In Custer - Jewel Cave

While we dogs rested up, some of the people went to Jewel Cave near Custer. I heard it was pretty weird. The first picture is supposedly parsnips. They don't look very good to eat to me. However the second picture is called bacon and they said that it was really big (20 feet) and it looks really good! Why couldn't they have broken off just a tiny piece and brought it home?

Sunday - To Custer, SD

Today we drove from Gillette, WY to Custer, South Dakota. The campground where we are staying has a playground and we're parked right next to it. Anna took Roger for a ride on the merry-go-round and then took Free and me. It was fun! Here's a picture of Roger and Anna. Here's also a picture of Gunter and Zeke, who didn't get to ride.

Saturday - Thought we were over, but no....

Yesterday I thought that the mountain climbs were behind us, but I was wrong. Today we went through a pass and were even higher than yesterday (9100 feet today). We went from Cody, WY to Gillette, WY. The first half was through a scenic area and the second half was on highway 90. The first picture shows us starting out with the mountains (I thought) behind us in the distance. The second picture shows me on a rock, but look behind me, right at the middle of the top of the picture, and you'll see the pass that we were just about to go through. Very exciting both up and down. The scenery today was amazing with multicolored mountains showing up everywhere. One mountain looked like it had the irridescent scales like lizards have, that change color based on where the light hits.

Friday - Across the Continental Divide

Today we drove from West Yellowstone, MT to Cody, WY and drove across the continental divide. It was very steep both up and down, but the views were amazing.

Hi from Harry

This is Harry. My buddy Gunter and I have been hanging out. I don't worry about other dogs when Gunter's around. He's tough, but nice.

Thursday - Yellowstone

Today we went to Yellowstone. We saw a lot of very different scenery and lots of different animals. Here are some animals and me in front of a stream, Boomer and a lake, and Medrick at a bubbling hot spring. I also added a geyser picture.

Zeke Here

This is Zeke. Things aren't as bad. I'm getting attention and hanging out with Hazel. Yesterday I got a chance to rest with Harry, Hazel, and Maggie while the others were towed around in the car and I'm feeling better. I still miss MY girls though.

Craters of the Moon

The people went to Craters of the Moon today. Half of the dogs went with them and half stayed in the trailer and slept. I was one of the ones who went. It was boring as we were not allowed to walk on the grounds other than at the visitors center. We did get a chance to see quite a bit from the car though. Here's a picture of Anna, Chris, and Pam walking up a high hill made only of hardened lava. Also a picture of two trees trying to live in an environment with little to no soil.

Tuesday Night - Craters of the Moon

Gunter here. Checking in from Craters of the Moon. This is a cool trip, now that Colin is sharing his space.

Tuesday - Raptor Center

Today we set off from Baker City, OR to go to Craters of the Moon National Park, ID. On the way we stopped at a big raptor place just south of Boise, ID. See the picture above.

Unfortunately, the front door was as far as I got.

The people said that when they went through they saw a California Condor. The description of the bird said that it ate small and medium size mammals. The interesting thing is that it ignored the larger people who were there and focused on Anna R. As she moved from window to window, the condor moved to keep her in view. Maybe it wasn't so bad that they wouldn't let me inside.

It's Me ! Zeke ! Help !

The judge didn't like me. Colin doesn't like me. Roger hates me! Gunter barely tolerates me. I can't get near the girls. I want to go home!

Send Airfare! Please! Soon!

Monday - We start home

Today we went to Pendleton - Booooring! The people went to a woolen mill. The dogs stayed in the car. The people went shopping. The dogs stayed in the car. The people stopped for the night in Baker City, Oregon, but it was too cold for them so they stayed in the RV and the dogs had to come in too. Some of the dogs got to be loose (all those over 8 years and Boomer), but I had to be crated.

I did get to get out once and got a really good roll in the grass. I enjoyed rolling around and looking at the view, so I'll put those pictures up.

Sunday - Earthdog

Sunday was our last try at earthdog in Oregon. Free did okay, but didn't qualify. I did really well. I found the rats and barked and barked. Then they took the rats out and I waited there, very still and quiet for them to reappear. I was very patient and stayed there even when I heard my name being called. Unfortunately I was dragged out of the tunnel before they came back, but I know that if I had been able to wait, they would have returned. For some reason Donna wasn't really happy with me.

