Finish Line!

Way to go Lance Mackey, two time winner of the Last Great Race! Congratulations on your success. This race could have easily went to Jeff King, so easily. He had more dogs! But, while Jeff was sleeping, the new 2008 Champion stole away and gained almost a whole hour ahead of Jeff for his tired dogs to successfully keep ahead of Jeff into Nome! Well done, Lance!

"If Lance Mackey pulls off a victory, it may have been a little of that old Mackey magic — a recipe that includes a dash of mind games and a lot of old-fashioned hard work — that made the difference." -Jon Little, Eye On The Trail.

It was fun watching Channel Two's (NBC) coverage of Mackey's early morning finish in Nome with Mom. I want to get the 2008 video from IDITAROD.COM too but I decided that I won't pay $11.95 for shipping - I am right down the road from the store, that is ridiculous! I know all shipping/handling to Alaska is ridiculous but this is FROM Alaska, ha. I order the 2007 documentary last year and paid the shipping, but I won't this year. I really enjoyed the DVD from 2007, so I want to get 2008's too... hopefully I will get over to the shop when it gets out.

The first two ladies are just about done with this long and winding race too! Jill Royer and DeeDee Jonrowe will most likely follow Rick Swenson into Nome. Right now they have checked through Safety, the last checkpoint on the trail.

It is so spring here. I went for a walk today and loved it. I even had to unzip my coat. The sun - welcomed, and the fresh overnight snowfall melting off the trees - extremely pleasant to see and hear.

As I walked today it felt like we were at the finish line of winter. Even if we get more snow, it won't be as cold and harsh as winter days can be anymore. I am happy to be at the end of winter once again.

Did you see the woodpecker in the picture of the tree tops? Find it!

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the that Day, and not me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." -Apostle Paul. 2 Timothy 4: 7,8.

Buser Running 7th -Daddy Buser That Is!

My favorite musher is in seventh. I was at his website this morning reading their updates. I guess he was being the silly one by giving his GPS tracker to a pilot to ride around a while and mess up anyone tracking it at the time. ha

Mackey still running in first place even though he said he has some sick dogs. He has 12 dogs left, and Jeff King has 16! Martin is running with 14 yet. The end of the race is coming really fast!

Watch the cool ADN Leaderboard.

ADN has very good coverage this year!

I enjoyed reading the home-style accounts of the both of the Buser's at their own website. BUSERDOG.COM

Video of the Buser's before the race.

It's That Time!

Iditarod time!

Just watched the news tonight and saw that there are 96 racers this year! Lance Mackey pulled number 6 and Martin Buser number 13.

Cabela's Iditarod and The Official Iditarod website joined together and now they will be teaming up to bring the news from the trail as one. Hmmm, wonder how that will go? Here is the link to the forums, which should be fun. Forums by Cabela's for Iditarod. And don't be missing Jon Little's Iditarod stories. Here is a list of Iditarod links.

The Iditarod Restart will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in Willow, on Willow Lake. A finite amount of public parking will be available at the Willow Airport, located at Mile 69.5 of the Parks Highway. In an effort to accommodate as many race fans who wish to view the Race Restart and at the same time eliminate chronic traffic congestion, the Iditarod Trail Committee is again offering a free shuttle bus system from a variety of pick up points. Jon Little

I have been working with video for Anchorage Native Musicale (check them out at ANNLF's Blog) so I won't really get into blogging and blogging visits until I am done with that. Tomorrow we will be at West High and again on Saturday. I am skipping out on Show and Tell Friday for that reason.

Iditarod Trail Invitational has bikers, walkers, and two skiers out on the Iditarod trail. I've been keeping an eye out for Jill Homer of Up In Alaska. Most bikers have made it into McGrath.

The Iditarod dog mushers will be on the trail too very soon. I am looking forward to the race again this year.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Resting or Waiting?

Watching the Iditarod standings to see where the leading sled teams will take their mandatory 24 hours.

There is a common myth in the Iditarod racing circle that the first team into the old mining ghost town, Iditarod (where the name of this race came from), won't finish the race in first place. It's a myth. It is said that usually the person going into the town first has been hitting the trail pretty hard. Lance Mackey continues to run up in #1 and has left Ophir and is headed for Iditarod. Does anyone know if he was able to borrow a new runner from another musher? I wish him the best and even the win for all the hard work so far. I don't believe in old myths. I know that this race takes thinking and strategy to win, but mostly an anxious buncha dogs and a good gripping pair of hands to hold on to the sled. But I always wonder if the myth causes some hesitation at this point of the race.

Buser is running in 4th position and is into Ophir along with last years champion, Jeff King, and Zack Steer right now. Paul Gebhardt, Jason Barron, Aliy Zirkle, Mitch Seavey, Ed Iten and Tollef Monson are into Takotna and those are all running in the top ten right now. I thought that Robert Sorlie would be up with the best by now, he just left McGrath about an hour ago.

Ophir is just a small place with Iditarod officials and veterinarians, and not really any place to hang out for 24 hours, it's early in the day and I am wondering what is on the minds of the mushers. This area can have a lot of caribou. Iditarod is also a nothing sort of place and 90 miles from Ophir. After Iditarod the teams will be heading to Shageluk.

Shageluk reminds me of a friend I have there that I met in high school. I really enjoyed her company. I have not seen her for a long time. I think the town of Shageluk brings the same sort of feelings for the mushers heading that way. It's a welcomed place to stop for much needed rest. The weather for this area right now is mostly cloudy with snow flurries and high temps are -10f with lows over night 15 - 30 below. Yuck!

Shageluk also has a website that they will be reporting mushers activities at. Be sure and check it out. Hopefully they will have an update there soon. I just looked at it and there isn't anything yet. Shageluk Iditarod 2007. From Shageluk on to Nome the trails are used by locals and is usually a pretty good ride from this point on.

Paul Gebhardt is moving again.

I acknowledge and praise our awesome Creator and God for the healing going on in Millie's body. His powers are incomprehensible. I thank Him for His love and care demonstrated to us by allowing her to remain in our lives.

Day 71