March Mushing Madness

Even though our last official tour ended on Saturday,
we are still "all things dog".

We still have snow.  And we have a kennel full of dogs who love it.

As Iditarod plays out this week,

my mind wanders back to when the current 4-in-a-row Champion was at our place,

back in September of 2008,

during a full moon. 

Mr. Lance Mackey

4-time (back to back) Yukon Quest Champ.  4-time (back to back) Iditarod Champ. 

Making history on the back of a dog sled.

Folks were excited to meet him here, at Russ-Stick Acres.

For me, meeting this legend was a dream come true.

And what a wonderful way to do so, surrounded by like-minded folks.

We had door prizes galore, provided graciously by nearly every mushing-related company.

Many folks, over 100, went home with a prize under their arm.

We had singing. 

Horse-drawn transportation.

And happy participants, despite the rainy weather.

People were excited to meet Lance. 

The legend.

He's such a humble man, and kind to all, young and old. 

He "engages" with you.

Sometimes now, when I walk the property

and visit our Bear's Den cabin where Lance and his wife Tonya stayed,

it's hard to believe they were here for 4 days.

It seems like a dream...

...that he followed the trail to our little place in Michigan.

Lance. 
This video says it all. 
Catch the March Mushing Madness...you may just see history in the making.

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Inspiration and Determination

For those of you who don't know,

this year will be our 3rd Meet the Mushers event.

We fly in Iditarod dog mushers from their home state to swap stories with us,
 in Michigan,

in a campground setting.

Open to the public...for 4 days. 

Our first year (2008), we hosted Lance Mackey.

He had come off of winning the last 4 Yukon Quests and the last two Iditarods.

All races of 1000+ miles.

Lance is a perennial favorite among the followers of the sport.

Why? 

Click HERE

And so is his wife, Tonya.

(Dog bootie maker for Lance,

Wisconsin resident ~ Donna Schumacher, on left...

Tonya on right.)

And two years later, he's still winning Iditarods.

He did again yesterday ~ in 8 days.

His fourth ~ which, in the history of the Iditarod,

has never been done "back to back" in consecutive wins.

Step into our mushing world and see what this amazing man,

husband/father/grandfather/son/cancer survivor and humble competitor,

is all about.

Click HERE.

Lance is only the tip of the iceberg in amazing stories.

Each musher, and their team, is a study in human and canine nature.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,