Eight Nights in an RV with Dogs

You know that We don't like to waste your time on ordinary stuff.  We save our JnJ Adventures Blog for truly special adventures.

This adventure will be a little different, in a sad way.  In this story, JnJ get forced apart by - of all things - WORK.  Oh NO!!!!  After starting the adventure together, one J will stay with the RV and dogs, and the other J will head back to Ar Dara Seans, pack up again, and get on a plane to Munich, Germany.  Don't worry, JnJ make good use of technology to keep in touch.

So you are going to stay with J and the magnificent setters of Sweetbriar, Sunnybank and Kingston as we brave the wilderness, meet up with setter friends from near and far, and figure out how to live in an RV with 3 dogs for over a week.  We will throw in a few competitive events that the puppies Shannon and DJ have never tried before,  a formal black- tie event involving Dublin, a board meeting, a pajama party, another competition, a banquet, and more competition.  Whew!  I hope that you will enjoy our big adventure!

Dog friends be warned - your photo just might show up on here because you are a part of the adventure!

Huge thanks to bike buddy and contractor John Waltz for making it possible for at least 2 of the dogs to ride in the cab over, giving us a ton more living space.

Mission Accomplished

We managed to avoid the cold and snow for 5 days - YES!

But seriously, ever since the AKC introduced the Owner Handler series In 2012, I wanted to support the program.  Dublin and I went out of our way to attend qualifying shows, and finished that test as one of the top owner handled ES in the country.

Then the AKC announced that they would invite the top 10 owner handled dogs to show at the Inaugural OH Series Finale at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship.  John said "you have to go".

We did and we won.

I can't tell you how it felt to be in the group ring with my beloved Dublin.  I realized, as I scanned the long line of sporting breeds wrapped around that huge and elegant ring, that the judge had a blank page.  No familiar faces to draw his eye.  No preconceptions about who were the top contenders.  This really blew me away.

I also have to say how wonderful the ES folks were.  Frazier helped me out before the breed, and Frazier, The Mowerys, the Vanns and other ES folks came to cheer Dublin on in the group ring.  That was sooo great!  Thank you!

We had a local friend - Susan Palius - to share grooming area.  Susan's Spinones is the #1 Agility Spinone in the country. They did great at the Agility Invitational, and also showed in the OH Series Finale and in the breed. They are an awesome team.  Rico loved meeting Molly:

Dubin also had family support-John's sister Kathy and her husband Frank drove up from Dafety Harbor to watch.  We all celebrated afterwards.

That was one LONG day. 

Saturday was the open show.  Tammy Vann's pretty blue girl finished her championship going best of winners!  We were among a tremendous group of specials.  Will never forget this.

Here John is babysitting while I find the ring and pick up my number

After showing, we did some shopping and strolling around the huge building.  Then we packed up our rented minivan, checked out of the hotel, and headed down to Safety Harbor for som relaxation before heading home.

Kathy has an awesome yard.  While Molly n Dublin played, John and I enjoyed the Florida warmth and hospitality of Kathy and Frank's tiki bar!

 

The next morning we all went to the village for breakfast, and then John's uncle Pete and his wife Linda joined us and we had a great visit.  Uncle Pete is also a submarine vet - WWII!

We left safety Harbor at @130 this afternoon and are now in South Carolina.  We will be back in the snowy north tomorrow.

This trip really was a classic JnJ Adventure!

Overwhelming

We were loaded up and back on I95 by 730 this am.  Toldja we had our rented minivan packed to the gills 

This was the first interesting thing we saw - South of the Border

John is pointing out the beautiful inlets around Savannah

We liked the Spanish Moss in Georgia

Saw loads of interesting loads on the road ;-)

Pretty cool Mustang eh?

This sign was a welcome sight

And this one made Jane cry.  It was overwhelming that we were actually making this journey

0thers on the road appArently shared our destination. These ladies from VA had agility Irish Setters.  We decided to get lots of cool car magnets like they had

15 hours from home, We felt very welcome Checking in at our wonderful hotel.  Definitely dog friendly!

