corgi-traveler
Bakersfield, CA
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Joined: 12/14/2007
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rockhillmanor wrote:IMHO RV'ing at dog shows has better prepared me for full timing.
the intense mental drive NOT to miss a show even when having major and/or minor breakdowns while enroute, learning how to make repairs while on the run instead of just throwing one's hands up and calling a tow truck,
Bingo!
Last April we headed out for the last two days of the Gold Rush Cluster in Merced. Couldn't make the whole thing this year because it didn't line up with our spring vacation (DH and I are both teachers).
So, we roll out after work on a Friday. We stop at the Flying J about an hour from our house to grab a quick bite. Come back to the RV and DH says do me "Did we park over a big pool of water?". Lower radiator hose had burst. We spent three hours in the Flying J parking lot through the process of trying the meager auto section in the Flying J.... all they had was some hose repair tape that didn't even hold water without pressure. Finally got the old hose off after a long struggle. Had to call someone to come get DH and give a lift to the nearest auto parts store (we don't use a toad, we've got our reasons). Get back with the hose, put it on in the dark. By the time we are ready to roll, it's after 9. Knowing the overnight parking closes at 11 and we won't make it, we pushed to within an hour of the show site, found a crummy campground and stopped for the night, got up at 4:30 so we could be at the gate when they opened it at 6am the next morning.
We got the LAST electrical outlet on the pedestal, and had absolutely zero slack left in our power/extension cords for that. By the time we checked in and parked in our spot, it was 6:45 and I showed at 8:00 on the dot.
I'm happy to say that my stubborn determination to make those shows came through, I made my ring time, and brought home not one, but two titles in one weekend!
Samantha (the poster)
Tim, spouse and driver of the Corgi-Bus
Beth, Buddy, and Pippin - Pembroke Welsh Corgis
1988 Bounder Ford 460
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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corgi-traveler wrote:rockhillmanor wrote:IMHO RV'ing at dog shows has better prepared me for full timing.
the intense mental drive NOT to miss a show even when having major and/or minor breakdowns while enroute, learning how to make repairs while on the run instead of just throwing one's hands up and calling a tow truck,
...... I'm happy to say that my stubborn determination to make those shows came through, I made my ring time, and brought home not one, but two titles in one weekend!
 Determination and priorities 'are' a bit different when RV'ing to a sporting venue.
I heard a big DP come in early am before sunrise behind my MH.He didn't see the mud and he buried the MH. I heard him trying to get out and went out to help him as many did. Priorities 'are' quite different. DW is histerical she's going to miss ring her ring time, DH 'real' concerned about his stuck new DP and all the mud.
First camper offers their MH to wash and groom her dogs.
Removes dogs and hysterical DW from stuck MH.
Second Camper offers their site for expens and unloads expens from sunk MH and sets them up for them.
Third Camper comes over and offers DH bloody mary and they sit down and figure out how to get DP unstuck. Everything from putting boards under the wheels to bricks only to bury both further into the ground.
Tow truck arrives only to find out 'he' can't get back there to reach the MH.
I offered a tow strap, another camper offered his dually. Both of us find out real quick that a nylon tow strap becomes a deadly flying quided missle when the strap breaks and that hook goes flying backwards.
KISS theory.....a fifth camper comes forward with simply a shovel and starts digging a huge circle around each tire and free's the stuck MH.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 Blue Ox
We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
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Illusion
Illinois
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Joined: 02/03/2007
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UPDATE on the show! Our 7 month old girl took home Best of Winners! It was a great set up in Georgetown, IL. They had electric, which was good because it was 90 degrees out. We ended up parking next to all the small X pens I was warned about. Just spent the day at the show, had some folks we knew in for a cold pop afterward, and left around 4pm to a state park south of there. Then we headed down to Land between the Lakes. I didn't think we would be able to handle all the noise at the fairgrounds! It was a beautiful trip, and thanks to all for your terrific stories!
