Well, here it is. The end I guess....

Where do I start.... I feel like I did the first time I started to write about my "Big Adventure". There is so much to tell. It's at moments like this, that I feel like the worst writer EVER! So I'll just start with the Mush for a Cure, and we'll see what happens....

So Saturday was the Mush for a Cure. Rob and I got up early, and got all our chores done in record time. The night before I was hounding him about getting up the trail early. Which is strange because I'm the one that is always late. We were on the snowmobile by 8:30, perfect timing. As we drove up the Gunflint, I was thinking of a million things. Will my dogs be ok? Will I fall? If I fall, will I be able to hang on? Ahhhh! Mixed with being excited as all hell, my stomach was in knots.

We arrived at Gunflint Pines around 9:30 ish. Just as we were getting out of the car and putting our boots on, Mark walked up and said "You made it!!". When I turned around, Mark looked like a Barbie Dream House had exploded all over him! He was wearing a bright pink wig, topped with a huge pink and black showgirl head dress. Then he had a pinkish bra on with a satin pink coat. On his bottom half he had is pink grass skirt covering up a pink mini skirt and zubaz!!! It was absolutely PERFECT!! Instantly Rob and I were laughing and in the spirit. I can guarantee that Mark did that for people all day. Mark let us know what was going on and where we needed to be, then headed off towards the lake. As he walked a way, Rob says this "Good thing I brought this!", and whips out a bright pink bra. He strapped it on, stuffed it with socks, and was ready to go!!. It was HILARIOUS! My mom and dad sent us a package loaded with random pink gear. In the box was a sequence covered pink cowboy hat. It was the perfect topper to Rob's look!!

After we too looked like Barbie Dream House casualties, we walked down to Gunflint Lake, where all the dog trucks were parked. The noise of barking dogs has really become almost soothing. We could hear them, and both of us were thinking "Are those our dogs?". When the lake was in view, it really was breathtaking. There were dog trucks lined up and people everywhere. It was SO much bigger than I had imagined. More people, more dogs, more dog trucks, and more PINK!!

We got to the Black Magic truck and were so happy to finally be getting ready! As we were putting our sled bags on, Mary made her way back to the truck. She looked fantastic! She was wearing a hugely oversized magenta prom dress, pink hat, pink little devil horns, and pink gloves. Her spirits were high, as they should of been. What an event!! She came around the dog truck and saw Rob in his bra and started laughing. Mary laughs a lot, but this was more like giggling. She said "What will your mom think? This is what happens up in the woods". It was good stuff.

While getting our gear organized, our neighbor musher and friend, Neil stopped by to say Hi. He asked if we were excited and told us about his first "race". After wishing us good luck, he was on his way to take care of his dogs. Rob and I headed over to get registered, but not after endless pictures of course. Everywhere you went, people were taking pictures. On the way to the registration office ( tiny fish house) I spotted Jerry Sivets. He's another neighbor musher that Rob and I crossed paths with early on in our stay. He runs older, retired, spoiled and well fed, fluffy siberians. I've never met him in person, so I decided to introduce myself (I know mom, I take after you). He and his wife Kay were so sweet. They were awesome to talk to. Jerry decided not to run the dogs, due to the hot weather. That's right people, hot weather. When you are a well fed, and very WELL INSULATED Siberian husky, 48 degrees feels like 90 degrees. So Jerry left the big guys at home. I was so glad to of gotten to meet the Sivets in person.

After registration, and our mini musher meeting, it was back to the dogs for some serious getting ready. From that point on, it all happened so fast. So here goes....

We got all the dogs out of the truck to stretch and pee, and get ready themselves. The sleds were put in place and the gang lines strung out. Hooks were set, and helpers were found. Mark Luttinen, who came to the kennel with his wife Lisa and daughter Meridith, came to help out. Thanks Mark, we needed it. We needed helpers to stand on our snow hooks so that the dogs wouldn't take off without us. My cousin Lyndsay (Lakeview Dairy Lyndsay) was at the race to support me, and turned into a helper:). She stood on my hook for me. It meant the world to me that she was there. .

