Dinnertime

A couple pictures from around dinner time last night...

We re-arranged our living room. 

Dinner required limes, this is what they look like up close.

Cheers, 

Big Lake Cabin

Jes and I joined a couple friends at Big Lake Cabin No. 4 this past weekend for some hanging out and relaxing.

Yep.

It was a minor ordeal getting the fire started the first night, but it worked out alright. Neat picture.

The cabin.

Saturday was spent walking around the lake, pulling people around the lake on sleds, and the Willow/Houston Sled Championships, footage from that event in the next post. 

Warmth.

Tree.

And another tree. 

Good times, cheers,

Ski Train

This past weekend Jes and I took the Ski Train up to Curry, Alaska. The Ski Train is probably better described as the 'Themed Party Train for Alaskans who have Cabin Fever from the Long Winter... with some Skiing thrown in.' We signed up with a group of friends in the 'Bird Car' or 'Party Fowl Car'. This meant a lot of bird decorations, costumes, and bird calls played over the speakers. The organizers of our car really went all out...

...as you can see by the giant inflatable swan kiddie pool and many, many bird costumes. 

Our car had a DJ and even though it was still the morning, people were ready to party, specially our friend Bruce.

Jes and Jenna.

We arrived in Curry and Jes paused for a photo by the train. 

It was an excellent day for skiing.

Jes and Alyssa.

Enjoying being outside.

Taking in the views.

The Ski Train itself.

So after an afternoon of tromping about in the snow, we returned to the Train for the ride home. 

Denali as seen through the window of the 'Party Fowl Car'.

It was a great trip all around. 

Cheers, 

Trapper's Creek

A photo of the Alaska range from the weekend trip up to Trapper's Creek.

Mt. Foraker is on the left, then Mt. Hunter, and then Denali. 

Cheers, 

Post-work ski

I got out for a ski after work today to see how I felt after the Tour. The conditions were incredible and I felt really good and ended up skiing for a good, long while. 

5:15pm and the sun is strong. 

Skiing is fun.

Sunlight going down. 

In other news, this is the 100th post to this blog, didn't expect that to happen.

Cheers, 

Dave's Long Long Adventure

This past weekend Dave competed in the Tour of Anchorage. It's a cross country race that starts at one of the local high schools and winds its way through several trail systems before ending at Kincaid Park. There are 25, 40, and 50K divisions. Dave has been skate skiing all winter and decided to go for the 50K. This is quite the feat, and he did great. I cheered him on when he came by the Coastal Trail near our house, and then again at the finish.

Dave's Game Face, 8:00 AM

Lots of nervous joking around at the start...50K is a long way 

Waiting near the finish, it's hard to tell from this photo, but there's a long gradual hill into the stadium, the racers didn't seem to be enjoying it very much.

Dave after 50K --this was taken during the 30 minutes where he kept asking "Why did I do this?" But, no fear, within the hour he was talking about doing it again next year. 

Video of Dave coming down the homestretch at Kincaid. 

New pictures...

A couple recent additions to the home...

Puffins!

Raven.

Snow.

Parking.

Cheers,

Iditarod Trailgating

This Saturday was the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. The mushers and their dog teams run through Anchorage, starting in downtown and finishing south of town. The mushers will 'host' a person, usually a local, to ride with them in the sled. Lots of people get out and line the course and cheer on their favorite musher and get a close up look at the dogs. It's a great event and this year, Jes and I attending a 'Trail Gate.' This involved hanging out with a group of friends, drinking some beverages, and doing a lot of cheering. Our favorite musher is Lance Mackey, he is a favorite to win again this year and could set a new record with his fifth consecutive title.

Directions to the event.

The mushers and their dog teams started coming right as we got there.

Note the booties that the dogs wear. They have to protect their paws against the cold, dry snow which is very abrasive.

A team with more noticeable booties.

Some of the group there and Jes, looking on. 

And that was it, dog team, friends, some cold weather hats, and good times.

Cheers,

The goings-on

Here are a collection of pictures from things we did recently. There wasn't any big trip or outing, just a lot of small happenings and goings-on.

Just a picture of our kitchen counter with a post-work beer. 

The light is steadily returning to Anchorage. This picture was taken as I was leaving work at 5. 

The Tour of Anchorage, a long ski through Anchorage to end the cross country skiing season, is almost here. I've been skiing a lot and taking care of my skis as well. Here is my friend's Scott's waxing table set up. 

Last weekend, we attended an Oscars viewing party held on the upper floors of the Captain Cook Hotel. The view was excellent as was the company, here's a picture of Jes and Nicole. 

Our good friend the dude. 

Jes and Jenna with Anchorage in the background. 

Jes's coaching of the South High JV girl's team finished up this past Monday with a game against Chugiak.

Coach Jes looks on during the action. 

Cheers,