better...

While the insomnia hasn't improved, I am certainly feeling better. Thank you family and friends that have let me vent these last couple of days.

Part of Epic journey

Pick up our adventure after lunch. We did some local exploring

This could have made for an interesting event...but Dave wisly spotted the deep ravine and stopped Andy and I before we flew off the edge. Andy and I cautiously approached it and then started having some fun!


Make gif animation

Dave decided he wanted a crack at it.

Nice form....



Andy's attempt got him out quite a bit further.


I like this picture because you can see how far we are travelling. The two dots on the top right of the screen are Andy and Dave. I was that far behind...maybe a mile or more!

But once we made it to the top.... what a view!!!

Epic journey!!!

Yesterday, I checked off a top 5 from my bucket list! A good friend Dave took me and my buddy Andy out snow machining! What a freaking adventure!!

I tried a new app that Lisa K told me about, it uses GPS to track the trip and then plots it on Google Maps. I can also import pictures and do lots of other cool stuff. There's even an animation that plots the speed and elevation. Really a cool app!!

Check it out here.

Snow machine trip with Dave and Andy

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near Anchorage, Alaska

The trail out to the "playground" area was about 7 miles! It was a ROUGH trail that really beat us up. Unfortunately, I forgot about the every trail app until we had already done quite a bit of exploring. Dave tells us that according to his GPS, we logged 42 miles!! So I'm VERY sore today!

Anyway, this first pic was taken as we headed up this awesome hill away from the playground. I looked up and saw Andy tumbling in the snow as his machine slowly came to a stop. So I stopped and took a picture of where Andy fell off and where his machine ended up.

You can tell from this picture, it was GORGEOUS! I have never seen landscape like this. Just blew my mind.

Dave on his sled.

We started taking turns making this little jump. Andy went first.





Now it's Dave's turn. Just for background, Dave is a complete ANIMAL on snow machines. He owns something like 8 (3 of them vintage) and is always looking for an excuse to go ride. He even races his vintage sleds. So this little trip...you could say that Dave is in his element!




Another couple of early contenders for picture of the year!! I LOVE these two pictures!



Now it's my turn! Being my first time ever, I was a bit tentative (for good reason, I almost seriously injured myself). Doesn't mean I wasn't having fun. I was having a BLAST!



I like this one a lot that Andy took of me.

Didn't catch quite as much air as Dave and Andy.


Lunch break.

We split up for a while. I found some really nice untouched snow and on my way back to tell the guys I stopped to take in the scenery. My view.

I have lots more photos to share...just getting too late right now. The best scenery was yet to come!!

Iditarod 2011 Ceremonial Start

Saturday morning, we got all dressed up to go to our favorite spot to see the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. We've done the downtown thing once and much prefer a little bit further down the trail where there is abundant parking and much less people. Not to mention you can get up close and personal with the dogs.

I have always loved the display of crazy hats and coats during the festivities.


The mushers throw old booties out to the kids along the trail. Our girls did really well this year!



I ran back to the car and missed this guy stop his team right in front of Lisa and the girls. Yes he's wearing a kilt!





Getting ready for some hot chocolate.







We saw mushers 28 through 63 come through. The girls lost interest for a while and just started playing in the snow. This is Katy trying to throw some on the camera.




Kendra and Malena joined us! It was Malena's first Iditarod. She was pretty excited!







My daughter has a real drinking problem.


Love this picture!



This is the girls loot!