Thanks so much for all the notes people have been posting.  I really appreciate them all and they all give me a smile.


Our hotel (can you spot my room?)

This morning we travelled into Ingelmunster and as per usual, the address was pretty vague and our bus driver ended up at the train station.  We quickly found out that the agility field of the host club was just across the street.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the field   It was quite nice with trees around it, but it was in the shape of a baseball diamond—almost pie shaped!  There was no equipment on the field and some very old equipment on the side.  There were weave poles made of broomsticks.  The ENTIRE broomstick!  LOL  Very big and very tall.  Our host told us the equipment was in a trailer way in the back.  The guys and director/manager Tracy pulled this small trailer from the bushes.  They pull off the cover and there was a whole field of agility equipment in this tiny, custom made trailer!  Every thing was perfectly packed and had their own space.  The equipment was gorgeous.  All made of aluminium and the contacts were all hard rubber.  We did get a kick out of their tire—it was a safety ring, the kind you see at swimming pools and beaches

We set up a few exercises to get the dogs used to the equipment.  Most of the dogs initially had problems with the broadjump (why didn't I get out my camera?!?) which was slightly different from our North American ones.  The see saw was very heavy, but Fly loved it and did some spectacular teeters for me.  All dog walks are slatted here, but no one had any problems.  Fly was SO full of himself—he ran really, really well and was very happy.  I guess he finally figured out that he made the trip to do agility???  The weave poles are spaced really far apart—24" wide I think.  They are perfect for the big dogs and Fly flew through them exceptionally fast. 

Our whole team had a great practice and we are all thinking that we are the team to beat!   

Now you might ask "How the heck did the team manage to con the host club into unpaking their trailer and letting them use the competition equipment two days before the trial when no other country was given such a chance?".  Well, we have our wonderful manager and her persuasive New York style (yes, our manager is an American) to thank.  She hounded and sucked up and we were the only ones to get the awesome opportunity to have a 2 hour practice   Um...  For my American friends reading this list, can you please avoid telling anyone on your team that we got to use the equipment and they didn't?  Thanks   LOL

This afternoon, with my new found energy, I went for a long run in Kortrijk.  I think I've come across a new sport (Extreme Jogging) or maybe just the reason that no one in Belgium jogs!  Having lived in France, I understand how the whole crazy driving thing works, but unlike France, Belgium has bikes and TONS of them!  They are everywhere—streets, sidewalks, parks...  Even on one way streets, bikes and mopeds are allowed to go the opposite way, so they are always coming at you!  I did draw the line at crossing the tiny bridge that is actually two ways but I'm sure some cars have to fold their mirrors in when crossing.  I figured I'm fast, but not quite that fast!  Plus I'm not sure if Jane brought her cleats to be able to run Fly while I'm in the hospital...  I did get a lot of strange looks and a few mutterings about "Canadian" (I was wearing a Canadian tee).  I also got a short swim in the hotel pool which I can do exactly four strokes before bashing into a wall.  It's the perfect dog pool!  I haven't had the courage to ask if Fly can swim however...

I did a walk around town this afternoon while Fly rested up with Jane & Mike.  I went into one store and when I asked if they spoke English, they asked if I was from the Chicago Agility Team!?!  When I said no, I was from Ottawa, Canada, I just got a really blank look and she carried on

Fly has been pretty tired, but can you blame him?




Fly hanging out in his fancy hotel room

Tonight is our first 'mandatory' team dinner.  We will be headed to the Kortrijk Markt square.  Tomorrow is our medical checks, a short practice at the competition site and the welcome banquet.  We should be meeting up with Nath during the afteroon as she's volunteered to be our ring crew for our practice session and then join us for the evening banquet.


Please feel free to make up your own caption because quite frankly, I don't know what to say!


This is actually a picture from yesterday, but I had more time to download things today...
Mike, Fly & Jane on the train to Brugges.