There is a lot of towing action at Lakeside Camping but usually it involves a ski boat. Last weekend we had a unusual booking. 1 unpowered campsite for 2 vet nurses, 2 utes, 2 tents and 13 well behaved, well traveled sled dogs.
Natalie and Kerry rolled in with their furry troup, set up camp and gave us a taste of dryland sled dog racing. They are both members of The WA Sled Dog Sports Association. ‘No Snow. No Problem’. Natalie McIllree owns 8 Siberian Huskies and 2 Arab Mastiffs. She has been racing sled dogs for 18 years and has crossed the nullarbor 15 times; more often than not with a convoy of 4 girls, 4 cars and 30 dogs. I can only imagine the jaw dropping expressions along the way. Both Natalie and Kerry have raced as far and wide as the Victorian Snowfields, Adelaide Hills, Southern Cross, Dwellingup, Collie and Margaret River.
Until Now I did not know this sport existed in Australia, but after listening to the howl of huskies at dawn and feeling the wind (and a bit of dirt) on my face while being pulled along a red dirt road by a pack of siberian huskies, I can understand their passion for this sport.
