A TALE OF TWO MOTORHOMES
OUR JOURNEY TO THE NATIONAL AND BEYOND
 
Jane Pearson:  

May 22, we finally arrived home in Oregon City, OR after five weeks on the road. This is a journal of the high and low points of our journey.
 
As we were going up the great Columbia River Gorge on April 18, I was thinking about all the great people I would see again and the new people we would meet. We had made the decision a year ago to go to Rend Lake, IL to the national.
 
We made our first stop in Twin Falls, ID, at Wal-Mart of course, to spend the night. The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast with my sister. It was off and on our way. The wind and dirt were blowing so hard that we had to find an eighteen wheeler to follow as the sign on the side of the road said, "Wind blowing don't stop on the road." As we turned on I-84 at Salt Lake City, the sun was out and wind had stopped. Boy, were we confident the rest of the trip would be grand. Then the snow started. It was so pretty even though it just kept coming down. "Oh well," my husband said, "Tomorrow will be a better day." Little did we know, the Denver airport would be closed for three hours the next day.

We stopped in Limon, CO. After rocking and rolling all night we got up at 5:00 a.m. and decided to leave as the weather was really bad. We didn't know there had been tornado warnings and sightings all night. We made a hasty retreat and drove to our first destination, Tulsa, OK. This is where Larry's cousin lives and Larry grew up; we would be SAFE. We had a fabulous time with family and after a week we were on our way to Rend Lake, IL.
 
Marge Conway:

April 18, Scottsdale, AZ -- We finally left for our great adventure, a five week trip to the Midwest, the JCCA National at Rend Lake, IL and beyond. I had been packing the motorhome for several weeks, and that was a good thing as two days before departure, I found some major problems with the motorhome and had to take it to the repair place - and I now own a 7 amp drill to hand raise the electric leveling feet. Oh and I came down with a 24-hour stomach flu while I was at the repair place. Got me to wondering what more was on the horizon. If I had really been able to see in the future, we might have stayed home, but then I would have missed some wonderful times and visiting with old friends and meeting some great new ones.
 
We did leave on time and made it to our first night's stop, a great Kampgrounds of America (KOA) in Holbrook, AZ. My husband still was not sure this was a good idea as the long time away from home, the major distance, and our 14 canine companions made the whole idea a bit daunting to him. We had allowed plenty of time to make it to our first destination, our son and his family's home in Schererville, IN, so we were able to drive at a moderate pace with no new problems or stress. It was great to see the kids and grandkids, the new puppy (a boxer), and familiar surroundings. I did go to my 45th high school reunion, one of the reasons for this trip. The downside was lots of rain and a non-working roof air conditioner. But with usual Hoosier resourcefulness, my son found a great repair shop, and we spent a day and night in the Indiana Dunes State Park, which had changed more than a little since I was last there in 1960. Really a great visit in spite of the rain, but my "desert dogs" were not sure about this stuff that came down from the sky. The weather cleared, the sun came out, and we were off to meet Jane and Larry at the KOA just south of Rend Lake to prepare (read that as wash clothes and wash dogs) for the JCCA Regional/National to follow.
 
Jane:
 
We spent two full days washing clothes, dogs, and ourselves. This was a KOA where we meet Lou and Marge. Then we left for Rend Lake, IL, the spot chosen for this year's JCCA National. We rented a room, so we could keep our motorhomes in the parking lot. We set up all the stuff and put the dogs out on the grass to have a romp. The sun was shining so out came our chairs.
 
Saturday was the Regional Sweepstakes with President Rosa Yokopenic as sweeps judge. There were nice puppies shown. We enjoyed watching them. JCCARE set up a wonderful booth with many wares. I enjoyed shopping and helping a great organization.
 
Saturday night we were off to the Whittington Artist Center, where the Chamber of Commerce had an open house for JCCA members and guests. The chamber had great eats and wine sampling from a local winery, but the highlight was seeing samples of the art of artists in the area. JCCA members and guests really enjoyed the night.
 
Sunday was the JCCA Regional with Mr. Richard Lashbrook as the judge. I have to say it was a glorious day. You could have knocked me over with a feather when my little "Annie" was awarded Winners Bitch, yikes. That still makes me cry. She was also awarded Best Bred By in Show. I don't remember anything else of the day. That night there was one of the biggest storms I have ever seen. I moved all my dogs into the room. We don't have storms like that in Oregon. It just kept on and on and on.
 
Monday was National Sweeps with well known breeder Maxine Yager as the judge. It was so nice to have Maxine judging and seeing her again. She has been sorely missed in the dog show world. But the biggest news was about Stan Blanchard. Oh my gosh, this stranger was talking to me after I showed. I was very careful what I said as I didn't know him. Stan knew that and then told me who he was. I still can't get over the change in him. He has shed so much weight and is a completely different person, all but his voice.
 
