A looong roadtrip

A couple of days since I arrived home from my journey to Kolari, and it takes some time to recover after about 3800kilomtres in a car.

I left Atrå Saturday 9 July, and the first night I slept over in Åserna. The next day I made it to Fia and Johan close to Lit. It was good to see Saria again, and I think she remembered me a little too. She had developed very nicely, and has already showed her ability to lead. The same goes for Tirith, the female Fia kept after her Pya – Mithril breeding. She also runs in lead, and has the same soft and humble temperament as her father.

As many others, also Fia and Johan used some of their holiday to rebuild and increase the kennel.

After a nice cheesecake and two of Johan’s wonderful mini-pizzas, I went north to Arvidsjaur where I stayed the night.

Fia and Saria

Tirith in Johan’s lap

Saria shedding her puppycoat

Saria, a lively and funny girl

A neat and foxy expression!

Alert and on the move as her brothers

Tirith

Tirith has shown good leading abilities this winter

Tirith with one of the kennel’s pups

Unfortunately, I passed Jokkmokk when Anna Lena was still at work, so I didn’t make a stop there, but went on to Kolari. Jenni and Gustav were still at work, so I spent the time until they arrived in the puppypen. I met ten very sociable puppies, and was happy when I understood which puppy Jenni had picked out for me.

Krum, 75% Polar Speed, 25% Anadyr, just like Ermine

Krum and two of his littermates

Milk!

Crow with her ten puppies

and a slightly older male from Indian Tribe kennel, Eskimo

When Jenni and Gustav came back, we took a tour of the kennel, before Gustav served dinner, again splendid!

Taiga Quest Crow

Nice to get away from the puppies!

Nice kennel!

Jenni’s 9 year old leaddog Pricken

Mithril’s sister, Pinga

Feedingtime

After dinner, we went on to visit Johanna Kokkonen at Susitievan kennel, who lives only about 20km away from Jenni. She has at the moment 74 dogs, as she at the moment also has Tullatuulen’s race team in her dog yard. Johanna runs a tourist kennel, mainly on her own, but hires in handlers during the busiest months. She also has Krum’s father Kuurna, which met us together with on of his sons when we arrived at the kennel.

Johanna, Kuurna and son. Both the dogs loved to chase the tennisball!

Kuurna

Not a common sight in Norway, a kennel with 74 Siberians

Part of the kennel

Jack

Ermine’s sister

Another dog at Johanna’s kennel, unfortunately, I don’t remeber all the names and lines

Jenni feeding her dogs. A nicely behaved lot!

After a delightful sauna, it was time for bed.
The next morning, I headed down south again. I stopped close to Arvidsjaur for a visit at Birgitta and Mikael’s place, Nymånen kennel. After yet another nice meal, we took a short visit out to the kennel, about 50 dogs, but at the time it rained cats and dogs, so unfortunately, only one picture of their lovely kennel. It was a pity since they have such nice dogs.  I also had the pleasure to see Birgitta’s gallery and some of the new things she was working on.

Mikael and Krum

Nymånen kennel – the rain was pouring down

My next stop and stay-over-night-place was at Katarina and Jachym, close to Strømsund. They welcomed me with rubarbpai and a glass of wine…nice. The next morning, Katarina and I took a tour of the kennel, about 50 dogs, and of course I had to meet Balto first. He has become a calm and mature male, but I think he maybe remembered me. At least he didn’t mind me petting him.

Balto

Balto still runs in lead, but mostly as a coach for the youngest ones

He has learned Gee and Haw, but needs to be talked to in Norwegian when he has a stubborn moment

Still loves human contact

The pen where the A-team is kept

and the place for the yearlings and retired dogs

I know there are a lot of other Siberian kennels in the area, and should have loved to visit them as well, but Hein was waiting for me in Grong, so I had to move on.

My cousin Elin with her beautiful children, Linde, Johannes and Anna.
The little cool skater at the right is Hein.

Hein and I stopped over at Fjellheimen, Røros on our way home, so he could see the place where mom and dad spend a week every winter.

Of course we also had to stop at Hundekjørerbutikken to do some shopping. I must admit that Tommy’s Yeti sled really makes me want a new sled….

Rikke was the last stop on the journey. I was in desperate need of a rest and a cup of coffee. As many others, she had also used some of her holiday making improvements to her kennel.

Back home, Krom settled well with the other puppies, and Meg even let him get a drop of milk. He lives inside with us and Jojo so far, but will be placed outside when some of our puppies have left. Sterk, or Basse, who is his name now, left this morning with Per Olav, Beate and Lina. They have really explored this part of Hardangervidda for the last couple of weeks and found the landscape very nice.

Tomorrow, Søta, or Sikari which will be her name, leaves with Mette and Trond, then Snute and Storm will leave in the middle of the week.

We have also decided to sell Sara. She is a very well built female, (much like Saria)but with another litter coming (oh yes, Ermine is definetly pregnant), we need to keep the numbers down.

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