Amanda: Soldier Hollow So Far

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DAY ONE

I made it to Soldier Hollow.

The ride was long as anticipated, but the scenery was much more spectacular.The ride through southern Alberta emotional for beauty.The ride through Montana a parody of beauty.Postcard vistas everywhere.At the end of a fourteen-hour day, I did a detour for the Lava Rock Hot Springs, in Idaho, and took the waters for an hour.That was smart.

My new truck is running like a charm and I am having fun, with mixed success learning all its bells and whistles.Bev has dreadful truck envy and I haven’t even had it washed yet.Then she will want to poke her eyes out with a spoon!

Roz in her new truck

I am going to the practice field, to check on a few of my dogs’ shortcomings.You would think now would be too late.

Later that day

I went to Loralie’s, who could not have been better.She lives about twenty miles west of Park City, up one of those side roads about which you always wonder on interstate drivebys.(“I wonder what they do up there?”)I ran my youngsters and then she ran hers.Roz had trouble bringing the range ewes across her stream and I had to wade over and help.All the dogs were startled by the irrigation gear.Loralie ran a good rescue dog.Miracles occur.

The sheep were wonderful to train on for a bit and I hope to go again, before the trial is out.

We got up this morning to chilliness.Sue Schoen had arrived which is always good.  She flew to Denver which makes a long, if picturesque drive to Soldier Hollow.It must have been eight hours anyway.The chill promptly gave way to extreme heat, which escalated as the day wore on.

I ran a pretty good go around the course and had complete faith in Ethel’s ability to pen.What I did not add into the equation was the terrible heat (mid afternoon ninety fives), the altitude, and Ethel’s age.She gripped off at the pen, after a breaking ewe.I don’t know why I did it.It just looked so easy and I was so confident.I run Clive tomorrow.She will have a day off and then I get another kick at the can, on Sunday.

Bev can tell you about her Hemp run.It would better that way.

Our own Linda Tesdahl won the day with Jaffe, assuring her of a spot in the final on Monday.There are two more days of trialling before then and I will have to apply myself. And try not to be stupid.

The water has half drained out of the pool.  A leak.Maybe Howard can spare the water truck again, to fill it up.

Sandra Massie joined me tonight at Salt Lake airport.  That is a good thing.

DAY TWO

 

Beverly Lambert and MIrk, first, Amanda Milliken and Clive second.That’s the story of my life.

Bev had very sound run and led the field all day.  I took a run at her but slipped at the crossdrive.I don’t know what came over me, all over the place like a cheap suit.It is like a maze out there with those trees.   Clive was solid at the pen and finished as well as he started.Onto Monday with him.I hope to qualifyEthel tomorrow.I run both dogs tomorrow, but many of the runners have already qualified, so there is hope for my straggler.

I did laundry today at the lodge, several loads from being on the road so long, sheets, pants.NowI can wear what I want instead of what’s left.