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corgi-traveler
Bakersfield, CA
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Congrats on the win, and welcome to the "other side"! Next time try staying the night. Yes, if you're next to barkers there can be noise, but not always. Many times I manage the noise by playing some music inside the RV. Unless the barking is really bad, usually the white noise of the A/C going, combined with some nice tunes inside, helps mask it out.
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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Illusion wrote:UPDATE on the show! Our 7 month old girl took home Best of Winners! It was a great set up in Georgetown, IL. They had electric, which was good because it was 90 degrees out. We ended up parking next to all the small X pens I was warned about. Just spent the day at the show, had some folks we knew in for a cold pop afterward, and left around 4pm to a state park south of there. Then we headed down to Land between the Lakes. I didn't think we would be able to handle all the noise at the fairgrounds! It was a beautiful trip, and thanks to all for your terrific stories!
Big congrats on the Best of Winners, and for a 7 month old too! Looks like you have a real nice show prospect in your family.
You should have stayed on the grounds. Honestly, even after all these years showing it 'still' amazes me how 'dead quiet' the evenings are on the show grounds considering all the dogs that are there. I've said it before it's an unwritten law of respect for others, but after dinner feeding time around 7:00 and last turn out no later than 9:00, you don't hear one peep out of any dog from any MH.
And after the dogs are all bedded down everyone comes out to socialize for 'around the campfire quiet time' for the owners.
Hope to see you down the road on the circuit.
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cpurves
Prince George BC
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Joined: 12/13/2005
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We photograph dog shows. We used the summer shows excuse to justify our first trailer. It was small enough to tow with our 1/2 ton. We packed all the studio stuff in the middle on the floor. It was pretty cramped when travelling to the show but we did it for 3 years. We just bought a Cougar 310 SRX toy hauler. The garage is only 6' by 8' so it is perfect to carry all the photographic equipment and we still have the living area when we travel so we don't have to unload all the stuff as we go to and from shows.
We just signed another show that is a camping show and have one more in the works for next summer. We really look forward to the camping shows as we get to live on the grounds and socialize with everyone. It's funny that a barking dog at a campground is less acceptable to us than a lot of barking dogs at a dog show. Dog show people are very close and jump right in to help each other.
Hopefully in the next five or six years we can get to doing the shows fulltime and be able to travel more going to the shows. It is definately a desirable lifestyle.
Cheers
Chris
"Never Stop Learning"
Duramax 3500
Cougar 310SRX
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TBAR FARMS
Texas
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Joined: 10/23/2008
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Rockhillmanor you are so right. After we started going to dog shows in the motor home, it is the only way to go. I just try to put the cost in the back of my mind. I like sleeping in my own clean bed, and having the rig parked close to the show site. Yes there is lots of preperation and some times we start earlier than we would in a SUV, but what the heck. We do have a onboard generator but i pay to hook up to electric if it is available. I have a collection of heavy duity 30 amp cord, and plugs for any problem.
Our dogs (Havanese and Dachshund) love the play yard we make by hooking xpens together.
Hope to see you at the next dog show.
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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TBAR FARMS wrote:Rockhillmanor you are so right. After we started going to dog shows in the motor home, it is the only way to go. I just try to put the cost in the back of my mind. I like sleeping in my own clean bed, and having the rig parked close to the show site. Yes there is lots of preperation and some times we start earlier than we would in a SUV, but what the heck. We do have a onboard generator but i pay to hook up to electric if it is available. I have a collection of heavy duity 30 amp cord, and plugs for any problem.
Our dogs (Havanese and Dachshund) love the play yard we make by hooking xpens together.Hope to see you at the next dog show.
Last week I had MH repairs and had to get a motel room while waiting for it. After watching all those TV programs on what they found with the black light in motels is FOREVER stuck in my mind about motel rooms. I pulled the dog blanket out of the toad and covered the bed with it and slept in my clothes.
Ahh, the bag of plugs!
Just last week I had to go thru almost all of them!
power cord to extension - 30 to 110
extension towards shore power - 110 to 30
and then another plug 30 to 50!
What might normally be considered a 'disaster' for a camping RV'er....
is simply considered a 'challenge to overcome' for us.
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