Howdy All!

As Sunday is the last day of the Stompede, it also means it is pack up day.  Back on the road again tomorrow to head out east.  So that is what was on the agenda for the morning hours after chores and breakfast.   Everything has a place when you have a Travel Trailer unit.  There is not very much space, and then you tend to limit to only what you need…….or think you need.  Maybe I could do that back at home too?  Hmmmmm.

So, I have to tell you something funny.  You know those smooch cams at hockey games and rodeos?  Well they had one here at the Chuckwagon Races.  Well it was scouting the crowd and landed on these two fine people.

Fellow Chuckwagon driver, Chad Harden.  And the women beside him?  It’s not his wife Dori.  Its his hired hand.  The camera crew stayed on them for quite some time.  I’m sorry to tell you, there was no smooching going on, just a whole bunch of giggles and laughter.

Today was special, as my dad was able to make it out to the races to see his Grandson Cody drive, and Rick compete in his last race here in Grande Prairie.  Dad is 86 years young and is looking pretty darn good.

When family gets together, it’s always important to get that funny family photo.  There is always craziness, smart remarks and funny faces to boot.  Glad we took the time to make memories.

Ryker wasn’t to happy to have to pose, he was more interested in playing in the mud and the rain.  I wished Amy, Chris, Coy and the other Chris could have been here.  I guess we’ll have to photo shop them in some how.

Cody was still pumped today after winning day money in yesterday’s race.  Today he was driving the same crew, Orchid on the Left Lead, Spirit on the Right Lead, Harlington Club on the Left Wheel and Sporty on the Right Wheel.  When the horn blew, the team went.  Cody shot out of the infield like a rocket and stole the show all the way around the track, placing a time of 1:18.39, good enough for a 2nd on the day.  He loves to drive just like his dad.  Pretty proud of my son.

After four days of racing, the drivers get shuffled around into different heats according to their running times excluding any penalties assessed.  Tonight we were off the three barrel in the seventh heat.  Our hook tonight was Louie on the Left Lead, Nickle on the Right Lead, Cowboy on the Left Wheel and Vegas on the Right Wheel.  A change-up of outriders, with Dayton Sutherland holding the leaders with Ed, and Keegan, a newbie in the field, threw the stove on Ice.

It was an evening of craziness.  Rick was late getting to the track, because of a little confusion back at the barns.  They got that straightened out, but he didn’t quite have time for a practice turn, so he did a half assed one when he got to the infield.  I call it improvising.  At any rate, he made it in to the barrels for the start of the race.  The horn sounded and away they went.  But for some reason, rounding the top, the barrel got in the way.  A five second penalty as the barrel got squished.  And to top that off, one of the outriders had a bit of difficulty mounting his horse which caused him to be late.  Then Bam!  A total of 6 seconds in penalties just like that.

Congratulations to Evan and Adrienne Salmond on their Grande Prairie victory.  Well deserved.

As time goes by, day in and day out, our lives pass right before our eyes.  Just like these horseshoes, they are needed by the horses to keep them on the straight and narrow path, giving them a solid foundation.  In time though, they wear down, and may fall off, or be  removed as they are useful no more.  But yet are a necessity in a Chuckwagon horses racing career.

I must say, I’m very fortunate and proud, to have a family that we’ve raised, and have given them a solid foundation to continue to grow and be who they are meant to be. This Chuckwagon life that we have lived, has molded us and our kids into what we are today.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his stregth.

Howdy All!

An early morning rise at 6:15 am, I got out of bed shortly after my hubby, who went out to feed oats.  I put the coffee on, got dressed and presentable, then headed to the barn.  Rick had to go get a few bales of straw for bedding as we were out.

As the morning progressed, we had a surprise visit from our former sponsor, Ken Drysdale who at the time, had Kendal Pipeline from the Grande Prairie area.  They were one of  the best sponsors ever, teaming up with us for a solid seven years.  We became friends through it all.  So many memories to hold on to.

Ahhh …………..the memories.   There are so many.  And tonight, after the races we had some family and friends arrive at the barns to enjoy a few beverage and some really good visits.  As the night progressed, they made a toast to Rick and I and our family, of the years gone by and all the memories we made for their families.  Choke up or what?

I must admit, I had tears in my eyes.  I have never put much thought into the day that we would say “We’re done.”  But now it’s for real.  And that’s okay, but now I realize, for the next six weeks we are going to feel so many emotions, and it is going to be like a roller coaster ride.

Our friend Keith and his wife Roberta have supported us over the years with good friendship.  They have always been there for us.  We appreciate them.

Cody was off the three barrel tonight driving a new horse, Orchid on the Left Lead, Speedy on the Right.  Harlington Club on the Left Wheel and Sporty on the Right.  After last nights fiasco, he was hoping for something better.  Well, they delivered.  When the horn sounded, the four of them started hard and away they went.  They were gone and had an amazing run clocking in at a time of 1:17.73 which gave him a first place finish on the day.  So proud of how our son Cody drives them ponies!

Cody was so happy and apprceciatve to have his cousin and his company, Halwa Electric sponsor him for these 4 days of racing.  The bond runds deep.

After three nights of racing and starting on the one barrel the first night,  tonight our lineup was off the four.  Our hook was Louie on the Left Lead, Nickle on the Right.  Spin on the Left Wheel, Barcardi on the Right.  They started ok, and Rick got hung out three wide, so it was just that much longer around the track.  Unbeknownst to Rick, our lead outrider got interfered with by a fellow outrider, causing him to be late which incurs a 1 second penalty.  And when you are assessed even 1 second, it will put you out of contention for the championship final race.  Oh well, it is what it is and it is all in the game of Chuckwagon Racing.  We ended up 23 on the day, and 10th in the aggregate.

