Lori: home sweet camper
Sure enjoyed the time in Colorado. Capped off last night w/ dinner at Nancy’s, watching three bull elk hang out and spar on a hill very near her house. Elk in the backyard. How cool is that?
Last leg of the trip from Colorado to Utah today. I had never driven further West than Denver . Going over the Rockies was eye candy. Wyoming too. Then Utah, with these crazy mountains and more color. My iPhone pictures just don’t cut it.
Picked up the rental RV, which is small and basic, but fine for just the two dogs and me, and drove the last hour to Soldier Hollow. Wow. Spent the afternoon unpacking the ridiculous amount of stuff I hauled across the country. At least the rental wagon sort of feels like home now. Dogs had a couple nice walks on the maze of trails on the mountain behind the handlers parking area. Tomorrow morning I’ll hit a grocery to stock the fridge and then head over to work the dogs on the designated practice field. Hope to get in some sight seeing before the trial begins on Friday.
BevLive: black and white and hot all over
Hot. It’s 6:30 and 92 degrees in my camper. My generator can’t seem to keep my air conditioner running which is extremely disappointing as I think I’ve been carrying the generator around all year just for this day.
It was 97 when I met the representatives of American Nutrition at the practice field so they could film Joe working sheep. They had a little camera mounted on a harness they put on him. Was pretty funny as Joe was all suited up and afraid to move. Once I got him close enough to the sheep he was willing to ignore the camera and work. They said the footage would eventually be on YouTube with a Soldier Hollow tag.
Still no sign of Amanda. She isn’t missing much it’s so hot here those of us that have arrived are mostly just sitting in the shade. I think everyone else’s generator is keeping them cool. Sad. Poor me. It does cool off well at night so at least sleeping is possible. The mornings are lovely and cool so we’ve been getting in some good walks.
In other words not much to report.
BevLive: keeping cool
Had another lovely hike through the Wasatch this morning before it got too hot. Then over to Carol’s to work dogs. Everyone performed in a spectacularly poor manner. Oh well, what’s a 2400 mile drive to run poorly.
Spent the rest of the day reading and trying to keep cool as the temperature was again in the upper 90s. Not a very exciting day but beats driving. I’m concerned Amanda and company have not arrived. I sure hope they got the truck fixed.
Joe stepped in a hole at the practice field and is now packing a leg. Things just keep getting better and better.
Editor’s Note: I talked to Amanda Monday evening, when she was still camped out in the parking lot of the Ford dealer waiting for the truck to be fixed. (Apparently the dealership abuts a mowed eight-acre field for her dogs to run around in. How lucky is that?) I tried to call her just now but didn’t get her. Hopefully she’s where she’s supposed be by now. She did send me the photo below: all eight of her injectors were replaced (and I write that confidently, as if I truly knew what “injectors” were), courtesy of Ford (the truck, thankfully, is under warranty.)
Lori: making merry in Colorado
Arrived in Loveland, CO on Monday afternoon. There was a huge line of people (mostly crew cut men) waiting to check in the hotel. As it was too hot to leave the dogs in the truck, the boys came along and waited in line with me. Turns out, I was in the midst of the President’s Secret Service detail who were preparing for a presidential campaign stop in Fort Collins the next day. The dogs were a hit and were well protected as we checked in.
I am so grateful for the opportunity of this 2 night respite mid-trip, and my hostess, Nancy Penley could not have been more gracious. Had a great dinner last night at a local micro-brew pub. Two other sheepdog travelers, Maureen Robinson and Sharon Northrup, both Meeker bound, joined in the dinner, and we had a wonderful time, lively dog conversation.
This morning, Nancy, Maureen and I headed out to work the dogs. The scenery is amazing. Easy to get lost staring at the mountains so near by. Hot day, but the dogs & sheep held up well. William took two works and considerably threatening to remember what a stop whistle was. At least for today, Matt remembered that look back actually means to go get another group of sheep, not madly chase after the first group. Progress.
Chilling out at the hotel for a few hours before heading back to Nancy’s for a home cooked meal. Colorado hospitality at its best. I hope I can get her to come East and repay the favor!
Will leave early tomorrow to drive to Salt Lake City and pick up my rental RV, and head over to the trial venue.
BevLive: the little engine that could
Spent the night in Rock Springs, Wyoming. I couldn’t resist a Walmart and a Starbucks right next to the interstate. That left only three hours of driving to get me to Midway, Utah by lunch time.
Nice to arrive after so much driving. Thankfully the truck and trailer were good sports and all went very smoothly. Even so 2300 mikes is a long haul.
It was in the 90s when I arrived here with a sun that shines hotter in the Heber Valley than any other place I’ve ever been. It’s horribly, burning dry here. The valley smells of smoke from a fire only recently contained.
