Coastal Trail

James and I went for a gander along the coastal trail with our friends Jill and Ken at the weekend. It's a gorgeous walk (it was a mite bit chilly tho...) with fabulous views of downtown Anchorage and the harbor with the mountains in the background. Luverrrly. Beat that canal boy...!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canal vs Mountain...

My little brother (catch him at http://jr-uk.blogspot.com/ ) has joined the blog revolution, and has shamed me into writing a lot more on my blog than I have done thus far. If you want a really good laugh then read his blog and some of the comments made....I appear to have been born into a family of comedians...not sure what happened to me as although I try hard to be funny people usually end up laughing AT me rather than along with me..... Oh well. So that aside I will attempt to make my little bro so very jealous of the wonderful city I live in by posting a load of pictures that I have taken over this winter!

This is what we get to see from our sitting room window. BEAT THAT canal boy! Or how about this....



How much snow do YOU get huh? This is a wider view from the same window. Cool huh?

So on the subject of snow. We got a ton last weekend and this was me taking a photo out of our front door...

And here is curious george...sorry I mean Oreo...deciding that the warm indoors is much more preferrable to a few feet of snow. He does get bore cooped uop indoors a lot though and will be happy when the snow goes...as will I in fact. I do LOVE the snow and have enjoyed all sorts of winter sports and hikes and sledding and all that this winter, but as we have had snow on the gound since November now I have to confess to be ready to see some green again. Of course, we will have a number of weeks of slush and mud (commonly called by the locals here 'spring break up') which is NOT pleasant, but necessary unfortunatley. Oh well. Roll on sthe summer!

Sledding!

You are NEVER too old to go sledding I have decided, although I don't remember it hurting my bones quite so much when I was young...but then again I never sledded on a mile long run with humps and bumbs and trees and ditches....


Sara acted as our taxi driver! She would drive us back up to the start of the run again...and again...and again...
YAY! Look at me on my snow slider!

I DID IT!

It's only taken me 2 1/2 years but I finally passed my exam and am a REAL nurse in Alaska! Thanks to everyone who was thinking about and praying for me...it really made a huge difference!

Doggies!

Continuing the official start of the Iditarod...

It was good to be able to walk round all the sled teams as they were getting ready to start. The dogs were getting increasingly more excitied and the noise was quite deafening! Most of the dogs are mutts, but some are pure breeds. We got to chat to some of the dog handlers which was good....me being such a pathetic wuss when it comes to animals and all....

All the dogs got to have little booties on to protect their paws from the ice and snow...aaaaah
Is it time to go yet is it is it is it is it is it...??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting to go back into their 'homes' to rest before going!

Is it time to go yet??

The Official start of the Iditarod

Cool sign huh?
A lot of people! Amazing to think that's a lake we're all standing on there...!
Me and Nathania again!
The official start of the 1049 mile race to Nome happens in Willow, about 2 hrs north of Anchorage, on a lake (frozen of course)...it was a real experience!

More photos from the Iditarod start

This is Nathania taking a seat...on my back...glad to be of service to you m'dear
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!
Our great friends Jill and Ken!

Ceremonial start of the Iditarod 2006

The "last great race" has a ceremonial start in Anchorage where everyone converges on downtown and watch all the teams run a few miles. This is the 3rd year I have done it and it's becoming a tradition! It's a chance, apparantly, to let some of the older dogs no longer part of the actual team have another run as it's only a few miles....

Nathania's 30th birthday

A bunch of us girls hired a chalet for the weekend at the base of Alyeska Resort and had a grand old time celebrating Nathania's birthday. The Chalet had a hot tub on the deck which we spent most of the afternoon in sipping Rum and coke! Nathania had a birthday cake and presents and everything! I guess she deserves it being so old and all....

Frostbite Footrace Feb 2006

Me and the skinny ribs after the 3 mile frostbite footrace, part of Fur Rondy (2 week festival in Anchorage to celebrate all things Alaskan and all that). We finished 26th and 27th out of 150. Not bad eh?!

Symphony night Jan 06

Me, Alicia and Nathania all dressed up to go to the Symphony (my hair's a little short I know - I had just got it cut! Oops!). We had a GREAT girlie night out being all sophisticated.....

Friends!

I am very blessed to have two great friends living directly opposite who are as insane as I am...Nathania and Alicia....Nathania is Oreo's girlfriend and he likes to go and visit her as much as possible... All I have to say is "shall we go and see Nathania?" and he runs down the stairs and waits at the door! HUH!