More Buffalo

Another couple of weeks have flown by, and I’m happy to say that it’s feeling less and less like summer here in Buffalo.  Cooler mornings and evenings have allowed me to work dogs without so much concern about them or the sheep getting overheated.  

One reason I enjoy my time in Buffalo so much is the opportunity to work with Wendy Auzqui to sharpen my skills as a handler and give Cody and Bo plenty of time on some Wyoming range sheep.  Wendy and her husband, John, live on a ranch near Clearmont, about 25 miles east of Buffalo.  Wendy is an experienced dog trainer and handler, and her Creekside Stockdogs are well known as capable sheep and cattle dogs, as well as for their performance in sheep and cattle trials.  

Another friend I have made here in Buffalo is Linda Lulias.  Linda has allowed me to work sheep with her a number of times since I have been here.  The work in a smaller venue has allowed me to fine-tune my dogs in at-hand exercises that are just as important as the distance work required in field trials.  Here are some photos I took of Linda’s Gill  and Jessie on sheep.

Gill, a son of Wendy's Frank

Linda and Gill working sheep

Working in Linda's corral

Young Jessie anticipating her turn

Cody cooling off in the sheep water tub

Both Linda and I had an opportunity to help Wendy prep two of her dogs for the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trial Which is held each year over Labor Day Weekend.  Linda and I used our dogs to set out and hold sheep while Wendy practiced for the “double lift” which is part of the finals at Meeker.  Unfortunately, Wendy’s dogs did not qualify for the finals, but the practice was fun for all of us.  

Our time here at Deer Park has given us the opportunity to meet new friends, as well as to spend time with long-time RV companions.  Our neighbors, Bill and Sheri, Ross and Carol, and Randy and Leslie, get together almost every day for happy hour and to share adventures and tops on things to see and do in the area.  A couple of weeks ago, Rick and Linda Lorentz joined us at Deer Park for the month of September.  We introduced them to our favorite hiking trails along Clear Creek,

Piney Creek

and at Heritage Park where the dogs enjoy off-leash time whenever there is no activity at the near-by shooting range.  

A few days ago, we had rain here in Buffalo, and snow covered the Bighorns for a couple of days.  We drove over Powder River Pass to Tensleep to enjoy the scenery and have an Indian taco lunch (and beer, of course) at the Tensleep Brewery.  

Even though there was no snow on the west side of the Bighorns, the views of Tensleep Canyon were breathtaking as well.

A  special treat was an evening at The Virginian restaurant at the historic Occidental Hotel.  The lamb chops and prime rib dinners were outstanding!

And we will be reporting on more adventures in the near future, so stay tuned!

Buffalo Week Three

Last week flew by.  Our good friends, Gail and Steve Dixon arrived last Friday for a short stay here at Deer Park RV Campground.  The Dixons spent a couple of months at the farm with us earlier this year, so it was good to catch up.  In our short time together, we enjoyed drinks in the bar and a good meal, at The VirginianRestaurant< in the beautiful old Occidental Hotel,

and another at our favorite almost-across-the-street Cattleguard Steak House.  

We took a day trip through Ten Sleep Canyon to the picturesque Ten Sleep Brewery in historic Ten Sleep, Wyoming, 

The beer was cold and the Indian tacos from the were luscious and filling.  

The trail along Clear Creek kept John, the dogs and me in good condition, 

and Steve even joined us for one of our walks before the Dixons pulled out on August 31, headed west to the Reno Air Races.

It was a great week, and we look forward to meeting up with Steve and Gail again soon, perhaps later this year.