The wind has picked up again in Nome, I woke up to the house rattling. It had been unusually calm and quite here. And that never lasts too long in these neck of the woods. But luckily for the mushers the wind is from a quarter in their back. Still it makes running these last miles very unpleasant. When it is doing 25 mph here in town, its going to be a lot more in the blowhole between the Taylor Lagoon and the Nome Council Road.
Mike Ellis commented on how the only time the wind was unpleasant, was when he headed towards cape Nome as there for a short stretch the wind war right in his face. MIke ran a great race finishing in 30th place the 3rd highest placed rookie, and the ” last real money spot “. After that each musher receives $ 1049.
Paige Drobny´s team looked exceptionally animated at the finish line. She finished 34th, in a very respectable time of 10 days 18 hours and 15 minutes. That was almost 24 hrs faster than I did my rookie run back in 2005 in 38th position. This shows how much more competitive the race has even become for the Rookies. For many of them reaching Nome, it is the culmination of a long time dream. The holy grail of Distance Mushing. For some, it is the beginning of new adventures, as they turn their interest elsewhere, for others, well, it is the beginning of an obsession, to complete the treck to Nome yearly in an effort to become more competitive and climb up the ladder in the standings. And that obsession could last for a long time, as the siren just sounded for 73 year young Jim Lanier, who yet notched another finish, 35th place with 10 dogs
Here a few more pictures from around town. I feel stranded without my snowgo. Joe Runyan did a great article about the dog lot, check it out.
Looking South
Fishing
and mining, keep NOme alive
Looking east
Dropped dogs from Elim
Easy Rider
Joe Runyan and Me.
The doglot
All done
Aliy´s sled
Another ugly sunset
Doglot again
Me and Dick Newton! Matching hair and beard!
Natural clothing
Cody Strathe of dogpaddle designs
Happy couple, mission accomplished 
Paige telling trail stories
Mark does not bother with socks anymore
And off to the doglot they go
