Day 1  Smooth and Fast

Starting number 2 has many advantages, the best of which is being finished with the Ceremonial Start and back home by 1:00.  It almost felt like a day off.

A major disadvantage is being 6 blocks from the starting line and having to get an excited dog team through foot deep snow dumped on to the street  AND being over 50!!  We have a dedicated pit crew who has been with us at a majority of Martin's starts but we are all getting older.  After the start our loyal pit crew has decided to be simply a pit crew - getting the dogs harnesses and bootied BUT NOT bringing them to the starting line.  We will be recruiting under 30 year olds next year.  Thanks Nancy Marty, Jim Davis, Pat Hahn, Kent Harrington and Sue Allen.  Along the way we even grabbed Mike Davis to assist.  But what a crew they were!!!!!!!!!!!  Got the job done, red faces, sore muscles and all.

The trail through town was well groomed and lined with so many excited fans.  We really appreciate seeing all the families with children making an outing of the day.

Home by 1:00.  Sled packed and repacked.   Quiet time all afternoon.

TROUBLE did rear it's ugly head but having nothing to do with the dogs.  During final preparations for our snow machine trip, Kent's son-in-law and ace mechanic found a problem with the throttle cable on my machine.  Many hours later,  Kent decided to haul my machine into Anchorage for further study and repair.  Kent assures me it will be ready to go by 10:00 am.  Thanks so much to Brandon McBride for spending his Saturday night working on my machine.

Tomorrow's schedule

8:30 load Martin's team and head to the REAL START in Willow

sometime soon after, Matt Failor and James Volek load their teams and head to Willow

10:30 6 snowmachines depart on the Rich Allen Memorial Ride ANC-OME

We'd really like to thank our many supporters, sponsors who have been with us for a long time, and new sponsors who believe in the spirit of Happy Trails - dogs and people.  This sport has a pretty high overhead and wouldn't be possible without sponsors.  Check out our sponsors on our website, frequent these businesses or just say thanks to them for what they do for us.

Tomorrow at this time, we'll be scattered out all over the first 120 miles of the Iditarod Trail.