Tripmeter

I've been home just over 24 hours now, and the road fog is finally starting to lift.

To review - the show circuit began on September 21st with shows in Bozeman and Helena, Montana. I finished Sunday just after noon and headed for La Crosse, WI.

Note to hunters - approximately 4 million mule deer gather after dark along the shoulderless edges of Hwy 212 between Lame Deer and Belle Fourche. Perhaps they enjoy the sound of screeching tires, perhaps they're just trying to catch a glimpse of their splendid racks in the mirrors of passing cars - whatever the case, shooting them should require all the effort of rolling down a window. Please consider doing so.

I arrived in LaCrosse Monday night, where I picked up my friend and co-driver Mary, (along with two more dogs for a total of 8) to continue on to the Monroe, Michigan shows. After showing finished Sunday, we hit the road again for a 10 hour trek to some place in Maryland northwest of Baltimore, where we stayed with friends. After a two day "break" grooming dogs and doing laundry, it was on to Philadelphia, where the four days of shows that are the "high point" of the trip are held in three inconvenient, outdoor locations in the countryside north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

We employ the usual techniques to help the miles go by. The most effective, of course, is trashing your dog show enemies. There's also Rush and Sean Hannity, swilling Mountain Dew, arguing over what constitutes a good road tune (I became hooked on Dire Straits this trip, much to Mary's dismay) and when things get really boring - teasing the dog in the top crate.

Montgomery County Kennel Club is the world's most important show for terriers - winning Best In Show at "Montgomery" is arguably more important for us than winning the more heavily publicized Westminster. It's also often one of the coldest and wettest - though the showers and wind we endured this year paled in comparison to the nearly 10 inches of rain that fell in 2005 that washed out one of the show sites.

The dogs did well. Everyone in the van placed in the ribbons each day, with dogs of our breeding in the top awards every show save one.

We were packed and on the road by 6 pm, arriving back in LaCrosse Monday evening. A 4:30 am morning ensured I crossed the border into Saskatchewan before the Port of Northgate closed. I overnighted at the family farm, then it was just other 5 hour hop to Delisle with nothing left to do but housecleaning, unpacking the van and getting up to date on three weeks of mail, bills and the work waiting for me.

All of that is to help explain why blogging will be slow for a day or two. My energy levels are pretty low.

I didn't take a lot of photos along the way this year - the interstates aren't known for their scenic qualities. But I did stick the camera out of the window near Bowbells, ND. on the way home. Those who live on the northern plains will recognize the indigo blue clouds that blow in with the first cold front - I call them "winter clouds". They signal the end of autumn, and are particularly beautiful when contrasted against the clear turquoise sky and golden stubble fields.

(Click the images for a larger version)

Here's another that better illustrates what I mean, though this was taken near Regina a few years ago.

One photo didn't turn out - it's the one of the tripmeter on the van that reads 9,397.3 km. That's 5,828.03 miles for our non-metric friends.

I'm glad I have a week to rest up before I head back.

Someone asked about more dog pics - this one was sent along by a friend. A ring shot of my puppy, "Diesel" - Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Locomotion, who was First Award of Merit at Hatboro KC.