Hitting the Yukon!

Ryan arrived in Ruby (Mile 495ish) last night about 9pm AKST...to a bed and breakfast throwing a birthday party.  Oddly enough, when friend Sam and I were talking about the much needed/deserved rest at Ruby, he proclaimed, "Ruby's going to be a party!"  Little did we know how clairvoyant he is...

I think the birthday party was a good thing in terms of something new and different and fixate on...I think the birthday party was not a good thing in terms of rest, recovery, and getting laundry/all the things dried out.  At the end of the day, it was a permanent structure out of the wind, with power and a hot shower....exactly what you'd hope $200/night would get you 😬 But there was breakfast with a dog sled legend! (Fun fact, when Meggie (sister), Katie (best friend), and I did our dog sled excursion in 2020, we scored the mushers lottery and had an afternoon with DeeDee Jonrowe).

I was able to chat with Ryan briefly on the phone, as well as download some of his pictures.  I think the highlights basically include:

- "So, 50 miles to Galena?...but a tailwind, right?"

- "Your feet doing okay? Do they hurt?"  "Not more than everything else..."

- Strategy for relaying daily mileage.

- Lectures about how to track the dog race (yup, not interested haha)

- "You sleeping?"  (1:58am CST)

- Haven't come close to needing the "oh shit" jacket, but he recognizes his days are numbered 😂

-"Did the drifts get any better?" "Did you see my pictures?"  "So...not really." (again, 1:58am)

The plan is to stick together as a throuple as long as they can.  Next up is Galena (Checkpoint #13, Mile 543.7), with a shelter at Mile 511 if they need it (not the plan unless it's miserable out).  I believe the winds have died down, and what's left will be a tailwind.  The race continues to thin out and spread out...foot leader Beat is putting on a clinic...but so too was Joshua Brown until he feel ill at Galena.  Hoping he can rebound soon..maybe take advantage of Ryan's effervescent attitude?? 

More from me soon...including the repeatedly promised YouTube videos!
Em