The weather is getting quite cool, the ground is properly frozen and the dogs are anxious. No more snow yet but we are all getting antsy.And after a solid week off due to illness, not wanting to push the envelope of my body's limits, we were all more than ready to head out!!
Usually the dogs and I will revert into a funk in the winter if the cold is too dangerous to head out or if we are stuck at home for any other safety reason but we are usually more effected by it after we have had many miles under our belts.
This time we were starting from about three weeks off. I know when I start dreaming about the trails and wanting to put myself and the team into 'trouble' breaking new paths or setting us off on some new adventure that I still have the mushing bug deep within my soul. Sometimes its hard to find when your whole life revolves around dogs so having the contrast of being stuck at home for so long while the weather changes and tempts the body outdoors is a GREAT wake up call!!
With the help of Nita and a wonderful lady from Switzerland (who's name is also Miriam!) we headed off down the road carving out trails we hadn't run in so very long. Our goal is always to find the safest route and the roads we have been traveling this fall have been a bit too busy with vehicle traffic. I decided to take another path that would lead to our old winter trails much quicker and it will be nice to make that transition when the snow comes.
All the dogs did fantastic, I put them on a seven mile trip that everyone worked through flawlessly. We stopped by a great coffee hut for hot chocolates, and one to go for James, when we traveled by his work at Clage Automotive to drop it off. It was a great surprise for him and for the dogs to be in such a different setting!I have to extend a special thanks to the lady at the coffee hut who was more than generous with her dog biscuits while we waited for our drinks. She gave us enough for the entire team and then some! The hot chocolate was fantastic as well!! Mushers and dogs LOVED the rest stop. We will have to do that again! :)
We also took out Nita's Bonnie and Bella for their second and first run. Bella, despite never being in harness, took to it like a duck to water and Bonnie took our commands and care very well. She is a bit of a shy one (my favorite students always are) and its been a delight to train her. She has so much natural stamina and a beautiful gait that is a joy to watch and I hope she will continue to enjoy our trips so we can show her what this great land is all about!
Thank you very much again to Miriam and Nita for their help today. It was so wonderful to be outdoors again... everyone had a fantastic time!!
Hot chocolate is ready and Juno is more than happy to carry it back for us!(Miriam on the four wheeler, Hera Remus in wheel, Boreas Thani in Team, Maude Eli in Swing and Juno in single lead)
Beautiful Bonnie and me sharing a quieting moment after her short run
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