What seems ordinary in the city can be complicated in a remote area.
The last two weeks proved this to be true.
Last week I set up a dentist appointment and the day before checked to make sure the truck would start (been sitting here for several weeks not being used).
Of course it didn't start, so the batteries were recharged and then it started reluctantly. It didn't sound right, so I checked under the hood to discover the Serpentine Belt was broke due to the Alternator failure.
Living 36 km from the repair shop, the vehicle had to be towed to the village. With the village being far from the closest parts supplier, the truck wouldn't be fixed until the following day. I do have a great garage in the village!
Therefore, the dentist appointment had to be changed until a later date. Also, a ride had to be arranged to go the village to pick up the now repaired vehicle.
That week, I ordered something on the internet to be delivered to my postal address for delivery. When going to the village the following week discovered the package had not been delivered, after seven days since placing the order. After calling the supplier, it was discovered the package was sent UPS as it contained toxic materials ( mosquito repellent) and UPS does not deliver here in the forest. The supplier & UPS had to be contacted to reroute the package to an address in the village for pickup. I also had to notify the company in the village that a parcel of mine would be delivered to them. I will know later on today if everything worked out with the delivery. If so, then another 72 km round trip to pickup the package.
Even though living here in a remote area has its challenges, I wouldn't change living here. 
It is still a paradise!
​Until next week......

No matter what season it is here at Miortuk, Nature is always beautiful.
So lucky to be able to enjoy, especially in the off season, the peace and beauty here in the forest.
Life feels so good here for me, that I hate to leave here even for a short trip to the village.
With the wet/humid weather and the number of flies/mosquitoes here this year, the number of visitors to the forest is down leaving the forest very quiet.
This week was no exception with rainy weather in the beginning and changing to fantastic sunny/warm days by week end.
Above photos chronicle the week.
The last few weeks, the dogs have been on a little different diet schedule to help increase their weight before Fall training.
They are looking great!
However, they are getting a little more energetic and are anticipating the new season of running which is still a couple of months away.
To relieve their extra energy, they have been excavating their areas creating huge craters in the sand tipping over their houses. Also with their digging, throwing sand into their neighbours area. 
It is actually quite comical to see!
Well off tomorrow to do the every five week meat pickup for the dogs.
Another trip out of my solitude!
​Ah yes, the challenges that have to be faced.
​Until next week.......

We are very fortunate here to have the wet/humid weather as compared to other parts of Canada.
The West Coast (BC) is suffering from a drought causing some devastating forest fires, the prairie provinces are experiencing a suffocating heat wave and here in the east a rainy humid conditions.
The weather, we are experiencing here is surely a preference to the conditions in the rest of Canada.
The good news here is the Black Flies are gone and the mosquitoes are not quite as plentiful as last week.
However, the House Flies are plentiful and the Horse Flies are very big!
The damp weather, is not necessarily good for my diet as I tend to spend more time cooking and inventing "healthy" meals. Just joking!
The above Mac Charland is a pancake, topped with sliced breakfast sausage, topped with another pancake, topped with a fried egg, topped with another pancake and then topped with a generous helping of maple syrup. 
The Canadian is a deep fried hot dog wrapped with bacon on a bun and garnished.
Luckily the dogs eat a healthier menu than the musher!
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, so enjoy!
​Until next week......

From morning to night and from birth to adults, thank you Canada for life here at Miortuk!

As the song says: One is the loneliest number, does not apply to life here in the Northern Forest!
As you can see from the above photos, you are never alone here with the mosquitoes to my canine family, I am not alone!
Yes, this is a little humor! But, one has to have one (sense of humor) when dealing with the early Summer abundance of flies.
As a side note: swatting mosquitoes and houseflies is great for improving your hand/eye coordination and reflexes.
This week, the focus here was stormy weather and flies. With all the dampness/humidity the insect population exploded.
We are currently enjoying Black Flies (just about finished), Horseflies (big ones), Deer Flies, Houseflies and of course Mosquitoes!
Although these critters are annoying, their presence normally don't last too long and if protected don't bite.
The dogs are not bothered this year by most of the flies with the exception of the Horse Flies that try to bite them. Luckily they are not in abundance.
The dogs are enjoying their refurbished kennel with all the fresh new sand.
Makes digging that much easier!
With the wet weather, cooking makes up for the dreariness!
Always a bright side!
Another positive, it is with great please to announce the Jack Trigg will be joining the Miortuk Team for the 2017/18 season.
​Until next week......

