Skywatch Friday from Duluth

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon I posted about a few days ago ended yesterday with the closest finish in the marathon's history: winner was Ryan Anderson of Ray, Minnesota and Defending champion Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm crossed the finish line just behind him.

My pics show how clear and cold the day was with a bright blue Minnesota sky.

See more beautiful skies at SkywatchFriday.

Then tune in to the YouTube Video below of both the two and four-legged finishers.

Happy Friday!

Duluth or bust!

It was a perfect winter day in the Minnesota Northwoods yesterday when we were in Duluth for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. There were mushers from Minnesota, Michigan, California, New Hampshire, Montana, Canada and New Zealand, and 17 sleds left on a 390 mile, 3-day marathon race and as well as another 37 for a mid-distance race that will take the mushers and dogs to the Canadian border and back to Duluth. We were fortunate [and cold] to watch at the starting line.

The most fun is wandering around the dog area to meet the dogs before they are harnessed to their sleds. It is full of cold, yapping huskies anxious to get going. Once they are hooked to the sled they stop barking completely becoming four legged athletes in their zone.

I saw lots of snippets of the color red yesterday, my favorite being the dog harnesses themselves. The Canadian flag flew proudly atop one musher's truck and some of the dogs sported red collars. Dave and I have promised each other as long as we can we'll make the last weekend in January a date in Duluth, even if it does make us lonesome for our dear, old Pashka.

More red can be seen at Mary's MeMe, Ruby Tuesday.