I-didn't-arod

So the Iditarod started today...officially.  (The ceremonial/unoffical start was yesterday during the Fur Rondy celebration.)  Last year we went and watched the ceremonial start.  This year...not so much. I guess that makes us boring Alaskans now.  Sad day!!!

But I thought I would share some pictures from the ceremonial start from Anchorage Daily News.

Look how excited the dogs are!

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They dogs are SO excited that, during the ceremonial start, the mushers take extra people in their sleds to help their dogs slow down!  Here is a rooftop view:

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And this afternoon, in Willow AK, was the real start/re-start/whatever you want to call it.

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I learned (from this article) that the dog teams are drug tested (before the race and also randomly along the 1,000+ mile route).  Which makes sense, but I know what job I never want to have- Iditarod dog pee collector.  Yikes!

I wonder who will win this year??  And I wonder if we will be less lame next year and actually go do exciting Iditarod things...  But in our defense, Luke was preparing to go to Houston for work--he left late last night--and I volunteer in the office at the Anchorage Alaska Temple on Saturday afternoons...so it's not like we weren't doing anything.  So there!  Ha!  :)

Now MUSH!