The alarm went off at 5:00 AM. The car was already packed with soft crate, mat and my chair. The sun was not up yet, but I needed to pack treats, fix dog breakfasts, and well, just a lot of stuff on my check list. The dogs know exactly what is happening and two of them are not happy about it. Journey is just intent on making it into the car, where he will stay for as long as it takes for me to get everything ready to go. When I take the RV, I often let everyone go, but it has been way too hot to keep dogs in a car. They are comfortable at home with air conditioning and they are able to go in and out their doggy doors to the dog yard. I promised them we would be back and would have a swim party when we got home. I gave Quest a special treat bone and offered one to Pirate (he won't take it when he knows I am leaving - it is his pout).
What a beautiful drive. The I-5 runs along the Columbia River and we got to watch the sunrise. The Clark County Fairgrounds are located pretty close to the Oregon/Washington border. It only takes about thirty-five minutes to get there from Kelso, Washington. We were early enough to get a good parking place, close to the equestrian barn. That is helpful when I need to unload equipment. It was still comfortable at this time in the morning. I set up our station for the weekend and still had time to make it to the ring where the Judge was conducting a briefing regarding the weekend rules and any changes we needed to observe.
First event, "Jackpot", Level 2. It is a two part event. In the first part, we go out on the course and do as many obstacles as possible until the whistle blows. We try to do more high point obstacles, in order to have the highest scrore we can get. When the whistle blows we head for the "Jackpot" (sometimes called the gamble) . There is a bright colored tape on the ground, which I am forbidden to step on or over. Journey, on the other hand, must go to the obstacles on the other side of the tape and run through them in order. I can signal him or verbally direct him, but I will, at all times be on the other side of the tape. He is really getting good at this event. The game time was 43 seconds. He did it in 40.3 seconds and he got 43 points. His score was a 1st place Q in Level 2.
Next events were Standard, Level 2, Round 1 and Round 2. Round 1 was 143 yards with a Standard Course Time of 69 seconds. Journey did it in 56.31 seconds with no faults and got a 1st place Q.
Round 2 was 123 yards with a Standard Course Time of 60 seconds. Journey did it in 51.77 seconds, with no faults, and got another 1st place Q.
The first of the other two events on Saturday was Snooker, Level 2, which is my favorite game, It is difficult and a bit confusing when you first try it. I will save the description for another time. We did not Q on this one. It is a two part event. We finished the first part, which is the hardest, but then we had a slight miscommunication and Journey back jumped the first obstacle in the second part (my fault). NQ.
Last event on Saturday was "Wildcard", Level 3. We were overtime and so had time faults. So our total for Saturday was 3 out of 5; all clean runs and all 1st place Qs. I was having a hard time in the heat. They said it was in the 90's.
We were able to leave our stuff in the barn, and we headed home as soon as we collected Journey's ribbons. We were both tired, until we got home, then Journey got his second wind and he could not wait to get in the house to greet his brothers. They always greet as if they have been apart for weeks, instead of hours. They checked him all over and gave him kisses, then everybody grabbed a jolly ball and they took off running. The heat no longer seemed to get them down and they could hardly wait to get into the pool.
We got an extra 40 minutes to sleep in on Sunday morning, since all our stuff was already at the barn. We almost missed the briefing, but got a good walk in before checking in for our first event. In addition to running the courses, there is a lot of walking at these events. First I need to walk each course as soon as it is set up. For this I put Journey in his soft crate, in the far corner of the barn, and then go out on the course. Walking the course is essential so you can plan your course of action; figure out how to handle any difficult areas and hopefully commit the course to memory, so that you don't get lost. Our first event was "Fullhouse" Level 2. The standard course time was 35. Journey did it in 34.86 and he got 27 points. He did not have any faults so this gave him a 1st place Q.
"Colors" is a double course, all intertwined. One course is marked by numbered orange cones and the other one is marked by numbered green cones. As we walk both chourses, we make a choice based on which one seems best for the dog we are running. We are in Level 2. The course is 79 yards with a Standard course time of 40 seconds. Journey did it in 21.87 seconds with no faults and earned a 1st place Q. He was really moving, and finished way ahead of me. I am so pleased with the way he is getting better and better at working away from me. He used to spin, to see if I was coming. I just direct him and send him out for the most part now.
Next is events were Standard, Level 2, Round 1 and Round 2. Round 1 was 155 yards with a Standard Course time of 69 seconds. Journey did it in 61.89 seconds with no faults. He got a 1st place Q.
Round 2 was 147 yards with a Standard Course time of 66 seconds. Journey did it in 56.51 seconds. No faults gave him another 1st place Q.
I love the way Journey is looking at me in this picture. He checks in often to get his instructions on what to do next.
We only recently titled in Novice Standard - Level 1 and this was the first time we had competed in Level 2 Standard. Journey needed 4 Q's in Standard - Level 2, to get his title. He ended up with all four Q's in this one weekend, so that gives him his level 2 title and we can move on to Level 3. I don't think I have ever done that with a dog before, in one weekend.
After the Standard runs we had one more event to go - Jumpers, Level 3.
Our friend, Martha and the Zzzz came by to watch. Her friend Bruce brought his two little Chihuahuas. Journey was thrilled to see the Zzzz's. He loves them. We don't know why he was immediately taken with them, but it has never changed. He just adores them. He fusses over them and whimpers, so sweet and loving. He has never done that with any dogs before.
Top row, Bruce, Zena and Martha. Next row, Chihuahuas and Ziggy. Next row is Zipper. Below Zipper is Journey. So we got to visit with a whole herd of tiny friends - which made Journey very happy.
This was our first time in Jumpers, Level 3. In spite of the heat and also in spite of one of the most complicated Jumpers event I have done, I kind of thought Journey got it. So did all the people who kept walking past us and congratulating us. Apparently we all missed something though, because we got a NQ. I kind of assumed we must have gone overtime, (that was understandable to me, since it was so hot and I was so tired). That was not it though, we were under time. So maybe I can figure it out from the scores they usually send us in email. Anyway, since it was our first Level 3 run in Jumpers and besides, 7 out of 10, 1st place Qs is not bad at all. Then to top it off, a title in Standard Level 2 that we got in only one weekend ... well I am not unhapppy with that accomplishment. Very proud of my boy.
We stopped at Joe's booth, so I could order the disk of our pictures. Joe Camp took all the action shots above. He is such a good photographer and is so nice to Journey. I turned things around and got him to pose with Journey.
Journey and I really like Joe.
I loaded up our stuff and we headed home. Journey slept most of the way, with his nose right next to the air conditioner outlet. When we got home, and I closed the gate, I let him out and was surprised to see how fast he made it the length of the driveway, where he met the other guys coming out of the house. Kisses all around and happy exchanges of love nips ... time to go in the pool. What a great weekend.
