Karin left Shageluk this morning at 5:07 with 15 dogs still.  As I look at the Current Standings the last four teams into Anvik have taken just over four hours to get there.  So I would think that before 10 she should be there and then she will be on the Yukon River.  Temperature this morning on the river is 19 with a 10 mph wiind making it feel like 8.  High today is predicted to be 28 ans there is light snow and wind.  So a much cooler day and I can stop wondering about what the mushers do if the river is thawing.  They are on the Yukon from Anvik to Kaltag a distance of 140 miles.  Oh yes, the wind: it is blowing in their faces, coming down stream.  In Karin's first year it was much colder, the wind was high and she left Grayling in a whiteout!

Martin Buser is maintaining his lead by some 3 hours ahead of Aliy Zirkle, but only 17 miles and a long way yet to go.  They have both taken their mandatory 8 hour rest required on this part of the race.  (Wonder where Karin will take hers?)

The other musher that Gwen and I watch with added interest is Ray Redington, Jr., the grandson of Joe Redington who is considered the Father of the Iditarod.  It is with Ray's mother we stay in Unalakleet.  Ray is currently in 13th position and arrived at Eagle Island about 6 this morning having already taken his 8 hour.  He came in one minute later than last year's champ Dallas Seavey.  That could be an interesting little race; wonder who will leave first.

Last night we went to a local playhouse and saw At Home With the Clarks.  A play set in the 1960's mid America with all the concerns about nuclear war, changes in language and parental rule, zombies...anyway it was funny if just for comments about television and how someday it would come on instantly and how there were 3 stations and nothing worth watching.

Gwen and I leave at noon today to fly out to Unalakleet.  We will have breakfast at Gwennie's first.  We will not be doing any volunteer work until we get to Nome on Tuesday or Wednesday. This is what we are leaving behind: 

Retail store in hotel lobby.



Gwen showing what we do in the phone room.

Stats: checking and rechecking info.