And They're Off!

And they're off!  This past weekend in Fort Kent, a small town about an hour north, had their annual dogsled race.  They have different length races, including a long one over one hundred miles, which serves as a qualifier for the Iditerod.

We try to go up every year,  it's really a fun time.  The dogs are so focused and they want to RUN!!!  Some of the teams come from as far away as Minnesota to run this race.

Here you can see a typical team, a motley crew of misfits but boy can they move.  The first time we went I expected to see big dogs, but most of the dogs are small,  maybe 60 to 70 pounds apiece.

And they are mostly mutts.  I'll have to ask my friend Bob Johnson what kind they are exactly.  It's amazing the love that the handlers have for the dogs, and the work that goes into having a team.  These dogs have to be run year round, and you can't really travel, unless you have really good friends.  I have two dogs and they're a lot of work, I can't imagine having 12 to 15!

Here are the leads of a beautiful team of Malamutes,  big dogs, I can't imagine feeding a whole team.  They were pretty.  Also, hats off to the volunteers and sponsors who make the whole thing possible  especially Irving Forest Products who pay the lions' share of the prize money.  But obviously the teams do it for the love, not the money.  Fun time all around.

Shot this on the way home,  look at that sky.