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Howdy Chuckwagon Friends,

Well! Team 23 didn’t take very long to pack up and depart the town of Strathmore to head on home to the Ranch just outside of Wetaskiwin.

Hooked on a ready to roll

Racing before the Rodeo this year was a real treat. It gave us just enough time to get home before dark.

My friend Mrs. Laundry Louise and I

Before we left, I had to go see my friend Mrs. Laundry Louise at the hospital. Just one more visit. This time I came bearing a gift from a few of the WPCA chuckwagon families. A few $$$s to help her out in one way or another. Louise was in pretty good spirits considering her unfortunate loss of both legs due to health issues. We chatted and shed a few tears together. Louise was very humbled to take the cash. She sends her many thanks to the ones who donated.

The Pace Kids Breakfast turnout

Pace Kids Auction

Morning breakfast for most was eaten at the Kirk Sutherland camp. Daughter Misty and her working crew hosted a pancake breakfast to raise funds for PACE KIDS. This is an organization from Calgary that helps children with disabilities. The breakfast was delicious and it was a treat not having to cook for the crew. They also had a live auction of horse-related items and a number of raffle ticket items too. It was a success, as they raised somewhere in the amount of $30,000.

Latest mini chuckwagon recipients

Team 23: Good lookin’ girls

Dustin’ it up!

The final race wrapped up, and we placed sixth on the day. A speedy one that we’ll take. Our aggregate standing was 15th overall. Congratulations to Jason Glass and his crew for winning the Strathmore Heritage Days.

We departed by 4pm and drove into the driveway by 7pm. It was nice to see home and all the greener grass and blooming flowers since we finally received some rain. The crew got busy unloading the ponies into pens to run around and stretch. Supplies were reloaded and things were taken care of before the morning departure.

My little traveling monkey

Traveling Mr. Paleontologist

Coy teaching the barn crew next door how to dig for bones

The caravan was right on time, departing the driveway by 5am. We had 646 kms to travel north to the city of Dawson Creek, BC. My little passenger was hung ho for the first 30 minutes but then it was lights out for the next two hours. He was one tired little monkey. The trip north went smoothly, and we arrived sometime around 2pm. Setting up went without a hitch. It had poured rain the night before so it was a bit muddy in spots. We didn’t get stuck so that was a good thing.

An afternoon hospital visit

Our first day of the show and we had a little excitement happen. Our hired barn gal Cayley was out feeding noon oats. One of the ponies got just a bit excited, swung around, kicked up his feet and managed to graze the left side of her face. Thank the Lord, she only ended up with a small bleeding wound and a minor concussion. We took a trip to the hospital just for good measure.

We’re hoping for a dry run tonight, but it doesn’t look promising. Cross your fingers and your toes! Look for my updated blog tomorrow morning. Thanks for listening.

Up and at it earlier this morning. At 5:15am the alarm sounded. I normally don’t need to wake to an alarm but as the days go by at this time of year my body gets more exhausted. So I don’t take the chance to expect to wake up on my own.

We decided to utilize the morning track time, 5am to 8am, to exercise an outfit. But we had a special guest come join us. Cody, our son, was the driver this morning, Chris, our son-in-law, was the helper and Kelly VanderBeek, retired Canadian alpine skier, came along for the ride. The faster the better, she said. Kelly enjoyed every minute of it.

After the ride, she also got to walk some hot horses to cool them out. Then she interviewed Cody about life in the chuckwagon world.

After all the excitement of the practice run, Team 23 got to work doing the barn chores. It was our turn to make breakfast, so I was it. Sausages, scrambled eggs, leftover fried mashed potatoes and toasted grilled buns.

I had to get at it, as Rick and I had a date, along with a few other drivers and trick rider Payton Bensmiller, to visit some kids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital at 10am.

Rick and I have been arranging this for many years now, and it touches our hearts. There are so many stories to be told there, and if we can just bring a little bit of sunshine to some of the little ones’ world, for even a moment, it’s made our day. And I must say, it’s very humbling to enter into those rooms. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

A huge thanks to Sandy, a worker at the hospital, who makes this happen for us year after year.

On our return from the hospital, we knew it was time to get some rest. Rick and I both headed to the trailer to get a couple of hours of R & R in. It felt soooooo good.

Race time came fast. I had a few thing to do up in the trailer, so I didn’t get down to the barns until 5. I needn’t have worried, as Team 23 had everything under control.

Our hook tonight was Speedy on the Left Lead, Nickle on the Right Lead, Sneakers on the Left Wheel and Law on the Right Wheel, coming off the 3 barrel. Cole and Dustin rode Ace and Andy.

Prior to our race, the dark clouds hovered over and brought some wind and rain. Who would have guessed? Up until then, it was the calmest, nicest evening. So the track conditions got heavier for our heat. When the horn blew, the outfit started and charged. Barrel 2 outfit’s outrider somehow almost ended up in our lead team. Thank goodness, he managed to get out of the way. And away we went.

We had a great turn despite that start and had the best performance out of our horses yet. Rick was very happy how they performed. The kicker was we had two late outriders. Not their fault, they just couldn’t get around the Ray Mitsuing outfit. He held them out three wide. Very disappointing.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day and another redraw. We still have a chance to make it into the top eight by Friday. We just have to run hard, fast and clean.