1am Monday morning and I haven't been able to get a good sleep as I'm not used to going to bed before 8 o'clock at night.  Alarm is not programmed to go off until 2am but since I'm awake now might as well get up.  A few last minute items to toss in the suitcase and into the back of the van for the drive across the border to Seattle's SeaTac Airport.  Left David in charge of the critters at home so I won't have to worry about whether they will miss a meal...heaven forbid!  Reaching the border at 2am is not recommended...got through quickly enough but they move about all the pylons from their regular setup which is very confusing trying to leave the area.  Never saw such a mess in all my times going down south.  Took the long way round to the highway.  The drive to Seattle didn't seem to take as long as it usually does but the weather was dreadful and made the driving conditions terrible. Heavy rains, large puddles that you couldn't see until you were on top of them, and the wind was really howling threatening to blow the van right off the road.  Couldn't see much of the road ahead behind, or beside, the semi's.

The flight from Seattle was a lot smoother than the drive.  Landed at Minneapolis/St Paul around noon (2 hour time difference).  Had about a one hour layover which I needed!  If you have ever been to this airport you know how HUGE it is.  As luck would have it my flight landed at one end of the terminal and my next flight took off at the opposite end...that's one hell of a walk, even with the moving sidewalks.  The flight into Duluth was turbulent but short.  I make it in one piece...thank heaven.  Jan was right there waiting for me at the loading zone.  The weather, a balmy 30+ degrees F with just a covering of snow on the ground.  Beautiful country...softly rolling hills, white birch trees, and plenty of wildlife (tracks everywhere in the snow...rabbit, deer, pheasant).  Didn't take us long to get to Jan's log cabin on the shores of Schultz (hope I got that right) Lake.  The sound of PBGVs barking at our arrival was music to my ears.

Took a few minutes to get settled and outside again to greet the pack, AND to finally meet the newest addition to my family...."Bollinger"!!