Sue: Last Day

One last kick at the can today before we head back. The trials are winding down here as the shepherds have to gather the hill and the Nationals are coming up. If I stayed a little longer I could stay forever as I’d have no job to return to. Hmmmm.

Seems a shame to leave just as the light bulb is flickering but we’re headed home.

Today a flat green field along the river Don in Banchory on Aberdeenshire. We drove through the Cairncorns from Aviemore, where we stayed in a smart motel. So smart our dumb selves had to go ask how to turn the lights on in the room.

The drive was spectacular. Through forested slopes and larch lined winding roads. Rivers cut through the valleys. The spey esk and don. The trial kind of like 80 acres. Flat, about 350 yards. A chute and split four. Mules. Wow. Light, hard to steer, unwilling to turn the post or even consider the chute in the a.m. Weather was fine, though rain threatened.

I ran Flo first. Outrun ok, stopping, pretty good fetch. But the turn!!! Took most of my time and we only got to the first drive gate. Peat fared better in the afternoon. Actually saw my score: 75. Sheep had left before he got there. My timing was not perfect and no fetch gates. Turn drive good. Got the chute with a lot of work. A horned ewe was just not interested and she passed her bad attitude to the others. Peat was a good dog. No grip. The split came quickly It was a good run to end the trip on.

So now we’re in Edinburgh at the airport. I’m tired, all my clothes are dirty. I’m out of coffee and toothpaste. Time to go home and regroup. This was a trip of my dreams and I’ll come again.