It was a little chaotic. There was a fire truck siren which indicated it was time to hop in our sleeping bags . Did I forget to tell you about that? The race had a Sourdough start. Which means that you start in your sleeping bag with no boots on. When the gun goes off, you jump out, put your boots on, hook up your dogs, and GO! I jumped in my sleeping bag (with my boots on, oops!), and just as I laid down, CRACK! The signal gun went off. Both Rob and I flew out of our sleeping bags and started hustling around, hooking up our team. The dogs were so excited. I know for sure, that they knew this was going to be a blast!! Rob was about one dog faster than me. Meaning he was hooking up his last dog as I was on my way to get mine. Just as I was hooking up Bud's tug line, I heard Rob's big voice say "ALRIGHT!". I turned and he was like a streak of lighting. I hopped on my sled, picked up one hook, and then the next, and we took out of there like speed demons.

It was a crazy sight. All the teams converging on one trail. I wasn't feeling very nervous until that very moment. All the dogs, and more experienced mushers, flying towards each other. It went smooth! Hercules and Cleo were absolute pros!! I was nervous that they wouldn't pass teams, because when we practiced at home, it didn't go well. Mark told us that passing their own teams is always harder than unfamiliar teams. Hercules and Cleo were on a mission!! We were passing teams on the left, passing them on the right. It was awesome! All I could do was hang on and say "GOOD DOGS!!" We came to a slight curve in the trail, and it almost seemed like a bottle neck. A bunch of teams seemed to be crowding together. Hercules doesn't like crowded. He veered of the trail. I got super nervous, thinking "This is going to be over, before it even really started". Instead, Hercules went off the trail, cut the corner in order to pass the congestion, and got right back on the trail. It was hilarious. As we merged back on the trail, we were right on the heels of Julie and Jess, and in front of them Rob. How freaking crazy! I looked back and there were piles of teams behind us. Way behind us. I know it isn't a race, but it sure felt cool to be up in front:):)

The trail was beautiful. With the temperature being so warm, the trail was a bit soft, and sort of slow. The four of us, Rob, Julie, Jess, and I, stayed together for a good chunk of the beginning part of the race. After we crossed the Gunflint Trail, we headed up a STEEP hill. Right on my heels was NEIL! It was so fun to see a familiar face. As his dogs passed mine, he said "this seems familiar". Referring to all the times we've passed each other on our trails at home. It was in this hilly section, that me and my dogs got a little behind Rob, Julie, and Jess.

Before the run, I promised my dogs that if they pulled the whole race, and gave 110%, I would push the entire race. Push up every hill, and peddle on every flat section. I figured it was a good deal. As I lost sight of the teams in front of us, and with no one in sight behind us, we were alone. This is where it gets tough to explain. It was quiet and warm. The scenery is beauty, unmatched. The only noise is the dogs feet in the mushy snow, and their breathing. My breathing too, up some of those giant hills. It was at this very moment that every minute of hard work, became worth it. I wanted to do Mush for a Cure because it's for an amazing cause, but I also wanted to do for me. I wanted to know that I could do it. I know it's only 20 ish miles. It's not the Beargrease, or the Iditarod. But for me, Hercules and Cleo and the rest of the team that helped me get to that point, it sure felt like something special.

We were alone for most of the race. The last person we passed was a guy named Erik. He had a huge freighter sled, that was gorgeous, and fluffy big dogs. He was so friendly, at the chaotic start he had passed me, and on the way by, he shook my hand and introduced himself. Very nice. So we plodded along, all alone. We would come around corners, not realizing they were viewing areas for spectators. There, on the side of the trail would be a mish mosh of people, cheering, ringing bells, and clapping as we went by. For some reason, it made me so happy I would get tears in my eyes. Every freakin time. They would say "Doing Great!!", and "Beautiful dogs" (that one I knew for sure was true), "You rock"!. As we approached one of the check points (where volunteers just make sure everyone has passed safely), I saw sitting in a law chair, Jerry Sivets. His wife Kay armed with her smiling face, pink ribbon clad coat, and clipboard. As they waved and told me I as doing a great job, I shouted my sash number. Number 7.. Lucky 7. Lucky is right!!

As the race went on, I have to admit, I was feeling a little worn out. It was hot. If it was hot for me, I knew it was hot for the dogs. Hercules especially. He's bigger than the rest of the dogs and gets hot much faster. We stopped A LOT for the dogs to get snow. It's funny to stop and have all the dogs belly flop and roll in the snow. As we were coming to a stop in some shade, I saw Jess and Julie up ahead! I was so excited to see them. I caught up to them in a short time. As I got close to the back of Jess, I heard Julie tell her to ask me to pass. I said I'd just hang back. Then I heard Julie say "Hey Jess, that dog looks like Hercules...... OH THAT IS HERCULES! Hey Mel!"

