Howdy Chuckwagon Friends

Sunday, the last day of racing for the 2016 season has arrived.  With an early day race time of 2 pm, we had to plan out our day accordingly.  The crew got busy with  the chores, and Bruce, Michelle and I put together breakfast.  As a Team, we made a corporate decision to head home immediately after the races.  So once we were all fueled up with the delicious food, everyone got to work packing up the many  belongings that could be loaded ahead of time.

Cody’s final race of the 2016 season was in heat 2 off the two barrel.  He had a great start, charged hard and posted a pretty decent time of 1:17.24 to split a 14/15 on the day.  We are proud of how our son Cody handled his Rookie year on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association Tour.  He has a great future ahead of him in this heritage sport of ours.

Rick was off the 4 barrel in heat 6.  His hook today was Nickel (LL), Speedy (RL),  Jim (LW Cody’s horse) and Law (RW).  Cole and Chance Flad rode Andy and Ice.  He had a great start when the horn sounded, but so did all three of the other wagons.  So when he saw he was 4 wide, he pulled his team into the first turn to go down to the rail and follow in behind the leader.  Many wagons drivers will do this as it often is a good move so when they hit the home stretch a hole can open up for them to charge hard to the finish line for a great finish.  Rick’s time was posted at a 1:17.72 to be 24th on the day.

When the final wagons crossed the finish line, and all the times tallied up, the winners were announced.  Mulhurst resident, Chad Harden and his outriders Cole and Kale, accepted the winning belt buckles for being the fastest team at the Battle of the Rockies year-end venue.  Congrats to the Harden Camp.

Cole works for us, and he received a beautiful buckle for being one of Chad Hardens outriders.  He was pretty proud to have won this title.

Our 3 months of race meets have points awarded for each day of racing according to your performance on the day.  The driver with the most points at the end of today’s race, wins the World Title of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association.  This year, Luke Tournier has captured the title.  This is his first ever world title and he was pretty excited to receive it.  Congrats to Luke and Michelle and their crew on capturing this award.

Just before we headed out, little Talence and her sister came by for one last hug before they headed back to Saskatchewan.  We always enjoy their support in the fan department.

With just under a 2 hour drive home to our Ranch in Wetaskiwn  AB, we were happily greeted by our dog Nugget.  She was pretty happy to see us, doing many circles around us.

It didn’t take long, and we had all the horses unloaded and running free without their halters.  They love to run.  We all just stood and watched for a while at how playful they looked in the sunset.

I let the crew tend to the horses and the barn,  and I headed to the house with a few things from the trailer.

I stood and took in all my beautiful flowers, our  daughter Amy put together and tends to while we’re gone on the road.  They were all so beautiful.  It’s so good to be home.

The ground is pretty dry and dusty  here at home, compared to when we stopped in after Strathmore.  We are so glad the last race days of the season were not pelting  us with rain or having us trudging through mud.  We definitely  had our share of it this summer.

We may be home now, and the season of racing is finished.  But life goes on .  We have many things to get done around the Ranch before the fall and winter settles in.  Our list needs to be made and the boxes checked off as we go along.  I am thinking of continuing to write through out the off-season in of course a more sporadic time frame.

I thank each and every one of you for poking in and taking the time to follow my journey on the road this 2016 season.  I read each and every comment from you, and I intend on answering any questions that have come my way.  There have been many good ones asking in particular different rules of chuckwagon racing.  I know we just take things for granted, as we have been doing this for many years.  Yet many readers out there have little to go by as to the hows of the sport. Again,  “Thank You!”  I have thoroughly enjoyed writing.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and Team 23

P.S.  The trick is to enjoy life.  Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.