After a short rest we went to the Conventiom Center and unloaded all our gear.  Dublin enjoyed some finishing grooming and a bath in one of the special  bathing stations.  He wasn't too happy with that.  Then it was back to the hotel for dinner and a well deserved rest for everyone.

Goodnight!

Somewhere Only We Know

Somewhere Only We Know is the name of the first big hit from the band that got me back into music, Keane.  Actually, we don't really know where we are.  We think that we are near the NC/SC border, and we are definitely at a Best Western off of I95, and we drove a bit over 500 miles today, but that's where we end it.

Our rented minivan fits all our stuff- bikes and dog crates.  The pups made not a sound the entire 8 hours.  Now, however, Dublin is crying.

He misses John, who went out to scrounge up some dinner.

Molly, on the other hand, is totally chill and loving her vacation-

John gets back and everyone is happy!

Goodnight!

And Now For Something Completely Different

Ok folks, we know that you are used to reading this blog to be with us on our epic cycling adventures.  Well, tomorrow we will set sail in a rented minivan with ... Well you will see.  There will be bikes - yes- but they may not be what you expect.  And some special friends will join us too.  

We have a lot of packing to do for this adventure.  Gear, special equipment, frozen sautéed liver.  Stick with us as we drive for two days to a location - yet to be disclosed - where we will live another dream.

TDF100 - How to Do The Tour in Paris

If you are thinking of seeing the TDF in Paris, pay close attention to this Blog entry.  As we found out, many people try but never even get to see the riders go by.  Arranging the proper access is key to your delightful be cycle-centered day in Paris.

First, you must get a good nights sleep as you will be getting a very early start.  Don your very best kit because you are in Paris after all!

Choose a trustworthy guide who is French and can sweet talk the police and guards and happens to be one of the fastest guys in the peleton such as Bertrand.  

Get your posse together

Get out there and enjoy the beauty of Paris in the morning of the Tour.  Empty grandstands, empty streets.  

The pave (cobbles) are rough!  Ahhh, who cares.  Look up!  L'Arc!

We are riding up the Champs Élysées where the racers will soon be doing the ten laps to finish the Tour!  Cathy looks very happy 

Photo ops at l'Arc.  People were already starting to camp out there. I would not recommend sitting in the hot Paris summer sun for 12 hours.

Now we get to be racers. On Sunday morning, Parisian cyclists go down to the Longchamps racetrack which has a 4K road around it for cyclists.  1,000 riders form Trains of all different paces for a great morning workout. See them behind Pam and Jane?

Rodolfe won the sprint with the fast guys. He is so fast this was all I got

Everybody had a great time.  We spent about an hour here

We cheer for Bertrand as he gets off to gather us for more riding in the streets of Paris

It was beautiful riding back to l'Arc now with the sun in front of us

Riding back to the hotel for a shower, lunch, and a 5pm departure for tour viewing

We were ushered into a bus and given beautiful invitation tickets.  The bus dropped us off at Le Grand Palais.  We were a part of the USA Cycling group and were seated on the balcony overlooking the Petit Palais.  Lovely dinner and fabulous wine.

After dinner, get escorted to your grandstand seats at the finish line!

French Air force flyover was awesome!

And then the riders.  Wow.  They went by us 10 times.  Amazing the little breakaways.  Jensie was out there for a while but the sprinters trains reeled him in.  What a close finish!  We were rooting for Cav.  Too bad.

The Maillot Jeaune Chris Froome and team Sky rode together in triumph.  Sorry, didn't get a photo of that.  The champaign was already being passed around

We then wandered out and found ourselves next to the podium where Quintana was awarded the climbers jersey and the best young rider jersey

And Froome the Maillot Jeune

We then wandered over to the team busses.  Belkin had already left but we had some fun over with the Cannondale boys.

We finally got back to our hotel room about 1am.  Bonnie Nuit!

Got it?  That's how you do the Tour in Paris.

JnJ