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Iditarod 38 - the Tourist start

On a chilly morning @ 8:15am, we bundled up from head to toe and drove downtown to C & 4th street for the official 'tourist' start to the 38th Iditarod Race. It's the last Greatest Race on earth!!! To quote from the official site:

"...It’s unlike any other event in the world. A race over 1,150 miles of the most extreme and beautiful terrain known to man: across mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and windswept coastline ... "

After a mere $20 for a parking spot, we trudged up the alley-way toward the sound of barking dogs. Rows of sled dogs and mushers lined the roadside getting ready for the 10am race start: http://www.iditarod.com/race/

Within the hour, sled teams assembled themselves along 4th street. Every 2 minutes, another team was released down the road, ididarider (a sponsor perhaps??) on-board the sled for the first 11 miles to Wasilla. Because it was so gosh-darn cold (23 degrees), a quick snack of Reindeer Sausage hot-dog was in order, and then a trip to get coffee.

It's off to Portage tonight!

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