What a difference 6 hours can make.
Thanks to the work of Denis Tremblay, a good friend and fellow musher, the kennel was transformed and refreshed in only 6 hours!
That meant all the dogs were moved out of the kennel to stake out chains, all the houses and pins removed from the kennel. Kennel then leveled, 12 dump truck loads of new sand brought in, then the new sand spread/leveled, pins and houses reinstalled and finally dogs returned to their newly refurbished kennel.
A remarkable job!!!
Merci Denis, I am so grateful!
So are the dogs with nice new/fresh sand to dig in. 
Now keep it raked daily to fill in their excavations.
LIFE WITH SLED DOGS!
You got too love it!
We had a few beautiful sunsets as seen in the above photos.
Also this week, hot humid weather brought out an incredible abundance of mosquitoes. 
Just horrific!!!
But, on the good news, the Dragonflies have hatched and are busily eating up the pesky mosquitoes. With a bumper crop of mosquitoes, they have their work cut out for them. Dragonflies will eat up to 15% of their body weight daily.
It is interesting how Nature takes care of itself.
This week Lena went to a new home were she will be run and bred. Lena is a big female and her new musher is looking to produce larger dogs. This was the best move for her. She was a great Wheel Dog here and her work ethic was greatly appreciated.
I would also like to thank Valerie and Laurent Gonsolin for their assistance in making this relocation happen.
I am a lucky musher!
​Until next week......

Yes, that is not a bad combination.
It has started to warm up here with temperature getting into the high 20's C.
However, along with the warmer temperatures the Black Flies and the Mosquitoes are thriving!
Although it is uncomfortable for me, the dogs are not being bothered by the pesty insects. It must be the garlic powder that is added daily to their feed.
I have been doing this for a long time and it seems to make a difference.
However, when one of my canine friends jump up for a pet and lovingly look you in the face and then after their meal burp, well you can guess the rest.
It is just one of the many enjoyments of interaction.
Even though, Miortuk is a way to far for Take Out delivery, it doesn't mean that the enjoyment of food is lacking. It just means that you have to learn to cook it for yourself! Example being the pizza enjoyed here on Friday Night.
Just swatted another mosquito while writing this.
You have got to love it!
Until next week......
​

Yes, life here in the Forest is, for me, a sanctuary away from all the craziness of the outside world.
I am so very fortunate to wake up every morning and have such a spectacular view!
The simplicity of life in the forest
the freshness of the air I breath,
the sounds of the forest inhabitants (the birds singing, the buzzing of the flies, the croaking of the frogs)
the silence of the nights
the daily interaction with my canine family.
I am truly blessed.
It is an extreem effort for me to venture outside my Sanctuary!
Until next week......

(the above aerial photos were taken from a drone of some visitors from France last weekend)

Every season has its unique highlights. 
From the end of May to early July, it is Black Fly season here at Miortuk.
Yes, these pesty little critters have made their presence known this week with their return. Yesterday, they feasted on my forehead as I was cleaning the kennel! It is time to wear a bug net over my head to deprive these critters of their feast. 
But, along with the annoyances of the flies was the beauty of the forest as seen by the above photos of my morning view.
This week, I had to move Nova away from the boys to prevent an unwanted breeding. On the 26th, I had to go for supplies leaving the kennel for about 8 hours. Nova, with my absence and showing her displeasure with the move, dug this hole by her new house. It is so deep, that when I returned, I couldn't see her in the kennel. All I could see way sand flying in the air!
Please don't tell me, the dogs can't be expressive with their views. 
Looking to do a breeding this year. But, as of yet, I haven't decided whether to repeat the breeding with Blue/Indigo or breed Tira (Big Kira) with whom? 
I will have to make a decision soon as I expect the two females to come into heat shortly. 
​Until next week........

IF NOTHING CHANGES, ALL WILL STAY THE SAME!
So it is here at Miortuk. 
In order for the kennel to keep progressing, changes have to be made to secure the future of our racing program.
We have come a long way in a relatively short period of time converting from a Distance Racing Kennel to a Open Class Sprint Kennel.
We have been very fortunate to have had great help from a couple other mushers that have enabled Miortuk to make this journey with the acquisition of some great dogs and mentoring.
A little over a year ago we bred Blue with Indigo and that litter produced six great puppies. After a season of running them, we have come to realize this has to best litter that we have produced here. That is not to say that we have not produced other great dogs. But, this litter 100% of the litter are exceptional.
Now the question is where do we go from here.
Do we repeat that breeding or do we breed Tira (black Kira) as she has incredible bloodlines (Gonsolin's Indy half sister) and to who?
Blue or possible one of males from Blue/Indigo.
The one thing that became quite evident is that we don't have a male to breed to Lena, who has another exceptional pedigree, who is a proven top performer.
The only reason for not breeding her here is that she is a very big dog and her get would produce very big dogs. This would be great for Limited Class Racing, Skijoring or Canicross. But, not Open Class.
It was for this reason Lena will be going to another kennel that races all of above and to be bred there. 
Lena is a great dog and will be missed here. But, it is in her best interest that this move was made and she will be going to another top kennel here in Quebec.
There are also a couple of other dogs here that should be rehomed.
If anybody is interested, please contact me at miortuk@hotmail.com.
Until next week.....