Amanda: Meeker, Days 1-2

I started for MeekerOn Monday night, overnighting in Vernal. In the morning, I grabbed a delicious coffee at one of the little cuppa houses and saw the work behind the petunia planters. Two miles of pink, purple and white wave petunias in gigantic tubs. Imagine the potting soil required and greenhouse time. They have always been a wonder. The big tanker truck with a long watering arm driving up main street at six a.m. I am sure they had to be watered twice a day in such arid hot climes. A lot of water. They lined the street, a defiance of what comes naturally.

I stopped at the Kenny reservoir. No else is ever there, as though it is its own Rattlesnake Point. The dogs love it.



Meeker was its usual warm -hearted, welcoming, hat-hanging place. They start with a pizza night. People I have known for twenty-five years are there, our annual get-together.

The very difficult running began the next morning. The scores will attest to the harshness of the conditions and the challenge of the fabulous sheep. The high was a three way tie at 70. I didn’t run the first day. Just watched. Mich Ferraro and Kak Weathers have now joined the dogging, happily for me. We all went to the White River for a recreational dog swim. And the Hallandras’ entertained us in style in the evening. All the while I was thinking of running Dorey, the next morning.



She didn’t let me down on the outrun and lift. Things were going well until I over flanked her. You could see her. I was unaware I had done it until the sheep turned up the field on the fetch, for not only a blow to my score but made the sheep pissy. And Dorey I am sure wondered where in the hell we were headed with this. She recovered sort of, for a good finish, very strong at the pen and a score of 72 that puts her in second for the the semifinals, second to Scot Glen and Don.

Tomorrow I run Monty.