ITI 2024 Day 18: Unalakleet (706.8) to Shaktoolik (747.6)

Ryan arrived in Unalakleet (706) at 4:45pm. Bret, the proprietor of Peace on Earth Pizza, watches the trackers and times the pizza to come out of the oven just as the racers arrive and get their gear off.  Ryan pulled a fast one on him, swinging by the grocery store before settling in for a night of pizza.  It was still piping hot when Ryan arrived.  ITI 350 FINISHER Matt Webb carried on one of my favorite ITI traditions, buying the racers their pizza.  Matt called two days in advance (Bret is insanely busy during the dog race, and according to Ryan, has a stack of orders called in for the mushers and ITI athletes) and secured Ryan a salad ("eat your vegetables!"  You're not wrong Matt!), a pepperoni pizza, and two "beverages".  They were exactly what Ryan wanted/needed.

We FaceTimed, got caught up on his time at the shelter cabins, and watched videos of him opening other racers' drop boxes. Two thoughts:

1) I think I get why kids like watching other kids open gifts on YouTube. It's oddly satisfying.

2) Not sure how or why he would be reading this, but if you are, Herman, your drop box was the thing drop box dreams are made of. Hat tip, sir.

After a warm, happy belly filled with pizza and Jameson, he curled up on the floor of Peace on Earth (Bret leaves it open 24/7 for the racers to come and go, even allowing them to bring those big honkin' bikes inside!) for a few hours of warm sleep that didn't require stove stoking (thankfully).

The morning was spent packing and repacking the bike, shoveling in too many pancakes and sausage, and hearing about a bummer forecast for the next few days.  Batten down the hatches, there's going to be a gnarly headwind crossing the sea ice this year.

Ryan left at 8:20am, had 23 miles to the first shelter cabin, Foothills (730), and should make it to Shaktoolik tonight (747), and at least Little Mountain shelter cabin tomorrow.  Could be a short day, but with winds looking a tad calmer on Sunday, it might make sense to wait to make the 30 mile push to Koyuk (791.6).