On the Road – Day 11

I was looking back at some of my posts, and realized I hadn’t uploaded any photos of Seamus’s dam, Tina’s Bree. I’d meant to, but I’m not exactly speedy at blogging, and uploading photos via my wimpy netbook over wi-fi while on the road tended to be a challenge, so apparently I missed adding them. Here’s Bree from July 9.

Bringing the work flock.

 

Turning on a dime!

The Nicomedes Gulch Trial in Monte Vista, Colorado, started with an Open trial on Friday, judged by Laura Hicks. Two Ranch and two Nursery trials were run on Saturday, with Renee LeBree and Laura each judging a Ranch and a Nursery class. The second Open trial was on Sunday, judged by Renee LeBree.

The sheep were a leased flock of about 250 3-to-4 year old ewes, run in groups of five. They’d been put through the set out pens and pushed down the field to the exhaust the day before in groups of about 20 or so, but on the first day of the trial, they were still very difficult. The set out was about 300-400 yards away, I think, but in a little grove of trees. They were held at the top by a pair of riders. A shallow ditch crossed the field just downfield from the setout (no water but muddy in some spots). Most folks sent right as it seemed more likely for the dogs to lose sight of the sheep behind the trees if they went left. Many dogs had trouble finding the sheep, and if the got to them, there was some trouble getting them going down the field. The sheep would play ring-around-the-rosey behind the trees with the dog, and other similar avoidance tactics. The dogs who got them coming down the field had a lot of work keeping them online. The turn at the post was counter-clockwise. As they neared the bottom, the sheep seemed to want to drift or even bolt to the right just above the post, so the dogs had push the sheep back left. But when the dog got them low enough, the sheep would balk at being pushed back to the right again. If the dog overcame all this, the sheep then tended to start running as they approached the drive panels. The crossdrive was in a general direction they seemed to like to go, if the dog got them turned, but then it was a push back to the shedding ring for the 2/3 split, and finally, a pen, where many handlers timed out and left those 10 points on the field. The leading score last I looked on Friday was a 58! After all that, it still wasn’t quite time to relax, as the sheep generally did not want to go to the exhaust, creating a lot of extra work.

I took lots of photos. I don’t know all the handlers so I am making some guesses based on the running order. If anyone knows for sure, please feel free to comment with an ID or a correction if I’m wrong.

Laura Hicks’s Jag, hanging out while Laura judged. 

He’s a littermate to Ryn (Newby’s and Bran’s dam). Doesn’t Newby look like him? 

Dan Keeton and Newby, awaiting their run.

  

Judge Laura Hicks and her clerk, Sondra, I think?

  

Tina LePlatt and Tess.

Tess working for that turn at the post.

  

Newt Robinson and his interestingly-colored Soot (blue, perhaps?), exhausting sheep.

Newby working at the post. He was very patient with one or two ewes that broke off again and again, but finally got fed up and gripped.

Sometimes the set just couldn’t get headed to the exhaust after the run, so the group in the exhaust would have to be pushed out of the pen to draw the smaller packet in.

Amelia Smith and Mirk in the shedding ring.

The set out. See the sheep between the trees and near the horse? The dog on course is straight left of the sheep and tree, but you may not be able to pick him out in this size photo.

Dan and York at the pen.

Newt Robinson and Mik, I think, trying to get around the post. 

There was a lot of this as the dogs got hot and frustrated with the unwilling sheep.

  

Joni Swanke and Sage (?) repeat the scene as they try to keep their set gathered in the shedding ring.

Sage: “And there’s more where that came from!”

Lise Anderson's Mack (?) at the lift (little dot to the left of the sheep).

The set out crew: Neighbor kid in the pen, Terry LePlatt, Tom (?).

  

View from above: Cathy Balliu and Dan at the post.

Cathy’s Dan turning in at the top.

A Red-winged Blackbird contemplates whether he's due for a pedicure.

  

Pushing sheep up to get the next set into the chute.

Boing! Boing! Boing! If you scroll down really fast, it'll be as if they're animated. ;) 

Neighbors’ barn.

  

This raptor took off right in front of me. Of course I didn’t have the camera ready, and it got away before I could get a good look at it. Cathy Balliu and I spent some time looking at a bird ID app trying to guess what it was. I finally settled on a Red-tailed Hawk as they are pretty common and it seemed to sort of fit. But now that I’m looking at this one photo I managed to get, 

I wonder if it could be an owl; it seems to have a white face and a cobby body.

Karen Stanley and Meg (?) trying to get around the post.

The creek (main irrigation ditch).

Gary Scott and Amelia Smith check the scores.

Jim Swift and Zac (?) get their 2/3 split. 

The sheep finally settled a little bit near the end of the day, 

and this was a really nice run if I recall correctly. 

  

Chuck Riley and Moss (?) at the pen. Another really nice run.

Someone with a cute puppy (possibly Joni’s).

Laura E’s Ike enthusiastically getting a better view of the action!

Pushing the flock out to gather the most recent set which wouldn’t go to the exhaust.

This ewe slipped through the barbed wire fence after one of the early runs, and spent the day next to the exhaust pen wishing she was in it with her friends.

When the majority of the flock was pushed out of the exhaust, she decided she'd rather came through the water than be left alone.

  

Sending most of the flock over the bridge to the night field.

Either Libby Nieder and Sydney (?) having their first run, or someone else having a re-run.

Next: Homeward bound (this post was long enough!), and working with Jack Knox.

On the Road – Days 9 & 10

A few forgotten phone pics from Tuesday the 12th.

On our walk behind the hotel, down to the Roaring Fork River. 

The water was high and fast, and truly roaring!

