Two above shots FYI: Top: the two last finishers. See how close they are.
Next shot: Maruskiya's on Front St. in Nome owned by Patty and Marty James. Great shop with authentic goods and beautiful wares. We met Patty and Marty at the Santa Fe, NM craft fair. THey told us they were from Nome and we would see them the next year there. Patty was from QUEENS and asked us to bring some Italian pastries for her which we did. We had dinner at their home in Nome and enjoyed seeing them.
Mike Cavin from the Nome Chamber of Commerce was wonderful to us. We spoke on the phone so many times when I met him I felt like we had known each other forever!! He got married the next year and is still in Nome.
Another note about Aliy Zirkle. Think I mentioned this in my blogs from a few years ago but here goes again. Hank wanted to experience being a musher with "his own team" well....you know what I mean.
He needed to know where to go, who to go with etc etc. He called Aliy Zirkle for some info. She called him right back and said she wanted to help but she was on her way to a race --she would hook him up with "Paws for Adventure" where some of her dogs were. Hank did go with that group and had a great time. That's why Abbie West wrote a note to Hank about his "dog racing" on her poster.
I mention this as it is just wonderful how genuine, friendly, fun, helpful and unassuming all these people are.

Before we put an end to Iditarod 2014 I will mention a few of the other awards given at the banquet.
Sportsmanship award - $1.049 + a plaque (strange amount) to Mike Williams Jr.
Mushers Choice Award - for the most inspirational on the trail - a gold coin valued at $3,900 given to
                                         Aaron Burmeister
Best Attitude on the trail - $1,049 (seems like a trend) and free freight allotment given to
                                        Newton Marshall
Best Checkpoint - rated by the mushers - GALENA
Fastest time fm Safety to Nome- Jessie Royer and Ray Redington Jr.
Most improved musher - a trophy and $2,000 given to Richie Diehl
1st musher to Galena - $1,000 and 25 lbs of Bristol Bay Salmon given to Aliy Zirkle
1st musher to the Gold Coast - Aily Zirkle
Rookie of the Year - $1,500 + a trophy given to Nathan Schroeder
1/2 way checkpoint award - $3,000 in gold nuggets given to Aaron Burmeister
1st musher to the Yukon - $3,500 and a 5 course catered meal in Ruby given to Jeff King
A new 4 wheeler to a musher who finishes the race and has the key that starts the 4 wheeler--opened by
                                    Robert Sorlie
Lots of Awards for lots of talented, caring, hearty, wonderful people.

MAY NEXT YEAR BRING LOTS OF SNOW AND REASONABLE TEMPERATURES, GOOD DOGS AND GOOD MUSHERS!! TILL NEXT YEAR.