Nicky ~ The Iditarod Contender

June 30, 2010 ~ Wednesday
Fairbanks, AK ~ 3:00pm AT ~ 67.6 degrees ~ Cloudy

Wow!! This is the life. Now I understand what all the yapping has been about (you know, with this Alaska-trip-thing Dad has been talking about for 2 years now). There are some real babes here!! I’m on top of the world!! It's been a LONG drive up here but the reward has been worth it. It's like the "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" type-thing. And you should see Chena; she’s a 2 year old Malamute ~ be still my heart. Met her in Tok & hit it off instantly. We are planning to hook up in Talkeetna next week ~ can't wait!! I’ve been hearing from the other pooches along the way that the “big deal” is to mush (be a sled dog) for either an Iditarod or Yukon Quest team. I’m gonna’ do it; I’m gonna’ win Chena’s heart. Eating twice as much Beneful now so I’ll be in great shape for the big events!!

Mom has been taking a break since we’ve been here in Fairbanks (I’m worried about her). She hasn’t even picked up her camera but I’m tail waggin’ happy about that!!! She’s even taking a break from blogging & journaling; something about getting ready for Meredith & Brad’s arrival this Friday (sure hope they are bringing Harley, that would be sweet!!). Mom made me go to the doggie spa, too, because they’re coming. This time I got my feet trimmed, had a manicure & pedicure (I was telling the groomer about my aspiration to mush so I’m guessing all future sled dogs get this type of treatment). Aaaaahhhh, I was in heaven, or close to it at least being here at the top of the world.

Mom also has been recovering from the last 2 days of driving it took to get here to Fairbanks. Actually, we were all road weary. The drive was only 375 miles (kind'a broken up into 3 legs) but the second leg was particularly RUFF. During that stretch, I hid behind dad's seat pretty much the whole time because the road was SO bad. I was mortified!! Mind you, we have hit some bumpy areas along the way but that was really bad. BTW, Bump-o-meter was going crazy (that's what mom & dad call my pet chipmunk that chirps everytime we hit a bump). Anyway, it was all I could do to stand up & jump into mom's seat to watch the scenery & keep her company so she would feel safe (that's my job). And at that point in the road, I was constantly hearing dad say the "s" word & then mom would say "slow down" & he would say "do you think I meant to do that" & she would say "yes" (I'm only relaying what was said).

To make the "tail" a little clearer, we were traveling from Dawson City, YT to Tok, AK on a road called "The Top of the World Highway". The first leg (from DC to the border) was fine; about 75 miles +/-. Man, was it gorgeous & worth it.............so they say. I believe I heard the word "exhilirating" a few times. We even took a little "paws" for photos, a picnic & to let me run free like a "real dog". It was like a scene straight from The Sound of Music. Then................we crossed the border (the 2nd leg) into Alaska and suddenly.............the road was a "#$@*!! disaster" (only repeating what I heard). Mom tries to find the beauty in everything but she was suddenly speechless, stopped taking pictures & got a bad headache. Dad, well, he was pretty quiet, too. Thankfully, all of a sudden...............out of nowhere................... there comes a reprieve. A little town called Chicken, AK. It was only supposed to be a gas stop & potty break but mom & dad seemed to enjoy that little "paws" in particular. Mom loved the gift shop (she said they had some totally unique items & couldn't resist) & dad loved the saloon (because they had some totally unique beer & couldn't resist). Don't you love compromise. I can tell mom really enjoyed that stop, too, because she got the camera out again (gggrrrr). Anyway, they came back happy & we all "suffered through" the rest of the 2nd leg to Tok (where we spent the night & I met Chena).

