Of course, we all know how much work a tracking test
involves. PASA is totally indebted to our wonderful
workers. This test just would not happen without their
dedication!
Linda Stamper did a super job as test secretary, preparing the premium
and catalog, managing the draws, and keeping all of the entrants
informed. She also arranged for our popular REI gift
certificates for all of the tracklayers and hospitality folks.
Saturday hospitality for tracklayers was provided by Warene
Waters. She was going to make soup, but due to hot weather,
changed it to chicken salad. She also made the yummiest lemon
bars! Warene also helped drive tracklayers to and from tracks
Saturday.
Sunday hospitality was provided by Mona Nichols who
brought her popular hot baked potatoes. She had
every topping you could imagine or want for the potatoes. She
brought cookies for dessert and a nice tossed salad. No one
can say we don't eat well
at our tracking test!
Ken Highstreet was there with our RV to put the directional signs out
along the roads, welcome people in out of the cold, and helped get the
food ready for mealtime. He also helped clean everything up
afterward.
We could never do this test without our faithful,
experienced, responsible tracklayers. They have all been
laying tracks for years. Most of them aren't even involved in
the sport of tracking with their dogs. Doug Nichols laid TDX
1(Chaps) and 3. Joan Carpenter laid TDX 2 and 4.
Susan Roberts was our "stinkiest" tracklayer this year. She
laid TD 1(Scout) and TDX 5(Safari).
Diane
Aven laid TD 2(Kenya). Jenny Hutchinson and Lori McCammon
laid all of the crosstracks this year. Sorry to say, all of
these fine people had to wait around for a long time on plotting
day. No matter how organized you want to be, plotting is,
well....plotting! Anyway, we thank them all for giving up
pretty much 2 whole days of their time!
Lastly, we would like to thank the BLM for allowing us to use the
gorgeous back country of Fort Ord for our sport all of these
past 9 years. It fits our requirements
exactly, and we just love that place!! Open grasslands for
the TDs and more challenging hills, trees, obstacles for the
TDXs. Even if I worried about the goats and sheep being in
the wrong places when we were there, I realize they are playing their
part in preserving those coastal grasslands without things like star
thistle, and controlling the coyote bush which wants to invade the
grasslands. We have so many fond memories
of fun, comraderie, communing with nature, and watching some amazing
performances from many dogs, through cold, hot, wind,
and rain! We will really miss our times at
Fort Ord, but we will always greatly treasure them!
Happy Tracking to all,
Donna Highstreet