Tuesday started the 3 day judge’s clinic followed by a 3 day trial. 
I had a great time and a frustrating time; the education was great and stressful; it was exhilarating and exhausting. There were several first timers there and a few current judges and I was most impressed with how EVERYONE got along and was always willing to answer a question and step in to help. It was a GREAT group of people! One of the reasons I want to become a NADAC judge is to work with other agility folks around the US and this clinic confirmed that for me; I loved working with each and everyone of one of the people that traveled to Moab for the clinic.
For those of us that brought our dogs we were able to run in the trial. Friday was 2 rounds each of Touch’N’Go, Weavers, and Tunnelers. Kant qualified in 4 of the 6 classes. Saturday and Sunday each had 2 rounds of Regular, Chances, Jumpers, and Hoopers. Saturday Kant knocked at least one bar in each class except Hoopers where we had a beautiful Qualifying run. Sunday she only knocked one bar in Regular 2 but missed the contact in Regular 1 and crossed the line in Chances. We had another beautiful Hoopers run with a Q. But the most excited news of all is that Kant Qualified in Open Jumpers finally finishing her Superior title so she is now in Elite Jumpers!!! I am still smiling ear to ear!!
Echo was awesome all week for a puppy to be in a crate way more then usual and then to never be out not on leash; I was very proud of her. She is entered in her first trial June 19th – 21st.
I had to judge for the clinic on Friday and Sunday and Saturday was my day off. Late morning I was hanging out with Kant and Echo at our crating area when the wall of dogs behind me starting barking quite loud and pretty viciously. I noticed a family with mom and dad and several kids had arrived and were trying to enter the crating area to see the dogs but the barking dogs startled the kids and worried the parents. I quickly put Echo on leash and grabbed a handful of treats and went out to visit the family. All the kids got to meet Echo and give her a treat. There were several questions about the kind of dog she was, her age, and if she would be running. I answered all their questions and then went to get Kant so they could meet a dog that was running. It came time for us to run the course so the family went in to the stands to watch. As Kant and I were finishing our run I heard the family cheering for Kant so when we were done we went up in the stands so they could congratulate Kant for a good run and I could answer any questions they might have. One of their children was handicapped and need a walker so he could not climb the stairs to sit in the stands with the rest of his family so as Kant and I left I stopped to thank him for coming to watch and let him give Kant a treat. I am very competitive when it comes to running agility but it is those experiences that touch my heart the most and make me love agility even more.
Every morning I woke up to this wonderful view
where I would sit and eat my breakfast and enjoy it. 
The campgrounds were full of folks for the jeep gathering; 
on Sunday they were heading out because another group was coming in with side-by-side ATVs, they looked like golf carts on steroids.
Sunday morning I took down the tent and got the car all packed for the trip back home. After the trial was over
the dogs were back in the car; we pulled out of Moab at 7pm. We made to the southern end of Salt Lake City for the night, out of Utah and through Idaho, 
down the Columbia Gorge past Multnomah Falls, and then back in to Salem on Monday. After visiting the Moab area all it has did was made me want to go make and explore some more. Overall the trip was wonderful!!
I had a great time and a frustrating time; the education was great and stressful; it was exhilarating and exhausting. There were several first timers there and a few current judges and I was most impressed with how EVERYONE got along and was always willing to answer a question and step in to help. It was a GREAT group of people! One of the reasons I want to become a NADAC judge is to work with other agility folks around the US and this clinic confirmed that for me; I loved working with each and everyone of one of the people that traveled to Moab for the clinic.For those of us that brought our dogs we were able to run in the trial. Friday was 2 rounds each of Touch’N’Go, Weavers, and Tunnelers. Kant qualified in 4 of the 6 classes. Saturday and Sunday each had 2 rounds of Regular, Chances, Jumpers, and Hoopers. Saturday Kant knocked at least one bar in each class except Hoopers where we had a beautiful Qualifying run. Sunday she only knocked one bar in Regular 2 but missed the contact in Regular 1 and crossed the line in Chances. We had another beautiful Hoopers run with a Q. But the most excited news of all is that Kant Qualified in Open Jumpers finally finishing her Superior title so she is now in Elite Jumpers!!! I am still smiling ear to ear!!
