For the last year I have spend a great deal of time learning about the sport of running sled dogs.  It has been full of both fun and frustration.  The fun is obviously the thrill of riding on a sled or training cart behind the dogs.  The dogs have often surprised me with both the progress they make and their movement backwards.  I don't pretend to have achieved any proficiency but I have learned a great deal in the process.   I 'm looking forward to entering our first race this January.  Below are some pictures from our trip to the Jedeye Kennel.  We spent a week with Liz and Jennifer Deye,  Blake Frekking, and Ashley Keith this November.  I am very grateful to them for their willingness to help this Okie and his dogs get an appreciation of how much work putting together a team is.  As Liz said, "Any idiot can hook a bunch of dogs up to the front of a sled.  It is something different to make them a team."   We are not there yet, but we are a good step closer because of their help.  I also received a new nickname while there.  I'm now know as "Okie."

We had a fun time entering our dogs in the Lights On Christmas Parade in Pawnee.   We even won first place.  Here are few pictures from that night even though they are not the best.  Okie and Sorsha are in front, then Sky and Dusty, and finally Birdie and Jenna in wheel.

These are some pictures of a training run at the lake.  Our usual run around the lake is 6 miles.  From the drivers perspective we have Okie in left lead, Bullet in right lead, Birdie in left swing, Dusty in right swing, Jenna in left whell, and Sky in right wheel.