Well hello iditabuds!
Thank you for your good wishes and encouragement to volunteer on the last great race.
Volunteering on Iditarod 2018 was amazing. I went. I saw. I did. And in heart and mind you came with me.
It was lightly snowing at the ceremonial start. I breathed deeply, closed my eyes and lifted my face to the icy flakes. In the midst of the crazy noise of people, dogs and announcements, I marvelled that I was there and brought the 'buds to mind so that in some way we were all together.
It was all in my mind - and it was a very special moment.
So why didn't I post at the time? A lot of IT issues . . . . many people worked on resolving it but my computer would not connect. My phone connected intermittently.
There were so many events, sights, sounds and experiences! The vet checks at Iditarod HQ, visiting Matthew Failor's kennel, the Mushers banquet, Comms room work, nearly going to Kaltag, the dropped dogs, driving a 4 dog team and meeting a 10-dog team head on around a bend (and then untangling them all) chatting with Heidi, the 2018 teacher on the trail, and the two 2019 finalists, seeing Dee Dee Johnrowe and getting Joar's autograph at the banquet, speaking with Aliy, chatting with Bruce Lee and having my photo taken with him by the Insider cameraman, the 'hat of courage' . . . there was a lot going on!
It's exhilaratingly exhausting just remembering Will check in again soon. Thanks again for all the support - it really did help me to get there, to do it and live a dream.