Howdy Chuckwagon Friends,

Wow!  The heat during the day here in Dawson Creek BC has been amazingly warm.  Today it hit 31 degrees with a slight breeze.  I’m lovin it!!!  Once the sun goes down, it cools right off that you need a sweater to keep warm if you’re sitting outside for any length of time.

Today Rick and I tootled on over to the fair.  Dawson Creek has the best little fair around.  They have a walk way with all kinds of vendors, from Church food booths with home-made pies and goodies, clothing and jewelry tents, mini donuts and fresh lemonade stands, a talent stage, small barns with exhibits of all kinds, a ring for dressage competitions, horse pulls, a midway and so much more to mention.

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One of the things we did, was walked around the horticultural exhibit building.  It brought back many memories of when I was growing up as a kid and got to attend the local fair.   Exhibits of all the hard work, and ribbons always stood out.  So many talented people displaying their wares.

This afternoon, I invited Carter and Ethan to come and give me hand in the barn to do afternoon chores.  These two boys live in the city of Calgary with their mom, whom is employed by our association of the WPCA.  They have come to love the horses and it is a good way to get them involved.  We mixed feed and filled water buckets.

The pair thought it would be a good idea to taste the bright orange electrolytes that we mix in the horses feed.  After all, it does look pretty inviting, something like powdered candy maybe.

Well the expression on Ethan’s face I think pretty much sums up how much they liked it.  They were great little helpers.

We couldn’t leave without a photo on the Chuckwagon with Rick.

The afternoon also brought some folks from Germany and Austria to come have a first hand look at how the operation goes around here.  They were pretty impressed as they have never seen anything like it before.  We always enjoy sharing what we do, so they can go home and tell others just what they have experienced.

Our second outfit in heat two comprised up of 1 of Mike Vigen’s horses, 1 of Chanse Vigen’s horses and 2 of ours.  The outriding horses were 1 of Chad Hardens and 1 of ours.  Rick drove the sponsored TerraCore Rental Rig around the barrels and posted a time of 1:15.93 with a 1 second penalty for a late outrider.  The one horse was giving the outrider grief coming out of the barrels.  Still a good run for the outfit.

Our main hook sponsored by Northwell Oilfield Hauling, in the eighth heat was comprised of Jim on the Left Wheel, Law on the Right.  Louie on the Left Lead, and Speedy on the Right.  Rick had a great start and turn around the barrels.  They ran 2 wide around the track leading the way coming home setting a time of 1:15.87 on the day.   Good for 10th on the day and sitting 2nd in the aggregate behind fellow driver Mike Vigen, whose rig is being driven by his son, Chanse Vigen due to a medical leave.  He’s a good skinner and will be an up and coming Champion one day.

Rick handed out the mini Chuckwagon to this little fella.  It’s pretty nice here, as the fence is right up close and he can hand it personally to someone in the stands.  We are looking forward to meeting him when he comes back to the barns.

Until Tomorrow

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Stop worrying about what can go wrong, and get excited about what can go right!

 

Howdy Chuckwagon Friends,

This morning once we finished up morning chores and had Rick’s favorite bacon and eggs breakfast, I decided I better hunker down and get my MasterCard bill tended to.  It’s not my favorite thing to accomplish, but it has to get paid before the due date arrives.  When you have a business, you have to keep up with the paperwork.

Once I completed all the things on my to do list, I figured it was time to have a nap.  From 1 PM to 3PM it’s pretty quiet around the barns.  Most are resting, some are running errands and others take in all the activities around the grounds.  Here in Dawson Creek it is like an old-time fair.  There is plenty to do and see. Rick and I usually go out and about on one of the days before we depart.

Tonight, Rick drove an outfit on the other circuit, the Western Chuckwagon Association for the only female chuckwagon driver, Rilee Letendre as she had a funeral to attend.  Rick has been mentoring Rilee this past spring and summer.  As a matter of fact, we have sold her a couple of horses and tonight Rick got to drive one of them, the grey named Speirman.   This Association has different races meets in different towns than we do except Grande Prairie and here in Dawson Creek.  When we do meet, they race before our group does.  The other difference for them, is that they do not have any outriders.  They just have someone come out and hold onto their lead team to steady them before the horn sounds.  Rick placed a respectable fourth place on the day for Rilee.

We are parked with our unit quite a walk from the track.  Sometimes I ride the horses over and sometimes I just walk them.  Tonight I decided to ride one and lead the other.  They were pretty good and behaved well for me.  There can be times when they get a little ansy as they know it’s getting close to race time.  Tonight I asked them to pose for me and they sure did a good job at listening.  HAHA!  Picture Perfect.

Chad Harden took the lines for our 2nd outfit tonight.  He used all his horses for the outfit and just one of our outriding horses named Air.   He was pretty speedy with outfit and placed 3rd on the day bringing it up to 8th in the average.

After every third heat, there is a harrowing and watering of the track.  It usually takes about 10 – 15 minutes.  So people will stand up and stretch and chat with their neighbor, read or check their phones.  I happened to be snapping a few photos of the crowd and look what I found.  A fan wearing a Rick Fraser “Team 23 ” T-Shirt.  How cool is that.  I think he’s looking pretty serious, maybe he’s studying the stat results of the races to see where we’re sitting.

Tonight we hooked the same four as last night.   Spirit, Sporty, Spin and Cowboy.  With Chance Flad holding the leaders with Ed, and Chad Cosgrave throwing stove with Stadium.

The start of the race was clean and fast, but not quite as fast as fellow competitor, John Walters.  He blew out of the infield for the 2nd day in a row posting a day money run.  This is good for us as it helps us to clock a fast time as well.

Which we did, placing 10th on the day with a time of 1:15.83 and sitting us 3rd overall in the aggregate standings after 2 days of racing.

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So after the races, and the horses were put away, we had the pleasure of meeting 2 young gals.  They came to really meet Rick.  Well these gals were the best of pals.  They first got an autographed poster from him and then it was time for a photo.   We were informed that the one young gal originates from Hungary.  She proceeded to tell us that they do a form of horse racing there very similar to here.   This peaked Rick’s interest.  He then asked the young gal if she knew a swear word in the Hungarian language.  Well, the giggling began.  Yes she did, but she was a little shy to say.  She finally shared the word and whispered what it meant into his ear.  All the while giggling and laughing.  These two made our day by their fun-filled spirits of friendship.

Until Tomorrow

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Be silly, Be fun.  Be different, Be wacky.  Be You! Because life is too short to be anything but happy.