Yes, this Musher is getting bored with summer and is getting anxious to start running the dogs.
Although Summer is a nice break, the hot/humid weather and the flies don't necessarily mix well with the mushing lifestyle.
The dogs are getting more hemped up everyday as the nights here are getting cooler (10C) and with the new diet, they are ready to go!
They are digging more holes and more excited anticipating the new season.
Slowly everything is getting in place here with plans being made for what races plan on attending and setting the calendar to mark down the dates.
Next, will be setting up the training plan to prepare the dogs for those races.
If all goes well, it should be a fun/exciting season.
The yearling from last year (Blue/Indigo Breeding) are looking great and after their performance last season, should be ready to perform.
The way things look now with a combination of experienced leaders, mature and young dogs, we should be able to produce a very competitive team with lots of depth.
Yes, it is the same the beginning of every season, the dreams of the musher are high.
Now, do everything possible to produce the desired results.
That is the job of the musher!!
​Until next week......

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!