Just a few notes about the end of the Iditarod--they were not in till now.
Can't seem to pull up the photo's but will keep trying.

CINDY ABBOTT was the final musher into NOME. She is the red lantern recipient. The mushers banquet was over by the time she got in so no matter who comes after that celebration a banquet will be held for them as well. The following day there was the banquet for CINDY. No different from the one the day before--looked yummy and lots of it!! Everyone came back to celebrate with her.

At the Mushers Banquet they heard from all the mushers thanking those who had helped them and there were a few trail stories as well.

PAIGE DROBNY finished 27th, lost the trail and had to go back to UNALAKLEET. DEEDEE JONDROW helped her get back on track.

JEFF KING talked about how he got chased by a seal.

LANCE MACKEY thanked his Brother for his help--he said he couldn't have finished the race without him. He had tried to get him to leave his side but he never did.

RICK CASILLO came in 44th--He spoke about establishing Battle Dawgs Racing and teaming up with Alaska's Healing Heart, an organization servicing battled wounded and battle weary. Rick is dedicated to helping wounded warriors. "They are broken and they can be fixed".

HEIDI SUTTER (she was one we were following) finishing 48th talked about her first Iditarod, the experience, and thanked all those involved.

STEVE WATKINS finished 58th. (Marian you were following him) is a 90% disabled vet. He was an inspiration to all. He gave a shout out for all vets.

A thankful, fun and delicious event.

JOANNE POTTS, Assistant Director of the Iditarod and my friend, fell and got injured and was taken to the hospital in NOME. She commented on the great care she received. She is now recuperating at home.  We wish her a speedy recovery.

MARCH 27, 2015

I'm back......Well, I did it again--worked with the computer scammer and should have known better!!!

I was unable to pull up my downloads and this was becoming so frustrating that I was going for Apple Care help. I stupidly went to google seeking the number. DON'T EVER DO THAT!!!! The nice Pakastani man (he told me he was) said no problem he could help. After about a 1/2 hour he asked if he could come on with me so he could show me more what to do--frustrated (never let your emotions get that far when you are dealing with this problem!!!) I agreed!!! STUPID!! He kept asking me if I banked on line. I don't. At the end of an hour he said I have diagnosed your problem, now I have to send you to my technical engineer. OHHH why can't you help me. He said he didn't do that part. He said I have to pay $50 for a 3 year contract and then the technician can help with this problem and I would be covered for three years. OK so it took me that long to wake up!!! I KNEW this was wrong. I texted Henry and,as he dealt with me before on a similar issue,said you are being scammed!!!AGAIN!! I felt so stupid. He said I bet you googled for the number.
It was not difficult to find the Apple Care correct number, which I did, and YES they cleared everything up and gave me hints to know when you are being serviced by them or a scammer.
Please don't ever google for a number when seeking Apple help!!
Better news is I think spring is coming--warmer and a lot of the snow melted with the rain yesterday.
Come on Easter Bunny!!!

Continue to check my blog--only writing about fun and interesting "things".

 The 2015 IDITAROD MUSHERS!!! Thanks for bringing us along on your journey.

 THANKS to the athletics of this adventure. YOU ARE THE BEST!!

THANKS to all involved in the IDITAROD 2015 and to all who have checked out my blog. Hope you enjoyed your journey. I certainly did. UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!

                                                           THE END

Back for a minute about the RED LANTERN winner--CINDY ABBOTT. Quite an interesting person. She suffers from Wegener's Granulomatosis, which effects her vision and circulation. She ran the Iditarod to bring awareness to rare diseases. She also has summited Mt. Everest!! Her disease has not stopped her. Quite a role model. ERIN MONTGOMERY brought attention to this during her communications with the classrooms across the country.

LAST NIGHT--MARCH 22,2015 the last musher came in to NOME

It was 1:00 am EST when CINDY ABBOTT got into NOME. It was light there!!! 9pm.

 CINDY ABBOTT--can you see her coming in. She will turn the lantern off to signify the end of the race. Not so many people to greet her as they were all at the Mushers Banquet. Hopefully she made it there for a good meal and a good Congrats cheer!!

 THIS is the RED LANTERN- winner is the last musher to come under the Burled Arch in Nome--

 Standing ovation, at the banquet, for LANCE MACKEY winning a Sportmanship Award!

 JASON MACKEY winning another Sportmanship Award

 DALLAS SEAVEY -WINNER- with his two lead dogs.  Nice to have the dog athelets invited to a banquet!!!

 DALLAS SEAVEY enjoying the banquet dinner.

 Some of the delicious dinner treats

 DEEDEE JONDROW talking with a guest at the banquet.

