BC on the Beach

Today's adventure took us from the beautiful coastline of Wales up through the mountains.

We started the day with a walk along the beach, with the Irish Sea crashing spectacularly beside us. The winds were extremely strong, but warmer than we anticipated. We looked a bit like Nanuk of the North with all our layers, but the dogs didn't mind.



















We checked out a slate quarry...I know, I know, it doesn't sound that exciting, but it was amazing to see a demonstration of hand-splitting slate into paper thin sheets...(notice the Border Collie in the crowd!)





...and pictures of men hanging from massive slabs of slate as they tried to pry it away from the mountain.

This was our quarry imitation...






We returned home by taking a small track over the mountain...yes, this is a road, not a walking path!







As always there were sheep everywhere...






...felt like a bit of a safari...can you see this one...another Where's Waldo from Boywood...







Finally, we'd had our fill of tea and we needed a fix of North America, with a British flair!






Ta...until tomorrow!

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Lessons of a lifetime

Nothing replaces watching a top sheepdog man schooling his dogs and mentoring you along the way. It is breath-taking to watch two dogs work at the same time flawlessly at 900 yards. You can't explain 50 years of experience, you have to absorb it. From Open dogs competing at the highest level to starting three month old pups, J.R. Griffith is a master.

Under J.R.'s guidance, Mary Lou sent Dyna back for a second group up the mountain, but group is a loose term when there is 500 sheep!! If you look very closely, you can just make Dyna out on the stone wall. Can you find her? This is the Boywood version of Where's Waldo...😉




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Canadians have a big responsibility...

Did you know that Canada is the source of all bad weather that happens world wide? 

At least it seems that way. When we go south in the United States, we get blamed for bad storms due to some polar vortex or Alberta Clipper wreaking havoc on the sunny south. 

Now, in the UK, we are being blamed for a terrible surge of rainy weather due to the dredges of a hurricane coming off the coast of Canada. (Really? We are responsible for rain in the UK?)

Fortunately, being the tough, resilient, and resourceful Canadians that we are, we are prepared for hurricane conditions (did I mention the amount of luggage we brought?), since there was a hurricane the last time there was a world trial as well. (Wait, we were here that time too, maybe we are responsible?!?!)

Today was a bit of a day off due to the weather, but we did find out the good news that Mary Lou did very well at one of the trials yesterday, finishing second only by a point to the legendary Aled Owen.

The sun did break thigh the clouds for a moment at the end of the day, I don't think I would ever tire of looking at this valley...

Tomorrow will either be a training day or a trial day, we haven't decided yet, and the weather may decide for us. Apparently 100 km winds are expected...I'm sure they are from Canada! ;)

We also are adapting to the driving and the roads. Our walking paths are wider than many Welsh roads. 

Who would be crazy enough to drive a caravan (trailer) here? We've had a couple of close calls just in the car! More news tomorrow!

The 2014 adventure begins!

It's hard to believe you can get two women, three dogs, their crates, and all the luggage required for a month of outdoor activity packed into one smallish crossover vehicle, but we did.

After landing in Manchester, England we collected our dogs, packed our vehicle and headed west for the first leg of our trip in Wales, near Caernarfon on the west coast. The same day we went up a mountain and worked dogs on 500 head of sheep. Amazing! The view was absolutely spectacular.







We did the same thing yesterday and today but it was a bit muddier!




We went to two sheepdog trials to start to dial things in. The sheep were very tricky...not enough pressure and they turned on the dog, too much and it was every ewe for herself.

Dyna had a great go in the morning and met a long lost distant relative to boot!




In Wales, the term road is rather loosely used, but when you can take a moment to glimpse away from the road when your side mirrors aren't in danger if being knocked off, this is the type of view you can expect. Breathtaking!!





We are still sorting out regular Internet access so hope to have more regular updates started by Monday!

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Hail Bluegrass?

Well, here we are again in another dangerous storm while on the road. Hail and tornado warnings abound... Par for the course for us I believe.




Everyone has taken cover. I was going to write an in-depth blog tonight, and still will all things going well... Hope to chat tonight about all the travels! In the meantime, check out www.facebook.com/boywoodbordercollies

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A sad day...

Sadly, Mary Lou's old Jill finally has gone to the Rainbow Bridge at the ripe old age of 15 and a half. She was same way bred as Mary Lou's Boy, and was Mary Lou's right hand for years, doing the chores and helping with herding lessons. Jill was one of those wonderful, steady, trustworthy types who got the job done with no fuss, no muss and overcame any weaknesses she had with heart and determination. She had a great life and was a great companion. Thanks for all the wonderful years. That'll do Jill. Your work is done.




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Final-ly home

The 2013 National sheepdog finals are now over, and Mary Lou and Dyna finished 13th on the final day, due to a couple of sheep managing to escape the field into the exhaust. Dyna, to her credit, was not going to allow that to happen and somehow got into the exhaust herself and brought out about 80 some odd sheep. Go big or go home! Oh well, that's sheepdogging for you....

Needless to say, it was a brilliant week for Mary Lou and Dyna. Then reality set in and all the rigs had to be towed out of the field by a monster tractor that could crush most things.





After a few detours, we made it home late Monday night (2 am) and hit the ground running after a week away! Looking forward to the future!

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