Received a picture from my old friend Linda - here she is with her son and husband. Thought I'd share it with those of you who know her.This Quest is probably the toughest race we’ve done in twenty years. There were difficulties with supplies, clothing shipments arrived too late to use, and there were a dozen other logistical challenges. But with the help of our crew, we managed to get through it all … not to mention the three-week cold snap with temperatures dipping below -45 Celsius on a regular basis (leading to a frozen septic system, amongst other things).
On the personal side, Frank struggled with a very painful shoulder, but some Chinese medicine patches seemed to help that a bit. Then, the vehicle gremlins went to work on the truck engine (it’s still in the garage). Norcan saved the day, but we had to send my car up to Fairbanks, because the loaner truck had only two seats. And you guessed it, my car has had problems up in Alaska – we are really hoping it makes it home.
On the trail, it has been equally tough, with very cold temperatures and very strong winds. Tonight, in Mile 101, the winds were again picking up on Eagle Summit, and Frank has just made the really tough decision to pull out. He struggled for hours with this decision, but in the end felt he did not want to put the puppies through it any longer. They do not have the experience or mental toughness that comes from experience; and Frank’s injured shoulder makes it extremely difficult to compensate for that.
We need to get him home and get his shoulder fixed (he cannot lift his arm higher than mid-chest). And he has a couple of other injuries to tend to as well. That is one of the hardest things about getting a bit older – you just cannot ignore the injuries the way you can when you are younger.
We are all feeling stunned and disappointed, but know that Frank always makes his decisions based on what is best for the dogs – and with so many young dogs in the team, the decisions are more difficult.
Just a quick blog - here is a photo of cousin Frank leaving from the start line (in Fairbanks Alaska) of the Yukon Quest yesterday in -40 temperatures.
“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” –
Winston Churchill
“A modest little person, with much to be modest about.” –
Winston Churchill
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” –
Clarence Darrow
“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” –
William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time in reading it.” –
Moses Hadas
“He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.” –
Abraham Lincoln
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” –
Groucho Marx
“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” –
Mark Twain
“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” –
Oscar Wilde
“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play. Bring a friend… if you have one.”
George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.” –
Winston Churchill, in response
“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” –
Irvin S. Cobb
“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” –
Samuel Johnson
“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” –
Paul Keating
“He had delusions of adequacy.” –
Walter Kerr
“There’s nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won’t cure.” –
Jack E. Leonard
“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” –
Mark Twain
“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” –
Mae West
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever…” –
Oscar Wilde
“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts… for support rather than illumination. ” –
Andrew Lang
“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.” –
Billy Wilder
What the heck is this? Came back to my home town to find this ice thing in Shipyards Park by the Yukon River. Drove by it quite a few times before someone told me that you can pay money and climb it. (I don't think so). So, here I am back in the thick of things. The weather is turning colder - only about -24 C today but that wind...feels like about -40 C. And it is suppose to stay like this or colder all week - something to look forward to.
It is with deep regret that I write of the passing of Mr. J.A.S. (Archie) Milne on January 14, 2008. Here he is pictured with his great grand daughter Indie (thanks for the picture Heather). He was 90 years old. I was fortunate to have visited him in December during my trip to Ontario. It was prior to Christmas and he was in fine spirits at the time. I've known Mr Milne since I was about 15 years old. He retired from Ontario Hydro and was very proud of the fact that he was the oldest pensioner they have ever had! Every Christmas he sent out his (in)famous 20 Questions to a select few, with $$ prizes for the most correct answers. I always looked forward to them (and learned quite a bit while searching for the correct answers). He was the only person I know that wrote letters to the Prime Minister when a government policy did not seem correct. He was never afraid to voice his opinion. And he was very proud of his heritage (as seen below - a photo taken at Andrea's wedding, July 16, 1978). I will miss his letters which he addressed to me as Lady G - his own little joke - a take on White Horse, making bets with him when the World Cup is on, and his lively spirit. Yes, he will be missed but never forgotten.
Here is the picture I thought I included in a previous blog. We did have a rest on this bench which is not far from the Grenadier Restaurant.
Made it safe and sound to Regina. Flew just before Air Canada started rolling their planes in the sky. I was lucky here, as the weather was about -9 during the day and my baggage made it too. (Last year during my visit it was around the -30 mark and Air Canada lost all my luggage for three days!) Spent time with Jenn and Brent and Dawson. Even attended a hockey game starring Dawson playing a forward position in the game against the girls team - it ended in a tie. We shopped, went out for meals and relaxed at home, playing the games Dawson got at Christmas. A very enjoyable trip.
After spending three weeks with relatives, I mosied along to Toronto where Merv prepared a dinner for Wally and me. There is always time for a dance, even when making lasagna. We spent the evening at Merv's. I crashed at 2:30 but heard the partying go on until 6 AM!
The next morning we went to High Park for breakfast at the Grenadier Restaurant, then Merv took us for a tour of all of our old haunts - the Hobbit Hole, the witches house at the Old Mill and our old houses, including 10 Spencely Court.
Boy, this picture brings back memories of the good old days with my "gang". Don't know who's living there now, but I do believe they are peaking out the window at us. We drove around all afternoon and laughed and laughed and laughed then laughed some more. I had a great time with my old friends and we topped the evening off with dinner with Sue & Frank. Then it was back to my hotel by the airport to get ready for the next leg of my journey to Regina.
Oh! The good old hockey game,
Lots of December birthdays - first sister Debbie on December 23rd. A big dinner and cake, but I don't think she'd appreciate recording her age here, then December 28th saw Kate's 2nd Birthday - yes there are THREE candles on the cake - one for each year and one for good luck. Apparently only my family knows how to candle a cake, thus the explanation.
We all had a good time at the party, including Maria, whose unicorn riding skills improved drastically during the evening. Today was my first "boxing day" sale shopping day. Oh, to have a truck to take back the deals. Had a lovely lunch at a new coffee house, a bit more shopping, then back home again for another great dinner. Diet time when I return home.
Still cute, but not always happy, little Kate voices her emotions.
Shaun made it to Hamilton airport last Friday. The family was happy to see him. 
It's winter in Kettleby! We're presently having a huge snowstorm so are staying warm and dry indoors and will shortly be baking our Christmas cookies. The slideshow shows the pictures I have taken in the past day, mostly of my new little niece Kate. Will write again soon.
