Off they Go!
Niklas Wikstrand has been working with Pete the last 3 years. His dream has been to run this race from the beginning. Nik comes to us from one of the most remote places in the world, Svalbard, near the North Pole. Living that close to the dangers of the arctic and or course, the Polar Bears, you would think that it might make a guy a bit nervous. Well, that seems not to be that case normally for our Norwegian friend. He generally is pretty mild mannered and shows up quietly taking to the tasks of the dogs. He loves nature and just being out with the dogs. In his homeland he hunts and also gives tours to tourists.
Today, though, was a different story. Thousands and thousands of fans. Hundreds of dogs. Trucks, lights, noise!! It’s enough to make an urban man take cover, much less this young man from the North Pole!! As Nik said later, “I was sleeping with the butterflies…”
Pete had a plan drawn up to help, and as per usual, it went down without a hitch. Ron, Andy, and Sterling stepped up to help and a crew of handlers were there to make sure Team Kaiser Norway was able to make it to the Starting Line without a problem.
One thing to note, and I say this from personal experience. The Kaiser clan is so generous with help, support, and love. They just take you in and make you theirs!! I’m sure Nik can relate. So many years ago I began helping with the website and they are just so nice and so family! It is truly Awesome to be a part of their lives.
When Nik arrived to handle and work for Pete I’m sure he had a dream of running the Iditarod, but I’ll bet he had no idea that it would happen and especially in this way. Pete and Ron and the whole family have stepped up and gathered an army of support to make it all happen. People are flying out of the woodwork to help out. Donating trucks and houses and all kinds of support. All started at the Kaiser kitchen table in Bethel.
And then there is his own family, Mort, and his brothers Mette and Patrick, who flew all the way from Norway just to be a part of Nik’s grand dream and adventure.
As he said at the banquet on Thursday, “I am so thankful!”
Here are the photos from cub reporter Zoe Anelon. She took a minute of instruction and I was off onto the trail. She did an amazing job! Thanks Zoe!
