Livin' The Dream.. ALASKA

Loved every minute of my Alaska Adventure.  I managed to put my fear of flying to one side and with a great friend by my side, Christine and I had such a great experience.  There's just too much to put into words but the place, the views, the people, the dogs, the race, the atmosphere, the welcome, the food.... ahhhhh..... all of it.  Loved it !  We had a cute cabin to ourselves with comfy beds and thick duvets.  The sky was mostly dusk or night with a few hours of daylight. Didn't bother me at all.  I loved the walk from Aliy and Allen's home to our cabin, listening to the silence with the exception of the squeaky snow beneath my boots.  The dogs were so friendly and the routine was quick to learn. We had so much conversation and laughter, felt so welcomed and invited to participate in all the preparations even the last training run when I had the honor of riding in Allen Moore's sled on a small part of the Yukon Quest trail.  Driving the truck on the ice roads between checkpoints, being a huge part of Aliy's race, she was so trusting and so kind always.  I went days with little sleep and sometimes no sleep but somehow it didn't both me like I thought it might.  Infact, I felt great and often got a second wind.  I was surprised how well and good I felt on as little as a couple of hrs of sleep and occasionally, no sleep.  The photos below tell just a small part of my journey and I know I will return to Alaska and I know I will see Aliy, Allen and their dogs again.  I'm so grateful for their friendship and trust and equally so to Christine who was just the best co-partner. We made an a great handler team!

Arriving at Fairbanks Airport.. exhausted but happy!

Getting on with things, bagging kibble for the Yukon Quest

Lidia and Lydia

Christine bagging kibble for the Yukon Quest

Technical wear for the river crossing

This was Allen's team coming in 1st at the CB 300

Chores at the homestead

Gorgeous Mac, fell in love with him!

Some of Aliy's dogs

Heading out with Allen Moore's team

On the Yukon Quest Trail

Last training run before the CB 300

Ice Road Truckers we were!

Watching out for moose and caribou

Aliy's awesome dogs at the start

Melting snow for water

Prior to the start, working on Aliy's sled bag

Going over tons of gear and stuff for the race

Me and Nita taken at Mike Ellis's homestead

Me and Lidi-Bug

Gunsmoke at Brenda Mackey's

Taken just after Aliy Finished the Copper Basin 300

Me and Brenda Mackey

LOVED every minute of it !