grid isn't so bad, but when you add training for Iditarod and the demands that has on you, it really is a big deal.  It will actually be a real time saver for us.  I am excited to see how it will positively effect our life. 

Think that when I head home I will pack some Christmas lights and a few extension cords!

LIFE AFTER A GARAGE SALE

Well, the garage sale was a success.   It actually made me deal with all the stuff in my garage.  While I was at it, I took the time to go through the rest of my house as well.  Needless to say things are still a bit like a tornado went through my house. 

Half of the garage is nicely organized and the second half should come together as well with another day at it.  It will be great heading back for Alaska with a clean, organized garage and my car parked safely in it.  Yea! 

After the garage sale I posted a "FREE SALE" on Craigslist and it was a great success....one couple came and just about took everything.  They are either hoarders or professional garage sale-ers.  Made that part of the clean up so much easier.  The rest of the left overs are boxed and my neighbor is coming over to load up his truck and take it all to their church rummage sale.  

Note to Molly:   I just figured out that based on your email that you think that I am in Alaska.  It has been over 92 degrees here in Edmonds, Washington.  I hope to be returning soon to AK and  can't wait to be at the kennel with the dogs.   I sure do miss them.  Enjoy the rest of your summer and have a great school year!

DREAMING OF - 50

Well, it is above 92 degrees...beautiful day.  A great day for a garage sale.  Forgot how much work it takes to put on a garage sale.  Ugh !   It was going to be a one day sale, but decided that I would go for it on Sunday as well.  Only had the sale advertised on Craigslist.  Never made it out to put up the signs.  Pretty funny.  

This evening I will go through the rest of the boxes and get the rest of the "STUFF" out for tomorrow.  In the morning I will actually get the signs out.  Considering that we had no signs we had a really good turnout.   Hoping to unload a bunch more tomorrow. 

Note to self:  Never, Never do another Garage Sale.  : )

I just may have my garage back by Monday.   That is the goal.