February 1, 2008
We received a fantastic letter in the mail the other day. It was delivered by sled dog! Andy's brother, Chris, had made arrangements to have this lettered delivered in the 2008 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. This is the 25th annual running of the this sled dog race.

From the official race website:

"It is a tribute to a Native America, John Beargrease. This race commemorates the life of John Beargrease, the son of a Chippewa chief who delivered mail by dog sled along Lake Superior’s rugged North Shore in the late 19th century.

On January 27, the world will be watching as we continue the tradition of honoring John Beargrease’s character and commitment—and to celebrate life along the North Shore.

Launched in 1981, the Beargrease is the premier sled dog race of the Upper Midwest, drawing world-class sled dog teams from across the nation and around the globe. The Beargrease is the longest and most challenging of sled dog events in the lower 48 states.

The Beargrease is widely respected as the sled dog race to prepare national and international sled dog teams – and is a qualifying race for Alaska’s long distance Iditarod."

Along with the letter, he sent us a magnificent patch for this year's race. We can't wait to sew it onto our backpack.

Another unique feature is the postmark on the envelope. It is stamped "Carried by dogsled."  This is definitely a treasure!

This race inspired one of our early works, "Arctic Cadillac." We love to see how the dogs are all anxious and excited to run their way through the arctic trails.

Maybe we can find a sled for our little Gidget to pull!

Maybe not.....

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Exciting news from the
Coffee Artists! ™