The next day, we drove the 3rd leg from Tok to Fairbanks (200 miles +/-). Dad was ready to leave at like 7:30am but mom was saying "it's not like we have a go to work or something". Anyway, this was a main road (lots better than yesterday). It was pretty dippy, dad kept slowing down & speeding up, then stopping, then dropping the "s" bomb. I got a little queasy. Mom had her nose buried in the map then all of a sudden she ran to the window with her camera & shouted "Denali" but it was another false alarm (to which she said "crap" because dad hit a bump & she hit the corner of the table & now has a new bruise - she's such a trooper). Soon, we stopped to take a "paws" again in Delta Junction on Hwy 2. I jumped out to mark my territory (like usual - duh) but mom came unglued because I pee'ed on the sign she was getting ready to take a picture of (I didn't know any better, I swear). I think they said it was "The End of the Alaska Highway" marker & for some reason this was important to her picture collection - gees 'o pete!! On top of that, she made me "smile" for another silly picture (guess she was punishing me).

Anywho, Fairbanks is pretty cool; good ole working class town as mom & dad say. Good place for us to regroup plus it’s a little warmer which we all like. Mom likes the town because they have “a very authentic Italian restaurant”. Dad hates the restaurant because “they don’t have air conditioning”. From what I heard, when mom was talking to a friend the other day (didn’t mean to eavesdrop mom – I’ve got your back), she just orders a good bottle of Cabernet (& mom doesn’t typically drink a Cab) & that makes dad forget about the lack of A/C so they can both enjoy their meal. Mom is really smart like that. But, what I REALLY like is when they grill out because I get to chow down on the steak bone or left over chicken!! They must know I’m in training to be a sled dog; it’s SO empowering to have their support.

The campground here is nice. It’s called River’s Edge RV Resort & Cottages. It’s BIG & there are LOTS of other pooches, the Chena River runs beside us (just think, they named the river after my gal – be still my heart), & a great restaurant is here (makes mom real happy) called The Chena Grill!! Most of the campgrounds in Canada & Alaska have been big & nice come to think of it (I guess because every other vehicle on the road is an RV of some sort it seems). And there’s always some kind of yapping, full blooded, show off dog or some behemoth “bully” around. You know, I really impressed Chena the other day when a bully came trottin’ by. It took all I had but I sucked it up & walked the other way to avoid a confrontation. I’m a lover, not a fighter you know; that’s part of the ASPCA pact. I think Chena really digs that, too. I had so wanted to take a romantic midnight stroll with her the other night in Tok to see the full moon but the sky never dims up here this time of year ~ bummer. From what I hear mom say (according to the locals) is that if the sky would darken up we could possibly see the Aurora Borealis (she’s bummed about that, too).

I know dad is really anxious to head south to Denali, Wasilla area (home of the Iditarod plus mom wants to meet Sarah Palin), Anchorage & the Kenai Peninsula (seems there’s really good fishing there). Dad can’t wait for Brad to get here so he can have a fishing buddy (& mom’s all for that one). Mom can’t wait for Meredith to get here (she gets bored with us guys – she says we smell & snore & some other things I won’t mention). I know she really wants a spa visit; I think I’ll get on the internet & find her a good spa in Anchorage. Dad says he wants to live here for a while; just sprung that on mom the other night (I think he used her tactic & ordered a bottle of her kind of wine - Pinot Gris). She says “go for it but she’s going back home”. Me & dad will miss her. Actually, Dad met a guy named Charlie that lives in Homer, AK (down on the Kenai Peninsula). Charlie loves it here & rides a motorcycle, too. I hope mom will come visit so she can see me pull the winning sled in one of the upcoming races!! I want to make her proud!!

You know, I get SO bored here inside the bus when mom & dad go out sightseeing, running errands or get in cleaning mode. Well, I figured out how to do this blog thing on mom’s computer (& I don’t even have thumbs). I hope mom will be proud of me. I better go. It’s taken me ALL day to hunt & peck this blog out & they should be back soon. And, like mom would end her blogs……………….

xoxoxox to you all (I cannot find the "paw" key),

Nicky = )

P.S. Shout out to Chase. He's in Spain for a couple weeks. I really miss him & can't wait till he comes to see us. Maybe he can give me some cool tips on hitting it off with Chena. He likes to cook so maybe he can create a romantic Beneful recipe just for us. That would be awesome - will you email it to mom!! Be careful & take lots of pix..................uh, so mom will be happy, you know what I mean.