Sebastian and Rudi crossed the finish line in Nome.
Sebastian arrived after 9 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes and 35 seconds in 10th position with 14 dogs.
Rudi arrived after 11 days, 13 hours, 55 minutes and 28 seconds in 43rd position with 13 dogs.
Gratulation to the both Finisher !!!
Today Anchorage stood under the sign of the Iditarod - the Main Street was dominated by hunderts of huskys (to be more precis, more than 1150), ready to go on the over 1000 miles (1600 km) long trail to Nome. The real race starts tomorrow but the ceremoniestart today was the official start of the 36th Iditarod.
Sabs Iditarider found his place on the back runners of the sled and so I had the honor to take, as balast, place in the sled. It was a special athmosphere to start on Main Street, houses on the right and left and of course a lot of spectators. The perspective out of the sled was a kind of special for me - driving in situations where you what’s to done but not able to do anything.
After 11 miles (18 km) we arrived and loaded the dogs back in the truck - tomorrow Sab and Rudi are going for real.
Here are some pictures from the start of the 36th Iditarod.
Good luck and happy trails
Andy
This time Sab was lucky at the drawing of the bib numbers - he got number 68, so he can start at on Saturday at 13:14 h (23:14 MEZ) and on Sunday at 16:14 h (Monday, 2:14 MEZ).
Rudi got number 52 and starts on Saturday at 12:42 h (22:42 MEZ) and on Sunday at 15:42 h (Monday, 1:42 MEZ).
We closed our camp at Paxson and now we are all here in Anchorage.
For Sebastian and Rudi it’s meeting day today and in the evening there is the big startbanquet with the drawing of the bib numbers - unfortunately Sab is in the third group and so his lowest possible bib number will be 73 (but you all know Sabs luck in drawings).
On Friday they will have their last short trainingsrun - both are in the lucky position that they have still more then 16 dogs to choice from.
Yesterday Sebastian started with a GIANT CARGO in direction Alaska to set up the camp at Paxson.
Rudi must be in Anchorage the 1 december for the Iditarod Rookie Meeting.
My big race is also approaching slowly but surley. Last week I got a big letter from the Yukon Quest with a lot of race informations and some forms to fill out - so I ordered yesterday my straw for the checkpoints.