We spent the night in a very nice state park. It had LOTS of small furry creatures called ground squirrels. I wish that I had been able to figure a way to slip my tie out.

Today's picture is of my two pretty sisters, Hazel and Maggie.

Saturday - Day 2 of Conformation

Today was my and Teazle's conformation day. Teazle was superdog. With Gwen's help she ran IQ earthdog in the early morning and then raced back, prettied up, and went into the Open Bitch conformation class. Unfortunately she didn't qualify or place, but she did a very good job in both and Gwen is proud of her. I strutted my self the best I could. Pam and I make a good team. I made the cut, but didn't get an AOM.

Spunky's picture (see above) by Chris M. won first place in the veteran division of the photo competition.

Tomorrow will be earthdog for Free and me and then starting the voyage home.

Friday - Day 1 of Regular Conformation

Today was the first regular conformation day at the Border Terrier Specialty. Today covered all of the class dogs, working dogs, and veteran dogs, plus working and veteran bitches and the puppy bitches up to 18 months.
3rd place in Veteran dogs 10-13 was Roger
No placements for: Gremlin, Zeke, and Free
Not entered or not shown were: Medrick, Gizmo
Tomorrow is the remainder of the bitch classes, the BOB class, and the multiple dog classes like brace, stud dog, etc. Teazle and Colin are showing tomorrow.
We are all missing Molly and (fe)Mel, especially Zeke.

My Sire - Roger

Since I'm trying to add other dogs, but don't have a picture of Roger, I decided to do a Roger impersonation instead. Look at me, I'm Roger. (Hope this counts).

Thursday - Sweepstakes

Today was sweepstakes day, but neither Free nor I were entered so we went to the beach. Yea!!! That's Free on the wood and me on the beach.

Back at the Specialty, Teazle placed in her class, as did Roger. Marg Pough's Devlin won best Senior in Sweeps (senior being the older group of puppies, over a year). In Veterans 13+ Medrick, at 15, won his class over two multi-titled 13 year olds. Mederick is "the man". Today I'm putting in a picture of Boomer, Zeke, Gunter, and Medrick since there have been some complaints about the lack of other dogs in my blog pictures.

BTCA Specialty - Obedience

Today was obedience day for me at the specialty. I did regular obedience (Novice B) and qualified. Donna accidently entered me in the wrong rally class (Exc A rather than B), so we just played in that class since it didn't count.

I got to meet an uncle and aunt of mine that live on this side of the continent rather than my side. They were part of an obedience team. An obedience team is four dogs that do obedience together at the same time in the ring. My relatives team was named "Rugby Kids" since all of them were sired by Hollybridge Raffles (aka Rugby). The team that won was called Bordering on Obedience. They were very good. I've been warned that I will be on a team one day...we'll see.

My niece Teasle qualified and took first place in Pre-Novice Obedience.

Later we had a Parade of Honor. I looked really good when I strutted around. I hope that the girls got a chance to see me. Harry and Free were in the Parade too.

Earthdog Trial

Free and I ran earthdog today. We both had a lot of fun and also non-qualifying runs. The fun was the important thing. With all of the rolling in the dirt (fun!), digging in the dirt (fun!), and charging through the dirty and dusty tunnels (Lots of fun!), it was decided not to take pictures of me. I would have gotten a picture if I qualified, but I don't care.

OREGON !

We arrived today! Eastern Oregon was very dry, not at all like the "rainy northwest" I had heard about. Once we entered the Columbia river gorge it all changed though and pine trees stared appearing and it looked much more like I was expecting. There are lots of Border Terriers here. We're resting up tonight to be ready for the earthdog trial tomorrow.

Back in the US

Sunday we crossed back to the US right at the tip of Idaho and went on to Washington state. It was a bit of a wait at the Border. In the picture you can see our vehicles in order as we waited, Pam & Chris's fifth-wheel, M&M&M's station wagon, Tony & Beth's red car, and then finally our minivan. By the time we reached the guard, he knew all about us dogs and our going to Oregon.

