Beach Play

(Newport, OR) Today is our last day at the beach. I was so disappointed not to be able to watch the dogs play on the beach...as they're never more playful than on a beach.

So Mike and a couple dogs went out in the car to scout for a place where it would only be a few steps to the beach. They found a place and away we went. Mike is a great guy and does so much for me. But "scouting" isn't his forte I guess. I know he great intentions though...so I appreciate his efforts.

The road leading to this great spot on the beach wasn't paved. Not only wasn't it paved but it literally had holes 3' in diameter and 2' deep...many of them. Then there were huge jagged rocks sticking up out of the ground that were anywhere from 6" - 12" tall. Let me tell you, no matter how slow he went, we were a rockin'.

My platform is not bolted to the car in any way. So as we were jolting all around I was like paint in a paint can when they put it on the machine to shake it all up. Or like a rock in tumbler that is being polished.

The jetty was LONG! And cars were getting stuck. This was the worst ride ever...I was in horrible pain the entire way...and getting worse as we went along. Sure, the beach was about 10 paces from the car...but walking one pace was now an extremely painful ordeal.

But we were here now so I figured I might as well spend 10 minutes on the beach and get to watch the pups for a short time.

I think the ocean is so pretty. Notice the kite-boarders....this will be important later...



2iggie was so cute running and romping on the beach.



But always above the water line! No water for her.



The wind was blowing so hard that I couldn't hold my camera still. Mike had warned me it would be cold so I wore many layers. But there weren't enough layers for this weather.

The streaks you see in the sand is the blowing wind.



Boogie was too funny, stopping to chase the blowing sand.



Boogie's ears were flying in all directions.



The wind not only made his ears go straight back but his tail too!



He tried turning his head but it didn't matter as the wind was really kicking. All three dogs were closing their eyes and punching at them with their paws as the sand was going everywhere....and fast.



When we originally headed out on the beach (we'd literally only taken five or six steps on to the beach) when a guy yelled "I love Border Terriers". We couldn't see who yelled it so we just kept going.

Just a couple minutes later,, this guy came down onto the beach to do some kite boarding. Totally out of character, Boogie ran over to the guy...at which point he said "I love Border Terriers". Wow, Boogie is smart - he ran right to the guy that liked him!

He just started walking along with the guy like that was who he lived with. What! My Boogie never goes up to strangers.



He just stayed right with the guy watching everything he did. I'm thinking Boogie would like to try this sport. And why not, he likes every other sport he's tried.



Boogie wasn't quite sure about petting though. Although after a couple seconds, Boogie did go over to him.




Boogie was keeping his distance as the guy left but he was still following.



Boogie just kept going even though little waves were now crashing about neck height.



Even as the guy took off, Boogie was still mesmerized.




He wouldn't give up. I was wondering if he was going to stay there forever.




He was pretty determined.





We finally got him to come in. But he just turned around to watch from shore.



Eventually we got him to turn his attention to playing.



Boogie and 2iggie did some terrier type boxing which Wazzu broke up fairly quickly.



I think she may have regretted that as Boogie then turned his attention to her!



I'm pretty sure Wazzu is saying "Stop It".




So finally Mike threw a stick and they were both happy.



Look at that, Boogie pulled Wazzu all the way up out of the water....I think she must not have been trying very hard - although it looks like he sure is!



They continued for some time even though the wind was really blowing a lot of sand in their eyes.



Boogie finally went on to other things and left Wazzu alone to lie on the beach with her stick.



You'll never guess what got Boogie's mind off the stick game. Yup, that's right, the kite sailing guy came back to shore!



I'm pretty sure Boogie thought the guy finally realized he'd forgotten to take Boogie and came back to get him!

But when that didn't pan out, Boogie decided to do some rolling in protest. He's being so vigorous about it that he kicked up a bunch of sand...that you can see in the air just coming down.



Oh gosh, like he wasn't dirty enough already.



2iggie saw this from afar and started charging.



Boogie had barely gotten to his feet when she showed him the ground again.



We figured this was a good time to leave. On the way to the car, Boogie surprised me again. He saw some kids playing in the water and decided to join them.