The scenery I had out my hotel window. The river is down in a gulch in front of that red cliff. There was also a guy living under the bridge behind the hotel, but it’s probably nicer not to post that photo on the blog…

I got back on the road to Monte Vista Wednesday afternoon after our adventure on Aspen Mountain. The lucky dogs got to sleep the whole way after the exercise, fresh air, and sun. I was happy that the weather up at Independence Pass was much better than when I drove up. 

On the approach to the summit, looking back towards Aspen.

It was partly sunny and a balmy 61 degrees F at the summit, much nicer than 43 degrees and raining! I usually try to take posed photos of the dogs without leashes or collars, but we were not supposed to be off the path because the tundra is very fragile, so I just put them on some sandy areas for quick photos.

 

They were a big hit on the mountain. We were approached four different times by admirers in the 15 minutes or so we were there. J

Heh heh heh...Bran. 

Oddly, my camera's flash was going off at stupid times all week, even in bright, sunny conditions. But on the summit, nothing! Guess it's better that you don't have the details of Seamus looking wonky in every one of these photos, 

because he really isn't as wonky as he appears in these pics!

The really hairy hairpin turn heading south from the summit.

Moonrise over the San Luis Valley and whatever mountains those are. 

Terry LePlatt told me what they are, but I forgot, darn it.

On Thursday, I headed back over to Tina LePlatt’s to work the dogs, and to meet Dan Keeton for the first time. He owns Seamus’s sire Newby; a littermate to Seamus, Nap; and Bran’s younger full sister, Sunny. Jenny had mentioned how much Seamus resembles Newby, and he sure does! I also thought that I saw some similarities in Seamus and Newby’s work style; I hope it isn’t just wishful thinking. I was also struck by how much Newby looks like his uncle, Laura Hicks’ Jag. All the family members worked really well and I hope that I can bring my dogs along, too.

Newby bringing them on.

Nick holding after a fetch.

Sandy coming around her sheep nicely.

Dan's Sunny, working with more purpose than her older sister Bran. 

Bran worked okay for me, but I somewhat felt like I was expending a lot of effort for not a lot in return. However, she wasn’t misbehaving, and the joyful expression on her face made me smile. She’s such a funny little dog!

Bran starting a drive. Photo by Tina LePlatt.

Newby, Dan, and me. Photo by Tina.

I worked Seamus, and he worked okay. Not incredibly well, not terrible. My battery was running low and the camera's memory card was getting full, so Tina just got this quick shot.

There were two packets of sheep on the field, and when I worked Dare, the second packet wasn’t being worked. I tried to separate them further, and worked at it for a little bit. In the end, Dare pushed on our packet too hard, they split and ran, and eventually both groups ended up together. Ah well… 

Dare bringing me one of the two groups.

After we worked, we needed to rearrange some sheep. I used Seamus to get a group out of an exhaust pen, and I unwisely took him off leash to do so. When we got around the sheep in the pen, they bolted out, and Seamus took off in hot pursuit. He never considered responding to my lie down, recall, get out of that, or anything. He chased across the field, the bridge over the creek, and finally across the smaller irrigation ditch. Seamus thought he could walk on water and went right after the sheep across the ditch, but sunk like a stone, and came out the other side stunned and humbled. The sheep was totally fine, and therefore I could afford to laugh at the self-correction my dog received, although I certainly wished the chasing hadn’t happened at all. I wish I had an as effective means of correction on hand for each time he loses his mind, as that would probably bring him around right quick!

Newby again, just because.

Next: Nicomedes Gulch Trial, and homeward bound.

On the Road - Aspen II

Tuesday was the day that the majority of the family was in town, so most of us had brunch together at a cute little place called The Village Smithy, in Carbondale.
 

　

One set of the decorative gates to the Smithy yard.

The whole valley is very bike-friendly with good bike paths, and several members of the family drove part way, then cycled about the last ten miles or so (all downhill).

(I guess I could have stepped a little further to the side to get rid of the newspaper boxes!)

The food and company were good. I ordered steak and eggs, which was a bit ambitious. Fortunately, I had no problem finding folks who were willing to polish off the rest of the steak for me!
　
Tuesday evening was the "official" dinner. We had use of a pavillion in Aspen and had a great time visiting.

Milling about.

Chicken, burgers, brats, and salmon filets...and of course, family Funny Cake for dessert! Mmm...

On Wednesday, I got to do something really fun and different with the dogs. We took them on the gondola up Aspen Mountain for a hike. They have gondola cars that are designated for dogs. All three dogs went in the car without a struggle, though Seamus hid under the seat. He came out after a while to check out the view, and Dare did everything we asked of her without hesitation, but worried and panted madly the whole time. How tediously predictable. Bran was the most laid-back of the three of them. She still surprises me now and then with what she takes in stride.

This little peak is geologically interesting because it's "upside down;"

the oldest soil and rocks are on bottom instead of on top (or vice-versa).

Looking back at Aspen.

At the top of the mountain, we had lunch. I tied the dogs while we ate, and they gained lots of admirers.

"If only I had three hands..."

After lunch, those of us who were physically able went on a hike along the ridge--an easier hike than at the Bells. It was so nice that my aunt and cousin were each willing to take a dog, so I didn't have to try to manage all three on my own. We went went up far enough to find snow!

Me and my aunt alking about the different mountains visible from our vantage point,

and noticing a paraglider. Photo by Regina Ireland-Auer. 

When we got back to the gondola and restaurant area, I tried to hula-hoop and on my first attempt I flung the hoop around and whacked some innocent by-passer with it. They were very solid hoops and it was a good hit. At least he was good-natured about it!

"DOH!" Photo by Reg.

We headed down the mountain, walked the dogs through town, and I got on the road again.

Next: Independence Pass, and back to Monte Vista