Banff and Lake Louise

The weather has warmed up to a very pleasant temperature. Today we went from Calgary to Banff National Park (Canada) and Lake Louise, then we camped out near Radium Hot Springs. At Banff, we took a nice walk through the area looking at scenery (people) and search for game (dogs). It was GREAT to get out of the car long enough for a good walk! Here's a picture of Harry, me, and Free at Banff. We also walked down to see Lake Louise and I posed for a picture there too, although I really wanted to check out the lake. Also, here's a picture of pretty Boomer (aka Boom Boom the party girl) in front of the falls at Lake Louise. There were a lot of people here. They seemed surprised to see all twelve of us BTs walking through the Lake area together. We've been joined on the trip by Medrick (and his people Mel and Marion) at Calgary, and Gremlin and Gizmo (with their people Tony and Beth) who met up with us at Banff.

We stayed at a campground near Radium Hot Springs. It was a great place to stay, with squirrels all over. Then, while just Donna and I were taking a walk we came upon two deer. I stayed very quiet and so we got to get very close to them as we walked by. I never took my eyes off of them. They were really cool.

Friday - To Calgary

Today we drove through Montana and up into Alberta. Tonight we are staying with Mel, Marion, and Mederick (he's even older than Harry!) in Calgary. Montana really is Big Sky Country. Nice views, but the inportant thing is that there are LOTS of holes here. People say that prairie dogs make them, but these don't look like any dogs I know. They look like tailless squirrels and I want to get them! I've been sniffing at all the holes I see and digging when they smell good, but I get so little chance. I just find a good hole and then I'm put back into the van and we drive again. Here are some pictures of Montana and arriving at M&M&M's house.

North Dakota

I finally got a chance to update my blog today. A booooring day. Get booted out of my warm camping cabin outside into 40 degree + windy day, and this BEFORE the sun comes up. We watched the sun come up on the beach. At least Free and I got to run around. Then breakfast and back in the van with my sisters (that's cool) and my sire (not cool at all). Then drive,drive,drive. The people kept talking about the gorgeous scenery, the colours and how they could see forever. What did I see? One chance to get a look and then the inside of the van the rest of the day! gotta go - more later.

Wednesday

Up early got breakfast and then we were off. We went through Wisconsin and Minnesota and into North Dakota. Minnesota really was the land of lakes as they say. Pretty rolling countryside and farmland was the main view of the day. Tonight we got to stay in a log cabin. Here are pictures of Lake Superior and me in my (okay my sire's) sleeping bag. Unfortunately, he turned up and I was rudely evicted!

Coniston

My whole name, excluding titles, is Lothlorien Coniston. Monday night we passed through a town named after me, Coniston, Ontario. Then we spent the night at a nice campground in Sudbury, Ontario. Dinner was prepared by Anna (people) and Pam (dogs) and was terrific!

Ottawa

Monday, we got a chance for a quick look at Ottawa, where Canada’s government operates and a nice walk along the river there. We also met Marnie and Fred, Archie’s people. They are very nice.

Our traveling group consists of me and my family (Donna, Free, and Harry), Anna and her dogs (Roger, Maggie, and Molly – my sire and my sisters), and Chris and Pam and their dogs (Gunter, Boomer, and Zeke – uncle and cousins). We have one minivan and one pickup truck pulling a trailer we can all sleep in.

Montreal to Ottawa

Well we gat started very early on Monday, but not quite early enough to miss Montreal traffic. Here's all I could see of Montreal. It's sad that they wouldn't even let a little dog out to stretch his legs. We also dropped off things for my cousins Badger(age 17) and Tigger(age 14).

Sunday in Montreal

We drove to Montreal today. Another country and another language. I've learn some important stuff though:
Bon jour
Je'm manger
Je veux manger
We're picking up more people and more Border Terriers, so we're up to four people and nine dogs. Party time tonight!! Food, young girl dogs, life is good.

Earthdog Practice

I got to practice my Senior recall today in the Intro tunnel. I recalled....eventually. Is being a blockhead a good thing? Anyway here I am, tired, at Village Green Farm.