Tuesday was the national, with Mrs. Carolyn Herbel. She picked some very nice dogs. It was grand because all four days were mostly different on the winners. That night we had a nice banquet in the Rend Lake lodge. Also, the silent auction and the regular auction were held. It was nice to sit and visit with all our friends. 
 
Of course, there was a huge rain storm. How can it rain for 10 minutes and have an inch of rain? A parking lot that sloops has so much water standing on it, then 10 minutes after the storm the water is all gone. It's a mystery to me.
 
Marge:
 
As we left the KOA at Benton, IL, I reminded my husband that we were going to a "resort," the Resort at Rend Lake, and he could enjoy the amenities, so don't complain about renting a room. We had originally made a reservation for one double room to share with Jane and Larry, and I told the reservation lady that we would be meeting there with two motorhomes and all our dogs (and the dogs would stay in the motorhomes). Sometime after I made the reservation in early January, the rules were changed, and Jane and Larry had to reserve an additional room. But okay, even if I don't like rules changes in the middle of the "game," it was a resort with amenities. Oops, guess I have been gone from the Midwest too many years. BYOHD (Bring your own hair dryer), no coin operated washers and dryers, even though fishing, boating, and swimming in season were features, and not to forget the tick that had an "up-close and personal attachment" to Jane. Resort features that just must have slipped my mind. I know some of the younger folks, especially those who stayed in the new cabins really had a great time. I do think there should have been some warning (and it wasn't on the resort website or any info from JCCA) that this facility was not, in my opinion, "handicapped or disability friendly" if one of your necessary requirements is eating. The distance between the sleeping rooms and the food (restaurant and bar) was approximately a quarter mile. For us "seasoned citizens," especially those with difficulty walking, the distance did make a difference.
 
The actual shows were held in a large ballroom, with plenty of space for ringside grooming, professional photo taking, and the JCARE table. There were plenty of chairs for spectators and a nice set up for the judges seminar. The resort itself was far from crowded, and the parking lot not overwhelmed by our two motorhomes and the two or three other exhibitor motorhomes that came daily and parked at a different location for the nighttime. Had the weather been better, there would have been more occasions for group visits and chats outdoors. The show chair (etc.) and the resort did come up with a great alternative to the scheduled outside hamburger/hotdog cookout as they revised the menu and gave us a double cottage for the evening event.
 
It was an interesting few days. I did wear out a set of batteries in my Weather Alert Radio and spent one night in my motorhome sleeping in my clothes while the severe storm and possible tornado alerts kept going off and the motorhome did its version of "rock and roll."
 
As I had never been to the Purina Farms location and that was our next stop with shows starting the next day, we set the alarm very early to be on our way and to get to Gray Summit in time to get what was described in the premium list as "limited electrical hookups." We checked out of our room at about the time the nightshift was reporting to the day shift and the manager. They were glad to take our money, but no one said "thanks for coming." Perhaps it was the realization that there were multiple "pee stains" on the carpet in the corridors to the ballroom and the ballroom itself. I know I was very surprised to see this happen at our national.
 
Off we went, our two motorhomes, on the way to our next adventure at Purina Farms.
 
Jane:
 
After saying our goodbyes at Rend Lake and paying the bill (thanks for coming would have been nice) we were off for another great adventure. The three-hour trip to Purina Farms was very nice. (Thank you, God.) We arrive early so to get the limited power that was advertised. With a great big smile and thanks for coming, we were taken to our motorhome spot. It was great. We asked several times who we paid for the weekend; we were told it was FREE. Purina Farms picks up the tab. How about that? The wins were again passed around with my "Mikey" getting a 4-point major. It was so exciting to see our friends who were not at the national. We visited and enjoyed Purina Farms.

On Sunday, the kennel clubs gave a tour of the new building. Boy, it will be great. Full motorhome hookups for $25, showers, laundry facilities, a full rubber matted floor, even a spot for people to go in case of bad weather. This is an ideal spot to have a national. We had one there in the open, but it was nice. Let's try it again.
 
Marge:
 
We had a pretty uneventful trip from Rend Lake to Gray Summit, slowed only by some road construction that helpful attendants in the Pilot Gas Station helped us bypass. When we pulled up to the parking line, there were only a few motorhomes in front of us. And when we reached the head of the line, the reassurances that there was plenty of electricity available brought a smile of relief to our faces. Add to that when we asked who to pay, the "compliments of Purina" was a real treat. Small shows, at least to our Western experience, but enough Chin to make and hold the major in dogs. Friendly, helpful folks all around. We met up with a group of Chin fanciers who took us to a really great restaurant where we enjoyed the food and the "dog talk." The icing on the cake for me (pun intended), was Cupcake winning Winners Bitch on Saturday and crossing over for the major on Sunday. As we pulled out on Sunday, we were looking forward to finding a washer and dryer and making a slower, relaxing trip to our last dog shows in Albuquerque, NM. But the old adage "best laid plans" really came into play.
 
