BevLive: heat and dust

Got unbearably hot here today. It started warming up earlier than on other days and I finally had to take to my camper and the air conditioner around 2:00. So I missed most of the afternoon. It's not just the heat. The dust is lying everywhere in a thick blanket which any movement sends skyward in great clouds. Traffic and ATVs can choke you in passing. The mosquitoes are more of a surprise. I guess they are a result of the irrigation, but in the heat and dry their great numbers are a continuing marvel.

The nursery started. It's proving very difficult for the young dogs. The outrun is around 375 yards with a low spot behind the sheep that hide the dog's final approach. The sheep seem resistant to starting, then persistent to the setout and, for the more determined youngsters who lift them, fast runners. The fast fetches have led to many confrontations at the turn. All in all a very testing Nursery.

Joni Swanke got off to a good start this morning with quite a clean run but no pen. Amanda and Monty did really well. He was a bit tight on his outrun which perhaps contributed to his sheep running on the fetch. But he treated them well and never lost his head. Alas, the sheep lost theirs and never stopped running. Amanda handled well, getting the first gate but just getting outrun on the second. They had a good pen and a respectable score.

Herbert and Juno had a really good Open run. A little trouble getting the group moving at the start but the rest was quite good with some hesitation at the pen. They scored 144 which should get through to the semis. The scores are high, still hard to tell what you will need, something in the 140s looks likely to make the cut.

I run tomorrow late in the nursery with Esther. Amanda also runs Roz in the afternoon.  The heat wave is expected to continue. It's becoming very wearing.