Team Maine Update 3-11-08

Well it has been a long couple of days. It was early morning when I did the last update at the restaurant at the Hotel. I spent the night over at the checkpoint getting some info from the other teams and getting things ready for the team and the support crew to go out. The rest of the crew got a much needed few hours of sleep. The miley’s headed out on the trail at 4:00 am to have fuel and supplies out there for Rob and Rich. The rest came down to the checkpoint so they could help finish getting things in order, set up a game plan and the girls got to spend some time with their husbands. Rob and Rich got up at Churchill after some rest and they got another good meal. Rob needed to pull his sled in the trailer to do a few minor things but Rich’s was pretty much ready to go after fuel and oil. After Rob thought his sled was good to go he noticed a bent track adjustment bolt as well a broken skid bolt. Both got repaired and off they went. I satyed back to wait for the Miley’s to return and the rest of the crew headed off for Goosebay. Just beyond the Orma checkpoint, Rich bent another track adjuster bolt. Later I got they call from Rich on Seal lake that he had bigger issues. The suspension bracket on his rear skid split in half. The spent part of the night at the Seal checkpoint with Team 1; a team from Lab City that we are friends with that we having clutch issues. Meanwhile, Todd, Dave and the girls were in Goosebay already and got some reinforcement brackets made. I then made my way from Chuurchill with the Milley’s. When we got back to Goose we all sat down and made plans for Todd, Dave and the Milleys to go out on the trail and meet The 2 teams with what they needed to finish the leg of the race at full speed. The support group left Goose at 4:30 am and met Rob and Rich and Team 1 just beyond Harvey’s checkpoint and the teams fixed their sleds and have gotten on their way. The girls have gotten 1st hand experience of why we enjoy this race and why we enjoy the people of Labrador. It would take me all day to describe the hospitality that they have received. As emotionally attached as all of our supporters get I will update more after they arrive here in Goosebay.