..are just a whole lot better than others, and yesterday was one of those. Peaceful, quiet Sunday with cool, clear weather in the mountains of W. CO. And everyone of our Peakes were on their best behavior. I just couldn't believe it.

Joanne and I started our day taking one our many trips back in time, musically that is, with one of our favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...fMHg&feature=related

Since I have been so far behind in our training with too many distractions this summer, I was tickled to have "Missy" and "Blue" ("Curry" x "Meg" litter) flying thru the water force and swim-by.

Then "Meg" lined a 300 water blind and I nearly fell over.

"Maggie", "Rusty" and "Mickey" all had nice long, 300 plus yard water marks with long angle entries. I couldn't believe it again.

But the biggest surprise was Joanne's "Cruiser" ("Rudy" x "Meg") who unlike his wild and crazy brother, is much more controllable and quiet. He has been making great progress in recent months after a huge delay in his training after suffering a hairline fracture in his left rear leg following a freak accident as an older puppy. He is one of those Peakes that just loves to work, loves birds and handles pressure very well. He has begun to tug at my heart.

"Cruiser's" water entry.








And a great backdrop on a nice day, "far from the maddening crowd".





Keith

...and then late in the day, Joanne caught this nice view facing east, from a neighbor's fields a few miles from home with the sun setting in the West.

Wish I could have more days like this one!




Keith

Great music beautiful mountains and Peaks in action what more could you ask for. Thanks for sharing.

Nice pics not my cup of tea on music but I get what you mean!

That's right, if every training day could be like yesterday, we all would have smiles on our faces!

Joanne

Dan,

What's interesting about the link to the old 1985 video (not the best) of Dan Fogelberg and the very well known musicians playing with him, is they have produced a ton of great music for over 40 years covering rock, country, the origins of country rock (i.e Chris Hillman-Byrds, Flying Burrito Brother's, Manassas w/Stephen Stills, Desert Rose Band, etc. etc) and bluegrass. A diverse, incredibly talented group.

It would be like sitting in on a fireside chat listening to Charley Morgan, DL Walters, Rex Carr and Mike Lardy, just to name a few, on how retriever training has evolved over the decades. Another fascinating, very diverse and historical group.

Keith

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a good day.

Last weekend was again beautiful in W. CO. and although it would have been nice running a trial in Maine, I quess I'll have to settle for finishing the basics with "Missy" and "Blue". But for me, that is okay for right now and on to fun times teaching them both to run blinds with a little time left in the cold mountain water for a few cheating singles the next month or so before the snow starts to fly.

Keith

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Keith Carlson,

Have had some really good training sessions up here lately too, but photos tend to be like this:



or this:

"Minto" is just too quick for you Karen!

Pretty place to train!

Keith

Okay Karen,

Here are a couple of photos of "Rusty's" water blind entry on a tight angle to the shore but I have help with Joanne on the camera. It's way too much for me to handle transmitter, whistle and possible casting.





He has a bit of a "belly flop" when he hits the water.





His brother "Nate" has all the field trial glory, but "Rusty" looks more like a weightlifter and is no slouch with his field work.




Keith

More great photos, Keith! Rusty looks pretty intense for sure! Minto is too fast for me so maybe I should get a video camera. She comes back just as pedal-to-the-metal as going out, on land and water.

This pond used to be called "the toilet bowl" as it had absolutely no cover around it. Now it's got patches of bullrushes or cattails along 2 sides, with a few points. You can walk around to the far side, and while the water is shallower, you use the coves & 2 sandbar-type islands for ins & outs, over or by the point, etc. The water level changes with the Tanana River level, less than 50 yards away right now.

Did manage to catch the whole dog in this one:



But here's one of Scooter from a few years ago (taken by a pro):



John got soaked a half dozen times & cussed a lot because she was too fast.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Karen Wilson,

Here's the Tanana River not far from the pond, taken in early August when the wildfires were bad. I won't let me dogs in this river, even if they are Chespeakes. It's silt laden, cold, currents are gnarly, and there are almost always big trees floating in it. Smoke on the water...

Very nice Karen and love that photo of "Scooter"!


Keith

PS. 27 degrees here last night, how 'bout you?

It wasn't quite that cool here with a slight breeze to keep things stirred up, but looks & feels like it might snow. Training last night went well, but didn't have Minto do any long swims. The water temperature has dropped this week, and she has absolutely no undercoat. The oldtimers are saying it's going to be a cold winter this year (duh?)-- moose harvested have all been fatter than usual.

This is "Cruiser's" Double T field close to home in Mesa and he is sitting on the whistle and casting. I am real proud of him with his late start due to his injury as a young dog but he has come so far this summer and fall!



Joanne

...another absolutely beautiful weekend in W.CO. and "Cruiser" is thru with the Double T after a few days off while I was playing plumber and electrician last week.

The temps here will be in the 60's all week and combined big game season doesn't start until the 17th so I am off to my neighbors' ponds for some swim-by lessons for Joanne's boy.

We are both real happy with his progress which seemed so far away during the past summer, and year for that matter.

Keith

"Cruiser" is cruisin' thru the water force and swim-by even though the water is a bit cold to do this! He told me not to worry about it.

And the babies ("Missy" and "Blue") ran their first water blind (150 yards) yesterday. Love it, when those intelligent, bright, yellow eyes let you know they understand what your asking.

Can't we just slow time a bit and have winter wait awhile longer?

Keith

here is my one year old chessie.....

Very nice Jarod! Where is that photo taken?

Keith