The three of us were back together to finish off the race. Before we hit the lake, we took a turn onto a paved road, and then a turn off it. Hercules chose to cut the corner. He goes where he finds most efficient. What can I say? As we cut the corner, we passed Penguin Billy. He's a Sled Dog Icon. He's been putting little penguins randomly on race trails for years. As I passed him, he ran along side of me with a penguin with a pink ribbon on it's neck. At the beginning of the race, Mary said if we are able to, grab a pink ribbon from Penguin Billy. I had nixed the idea right away, thinking there was no way I'd be able to multi task like that. But here he was, right next to me, so I snatched the pink ribbon from the penguins neck. Both Jess and Julie got a ribbon too. They all had a women musher name on them. I got Kathy Jacobson. Julie got Shelly Stetson. Shelly is who was being honored at the race. She passed away in January from breast cancer. It was a powerful reminder of what the race was all about.

The three of us saw the Lake Access sign and cheered! We were almost there!! We hit the lake, and I peddled. I promised right? It was nice to be on the lake. The cold wind cooled both the dogs and me off. I could see the finish line in the distance. Before we were finished, we passed another group of spectators in the middle of the lake. A group of cross country skiers had set up shop in the middle of no where, really, to cheer us on. Too much fun!

So there we were, crossing the finish line. Again, it's not a race, but Hercules and Cleo, little Indi and Maggie, Johnny, Ranger and Bud, and yours truly were the 8th team to cross the finish line!!! Can you believe that? 8th! There were 32 ( I think) teams out there! As we crossed the finish line, I saw Lyndsay, cheering away, and Rob, in his pink hat, waiting:) He had crossed the line 3rd!! Shut up, I know, 3rd!!! We got the dogs to the truck, gave them fish soup (yep, it is what it sounds like), and let them rest. Hercules found a really nice chunk of shade, and flopped down.

Rob and I milled around, helping other teams get back to their trucks, roasting hot dogs over a fire, and basically taking it all in. After the last team crossed the finish line, it was prize time. Mary got on the mic and said thanks to everyone. Then she told us how much we all raised. $23,000.00. Can you even believe it!! And there are still a few more pledges to be accounted for. Mary gave out the Red Lantern award, for the last finisher, then a couple more awards. Then Penguin Billy explained why he handed out the Pink Ribbons. He pledged an addition $50 in each persons name that grabbed a ribbon. He randomly gave out 12 ribbons. What did I tell you, Lucky #7. Thank you Penguin Billy. He also said a few words about raising money, and how amazing it is that we get together to do this.

To cap off the day, all the mushers took a picture with the FINISH line banner. It's a great picture. You can catch a few pictures on Mary's blog, I'll try and wrangle some up too. I have a few in mind, that I'll post seperatly on Friday.

So here is where it gets tough, AGAIN. Writing about what this whole crazy 4 1/2 months have been like. Even though I've been keeping this blog and telling stories, I'm not sure if I've been clear on how it's effected me. How I feel like I can do anything. Or at least try anything. I was able to do something, that most people will never get to do. Or even think about doing.

As we packed up our tiny cabin at Mark and Mary's, it seemed strange. I was excited to be heading home, but felt sad about leaving. I think it's something that never feels like the right time. Leaving the dogs was the hardest part (sorry Mark and Mary;)). Rob and I made our rounds to say good bye, and I cried a little bit. It didn't really feel like we wouldn't be back though. Like we were saying good bye for now, but not forever. I don't think, after spending so much time with the dogs, and the Blacks, that saying good bye forever is an option.

Now Rob, Tubbs, Keenan and I are all back in Brainerd. Tubbs is at the groomers to tidy up 4+ months of chicken beard, Caribou and Foreman slobber. Rob is at home, catching up with his brother and sister. I'm at the coffee shop, of course, writing away. I leave for Colorado tomorrow to do some catching up with my own family. Rob and I are both a little in limbo about our jobs. And luckily we have some time to burn before we have to make some serious desicions. Something I'm horrible at, the serious desicion making. Haha. I am technically jobless, and some what homeless (although my parents house is always home), and have really never felt better about my life. Rob and I have been telling a million sled dog stories. People ask all kinds of questions. Even random strangers will over hear us talking and join in. And we are HAPPY to give answers. But here's the one I'm having the hardest time with....

What's your next adventure going to be? Hmmm......




p.s. i didn't proof read, AT ALL. so i hope it's not too bad:)