Harness Breaking in Virginia (11/15 - 11/22)

Well, I think I actually logged in here a few times and looked at the new post page and thought where do I start? Actually, I meant to write about this trip when I got back on the 22nd.. well, we all know how that goes.

To start it off, I was very excited to be taking the puppies, this would be their first run ever in harness, my adults first run since spring and MY first run with the dogs since my accident. I was stoked! It was even better to catch up with mushin' mama Robin about life and other things in general... It was all so sad to leave and come back to the solitary confinement of me by myself and the dogyard.
We finally reached home (okay, it really is my second home.. I love it and used to spend almost my whole winters there!) and got the dogs settled in. I had just bought a new 8 dog picket in the spring and had only tried it out once when taking a bikejorr and camping trip with Waylon and Calamity in April or May. This was also the longest trip any of the pups have been on, but luckily they all settled in very nicely like they had just been toted up the road for only a few miles. These are the dogs that I did bring -

Kajunn - girl agouti pup, short and demonic, often supplied well with a witty attitude and sharp thinking.

Luke - male gray pup, strong built and very attention oriented, usually does not completely think through ideas fully.

Shooter - male gray pup, quiet and reserved unless something resembles a leash. Usually found trying to scope out way of escape by any means necessary.

Tuesday - girl agouti pup, slow in thinking, loud in speaking. I believe her favorite hobby is rolling her doghouse down the hill.

Calamity Jane - wild child and mama of the youngsters. My irreplaceable leader and brains on the trail (even though she is known to be a great smartass when given the chance)

Gloria - Shy lady of the team. When she is harnessed, she will go out of her way and then some to complete her job well. Often found under the trailer or behind a tree barking at anyone she feels is not worthy of her presence.

Waylon - Macho man, often egotistical but gentlemanly. One of my best team dogs, he always gives 100 percent on every run wherever I put him. He also believes, however, that every intact female should carry his puppies by any means necessary.

Zorro - sweet, outgoing eldest man. As he ages, he seems to get sweeter. Always seen woo'ing at anyone crossing our path and will often jump on complete strangers regardless if they approve or not. A strong wheel boy, he often sight see's but never chases.

I think I might actually be better off telling about our adventure through pictures, since I took plenty of them!

I never get enough of this view, even though it was a little miserable that day with the temperature and drizzle. The dogs didnt seem to mind at all though as I picketed them out on the far dogyard.

After the crew got settled in, we fed and scooped then went inside for dinner and just a fun filled night of catching up. I was humored all night after hearing Robin's boyfriend, Larry, point to Zorro and say "what's that orange thing over there?"  lol! Zorro is supposed to be white, but with our red clay, he never stays that way.
We finally got a plan of two seperate teams we would run each day. One would be the veterans and the pups, the other would be the seasoned adults. I did run my regular four dog adult team (Zorro, Waylon, Gloria and Calamity) one day by myself. It felt great to actually be running dogs again!

We also ran the adult team, (including some dogs from the teams that were already ran, making them run a total of 10 miles that day) up and down the trail. It was good to see my adults still in such good shape and be able to run that good of a distance in the start of our season!

the 10 dog adult string

The puppies, in one word.. did amazing. I would think upon their first hookup that they would be rowdy, getting tangled and neckline. Nope! they pulled into their harnesses and it was like they knew their job before it even started. Tuesday was a little unsure at first and necklined the first mile or so, (went about 3 miles that day) but eventually caught the hang of it and settled in very nicely. I was so happy to see them do so well on their first run! I did not get pictures that day, but I did get some on other runs that they did.
We also went camping, and got some good miles on the dogs that way. The puppies would run their second run with the veterans and go 7 miles down a gorgeous, Laurel traced forest road. The adults would go on an adventure all their own, up another hill (a few, actually) and onto various types of terrain and gravel.

loaded with 19 dogs, headed to Bland to camp and run

 

our campsite

my dogs area

robins dog's area.

chunky gravel, yuck!

more new gravel, the team "comin' round the mountain"

After leaving our campsite, we went to a place a little closer to home, and just ran the puppy team that day because we both (me and robin) were pretty wore out by this point from loading and unloading 19 dogs from there to wherever. The pups, like always did great. Little more hills than the other runs so me and Robin took turns pedaling and helping the pups. Robin was even nice enough to get off and walk up a hill so she could snap a picture of me running my youngsters :)

It was hard to leave.. it always is. The moon was gorgeous that night on our way home, so bright and inviting.. I just wish I could stay.

I already miss it so much, so im trying to put things together to go back, again! love it there, love the people and the dogs and the adventure. I took way too many pictures to post in one blog, so if you want to see more, go to my Flickr Set.
Hope to catch up on other things soon. Just got my computer restored finally so hopefully I can stay in touch when things actually happen to write about.
Happy Trails!

"Inside the fire's burnin' me, In my mind you just keep turnin' me, every which way but loose" - (Eddie Rabbit's 'Every which Way but Loose')