Lance Mackey Comes to MichiganLarry & I with Lance
Lance & his wife Tonya with the Nowak's

Everyone listening intently

Two weekends ago we went to the Full Moon Fall Fling at Russ & Sherry's Sutherby's kennel. Lance Mackey, who has won the Yukon Quest (1,000 miles) the last 4 years in a row and also the Iditarod (1,150 miles) the last 2 years in a row was the speaker for the weekend. The other incredible thing he did was in 2007 after winning the Quest, he went on to win the Iditarod only 10 days later with 13 of the same dogs! Everyone said it could never be done in the same year and he did it TWICE! So, needless to say, we were very excited to meet Lance. It was a wonderful weekend. On saturday, it was really laid back, with about 25 people. We got to hang with Lance all day and listen to his amazing stories and training/feeding advice. I can't begin to say how awesome it was. On Sunday, there were tons of people and Lance gave an awesome presentation. Tim Riley also gave a presention on the history of the Iditarod and about preparing for his 2009 rookie run with a team from Nature's kennel in the U.P. There were awesome door and raffle prizes as well including a Wiggy's sleeping bag and a beautiful parka. We got to meet mushers that we haven't met before and reconnect with old friends. It was such a fun weekend. It was nice actually getting to relax for once. Thank you Russ & Sherry and everyone else who helped put on a wonderful weekend we won't soon forget!!!!!

Belated Labor Day WeekendBears at Oswald's Bear Ranch in Newberry

You might be a Redneck if.....you go swimming with socks on!!!

My mom & Aunt Sueanne

Larry & Ana

Bridge going across the Tahquamenon River

The Tahquamenon River

Aunt Sueanne, Uncle Lee, Ana & dad

Me, Odessa & Star

Zoey & Star

Ok, this is a little late, but we've been beyond busy lately. Labor Day weekend, me, Larry, Ana, my mom & dad and Aunt & Uncle went up to "bear camp". It is my parent's cabin located North of McMillan on the Tahquamenon River in the U.P. We also took 23 dogs up with us so we could train on the awesome trails up there. It was soooo nice and relaxing. We had a GREAT time up there. Needless to say, we did NOT want to come home!!! We were spoiled every morning after running dogs with a HUGE breakfast of blueberry pancakes (made with blueberries we picked up there) and the BEST dinners. I could get used to that!! We hiked around and looked at all the other neat cabins along the river, went to Oswald's bear ranch, we ate out one night at Timber Charlie's (the BEST restaurant in Newberry) and I got to witness my family swim in the FREEZING river. It was funny and there was no lingering. Everyone was in and out in the blink of an eye. It was way too cold for me, I relied on the solar shower to get clean!! It was a wonderful weekend with my family. I look forward to being able to go up there again sometime before winter. Stay tuned, more to come on our amazing weekend at the Sutherby's Full Moon Fall Fling. We got to meet the Incredible Lance Mackey!!!! He is the 4 time Yukon Quest Champ and won the Iditarod the last two years in a row only 10 days after winning the Quest (1,000 miles), one of the toughest races in the world.