Iditarod 2008....Ceromonial Start

This photo was taken for sentimental reasons...Unfortunately the recruiter station is no longer there and the little greasy spoon restaurant was so full a small baby could not have fit in that place let alone six of us for hot chocolate. So we moved along... Everyone takes the iditarod as an opportunity to advertise... Now the free mittens were a wonderful thing for those who forgot theirs (Donny and Anna)...Although the fleece used in the making of these gloves provides better Air conditioning than heat retention...I am told...I had my gloves. but I got my free pair anyway. Now here is an event that is probably losing its audience due to a very poor job as auctioneer. Starting the bid at 100 dollars and attempting to sell two arctic fox's separately but at one time...these fox's gave their lives for 25 dollars apiece. I am thinking a good auctioneer would have started the bid at 25 and worked up. A good auctioneer would have been able to babble endlessly and draw a crowd thus forming a competition. Well....this man had NO CLUE how to run an auction....it was still neat to see the traders and the "truck" full of furs...all non tanned. Britt was a little ill at the site...but...I want the 150 dollar mittens made from beaver fur...and the red fox hat with the ear muffs....yep...warm! All the musher's were wearing them....for the start...then comes GORTEX! And on that note...Notice the Grand Opening Advertisement...found on our free mittens.