Road Trips with the Stump Kids

The Stump Kids love road trips. Dally basically grew up riding shotgun in my truck--she wasn't even  year old before I moved from Indiana to Texas (15+ hour drive), then we moved to Oklahoma, and then to Kentucky. She's the ultimate co-pilot, always keeping an eye on mom, keeping me awake (OK, so it's more of a nose root to rub her belly), and being patient with my constant radio station changing. When she rides in the car (or truck), she'll find her spot in the corner of the back seat and instantly fall asleep. She wakes up on her own when she feels the car slowing for our arrival.

LaMesa, on the other hand, is always wired for car rides. She'll start off nervous about getting in the car (she'll crouch down and shake until you pick her up and put her in the back seat), but then she's excited to see where we're going. She will ride standing up the entire time and watch out the windshield like I am. She's the co-pilot that'll keep watch on you.

Now, before I get comments about how it's safer to have the dogs in crates for car rides, I'll agree, but we don't have vehicles that will allow for that. We will do that at times with friends (Dally was just fine riding in a crate on the way to and from Tulsa in Merinda's car). I guess I'm more of a lax dog owner when it comes to things like this.

LaMesa will stand up at stop lights to see where we are, and where we've been
(she likes to look out the back window, too).

On the way home to my parents' house--they have to be able to breathe in that
Indiana air and learn the new smells.

Dally knows when we're getting close to Grammy and Grandpie's house!

How do your fur kids ride in style?

2013 AKC Nationals Part 2: Arrival & Warm-Up

Thursday Dally, Porter, Merinda, and I had a relaxing morning that started with breakfast, then a quick trip to Fort Leonard Wood base to salute the troops, and get a few photos. Then we were off to finish our trip west towards Tulsa!

Saluting the troops at Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Mo.

And no trip to Tulsa is complete without stopping at the "World's Largest McDonald's" and taking a photo with Will Rogers in Vinita, Okla.

Did somebody say "French fries"??

Finally, we arrived at the Tulsa Expo Center and set up our stalls: 1 for the dogs, and 1 for the humans. After check-in, we looked around the venders before getting settled in our hotels--we'd have plenty of time to shop and take more photos later.


Friday was another laid back day for the Corgi Crew--Dally and Porter were just doing the Warm-Up Standard run, which didn't count for anything, but it was good to get them out on the equipment and in the rings to get a feel for everything. Dally's run was a little wide, but I was happy with what she did. You can watch the video here.

Then we took the time to take some more photos at the facility, as well as meeting up with the majority of the other Corgis competing at Nationals for a big photo.

A flower pot o'Corgis!

This is the main arena, where three of the rings are.

There are lots of Corgis (Pembroke and Cardigan) competing here in Tulsa!