Howdy All!

Beautiful sun shiny day with a breeze here in High River, Alberta with a temperature sitting at 24 degrees.  A great day for Chuckwagon Racing.  Our son Cody and his sidekick  (AKA Girlfriend) Allie arrived last night before the races.  Was good to have them here.

This morning we had some track time so Rick hooked an outfit and Cody got to drive.  He loved every minute of it.  Duncan our Australian hired hand jumped in with him.  After a night at the cabaret, he said it was a great way to wake up, going full bore around the track with a team of beautiful thoroughbreds.

 

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There’s no other feeling like it he says.

One of the jobs that most don’t like is filling the water buckets.  So when I’m out in the barn, that is one of my jobs.  I don’t mind doing it.  It gives me time to chat with the horses if they are in the stalls.

Every horse that races on our team, gets a nice shower of water before and after the race.  Karina and Duncan got it handled.  The horses enjoy it so much.

This afternoon, not long before race time, we had a visitor show up at our door step.  I was busy packing the trailer when she arrived.  I did not know this lady, but  she introduced herself to me as Margaret.  Well Margaret came bearing gifts.  A beautiful note for me, along with a special rose quartz and chocolates for the kids.

 

You see, Margaret heard about me and my blog last year through Ron MacLean the Canadian Hockey Sportscaster, when he was live on TV at the Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Races.  She thought she would check my Travelintrailer blog out and has followed along ever since.  I was so very moved when she gave me this beautiful gift.  It touched  my heart to think that someone I don’t even know, searched me out to let me know that through my writing, I have touched her in some form in her life.  How cool is that?

We chatted awhile, and decided we needed to have our photo taken before she went on her way.  Thank you so much Margaret, and I’m sure we’ll meet again.

Friends are so very important.  We were honored to have our friends Bob and Linda stop in today before race time.  Bob had been an officer with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association back a few years.  Through his volunteering, we got to know him and his wife.   Well when Rick and Bob get together, you just never know how things will go.  Lots of laughs are had, and we most certainly enjoy their company.

Before the races, we were busy as beavers packing up what we could so we would be on the road at a decent time once all things wrapped up.

Today we were off the coveted 1 barrel.  It does have a bit of an advantage, as if you start and turn hard, you should be able to secure the rail all the way around.  Rick hooked Spirit on the Left Lead, Ranger on the Right.  Sporty on the Left Wheel and Air on the Left.  Chance Flad and Chanse Vigen rode Beau and Stadium  holding the leaders and throwing the stove.  The outfit started pretty good and Rick did a great job getting around the barrels to get the rail.  Kurt Bensmiller managed to overtake it on the second turn.  However, Rick managed to take over the lead coming home and crossed the finish line first.  His time was a 1:15.65 good for 9th on the day.  We ended up 4th in the show.  Congratulations goes out to Kurt and Ashley Bensmiller on the Guy Weadick Days Championship win.

“Team 23” made it safe and sound along with all the ponies to Ponoka in record time.  We hope to see some of you out at the Stampede which begins on Wednesday.

From the TravelinTrailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  We don’t meet people by accident.  They are meant to cross our path for a reason.