Amanda: Zamora, the End

The second trial was shortened for the sake of the lost fog time in the first one. Even with no shed, the time was not caught up. The course shortening was disappointing for everyone, including the management, but something had to give. Handlers moved out into the big field to stand at the post. The pen was dropped from the course and a single added. Running on three sheep. The shifting of the post made a surprising, radical change in the outrunning, in the approach that dogs took over the terrain.

Clive took a nonsensical track to the exhaust, once he got out of my eyesight. I trusted him to go smartly, a completely misplaced trust. He turned up behind me. Bad Boy, seemed like a nice name for him at the time.

Roz ran well with ragged timing at the drive, for both me and her which we understood would be an issue. Next time, coming out a day or two early to sharpen up dogs and me would improve things all around.

Geri Byrne led the trial with an 81 score from Saturday. The weather for the Sunday was spectacular Sunny California. Cool, but vivid and inspiring. The sort of weather for which one takes a southern sojourn. I met up with our new documentary film maker who is following a
few hands through Soldier Hollow, Drew Hadra, from Los Angeles.

Talking of a trip to this part of California and failing to mention food and wine is irresponsible so, Sandy and I met in Sonoma at Della Santina, a mutual favourite Italian place, just off the town square. The service is casual, but mindful of details, the atmosphere low key, but the food is great. Sandy had veal piccata. I had homemade papardelle with duck ragu. We had R Pinot with it and I had Panna Cotta with Italian cherries, for dessert. They make the best Cesar salad I have ever had in a restaurant.

Today, I did a very difficult tour of duty through the Dry Creek Wine area and Healdsburg. I solicited wine donations at all the wineries along West Side Road, which include many of my personal favourites, Porter Creek, Rochioli, Gary Farrell. It was a hard job but somebody had to do it. Just to keep up my enthusiastic face, I had to taste many of their reds, Zins and Pinots. Such hardship. I did a good job of making it look as though I liked it.

Sandy and I worked dogs when home on Calistoga Road. The daffodils are out, the camellias are blooming like mad, as is the rosemary. And Roz is
running more like herself or maybe I am running her more like myself. Whatever. Tomorrow I take on the airports.