Every time the kids would run in from the wave, Boogie would run in with them.



I remember playing that game when I was a kid. But I don't remember a super cute doggy ever coming to play it with me!

The kids didn't mind him playing with them at all. He just made himself right at home with them and they included Boogie in all their many games.




We had a heck of a time getting Boogie to leave the beach. Guess he knew we wouldn't be back for a year.

Debbie
7/14/10

Quick Sightseeing

(Newport, OR) Mike and the dogs have been playing on the beach non-stop since we got here. I've been stuck in the bedroom the whole time.

So today Mike decided to try and take me on a driving tour of downtown Newport...all three blocks of it!

I think since I grew up around and on the ocean it is a very happy place for me. So many good memories. But when you go to the ocean with all those memories of such good times and can't partake in the activites it is very difficult.

The scenery was beautiful...especially if you like boats.



Most of these boats are commercial fishing boats. If you wanted, you could walk right down onto the pier and watch them unload their catch for the day.



This is the view looking out to the ocean with the bridge you must go over to get into Newport.



Mike said Wazzu wanted to make friends with all the seagulls....as usual. They wouldn't even fly away when she got near. It was like a stare off...in a very friendly way....like curiosity.

Over the weekend, a friend of ours had told Mike about a really good restaurant in Newport called Local Ocean Seafoods. So on our way home we stopped to get some take-out.

But they told Mike that dogs were allowed at the tables. I wonder if this is what they meant.



Boogie was nice to let me sit with him for a quick photo op.

The food was super good. Pictured in the above picture is a roasted garlic and crab soup. It was better than can be described. Every bite was full of big pieces of crab. Boogie found out he likes crab soup!

Wazzu and 2iggie were along with us as well. But they were good dogs and sat under the table. Our waiter even brought out a huge bowl of water for the dogs. How nice was that! They enjoyed having water but I think they were wondering why they didn't get soup like Boogie!

Debbie
7/13/10

First Trial

(Newport, OR) We are down in Newport for an agility trial...of course!

This was an exciting one for Mike as this is his first weekend trial with 2iggie. She was only entered in two runs a day....much to her dismay.

The weather was pretty...it looked much prettier than it really was. Very cool and strong winds. The dogs thought that was just perfect.

Fortunately there were two professional photographers there so we could spend a lot of money! We were glad they were there to get pictures of 2iggies first "real" trial. She had a blast and I think it shows!

She was very accurate...always checking with Mike to see what she should do next.




She showed her speed too, coming in 30 seconds under course time and usually the fastest time of any Novice dog.




Doesn't she look happy! We're so glad she is enjoying this so much.




She got Q's in both Hooper's run she entered.




I wonder how she goes so fast with such a high step...



Colorful.





This is my favorite picture. She also Q'd in her Weaver's class. Doesn't she look striking against the color of the poles.



Wazzu wasn't entered at all on Friday but had three runs each of the other two days. She was flying most of the weekend....literally. Look ma...no feet! How does she do that on such a narrow board!



Wazzu really had drive this weekend. Needless to say she had great results this weekend. I really love seeing her so happy. I sure miss running my girl.




Sparkie and Mike were really ready to start the weekend. Quite the intense start by them both!




Sparkie had a lot to say this weekend...okay, every weekend!




Doesn't seem to matter which obstacle....always has something to say.



Yup, still talking. Look at that great body control...turning while in the air.





This is Mike's favorite picture of the weekend. He thinks Sparkie looks cute peaking out from the poles. That tail is really acting as a rudder.




To me this picture looks like an optical illusion. Which jump is she going over? The middle one or the closest one?





If you said the closest jump....you were wrong. Now she's doing the closest jump.



And last, but certainly not least, Boogie had a great weekend as well. When Boogie's hind end is low to the ground, you know he is weaving fast. Here he's really digging...and not barking...a first!




I'm thinking he needs to be really careful not to knock any bars! What a high flying little guy.




I'm just wondering when he breaths. He's barking when he's landing...




...and he's barking when he's in the air.




We always say he could run a lot faster if he would stop barking so much.

Debbie
7/9-11/10

Photos by: Joe Camp, Howard Templeton, and me!