Let me begin this blog by letting you know that there is something wrong with this picture. Yes, this picture right up there… there is something wrong with it… can you tell??? Nope, no hints…. won’t do it…… o.k…. twist my arm why don’t you! It was taken today! In January! This is not what January should look like here in Denali. Maybe April… nope, definitely not January. This is just plain wrong…
I’m sure you already know that the weather has been a little crazy as of late. Many of you are colder in the lower 48 than we are here in Alaska!! I’m house sitting for Jeff and Donna this week and I thought for sure that when I woke up on Wednesday I would be in Oz. Winds have been blowing up here most of the week – with gusts reaching 75 mph in some areas. We’ve lost a few trees… the roof to a puppy pen… and various other items that have slid around on the slick surfaces created by the warm temperatures and the rain. Working in the dog yard has become another of Alaska’s dangerous jobs… good thing Jason’s here to take care of all that outside stuff while I sit here in the comfort of my office.
So, the weather has not only been wreaking havoc on life up here ~ but a few of the scheduled dog sled races as well. You may have been checking out the blog for an update on this weekends Kuskokwim 300 race over in Bethel…. well… that’s another story in itself…so let’s start from the beginning with the Adventures of Jeff & Dave – and Two Dog Teams:
Jeff, Dave & Jason headed down to Anchorage on Tuesday with a trailer of 28 dogs.
Jeff & Dave are well-prepared for their trip to Bethel and both are looking forward to a good weekend…. because really, it has to be better than last years Kuskoswim!
Wednesday morning comes (quite early mind you since they had a 7am flight) and lo and behold… dog flight delayed… people flight canceled… then people flight rebooked for the afternoon. (It seemed that the weather in Bethel was just awful and a blizzard warning was in effect.)
So… the three gentlemen made their way over to Gwennie’s for a nice breakfast… talked about dogs (go figure..) and then some… they enjoyed lots of coffee to aid them in perking up since they had gotten up so early.
Dogs and people head back to the airport… second cancellation of people flight… dog plane not fixed yet ~ but a repair appeared to be looming on the horizon…
Dogs actually take off from Anchorage on their way to Bethel…
People flight still a no go…
Jason heads north for the Homestead and drives through rain and snow (hey, that has a bit of a Postal Service ring…) amid the nasty weather all along the way…
Jeff & Dave have another no go on their people flight to Bethel…
Jeff & Dave spend another night in Anchorage…
Awaking early for a second day in a row… Jeff & Dave arrive at the airport and yes… yet another cancellation..
Just as all hope was lost… o.k. not really… Jeff & Dave actually board an airplane bound for Bethel!
And then they wait… and wait… but, oh yes! Jeff & Dave take off from Anchorage and head to Bethel.
That brings us to their arrival in Bethel… ah – you see, their adventures are not yet finished…
To be continued…
Check back shortly for the second installment of the Adventures of Jeff & Dave – and Two Dog Teams!!