Aliy came into Nulato in 3rd place. Parking is a little bit different here this year, not out back in the big ball field, teams are parked right next to gym.  So all 3 teams are parked right next to each other. Sonny is getting some rest, while Martin is outside with his dogs. Aliy immediately proceeded to tie 2 dogs to her caboose on the sled. I asked he if she had females in heat and her response was: ” No, I am going to drop these two .” I guess that also explains why she is staying here and not going through as I had expected her to do, with having taken her 8 hrs back in Galena.  Her team looked really sharp when they arrived, yipping and barking to go. But dropping two dogs is for sure a reduction in pulling power. 

Sitting here having dinner with Sonny we are recalling some trail stories. Jeff Praille from the Insider film team sure had some stories to tell of how the burn looked when he went through with the back of the pack. Pieces of runner plastic all over the place, dog dishes, cookers and even tail draggers chucked off the trail. Looked like a sale, the trail sweeps will have their work cut out. When I came through behind Martin there was nothing lying there yet. Amazingly enough Sonny said that he never looked at his runner plastic till Ruby and only changed it there. Some special 3/4 inch thick yellow stuff. Amazing it lasted that long. Finally here, Sonny is able to repair his brake. He did fine without…. don’t slow down now….

Here a few shots before I head on to Kaltag:

Sonny’s team

Martin Buser’s team

and all below are of Aliy Zirkle.