LAURIE ELLINGHAM
Laurie lives on the Suffolk/Essex border with her two children, husband, and cockerpoo Rodney. She has a First Class honours degree in Psychology and a background in Public relations, but her main love is writing and disappearing into the fictional world of her characters, preferably with a large coffee and a Twix (or two) to hand.
A huge thank you to Donna Adams for sharing her experience of the arctic challenge with me. To my beta-readers Cathy Oldfield and eagle-eyed Kathryn Jones - thank you.
Thank you to my lovely agent, Tanera, for believing in me, and my amazing editor, Celia, for her hard work and editing awesomeness.
A final thanks to my writing friends for keeping me going, and my family for putting up with me.
To my amazing sister-in-laws: Katherine, Anna and Bec.
Are you ready for the challenge of a lifetime? Drive your own team of elite Siberian huskies 260km across the frozen wilderness of the Arctic in an experience you’ll never forget!
Day 1. Arrive at Tromsø, Norway
On arrival at Tromsø airport you will meet with your fellow mushers and board a minibus to the beautiful grounds of our dog sled camp, Huskyleir, where you’ll meet your guides for the challenge and be kitted up with all the equipment you’ll need to survive in sub-zero temperatures. In the evening you’ll enjoy one of Norway’s speciality game dishes by an open fire in our traditional Lavvu tent.
Day 2. Briefing
After breakfast your guides will brief you on every aspect of the challenge ahead, and after being introduced to your huskies, you’ll have the chance to practise your skills on a short sled run.
Day 3. Tri-Nations Border
Following an early breakfast it’s back in the minibus for a short ride to the start of your Arctic challenge. Today you will sled 40km to the Tri-Nations Border between Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and spend your first night camping under the breathtaking Northern Lights.
Day 4. Swedish Mountains
Today will be the most challenging of your journey and will see you climb with your dogs up the Swedish mountains before descending to your second campground of the trek. Be prepared for some spectacular views over the Arctic! 60km.
Day 5. Rostojvri Fishing Camp
With every up, comes a down. Today you’ll enjoy an easy 50km sledding downhill to the Rostojvri Fishing Camp where you’ll enjoy a rest from tents and spend a night in traditional log cabins.
Day 6. Swedish Forests
Today you will sled 65km through the beautiful Swedish forests and enjoy an open campfire before a final night of camping.
Day 7. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi
On your final day of the challenge you’ll continue sledding through the beautiful forests of Sweden for 45km and arrive at the Icehotel in time for an early dinner and a night’s stay in this award-winning hotel.
Day 8. Return to Huskyleir
Today you say goodbye to Sweden and board your minibus back to Norway, returning to Huskyleir where you’ll have the opportunity to say goodbye to your huskies and head into Tromsø where you’ll enjoy an evening in this popular Norwegian tourist destination and spend a night in a hotel.
Day 9. Home
Time to say goodbye to your new friends and leave this spectacular Arctic challenge.
Let’s get mushing!
Day 1
Erica
‘Why are you doing this? You don’t even like dogs.’ Henry’s voice echoed in Erica’s head as she scooped up her rucksack and boots from the bedroom floor. In a matter of minutes the sky outside the window had turned from inky blue to light grey, picking out the bedroom furniture in dull shadow.
Anger stirred inside her. Sudden and sharp – like heartburn – a remnant of last night’s fight. Erica glanced at the sleeping form of her husband. The hump of his long lean body was cocooned inside the red covers. Only his feet and his mop of pepper grey hair were visible.
The air was thick with the smell of sleep and the lingering menthol scent of Olbas oil from Henry’s cold earlier in the week.
Erica peeled open the bedroom door and tiptoed across the hall. ‘Or cold.’ Henry’s caustic voice again, just before he’d swigged back a mouthful of red wine. ‘And you’re going to the bloody Arctic, Erica.’
So much for the romantic evening they’d planned. So much for a farewell dinner together, just the two of them for a change; without Isla distracting them; without the murmur of TV news in the background. But by the time Isla had finally settled, the steaks had lost their succulence and neither of them had had the energy to be kind.
Henry was right about the dogs and the cold, of course.
‘They’re not fun dogs,’ she’d tried to explain, tried to placate the argument he’d been gunning for by that point. ‘They’re huskies. They’ll be doing their thing, and I’ll be doing mine. Other than shout “mush” at them, I’ll be leaving them alone. And, yes, it will be cold but I’ll probably be too busy and too tired to notice.’
As for why – why was she going? She was going for Molly. She was going because she needed time away to think, to find her way out from under the lies threatening to bury her. All of a sudden the anger dissolved leaving only a twinge of regret. She had no right to be angry.
It was darker in the hallway. There were no windows, no fingers of daylight creeping in. Just four closed doors – the study, the bathroom, the master bedroom, and Isla’s room. Erica ran a finger over the smooth edges of the four colourful wooden letters stuck to their daughter’s bedroom door as she passed.
‘I don’t understand why it always has to be you who goes on these things, Erica,’ Henry had said as they’d cleared the plates from the table. ‘I get that Channel 6 like their employees to take part in charity events, but surely one of the fame-hungry presenters or a less experienced