Accommodation Search Pays Off

So, I thought I would start looking into possible accommodation. Yes, I know we are still 8 months off, but surprisingly, many of the pet friendly, "self catering" (ie. with kitchen facilities - much needed for raw fed dog!) were already booked (probably with other competitors, I imagine). I spent a day inquiring - to no avail! Yikes...Only possibilities were too big and too expensive for 1 person and 1 dog. Finally, after much searching, I came across this listing, which was at least $200 cheaper than anything else I had inquired about, and only a short drive from the trial site! Needless to say, I booked it immediately:

"A self-contained studio alongside the owner’s home just south of Golden Grove, 4 miles SW Llandeilo and 12 miles east of Carmarthen. It enjoys lovely views of the garden and surrounding countryside to the Black Mountain and Brecon Beacons, and guests are welcome in the owner’s 2 acre garden (croquet lawn & barbecue) and on 52 acres including woodland (bluebells in May) and wildflower meadows. Fitted kitchen including f/freezer, d/washer and microwave, bath/shower room and a very pleasant open-plan bed/sitting room which leads through to a single bedroom. Oil c/heating, small TV and use of owner’s w/machine. Visitors are welcome to help with lambing in April and this is an excellent location for exploring, close to country parks and gardens. Local castles, golf, fishing, cycling and within easy reach of the coast."

This is the studio where Tap and I will stay from Sept 9-16th.

This is the "garden" of the main farmhouse.

With any luck, I'll be able to work their sheep while I am there!

Now I have to find something in the North - near the site of the International Supreme Championships, at which I will be a spectator ! (You know all those ## signs besides the dog's name in your Creekside dog's pedigree? Well, those are the GB International Champions, the "Supreme" Champions. It is the oldest running sheepdog Championship in the world.)

A CAN-AM Team?

So, unbelievably, Tap and I are going to be the sole handler and dog representing Canada. I learned that because of the overlapping of dates for the USBCHA Finals in South Dakota and the World Trial, ALL previously slated Canadians have dropped out, choosing instead to go to South Dakota in September. While I understand that there is less expense, less travel, less hassle and a higher payback (well, if you place, that is), I would never in a million years choose South Dakota over Wales for the following reasons:

1. Since I probably have a slim to none chance of placing in either the USBCHA Finals or the Worlds, I could care less about payback. (But did you see the solid gold whistle that is the trophy for the World Champion?)
2. Going to either SD or to the UK represents at least 12-14 hours of car/plane/train travel for me. And if airline regulations would just let me have Tap come on board with me as my "carry on" , then probably about the same expense wise. (If I could train her to be really, really still, maybe she could pass for one of those stupid women's purses in the shape of a dog?) She would fit under the seat, if I squashed her slightly...
3. Tap, being a very kind, stylish and square sort of working dog (read: not a powerhouse), will have a better chance at getting round the course on wild welsh hill sheep than the "face off" type sheep that I hear they use in SD for the Finals.
4. South Dakota in the middle of a field (close to nowhere) with no place to hike, swim and enjoy my vacation with my dog, or lush, green welsh mountains and coast? Not a tough decision!

So Canada has no team, which means that I cannot be part of the team portion of the competition and will only be competing as an individual. At the 2005 World's in Ireland, the Canadian Team (Amanda Milliken, Dennis Gellings, Scott Glen, Bob Stephens and Bruce Smart) finished 4th overall as a team in the Qualifying runs (the Semi Finals and Finals count towards individual glory only). But although I am a rookie, Tap IS still the second seeded dog in Canada of the teams that were interested in competing, so we earned our spot - I just wish I didn't have to carry the flag all by myself!

Maybe the US team will let me hang with them...I hear many of the Big Hats are going, including Alasdair MacRae, Tommy Wilson and Haley Howard to name a few. Nothing official yet, of course, but maybe they will feel sorry for a little hat from Canada and let me tag along!

Aeroplan is a scam

OK, so I booked my flight...Aeroplan seats were already disappearing fast, so thought I better book now rather than later. So, for 85000 Aeroplan miles (um, that's pretty much equivalent to spending about $35K on my VISA card at Double Mile bonuses)I get a direct flight. A rip off, but whatever. So I go to complete the transaction, and I am slapped with $440 worth of "taxes and fees". Oh well - the bright side: My return trip is in in Business class!

Trip calculator to date:
$35 rabies vax
$75 for serum sample
$45 for titer test (at KS State rabies lab) I forgot that in my original post!
$120 for overnight shipping of 1ml of serum to KS State U Rabies Lab
$250 for Universal Microchip Scanner (I am taking NO chances that the customs officials cannot read Tap's non ISO microchip) I forgot that in my original calculations too!
$440 for Aeroplan "taxes and fees" for my return ticket
$1636 ONE WAY for Tap's flight on Air Canada Cargo (Including the $400 the UK customs officials charge to read and stamp my dog's paperwork!

HOLY CRAP - I'd better get fundraising....

A Depressing Look at Costs...

Rabies Vax: $35
Blood Draw for FAVN test: $75
Overnight shipping of sample to approved rabies lab at Kansas State U: $120
Ticket for Tap from Montreal to Heathrow with Air Canada Cargo: $1636 (One Way!)
The chance to compete with the best in the world: PRICELESS

And for everything else, there's my Air Canada Aeroplan Visa card...
And thank DOG I have enough miles to fly myself for free!

To come....Entry fees ($250 approx), Car rental, Train fare to Wales from London, accomodation....YIKES!!!

Do you think Tilley Endurables would sponsor me? I wear my Tilley Hat every time I trial!

But don't feel too sorry for me: