Memorial Day, 2011

Or Decoration Day, as it once was called. A day to honor and decorate the graves of the fallen. It dates back to our own Civil War. One involved a tribute by African Americans in Charleston South Carolina to the fallen Union troops, but other cities and areas independently honored the dead from that war as well. Memorial Day now honors all of our military men and women who have died for our nation.


We honor all who have served.

The weather thickens (updated)

The plot remains the same. Aki and Larsen are driving from Atlanta to Chicago. They decamped from southern Indiana early in the morning and are north of Lafayette, Indiana now. The weather continues to deteriorate in Chicago, and strong storms will be moving in. You can see on the radar image that her route, which is up Interstate 65 is in a crease of clear weather until the Indiana/Illinois border at Gary. She will run into commuting traffic, weather, and a complex set of interchange maneuvers at that point.




Aki and Larsen drive into the pincers at Gary, Indiana, but manage to avoid the worst of the storm to the south that is now over Lafayette.

Road trip

Against anyone's better judgment, Aki loaded up the car with Larsen and took off for the Windy City. A road trip with Aki and Larsen promises to be an adventure. The duo crossed the Appalachians this afternoon on the way toward Louisville tonight.

Larsen catches a breather at a lovely rest stop near Nashville, Tennessee

Hot

Training on a hot day requires special precautions, including a lot of water. We started early, but since we were training in eastern Alabama, that's not materially different from Easter time, which was not so early. The sun was up and the dew was gone from the grass in no time.

I sent Larsen off for a hunt dead. He rummaged around inside the tree line. I couldn't tell what he was doing and didn't want to start blowing on the whistle for no reason. I asked Cathy to see if she could see what was happening. "He's sitting in the creek with the bird in his mouth."

Ok, even I can take a hint. We stopped and headed to the pond to give the dogs a fun, cooling swim.

Taking a breather

Larsen knew just what I needed after a long week: a walk in the piny woods.

We drove north to the Pine Mountain Recreation Area in Cartersville. The PMRA is immediately off Exit 290 on I-75. You get off exit, turn right and the road comes to a complete dead-end. Curve around onto the gravel road that goes toward the Komatsu plant. Go 100 yards on the gravel road, and you will see the parking area and trail head to the left.

The hike is steep with a lot of switchbacks. Larsen, of course, runs across the switchbacks and then waits patiently on the higher part of the trail as I walk down one end, turn, and come back toward him on the other.

At the top, where the East and West Loop trails intersect is an overlook to the Allatoona Marina. You can also see Georgia Power's Plant Bowen -- a huge 3.2 GW coal fired generating plant -- off to the west, and Kennesaw Mountain to the southwest. On a clear day, you can see the buildings in the Perimeter Area, Midtown, and Downtown, and Stone Mountain to the southeast.

On a clear day, that is. We went on cool and overcast day, figuring to squeeze one more hike out of the area before the weather made it too hot to enjoy.

Larsen poses on the West Loop trail on the way back to the car.

Excellent!

Statesman's Tiz Now Tiz Then CGC RN RA and now RE, or Rally Excellent.

MaryAnne and Chance (the aforementioned TNT) went to Myrtle Beach, SC for this one. The duo joined up with Jamie and Archer, who also added a Rally Advanced leg under his belt.

Rally Excellent is off-lead, of course. The dog zig-zags with the handler through at least 15 stations. The handler can give verbal commands but may not pat his or her leg or clap or give non-oral encouragement.

The course will have two jumps (broad jump, high jump, or bar jump), which is not a challenge but a treat for a Welshie, and the dog has to "honor" another dog that has been placed inside the course for that very purpose. The dog must also serve as an honor dog and stay in the down position while another dog runs the course.

Chance is a happy, smart, and biddable dog and MaryAnne has paid her dues with him as well. MaryAnne said that Chance is a more interested in agility and the field than in Rally, but that being as kind-hearted as he is, he knows that MaryAnne likes Rally and he does his best.

Congratulations to our new RE, TNT Chance.




This is my new ribbon.





So what if it is a rainbow?



Me and MaryAnne got this together and it's ours.

Statesman's Silver Lining (Gabel), 11/20/08 - 5/3/11

Little Gable visited at 10 weeks. He was a sweet and surprisingly talkative little imp. We will miss him. Our condolences to Rieses and Bassels at Statesman Welsh Springer Spaniels.


Gabel pays a visit.








Gabel grunts & oinks his way through some chow as Duke looks on.




Play time.








Gabel roughs up Larsen.









Aki and Gabel visit the Uffizi.








A tired little puppy.








Is there anything sweeter?


Gabel is packed up and heads for home.