Chilly Dogs

Our first year in Minnesota a friend told us about a place called Chilly Dogs.  RJ put it on my 2012 date list.  We invited the Rowleys and their four boys to join us and we had a great time.  First we got to meet the 83 dogs all chained up and barking.  They did not look like sledding dogs to me.  I imagined big, furry Alaskan huskies but these dogs were small and short haired.  We had an orientation that scared me to drive the dogs.  It seemed like a lot to remember word wise (go, stop, right, left) and safety wise (what to do if you tip over, the dogs legs get tangled, balancing, slowing, keeping an even distance) etc.

We were split up into several teams.  Tanner, McKenna and Nathan got to go with a professional musher.

Reagan and I got to ride with daddy.  There was a sleeping bag inside the sled so we zipped ourselves up and Reagan kept me nice and cozy.  Adam was so comfy that he fell asleep on Cheryl’s lap! 

Hunter got to go with his friend Will.

It was 10 degrees out so we bought warmers to put in our gloves and boots but mine did not work at all.  We stopped out on the ice and they asked if anyone wanted to switch drivers.  I decided to push myself and get a little uncomfortable.  When I got on the break,  the dogs kept going.  RJ was hollering at me to stand with all of my weight on the break and I informed him that I was.  At that moment, I felt a little bit out of control since the dogs were not whoa-ing (stopping) when I gave them the command AND stood on what was suppose to be the break.  We had fast dogs who kept catching up to the sled in front of us so we eventually had to stop again to swap dogs.  My hands and feet were uncomfortably cold at this point so I hopped back in the sled and cuddled with Reagan so they could thaw.

The clan:  Cheryl, Tanner, Paul. Will, Nathan, Adam, McKenna, Hunter, Reagan, RJ and me.  We had yummy hot chocolate and cookies afterward.

Back at the house, we did puzzles, played games, got NO sleep, ate bad-for-you food and generally enjoyed ourselves.

What a great Christmas vacation!