Day 4

Elona typing:

Patrick's last words to us before turning in for the night were "We'll just get up when we get up." and as Patrick stated - he rarely sleeps more than 6 hours a night - we expected to be up and around about 6.30 - 7ish. Well I opened my eyes as the sun cracked the horizon at a whopping quarter to ten and raced downstairs (NOT EASY!!! - the gradient on these is phenomenal!) and saw to my great relief Patrick fast asleep on the lounge - Bless. I go upstairs and inform Megs "It's all good he's still downstairs asleep - it was a concern - we did kinda pick on him! So...I headed down more slowly ie safely to put on water for cuppas and there on the bench was the first aid kit all open - I looked over to Patrick who was just surfacing and asked if he had hurt himself. His classic little mischievous smile looked in my direction as he explained that that the door had bit him - as him being a manly man uses the out house as opposed to the IN house. I ventured over for a wee look and yes there is this gaping oozing wound above his eye - I declared his story was no where good enough and he needed to say he was protecting us from a cranky woken winter grizzly bear - much better!!! Now get up and make breakfast!! NO I didn't say that but that's what he did because he is just such a legend!

Megs turn

I arrived downstairs to be informed by Elona that Patrick had saved our lives during the evening from a ferocious bear attack.  Patrick just giggle and then proceeded to reenact the events of the previous evening and demonstrated just how the door had bit him in an effort to use the outside facilities.  Elona and I didn't recover from the fits of giggles that ensued from his dramatisation for at least 10 mins.  Hilarious!!!!

As we readied ourselves for the day ahead, Patrick prepared an amazing breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes.  Have we mentioned how much we love this man??  After breakfast we ventured outside to take a few (100) photos of the breathtaking views.  Elona wanting to capture every detail including photos of the Out House - Opened the door for a shot of the inside view, proceeded to shut the latch (piece of wood that swivels to lock door) and it just fell off.  On Elona's exclamation of "OH S&*T, I broke it!!!".  Patrick again dissolves into a fit of giggles.....on prompting he admitted to us that during the bear attack on the previous night, he got locked in the Out House (did we tell you it was very cold) and forcibly had to break down the door, hence the weak lock.

Elona Typing:

He then proceeded to enlighten us of a story of a previous trip in the first week in December with the Pauls - apparently one of the guys; the younger of the two who described by Patrick was highly intelligent and a bit of a geek who had just celebrated his 30th birthday had gone to the outhouse and spent what Patrick thought as a little too long and too loud in the said outhouse. He now understands the poor bugger was locked in the bloody thing just like he had been last night. Now that just goes to show how testosterone can stop a really good story from surfacing - boys!! Hence with us now with this knowledge of Patrick and his door problem was now the butt of every joke or possible quip we could make for the rest of the journey.

Ok believe it or not we actually did set off on the machines once again - amazingly a little scarier in the daytime as those trees are AWFULLY close to you as you zig zag through them. We headed out to Alexander Lake which took us through some wide open spaces that allowed us to feel speed greater than yesterday and some really cool airtime (jumps) Nothing quite like it - for me obviously it's a way I can jump without hurting my pelvis - absolutely thrilling and of course accompanied by many girly squeals.

Once again being the observant person I am (of views - not mirrors) I kinda lost Megs again!!! Yeah I know.... this involved a rough - "stay here - don't move" from Patrick and off he went in the direction we came. It was a good 10 minutes so I guess taking into consideration the speeds we were doing - I lost track of her awhile back....hhhhmmm.

Meg's turn

All was good to start, speed, jumps and sooo much white powder.  The problem with white powder is that 1/2 cm (approximation Patrick and sorry I really only understand metric) off the track and the machine can lurch suddenly and steeply to one side and sink....  Not having experienced this before and remembering the indemnity from the previous day not quite sure how to get out of snow sink holes.. Patrick had also mentioned in his safety induction that if you rev in any direction too hard you can dig yourself in.  So I sat there on my skewed machine and waved both arms in the air to signal Elona that I was stuck. Then watch patiently has both Elona and Patrick rode off in the distance and round the corner and out of site.  HMMMM.