Tonight our outriders were Quiad Tournier holding leaders on our horse called Stadium and Chance Flad throwing the stove on Ice.  Both did the best job that they could.

Family and Friends were in the stands tonight cheering as loud as they could.  You can never have enough fans.

I’m not sure what we were looking at, but it must have had something to do with the horses.  My little grandson and me were have some bonding time today, just hanging out.

Congratulations to Evan and Adrian Salmond on winning the aggreagate, and to Evan, Kurt Bensmiller, Kirk Sutherland and Chad Harden on making it to the final Championship heat and may the fastest wagon win.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.    Langston Hughes

Howdy All!

Friday has arrived and we were excited to have another great run on Thursday evening.  We thought we had clinched a day money run, but after the dust settled, the protest hour was up, and the judges reviewed the films, the penalty that was given to fellow driver Kurt Bensmiller had been removed.  Kurt got the day money, and we ended up in 2nd on the day, putting us 2nd in the aggregate.  We continue to be happy with that.

We seem to have fans all over the place, and we are thankful for each and every one of you.  This wonderful photo, some of you may guess who is under the hat………and some of you won’t know who the heck it is!!!  She’s fairly stylin though, during the races last night, when she had to go out in the rain, she wanted to make sure if she was seen, that everyone would know which wagon team she was cheering for. I think she’s incognito!

Kids make me smile and give me warm fuzzy inside.  My nephew and his little one came out for morning chores at 7 AM.  She had requested that she come and help, and so she did.  She forked the manure and raked the alley .  Helped fill water buckets and drove with me to dump the manure at the manure pile.  We had loads of fun, and chit chatted the whole morning through.

While the horses are resting out in the pens,  you’ll often see our son Cody giving a little bit of lovin to the ones he likes best, and too many of the others as well.

Cody drove the same hook as last night off the two barrel.  Bacardi on the Left Lead, Sporty on the Right.  Jim on the Left Wheel and Vegas on the Right.  And when the horn sounded, they all weren’t on the same page.  One started, then another, than the first one that went, stepped backwards and so on and so forth.  There wasn’t any unison whatsoever.  And to top it all off, they went to the right of the barrel instead or around it.  It’s just one of those runs you want to forget and start all over again.  But you know, it happens to everyone, here and there.  No ones exempt.

Rick changed the crew up tonight, having Louie the Grey, on the Left Lead, Nickle on the Right.  Spin on the Left Wheel and Law on the Right.  The horses started hard on the sound of the horn and Ricky’s whistle.  He drove them around the barrel and then they  charged forward onto the track.  It was a nice close race all the way around, but Kurt Bensmiller managed to squeak on by, by just a few one hundredths of a second.  We managed to post a time of 1:18.96 good for 15th on the day.  Evan Salmond sits at the top of the 3 day aggregate, Kurt Bensmiller sits 2nd, Kirk Sutherland is 3rd, and Rick and “Team 23” sits a close 4th.  With one more fast clean run tomorrow, it could put us into the final Dash for Cash on Sunday.  How exciting that would be!

I had some more photos I wanted to share, but when I was working on my writing, I realized I used up all of my GB plan thus it wouldn’t allow me to download any more photos and videos.   So I need to upgrade, and am hoping to get that done tomorrow. I’m not a very technical person when it comes to things like this,  but I try.

Until then, I better get to bed.  Morning comes really early.

 

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.   Paul Ryan

Howdy All!

The second day of racing, and the weather has been pretty cool up here in Grande Prairie.  We are hoping the warmth comes soon, as we want to shed all the extra outerwear.

My day was fairly busy, going through photos I’ve taken, making breakfast for the crew, managed to fit in a manicure appointment, took a much-needed nap, prepared and served supper, and then it was race time again.

Today the crew enjoyed my breakfast specialty, the cheese bun bacon and egger.  It is quite filling, and everyone is pretty excited when they get it.

Our next door barn kids were going hard playing Chuckwagon Racing.  Well, they went around and around, making the horn sound and chaaing as they went.  Growing up in this atmosphere, it is very common to see this all the time.  It is a pretty unique life when you get to do what we do.

My niece and nephew stopped in after the races with their young ones.  They love our sport, and support us each and every season.  Their kids get right into the races, cheering as loud as they can when uncle Ricky is on the track, along with Cody as well.  They live in the city so they don’t get up close and personal with horses until we come to town.  It’s a big, big thrill to do this.  Tomorrow little Ava is coming with her dad to help with the chores in the morning.

Cody was off the one barrel tonight in his heat.  His hook was Bacardi on the Left Lead, Sporty on the Right.   Jim on the Left Wheel, and Vegas on the Right.  Cody drove them well, but he didn’t quite start as hard as they could have.  He was penatly free and crossed the finish line at a time of 1:20.73.  He’s sitting 6th overall in the Western Chuckwagon Association.

Rick was on the two barrel tonight.  When the horn sounded, Spirit was ready to go!!!  He started hard and charged on forward.  Now, if we could just it all of them together to perform the exact same way, what a pretty sight that would be.  Tonight hook was the same as last night.  Spirit on the Left Lead, Ranger on the Right.  Cowboy on the Left Wheel and Glory on the right.  Chance and Quiad did an excellent job holding the leaders and throwing the stove, mounting their horses and riding around the track.  You’ve got to be in really good shape to do what they do.

This year our lives are going to change, and go down a different  kind of path when the Calgary Stampede is complete.   Although we have made the decision to retire from Chuckwagon racing, it doesn’t mean we have everything in place going forward.  And that’s OK!  We are going to take it just one step at a time.  The one thing that I do know, is I’m going to spend a whole bunch more time with our grandkids.  How fun is that?

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Having a place to go—–is a home.  Having someone to love—– is a family.  Having both is a blessing.   Donna Hedges