Greetings from Takotna

Hello from the most happening checkpoint on the trail!

Well, I've been beaten, bashed, smashed, frozen, beaten more, bruised, banged, dragged, frozen more, wind blown, frostbitten and more! My knees are the size of watermelons (well, maybe not that bad - but close), one elbow no longer has a point it is so swollen, I frostbite the tops of my eyelids - and I'm sure there are more injuries I haven't found yet - but I'm still smiling!

This is without a doubt the toughest Iditarod I have ever encountered!! The storm over Rainy Pass was tougher then anything I've even imagined. I had to stop every 5 - 10 minutes to pull ice off my eyelashes and about every 1/2 hour to clear the ice out of the dogs eyes (I really thought that only happened in Disney movies). Yet my dogs LOPED into much of the wind. Snickers and Dasher are STARS!

Speaking of stars, little Tesla lead the team IN SINGLE LEAD across the rocks and tussocks of the Farewell Burn. I had to just stop and hug her at one point I was SO PROUD of her.

Everyone else is doing well. Minor aches and pains, but hopefully 24 hours rest will deal with most of it. They are all eating well and enjoying their well deserved down time.

Anyway, must run. Lots left to do (like sleep)in the next 16 hours!

Still smiling!
Karen