 Banquet yummies

ERIN MONTGOMERY - teacher- next to the prize LAURA ALLAWAY won -nice 4 wheeler!

BUSER "BOYS" MARTIN, ROHN next to DEEDEE JONDROW enjoying the banquet.

 BECCA MOORE hugging her son. ERIN MONTGOMERY was telling her classroom about a Mom or Dad being away for 10-12 days with no communication. Their family is so excited to see them  coming up that chute in NOME--HOME!!!

 BRIAN WILMSHURST, at the finish line in NOME won best dressed musher, most colorful

MONICA ZAPPA in NOME, won honorable mention for her colorful mushing outfit.

Tonight, Sunday, is the Mushers banquet. Fun time. Prizes handed out, stories told, celebration. The mushers fan out and sit with different people they hadn't known before. Great dinner usually catered by the Millennium Hotel from Anchorage.
I hope Cindy Abbott made it in for the party. She was the only one out when they were setting up for the party. She will be the Red Lantern winners--last on the trail. Go Cindy!!

 Here are some of the bikers on the Iditarod trail. Met up with a few when I was there. Hearty bunch!
Check out those thick tires.

I know the Iditarod preview is long 20 + minutes but will give you a good overview . Take a few of those minutes, relax, and enjoy an Iditarod journey.

2015 Iditarod Race Preview

Laura, a blind Iditarod sled dog, races to Nome

Cathleen, didn't you tell me in the beginning to watch HEIDI SUTTER? I certainly enjoyed her journey. She worked very hard and advanced quickly. Her first time and coming in 48th is wonderful. She is a very interesting person. She wants to run the Quest next year.

 Here is HEIDI SUTTER finishing  in NOME. Good going HEIDI.

SUNDAY is the day the mushers (who are in) sign autographs and talk with everyone. Fun time.

There is a lot of excitement, game playing and noise in NOME during race time.
ALIY ZIRKLE had just finished the race and a few hours later she was in one of the bars (not for drinking but for fun) that had a lot of "activities" going on. Arm wrestling was going on at that time. ALIY was up with a California lawyer girl who won last year so she thought why not this year---AND with ALIY!!! YES!!! Well she won the first, ALIY took the next two then the finale was on when ALIY and the rest of the bar heard a crack---the other girls arm broke!!! ALIY felt terrible, she had BROKEN this girls arm!!! Sling on they all took it as part of the game. That's NOME fun for you. ALIY said maybe no more arm wrestling for her.

LANCE MACKEY and his Bro JASON --big hug at the finish. I know you think I am dwelling on these two but it is a wonderful story. ERIN MONTGOMERY told her classrooms about it and had them think about how families help each other and how good it makes you feel. It's not always about winning its about helping each other and being there when someone needs you.

YEAH HEIDI SUTTER got to NOME with 10 dogs. It took her 12 days 3 hours 39 min.9seconds.
GOOD GOING HEIDI!!!! You did it!! Quite an accomplishment.
At this time there are 54 mushers in NOME
6 mushers in SAFETY
5 mushers in WHITE MOUNTAIN
CINDY ABBOTT is in ELIM---It took her a long time to get out of KOYUK so I'm glad to see her advance. Waiting for you CINDY!!! The party won't start without you!!!

Nice story about LANCE MACKEY: Just before KOYUK, LANCE came upon SCOTT JANSSEN'S dogs but no SCOTT so he hitched SCOTT'S dogs to his and brought everyone into KOYUK. Much to his relief SCOTT was there. That's why SCOTT had to scratch.
SCOTT was at the chute when LANCE arrived and hugged him.

Two of LANCE'S dogs died while on the trail--unknown causes at this time. One between TANANA and RUBY--WYATT. He was fine, checked out by the vets at the checkpoints. LANCE said he was to be the next famous leader!! So sad.  The other dog died between ELIM and WHITE MOUNTAIN--STIFFY. No problems either. LANCE said the only thing you could say about STIFFY was he was ADD times 5.
The last time a dog died while racing was in 2009. So much sadness.

Click on the video below. LANCE MACKEY and his Bro JASON at the finish line in NOME.
The first person to speak is AARON BURMEISTER and behind him you will see The Nugget Inn, that's where I stay--right at the finish line. Not so easy to get a reservation. First time it took me 3 years!!! Emotional interview with LANCE.

Emotional Iditarod 2015 finish for Lance Mackey in Nome | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

Emotional Iditarod 2015 finish for Lance Mackey in Nome | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

 MARTIN BUSER with ERIN MONTGOMERY

 JASON MACKEY coming into NOME

LANCE MACKEY coming into NOME --2 seconds later 

   LANCE (red) and JASON (white) hug at the finish line--they made it!!