Elona's Turn

Thought 1: S#*t she is going to kill me. Thought 2: It gets cold when you have to turn your machine off and you can't keep your hands warm on the heated handlebar thingies. Thought 3: Nice view though: so I took some really nice shots...I couldn't move too far as the powder was pretty deep. Thought 4: How far back is she?? Oh S*#t I'm soooo in trouble - she will never forgive me!! What felt quite some time I see the cloud approaching and then the two machines. Patrick goes around me and on without stopping - thank god because somehow I don't think that conversation would have been pleasant for me!!

THEN Patrick did that meerkat thing again - I tell you it just fills you with confidence I'm telling you! He  told both of us to stay and scouted ahead...hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. So what happened back there Megs I ask. Actually she was really cool about it as she knows just how hard it is to follow and keep an eye behind - bless her!! Well hhhhmmmmmmmmmm oh there are people behind us we try and move out of their way and then our knight in shining armour (kinda) comes back and stops to not ask for directions - because that's not the hunting, guiding, male kind of thing you do but what was reassuring is the other guy got out a map - well there's two sides to that - we're really lost or just a little lost. But we were on our way following the others till we stopped at a kinda sign in the middle of the river - a kind of cross way - they went one way and we went another - to Alexander Lake. We should take a moment to explain that Patrick reassured us that he wasn't lost, that due to our beginning status and the wind blowing away his previous tracks he didn't want to take us into deep deep snow because Meg's can't drive on it - obviously!! he he he he

We arrived after some great speed - we're up to 50 miles an hour now - YEAH (I'm thinking this is fast!) and arrived at some beautiful scenery. Please see pictures. From here we headed to Yentna Station Roadhouse. This is a part of the Iditarod Trail - the dog sledding race from Anchorage to Nome. Just the most welcoming lovely people - Jean is a women close to my heart in Christmas decorations - just beautiful Jean. We were welcomed in by Jean, her husband Dan and sons. The roadhouse was heated by a roaring fire with dogs asleep in front of it - I'm in heaven I'm telling you. We were asked to take a seat whilst hot chocolates were being made and this is when we say the Bear - Bruno I think his name was (sorry if I got it wrong Dan) and this was given to Jean and brought back from a recent trip. The fur on this thing was amazing - I understand how the term cuddly bear came about. We took some photos and of course included a flag shot - see pictures. Jean and Dan told us of their family and life in the Back country - this is their 30th winter this year!! We then shared our stories of course including our recent stories such as the bear attack and Patrick's chivalry... oh and of course his aversion to doors. From then on it was just giggles all the way. These people just made our trip - we have never felt so at home - thank you sooo much guys we will always recommend you to others. And Dan you just wait and see - we will be back for the Iditarod not next year but the year after and yes we will work!!!! Promise! Just an aside here - our illustrious guide - you know the one with door issues - apparently doesn't take a good photo so our apologies to Jean and Dan for not including what would have been a lovely or two of the four of us together. If anyone is interested their address is: www.yentnastation.com

After packing/strapping the water supply to the machine, saying our farewells and xmas wishes we head off in the dark towards home - well cabin. Got to 55 miles an hour on this stretch but had to endure this with visor up for a had lost total vision through the bastard! I asked Patrick earlier to stop in amongst the trees so that I could get a photo - these photos really don't do it justice - it's an amazing site at night. Back to the cabin and the day must have been a trial for Patrick as he his first action was to stick his head in the oven after turning the gas on. The REAL story though has to be about doors - oven doors included - "the oven's NOT working" he announced. I having no problem with doors did fix said problem. For dinner - chicken is on the menu tonight with mushrooms, salad and a side of seasoned rice. He is such a sweetheart I'm telling you!!! Many laughs and some fantastic and shocking hunting stories later (Who knew bears woke up in winter - they get pissed apparently and will eat you!!! or the next person that walks passed) We then snuggled on the lounge to watch a movie - Space Cowboys - a definite giggle and then off to bed with the promise that an alarm would be set for 7am and the facilities used inside by ALL.