BevLive: The Big One, Day 4

New day, more wind. Was a very pretty day few clouds and tons of sunshine and 30+mph winds with gusts in 50s. Wasn’t blowing directly in our faces for nursery which was good.

The nursery course was over 300 yards up a hill. The drives were moderate as were the sheep after running in two open trials. Amazing what two open runs will do toward educating a flock of sheep. We probably had more pens in the nursery then in two open trials combined.

My dogs ran okay. Meg was short on her outrun and a bit erratic on her fetch and then settled down for an excellent drive and pen. Joe started out great, really listening and responding well. He missed a flank at the first drive and over compensated with a slice which got a DQ. I was delighted with him though. He handled the big course and the sheep very well. There were some lovely nursery runs, especially Bud’s winner. It was leading any way last time I looked.

After the nursery we all hurried to Joni’s ranch where the next trial started at 3:00. The wind was strong and nearly in our faces which didn’t slow Jean Gellings down at all as she and Star had a great go. I imagine they would currently be leading it. I ran Nel but she ran too wide on the outrun and didn’t handle the sheep well. We are running three fresh yearlings each run. We got through about 20 runs to day. Another 55 to finish the first runs on tomorrow when the wind is supposed to finally abate. A much anticipated event.

A big tractor just came and pulled Jim Swift out of where he got his rig stuck. There aren’t many of us camped at the trial. Tom and Joni cleared a section of fence and did some earth moving to make us a road but most folks feared getting stuck as much of the ground remains soft from all the rain. So there are perhaps 6-7 rigs here and the rest remain at the campground.

Meg injured herself somehow today. I need to take her in tomorrow and get her stitched up. Not life threatening but a nasty cut which will preclude her running her. Too bad she ran well today.