Thursday, May 26, 2016

Adventure to Wiener Dog Races in Buda, Texas. then home - Day 6

Day 6
First stop Texas State Capitol - Heading back home

A Drive that should have taken us no more than 48 minutes from the Hotel to the Texas State Capitol, turned into a long drive. We had GPS Problems.  It all began with mom missing the stop for Starbucks in town. We figured there are lots of them we will just find a Starbucks along the way. Well we had a hard time finding one, Go figure. Dads iPhone was no help. Mom pulled over and used Google maps and finally found one.  After getting dad coffee we mapped or route again to the State Capitol. Well the GPS got the crazy Idea of sending us on the Toll Roads. We tried to reset the directions with no toll roads. But with no luck. So we took to the side streets. In the process of playing with the maps Mom somehow mapped us to a warehouse somewhere. So she tried again, and finally remapped us in the right direction, and we made it to the Texas State Capitol.




Some Photos from along the way....

Every thing is

 bigger in Texas

Ezri Trying to get 

into the front seat.

She even tried giving hugs.


From there we Headed off to Roswell New Mexico 
499 Miles 7 hours and 38 min.



UFO Museum Roswell New Mexico. The Aliens have landed. — at International UFO Museum & Research Center.


Mila don't Move.... 


I think 


there are 


Aliens behind us

and they are 


gulp!

watching us!!!!




Dad says they are Fake.  Fewww!


Some Movies and shows that were filmed in Roswell. 


Maybe,
we should do a 
Wiener Dogs Intergalactic
here!





















If you get to visit this place make sure you get to check out the Gift shop. 
They gave us Cookies and our very own Aliens to take home. 



On to our hotel and Santa Fe New Mexico



Garrett's Desert Inn Motel 

on Rt 66 Santa Fe

311 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 8750

So Until tomorrow.......

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

- Day 3 -5 we made it!

DAY 3 - 5 - Fri, 22 Apr. to Sun, 24 Apr. 2016
Packed up ate breakfast at the hotel and headed out.  
First Stop
To The Alamo, TX - 471.6 mi



So we Tried to drive by the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.. We knew that pets were not allowed on the Alamo Grounds, we just wanted a peak of the outside and maybe a picture. Big mistake they were having an Earth-day festival. The place was swamped. We could not even get close. So we counted our losses and Headed to Buda City Park. 

Friday Afternoon-


When we arrived, we did not know where we were setting up, so we asked around.

While we were waiting, we talked to some of the people there and showed them some of our tricks.
One of my tricks that I did, that we call the "through back through", is where I jump through Dads Legs. At the end of the trick, I started limping. Mom said, "let me see your paw", and I did. At first she could not see anything wrong. So she handed me to dad, to get a better look.

Well I had landed on a thorn. It lodged between the pads in my paw. It was in deep and about an inch long. Mom just grabbed it and pulled. It came out quickly but it hurt! I was very brave.

We met Justin and he showed us were we could set up and Park for tomorrow. He gave us VIP Passes. So cool!


Off to the hotel.

We stayed at Red Roof Inn in Austin, Texas 

We would not recommend this location. 


Hotel Hi-jinx…. We get a knock at our door, about 11:00 PM, saying they were having computer trouble and wanted our name to confirm we checked in. What???

Dad said his name, then got worried it may not have been the hotel… 

They now have our names and room number. What would they use that for…..

In the morning he confirmed it was actually the hotel that went to our room last night. Ugh!!!

Headed to the 
Buda Country Fair & 


We got there early to set up.... We were stationed right outside the racing tent. We were excited, this is a Great place to meet and talk to people! 

Then we got our self ready for the 


The Categories were.
Most Colorful - Best Pet & Owner (matching) Costumes - Most Unusual - Best Theme (best representation of the Wiener Dog theme of the current year)

Here are some photos by Hays-Free-Press of us.


You can see more entries and photos here...


We won our category of .... Best Theme 
(best representation of the Wiener Dog theme of the current year)

We even did a sword fight with Jedi. 

..... now on to racing.

Buda Wiener dog Race Setup ...

So let me tell you about how Buda runs their races. They were different than the races we were use to.  