Jane:
 
We left Purina Farms with happy hearts. We were just going to Joplin, MO to the KOA to do mounds of laundry and clean up. After Champagne and a nice dinner to celebrate all our wins, to bed we went. Dang, the storms started again. I woke up very early and turned on the TV. Yikes, very bad weather coming through Oklahoma and the region. I was just ready to call Marge and Lou, when our phone rang. It was Larry's cousin from Tulsa. The conversation went like this: "Get the hell out of Dodge," get moving and through Oklahoma City. Since we were going to leave at 10:00 a.m. and it was 6:00 a.m., I called Marge and relayed the conversation. We were out of Joplin by 8:00 a.m.
 
Going through Tulsa, the weather was overcast, but nothing like what I thought the sky would look like with bad weather. The nearer we got to Oklahoma City, the windier it got. We took the interchange, which was lucky, and passed through. The sky didn't look bad. After getting on I-40, the wind started to howl, at least 60 miles an hour with stronger gusts. Of course, as we all know, the tornados hit Oklahoma City that afternoon. Boy, were we lucky. We stopped in a little town to go to a Wal-Mart for groceries. Marge came running around her motorhome, yelling the wind had torn off her door. Right Marge. Yes, the wind had caught her door and popped all the rivets that held it. Now what? Well, now I know why she has Coach Net. Within an hour, they found a radiator shop that put the rivets back in the door; and we were off. (Thank you, God; it was them and not us.) The wind got stronger, with driving conditions that were as bad as we have ever seen. As I was watching their motorhome driving right in front of us, the slide popped out 12 inches. This can't be happening; that's not good! Not to panic Marge, I called her very quietly, "Marge, um, your right slide is out a foot." There was utter silence. We pulled over, and she put in the slide. (Thank you, God; it was them and not us.) We finally got to the KOA in Clinton, OK.
 
The next day the wind continued to blow. We were out of Oklahoma, so let's stop for lunch. We stopped at a big restaurant that Michael from Onofrio told me about. We had a wonderful, relaxing lunch. Went out to leave, Lou and Marge's motorhome didn't start. Now what? To the rescue was Coach Net, it was a wire from the battery to the couch, the wind had loosened. (Thank you, God ...)
 
Marge:
 
Leaving Purina on Sunday, Mother's Day, we opted for a Waffle House for lunch to celebrate. Lou managed to locate one that had parking for large vehicles along I-44 using a great reference book, the Next Exit. You might think this was a strange Mother's Day Celebration, but we enjoyed it and remember we each had a dog win a major that morning. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate.
 
The KOA in Joplin was a great place to unwind and do that laundry (I'm obsessive, I know.) before we all settled in for a quiet night. That's when those "best laid plans" began to change. I don't think I have ever rushed so much to get going as I did that Monday morning. We really didn't want to be caught in a tornado. (That's the main reason we stopped going to the national when it was held in Oklahoma City in May.) I think Jane described the trauma we and our motorhome went through. The KOA in Clinton, OK where we spent Monday night was just a couple of miles from the second set of tornados that went through there the night after we left. While in Clinton we turned on the TV to see film of dark stormy clouds at El Reno, right where we had the "blown off door" adventure. The next stop in Tucumcari, NM was after the great Texas Steakhouse breakdown. Weather reports had more wind and storms catching up with us, so we took off early, called the New Mexico Expo Center and asked if we could check in a day early. It was okay with them. Whew, that was a relief, and we made it there midday Wednesday for six nights of full hook up parking for $25 a day.
 
Jane:
 
Tucumcari, NM is a very pretty place. The flowers were blooming on the high desert. Going over the Rocky Mountains to Albuquerque was uneventful. "Thank you, God." We are staying in one place for six days. If you haven't taken a motorhome, you don't know what relief is not putting up and tearing down everything. In Albuquerque, the wind blew and the skies were black with clouds, but it was also sunny. After a couple of days it was just plain nice. We were able to go to Old Town and shop. Yeah! Also, one day Larry and I went to Jackalope, which is a store with things that are native to the area. It's always an experience. But the best thing happened at the dog show: JanLar Ruby's Red Belladona is a new champion. She only needed one point to finish. Now her mother has five red champions.
 
