Mistaken Identity on the YRQ

These 2 friendly Germans, on holiday until September, shadowed me at the Carmacks resting area during the Yukon River Quest. Their stopping in Carmacks was a very comical misunderstanding.

They had been canoeing the Yukon River with their own canoe and on their own time when they got caught up in the race and were mistaken as a registered team by YRQ officials.

As they paddled closer to the mandatory Carmacks stop, several officials demanded they pull over and register in. Being German, speaking German and not familiar with Yukon rules, they promptly did as they were told. As they were emptying their canoe, not knowing why, one of the support guys asked,

"Hey, what the hell are you guys doing with a fishing pole in your canoe?"

In a broken accent, the younger of the two troubled youths responded, "To catch zee fish vith, Zir." The race official was still confused but hauled their canoe up the hill nevertheless.

Later, much later, the true identity of these 2 hapless Germans was discovered but by then they enjoyed the comforts of a fresh meal, shower and new found friends.