ALLEN MOORE took 2 hours 31 minutes from SAFETY TO NOME. In the wee hours of the morning ALIY ZIRKLE (his wife) was at the chute to welcome him in.
4 degrees in NOME today but clear no wind.
ERIN MONTGOMERY - Teacher on the Trail-- went to the library in Nome to check out MARTIN BUSER'S talk (he has one every year, Hank and I did go to one)
He spoke about the highs and lows of the race. One highlight of the trip was 18 years ago a lady with her child asked if they could have a picture with him. Of course he agreed and this year he saw a fellow approach him in SHAKTOOLIK--about 18 years old and YES he was the same fellow from 18 years ago!!!
MARTIN gave HUSLIA high marks. The entire community was excited and came out. He was feeling a bit low on his way there and he noted the school children had made signs along the way and one read "we teenagers look up to you". That really hit home for him and made him smile and feel better. At one point he was thinking about the name of his kennel "Happy Trails". He asked himself, were his dogs happy---that's most important. When they are not ,its time to quit. His dogs are very happy, thank heavens and he decided at that time in the race that he would not "rush". He would take his time, perhaps visit all those cabins along the way, and just enjoy the trip with his dogs. He said that is exactly what he did. If he came in 8th or 28th it didn't matter to him at that point as long as the race was fun and he had happy dogs.

 LINWOOD FIEDLER

 BEN HARPER

ALLEN MOORE

There was a "hot race" between LINWOOD FIEDLER and BEN HARPER. They were neck and neck from SAFETY TO NOME. Coming up Front st. they were next to each other then BEN'S dogs seemed to get a spirt of energy and went ahead of LINWOOD. 20 seconds to be exact!! Later LINWOOD said "I'm too old for this stuff". I just got beat by an 18 year old kid who hasn't even been shaving that long.

MARCH 21, 2015

 ERIN MONTGOMERY-teacher- on top of Cape Nome leaving SAFETYwhen ERIN was at SAFETY she met TOM ALLOMA--he runs the place. Brings supplies in by snowmachine. Open in the summer and in March for the Iditarod. Offers hamburgers and hot dogs and some good talk!!

 Here's TOM's PLACE in SAFETY---

When ERIN came to the SAFETY ROADHOUSE

 KRISTI BERINGTON in NOME--dog riding. As I explained before sometimes they put them in the sled if they are tired, injured, sick----This dog was just tired!!

 Tired BUT didn't want to miss the finish--he was there for all the HARD WORK!!

 One of MITCH SEAVEY'S dogs, in the dog lot in NOME, taking a snooze!

 ERIN MONTGOMERY--Teacher on the trail---she was in NOME and was asked if she wanted to drive a snowmobile with a group to SAFETY!! She was on it. Here she is at the SAFETY ROADHOUSE. She drove the snowmobile on her own and LOVED IT!!

 Here's my buddy, DAN SEAVEY, MITCH'S DAD and DALLAS' GRANDFATHER. Musher himself and a fun fun man. Just love him. At the finish line in NOME.

CURT PERANO in Nome, just finished the race. His little son met him at the end and said "Are you done?" Cute.

Its 46 degrees in ANCHORAGE right now and 26 in NOME. Its colder in Salt Point AND snowing here!! More and more showing up in NOME. Cindy Abbott still in the back of the pack. We will keep following her. No more scratches so hopefully the rest of the pack will finish.

Supposed to be a video

KRISTI BERINGTON with Chief Vet STU NELSON and a very fit lead dog--in NOME
Her twin ANNA will follow.

MARCH 20,2015

Now its 18 degrees in NOME--what happened to their winter---ooooh, sorry it came to the Northeast!! They better rethink this race next year. I still say they could have started from Salt Point and run into Boston and up the Cape!!

DEEDEE JONDROW finally got to NOME in 20th place. You can see her fingers bandaged up. She figured out how to protect them and still take care of her dogs. Bet she'll enjoy a good nights sleep.

 HERE'S DEEDEE JONDROW---fingers bandaged --no high fives for her

WHERE ARE THEY??

27 mushers are in NOME
2 are in SAFETY--the BERRINGTON TWINS
5 are in WHITE MOUNTAIN
2 are in ELIM
7 are in KOYUK
the rest are in SHAKTOOLIK except 1 in UNALAKLEET- CINDY ABBOTT, a rookie.

Word just came in that BRYAN BEARSS just scratched in KOYUK--for personal reasons.

It is now 28 degrees in NOME--WHAT A CHANGE in WEATHER!! Heat wave.

OFFICIAL SHOT OF DALLAS SEAVEY--WINNER 2015 IDITAROD