Marge:
 
As we were settled in at the Albuquerque show site with a couple of days to spare, we rented a car and did some tourist things and of course a trip to our favorite store - Wal-Mart. We did drive to Old Town Albuquerque for shopping and sightseeing. Old Town is a favorite spot for me as I remember it from a trip to California my family took in 1953. Lou and I also spent our first anniversary there 24 years ago, and I was treated to some great handcrafted jewelry as my 25th anniversary present. The shows started, and we were thrilled that Cupcake won her final point the first day. We had some additional wins including the boy who didn't like the Regional Specialty - just ask anyone who was there what it took to get him to be a "happy shower" - when he won Best of Breed over a special to pick up the additional dog to make a major. That's doing it the hard way.
 
We were able to join my friends, Charles and Mary Jane Orrie, who took us to a real New Mexico restaurant, one the locals know about. New Mexico cuisine is very different than Mexico, Texas, and the restaurants we have at home in Arizona.
 
Our biggest dilemma was the pair of pigeons who decided to make a nest on top of our slide out under the topper awning. I got to go where I had said "never," which was on the roof of the motorhome to get rid of the nesting material before we could retract the slide. While I was up there, I did look to see if someone had painted a target on the roof, what with all our "adventures," but no, it was just our turn for that kind of luck.
 
Jane:
 
We left Albuquerque for the short drive to Holbrook, AZ. We got to the KOA campgrounds at dinner time. They cooked dinner, which was outside in cute little shelter. The food was good, and we were so tired. In the morning, Larry and I got up early and put things away. It was going to be our last day with Marge and Lou. Breakfast was served, yum. I did a little shopping with the local Native American lady - how much fun!
 
Marge:
 
I had made our reservations for our stay after the shows when we stopped at the KOA our first night out, five weeks ago. The "cookout" stand was in full operation and manned by the same folks we met there some 11 years ago. They haven't changed and are as nice as ever, but their son sure has grown up in the last 11 years we have been stopping there. Also, I was able to introduce Jane to my friend, Chris Smith, who is Native American and has the ability to find old jewelry: Navajo, Hopi, and my favorite, Zuni. Chris always has special pieces for me, and she knows the stories behind each piece. I am always thrilled to see her, and it was a delight to have Jane meet her. Neither of us left empty handed.
 
Jane:
 
As we left Holbrook, our hearts were heavy. We've had so much fun all the weeks we were with Lou and Marge. It would have been a boring trip without them. They are so wonderful. And may I say we are all speaking.
 
At Kingman, AZ we decided to take a right turn and go over the Boulder Dam and up to St. George, UT. We haven't been that way before. If you've never been over the dam you have missed one of the wonders of the world. It is so magnificent! The new bridge that is being built is a technical wonder. Going over the dam will be a thing of the past. As we are heading for I-84, we talked about all our adventures. Finally, we drove down the majestic Columbia River Gorge and through Portland to our home. The dogs ran and ran; we are all glad to get home. Home, what a nice word. But the best words of all were "thank you, God," and "thank you, Coach Net."
 
Marge:
 
We left for home just an hour or so after Jane and Larry headed on West. Thankfully, we had just a four-hour drive "down the hill" to Scottsdale. After filling up with propane, which we use for heating and cooking, we pulled out for a trip down the "back roads" to the Valley of the Sun. It was just a few hundred yards when we smelled "something," but I initially thought it was the old truck with the bad muffler that was just ahead of us. As we continued on through the town of Holbrook, the smell got worse. I looked back, and there was what appeared to be smoke coming from under the motorhome. I quickly pulled off the road, stopped, and got out. The first thing I thought of was spill from the propane tank. Lou thought it smelled like burning rubber. I turned off the propane and ran back inside to put "kennel leads" on all the dogs. Well, that was a learning experience as the kennel leads immediately fell off the dogs. (I will be going shopping for collars that will go on each dog whenever the motorhome is in motion before our next trip.) The smoke had dissipated, and the smell was not as strong. One last call to our "guardian angels" aka Coach Net. I got quick response, and the gentleman talked me through a checklist. Seems like the dash indicator for the parking brake had come loose and the parking brake had not disengaged. Other than taking another year off my life, we were fine.

A slow and steady drive down the hill got us home. Nothing drastic had happened here at home while we were gone, and I got home in time to take one of my girls in for a progesterone test. (Always an optimist, we are planning ahead.) But while Jane's favorite phrase of the trip turned out to be "thank you, God" mine is "I may never travel East of Albuquerque again."
 
We did a five-week journey with no lasting injury, met old friends, and made new ones. We got to see a lot of dogs, finished a couple of girls, and got good starts on some youngsters. Plus, we are still speaking to each other and to our husbands, the non doggy parts of the family who are still not quite sure just why the heck we were doing all this. I am glad to take full credit for making sure this was not a boring trip.
 
Written by Jane Pearson and Marge Conway
Supporting cast Larry Pearson and Lou Conway with help from lots and lots of Japanese Chin and one old Pomeranian
 
May 2010