I set up camp and waited until 4:00 to see if it would cool down. No luck still 95. So I took the boys for a walk up the mountain any way, congratulating myself on being so ambitious. I’m climbing up the hill thinking this isn’t too bad, all that walking I’ve been doing is paying off. I was only puffing moderately, sort of like a steam engine, when three boys come running up the trail behind me chattering away to each other, not even breathing hard. Dogs immediately deserted me for much more interesting company and who can blame them? I carried on to the top of the trail but my ego was crushed. Still after four days of mostly sitting was nice to get out and walk.
Off they go!
I’m off for another walk now that the sun has set and it’s cooling down. It will no doubt be a cold night since we are so high and there are no clouds. I sure hope so.
I worry about Amanda and her truck problems. I hope to see her pulling in tomorrow.
Lori: On the Road
After a quick over night in Nebraska, we’re mobilizing to get on the road for a relatively short driving day, 8 hours or so, into Loveland, CO, where I’m spending two nights & will be able to work the dogs in altitude similar to SH. Matt & William are ready to do something other than sleep.
Matt and William say sleep is fine with them.
I read that Amanda had mechnical problems & sure feel for her. I hope they are resolved. It was a rainy driving day most of yesterday through all the I-States = Indiana, Illinois & Iowa. At some point, I glanced in my rear view mirror and was quite sure that Mish Ferraro may have been immediately behind me. Saw NY plates on a truck towing a drop-shaped camper like she has. Just as I was to drift back to confirm, the vehicle exited off so either she was rain weary or was actively trying to avoid contact : ) I’ll be eager to ask if it was her. What are the chances on busy I-80 in the middle of Illinois? Don’t know if she is traveling in caravan with Amanda, but hope I didn’t drive off if they were having probems.
BevLive: the soul of wit
Drove. Got diesel. Drove. Walked dogs. Got diesel. Drove. Drove. Drove. Ah the fun and glory of dog trialing.
Editor’s Note: I’m sure that Bev’s entry was meant as a parody of a passage from Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad, which reads as follows:
“Monday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Tuesday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Wednesday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Thursday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Friday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Next Friday–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Friday fortnight–Got up, washed, went to bed.
“Following month–Got up, washed, went to bed.”
These clever ex-librarians!
Amanda: Adult Superstore
I have had dreaded break down. My truck was going along great guns, east of DesMoines, Iowa, when its power caved. I got a computer message on the dash saying something like “Engine power reduced”. A green wrench lighting up after the message. I’ll say it was reduced. It wouldn’t go faster than 20 miles an hour. I limped into the next exit whose only inhabitant was the Lion’s Den Adult Superstore. I have always wanted to stop in one and check it out. The chance presented itself. The gal at the counter, who couldn’t have been more helpful, got me in touch with a mechanic. He got me going again only to have the same thing come up after Des Moines. I am parked at the Ford dealer waiting for them open tomorrow. The dogs are restless. The AC is on.
Amanda: Life on the Mississippi
I drove a long way last night without really being too conscious of where I was. I was listening to the Sisters Brothers, an audio book. I had noticed a bridge with a few lights but thought it was somewhat inconsequential, so small and dull, that I didn’t pay it much mind. When I saw the sign for Davenport, I pulled off. No way did I want to miss the Mississippi, crossing in a veil of darkness. I thought I’ll just stop here and check out the Mississippi in the morning, stick in a toe, let the dogs brush with the mighty river of extreme lore, feel it. It was hot out, even at eleven o’clock at night. The fans in my camper made good white noise and nothing interrupted my sleep until the morning, when the dogs got me up. I went to the Starbucks in the dark. Two energetic women were womanning it. I was asking how to get down to the Mississippi. Kingston came up in the conversation and one of them had just holidayed there, at Loborough Lake. I am always proud of my home town, when a stranger brings it up like that. They gave me directions to get down to the water without backtracking but then, said don’t drive down there. “There are low underpasses.” Good tip. Who wants the roof of their camper ripped off, touring? They said the the mighty river was reduced to a mud creek by the drought and it was no particular source of wonder at present. Turns out that little bridge with the lights, was over the Mississippi. I had crossed it and hardly noticed. I will try never to let that happen again. Miss the Mississippi and you.
BevLive: crazy
I’ve got to be crazy. Been driving for two days and I’m in Nebraska with all day today and part of tomorrow still to go. As always getting started was hard, so many last minute things to do. I dug twenty pounds of new potatoes to add to Amanda’s gourmet meals, got the truck repaired and tried to fit a little dog training in around a hundred other pre-departure errands.
I’m traveling with three open dogs. My old stand ins, Hemp and Awel, along with Joe. This trip is all about Joe for me. He’s my nursery dog for Klamath and entered in all the big open trials this trip. He needs the experience and I’m very anxious to see how he handles the very tough sheep and big courses. If we ever get there.