Dog Sled Races: Part TWO ! (Otherwise known as Dog Sled Races Haute Coutures)

If you missed the beginning of this series on the

U.P. 200 Dog Sled Races in Marquette, Michigan, drop below this blogpost

to the blogpost below this one, and start at Part One (if you are so inclined).
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Part of the reason I love to attend the U.P. 200 is to "people watch".

Many of the bystanders dress in some pretty neat fur hoods and hats

and the atmosphere is fun and happy.

People full of hardiness for the winter in which we live.

And the dogs' excitement is contagious.

You can HEAR the dogs before you see them as you approach the raceway

because they yelp and yelp and bark as if to say:

"Let's get going already!"

This year, the temperatures were very cold and the wind chill was bitter outside.

I wore longjohns, heavy pants, 3 layers of sweaters, two pairs of gloves, a heavy hat and my heavy, hooded

winter coat.  And after a while, even I got numb standing out there waiting for the start of the race.

I just had to share with you some of the outfits I saw!:

I loved, loved this fur hood!:

And look at this youngster's hat.

OMG, is that a RACOON?

(Don't tell that little racoon that we saved last year from the trap that I know people

that wear them as HATS, they'd never forgive me!):

I bet this hat was warm. Just look how happy he is!:

Then, there was THIS crazy lady, bundled up so much you almost couldn't recognize her!:

Oh.

Wait.

That was ME.

(That is FAKE fur, people!! FAKE!!)

No animals were harmed for my warmth.

This guy just cracked me up.

He had fake dreadlocks to wear as a HAT!!!

Yah, mon...No problem!!:

I was realllly hoping this wasn't their HAIR:

Otherwise, we are gonna have to find a cosmetology shop for them right away!

(See?? I TOLD you the cold winters up here dry out your hair!)

Enough of the fashion show...

on

to the RACE!!

These pretty dogs are getting ready for the run:

And he is getting his sled ready:

Help me Rhonda!

Help, help me Rhonda...

Help me get him out of my heart:

We can't have a race without a MASCOT

now CAN we?:

This was the starting line, and the Officials just called for everybody to

LINE UP the dog sled teams!!!!:

(I just LOVED the people sitting on the hay on the "front row" seats to the excitement).

On my next blog post, I will show the teams lining up and taking off!!

(And for those of you that want to get back to the beach and sun of my Florida pictures

and the Savannah pictures, don't worry, they are still coming too!)

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Dog Sled Races: Part ONE!!

Today, we are back to winter photos!

And one of the favorite activities I do, is to attend the U.P. 200 Dog Sled Races

held in Marquette, Michigan.

Today, I am sharing these photos (Part One)

of this year's race.

They haul in snow and run the track

smack down the center of the downtown streets:

A shot of the announcer's box:

(The lady in red at the podium just got back from the Iditarod in Alaska

and she also went to Antarctica to experience Condition Zero..she is a fantastic speaker).

Getting the dogs ready:

(the blue marks on their sides means these dogs have been examined by the Vet. and are ok to run the race).

Fantastic Sled!:

Checking out the dog's paws.

They must be healthy prior to and during the race and they make them wear doggie booties:

Official race clock.

They left at 7:10p on the dot!:

I LOVED this shot.

It was like the dog was dreaming of winning the upcoming race:

I bet you thought all dog sled races were run with Husky dogs, didn't you?

We only saw a few of that breed when we were there.

But if I were a FEMALE sled dog????

You can bet your wagging tail

that

I'd be after

THIS GUY!!!!:

Stay tuned to my blog,

I will be doing Part TWO

of these wonderful races next!