Texas and beyond

Today we drove and drove and drove...........it takes a long time to drive across Texas.
We eventually drove through Amarillo which appeared to be a busy alive town....unlike so many we drove through that were mostly boarded up with many abandoned buildings.

We did not stop until we arrived at the Midpoint Cafe along old Route 66 about 30 miles west of Amarillo. Jane and Mom will remember this place! Same funny friendly owners and wonderful pie. Then we drove into NM and by-passed Tucumcari. Mom, you are safe for a while :)

Now we are settled into our home for the night in Santa Rosa NM. Just headed off to find a local park and let the dogs get some play time. Tuesday we are headed to Gallup NM and then on to Utah

Hello to everyone...........we'll be home soon

road trip

We are still on our way home to Oregon from PCA in Maryland. So far we have driven part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, seen the lovely Shenandoah Valley and been amazed with the beauty of West Virginia. Then on to Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mts. And through Alabama to VicksburgMs where the battlefield park gave me chills.

We are now in Lewisville Tx visiting kinfolk and will head out Monday for home.....more or less!

Carolyn and the very good poodle ambassadors Howie Norah Shelby and Lucy who have been in the van over 5300 miles and still hop into their crates happy campers every morning

PCA

//www.flickr.com/photos/10249960@N00/3453795379/in/set-72157616930360301/
www.photoreflect.com click on PCA tracking test

Lots of photos of Shelby on the awards and candid pages; also camera one page 5 & 6, camera two page 6 & 7................looks like I'll be buying some photos!Today's agility was not quite as succesful as yesterday but amazingl//www.flickr.com/photos/10249960@N00/3453795379/in/set-72157616930360301/
www.photoreflect.com click on PCA tracking test

Lots of photos of Shelby on the awards and candid pages; also camera one page 5 & 6, camera two page 6 & 7................looks like I'll be buying some photos!Today's agility was not quite as succesful as yesterday but amazingly Howie Q'd in Jumpers again today. It took about 11 tries to get his three qualifying scores needed for his title and now twice in a row! Norah had great runs just marred with tiny booboos y Howie Q'd in Jumpers again today. It took about 11 tries to get his three qualifying scores needed for his title and now twice in a row! Norah had great runs just marred with tiny booboos

SMKC agility

Howie and Norah were VERY good to me today at the Salisbury Md trial. I was just happy to see so many friends and enjoy the sunshine. But they Mini's made up for not certifying for the TD test with their agility runs today.Howie started out with his first every try at FAST and earned a Q and 2nd place. I had entered FAST in hopes of reinforcing his teeter which has become "iffy"lately. He had a run by in FAST but came right back and did the teeter. Alas, our standard run was a train wreck By afternoon we redeemed ourselves with a Q and 1st place in Exc A Preferred 12" JWW for his new title! The AJP has NOT come easy for Howie and I was thrilled to get that Q.

Norah got her very first QQ and 17 MACH points.

I saw lots of really nice poodle runs and met a whole new batch of poodle friends. So fun to go to a trial that has so many poodles!Time for a nap and back again Sunday for more fun and games

Carolyn

td test

TD test was Friday the 17th. 7 Standards, 1 Mini and 1 Toy. I withdrew the Mini, Lucy, as she did not seem to want to track. The test site was Fair Hill, near Elkton Md. A 5600 acre multiuse facility with beautiful rolling hills,light woods and the most beautiful emerald green grass. Perfect for tracking with ankle high grass. 6 of the 7 Standards passed as did my Toy, Shelby. This is a VERY high pass rate.I was so proud of Shelby as she marched up to the start flag, briefly nosed her"start" article (a sock) and proceeded down the track at a brisk pace and completed her 445 yards and 4 turns in 6 minutes. Shelby earned her TD in 2001and showed her experience

Agility today at the all breed trial.....but that is another post!

PC

PC

PCA adventures

we have driven over 3000 miles in 6 days and are settled in our hotel near Elkton Maryland. Tomorrow is a rest and relx day then the PCA TD test on Friday. Shelby and Lucy both have their TD's so are entered just for fun.

We drove over to check out the test site and the fields are lovely. The weather here has been rain and more rain but the forecast is for things to improve to sunny and mid 60's.

The poodles have been outstanding on our long drive. They are so quiet in their crates that you don't even know they are in the van. What good dogs they are.

PCA

Drive around Baltimore on a loop freeway was a bit stressful with driving rain, poor visibility and fast drivers. The N bound I-95 towards NYC was worse. Finally got off and took a parallel older US 40 route and had no problem. We splurged on a very nice "suite" hotel for two days and are settled in. Drove over to check out the Friday tracking site which is about 5 miles away. Lovely green fields and the forecast is for the rain to end a blue sky and 60 degrees by Friday.

ON THE ROAD

On the road again................headed to Maryland for PCA and other adventures