Echo was awesome all week for a puppy to be in a crate way more then usual and then to never be out not on leash; I was very proud of her. She is entered in her first trial June 19th – 21st.I had to judge for the clinic on Friday and Sunday and Saturday was my day off. Late morning I was hanging out with Kant and Echo at our crating area when the wall of dogs behind me starting barking quite loud and pretty viciously. I noticed a family with mom and dad and several kids had arrived and were trying to enter the crating area to see the dogs but the barking dogs startled the kids and worried the parents. I quickly put Echo on leash and grabbed a handful of treats and went out to visit the family. All the kids got to meet Echo and give her a treat. There were several questions about the kind of dog she was, her age, and if she would be running. I answered all their questions and then went to get Kant so they could meet a dog that was running. It came time for us to run the course so the family went in to the stands to watch. As Kant and I were finishing our run I heard the family cheering for Kant so when we were done we went up in the stands so they could congratulate Kant for a good run and I could answer any questions they might have. One of their children was handicapped and need a walker so he could not climb the stairs to sit in the stands with the rest of his family so as Kant and I left I stopped to thank him for coming to watch and let him give Kant a treat. I am very competitive when it comes to running agility but it is those experiences that touch my heart the most and make me love agility even more.
Every morning I woke up to this wonderful view
where I would sit and eat my breakfast and enjoy it. The campgrounds were full of folks for the jeep gathering; on Sunday they were heading out because another group was coming in with side-by-side ATVs, they looked like golf carts on steroids.Sunday morning I took down the tent and got the car all packed for the trip back home. After the trial was over
the dogs were back in the car; we pulled out of Moab at 7pm. We made to the southern end of Salt Lake City for the night, out of Utah and through Idaho, down the Columbia Gorge past Multnomah Falls, and then back in to Salem on Monday. After visiting the Moab area all it has did was made me want to go make and explore some more. Overall the trip was wonderful!! 
After leaving I-15 and heading east on I-90 I drove through a beautiful mountain pass with a raging creek running along the interstate that opened up to the most beautiful valley. 
I have not seen the Grand Canyon yet but this is what I would imagine it would look like.
and unloaded the car. After having a little lunch I headed to Arches National Park.
I only have 1 ½ days to explore all the beauty of this area before the NADAC judging clinic starts on Tuesday.
and the magnificent arches justice.
It is truly amazing what nature can create. I loved all the arches but the 
Fiery Furnace was my favorite rock formation.
It rained really hard Sunday night and I was worried about it being too nasty to go exploring Monday but I woke up in the morning to a beautiful day.
Delicate Arch and then a few miles to see several arches in 
Devils Garden. 
I arrived back at the car by 10am and it was still very cool and the dogs were great. I understand why the dogs can not be on the trails at the national parks but I still do not like it. After finishing my explorations of Arches National Park I headed to Canyonlands National Park. 
Canyonlands is much bigger then Arches and I only visited Island in the Sky. 
There were some hikes available in Canyonlands but nothing that interested me. 
There were a few times in Canyonlands that the heights got to me. 
I really wanted to enjoy the beauty from the view points but getting too close to the edge was not an option. 
At the very end of road there was a picnic area and a picnic table has just opened up so I decided to stop there for lunch and let the dogs hang out. I very nice couple 
traveling from Chicago asked if they could share the table with me and we had a very nice visit over lunch. I enjoyed my exploration of Canyonlands
and wished I had time to explore some of the other areas; next time.
With this being a State Park and not a National Park the dogs were allowed on the trails. 
We spent several hours here exploring the trails and meeting people. 
We met two great couples one that had just arrived from England on holiday and other from Vancouver Canada. The man from Canada had bought a motorcycle from Maine and was driving it home. His girlfriend flew to Denver where he picked her up and they were making a small vacation out of the last part of the trip back home. 
They all enjoyed the dogs and the dogs enjoyed entertaining them.