First rule - no food! Please use a toy instead.  

Everyone’s name and race is sent to them by Email. It is also printed on sheets of paper in the tent, so you know what race you will be in, and your color. Only one handler is used per dog. 

They call your race and you go to a table. The Vets that are there, check you to make sure you can run. 

You are given a colored collar, as you see in the picture, Ezri was green. Then you are sent into a holding area either to the left or the right. Which is right Outside the main race area. So that they have two groups of racers prepped and ready to race.

Then when it is your turn to race, you go through a gate and go to your color. 


The racing boxes are large boxes with top sides and a back. On the back is a port hole, you are put in through the port hole that is then closed.

Then your mom walks around to the left and gets in front of the Box which is covered in mesh. The mesh is on PVC pipe and is lifted from the front by a large Lever, that is located in the back of the boxes, where you were put in.

The Judges walk everyone back with a flag at the same time. The judges who are the local police stand behind a fence at the finish line. 

Mom is sent back another 10 yards behind another line. The stands and hill are packed with fans.

The first and Second dog across the finish line move on to the race that is on Sunday at 3. 

On Sunday the wieners of the preliminary races above are again posted on paper in the race tent. The races are run in groups of 6 until you have a winner. 

Simple enough.


Here are a few Videos so you can see what I mean. 
Pay special attention to the announcer he is funny!

Ezri was in the first race and she came in second In the Preliminary Races


I was in the 5th race and I came in first.



That meant we could enjoy the rest of the things at the Fair because we were secured a place in the 3:00 pm Races on Sunday.


So here is what we did ....

First we decided to cool our feet in the pool.




Then we took photos with Oscar Myers hot dogs.
After exploring the venders and getting barbecue at the food tent we decided to return to our tent.


We meet Maria Pronski. - A big racing fan. Her dog was in "Lord of the wiens" that is the documentary Movie they made here about the races in Buda Texas. 

After all the meeting and greeting, along with checking out the food and vendors, we decided at around 4 o'Clock to head back to the Hotel. 

Mom and Dad gave us food and headed out to Saturday evening Mass, with a plan for a nice dinner after.

On their way to dinner they got a phone call from the Hotel that we were making too much noise and could they make us quite. ... Mom and Dad were perplexed by this, because we usually just watch TV and sleep. They  know this because they have videos of us being couch potatoes.  

When they got to the hotel room we were as quite as mice, just sitting in our beds watching TV. 

It was great for us, that they came back, because we got to go to dinner with them in a nice little restaurant in Austin. 

Flash forward to around 11 pm that night. We are all asleep in bed, when we hear children running up the hall to our door. They begin to yell ding, dong, ding, dong, at our door. Well, this sets Ezri off on a barking fit. Dad gets her to calm down, and a few seconds later they do it again. When it happened a third time, Dad got mad! He stormed out the hotel room and in his best fatherly voice, yelled at the kids to get there butts back in their room. Their mom just said, "Oh, It's OK, lets just do something else".  Well! Dad was fit to be tied. How could a parent be so irresponsible? The kids must have been doing this before, and that is why the hotel called us earlier. 

Well, we finally all got back to sleep. We had to wake up early to get our tent set up and prepared for the finals.

In the morning we did a little Meeting and greeting with our fans and new acquaintances






 We even did a trick demonstration and had quite a crowd watching!




Then we got sent into are crate to take a power nap before the big event. 


Arial View of the Race track for the final races on Sunday

The stand are full....
According to race organizers 20,000 people showed up to cheer on the little dogs at the Lion's Club's popular annual event.
It's the club's biggest fundraising event with more than 120 Dachshunds competing.
Wiener dogs came from near and far, bringing along their enthusiastic owners.

Here is a picture of the winners Trophy.  
The others were just smaller versions of this one with - 
this is Justin He and Nancy organize the races.



Top dog takes home a trophy and $500.

Now on to The Three o'clock races ....

Ezri was in Race 1 Green & I was in Race 12 white.





Between Races at the qualifiers for that day, it decided to Rain hard. Every one left the stands, and headed to our tent and the racers tent trying to stay dry. The rain left as suddenly as it had come and the races were resumed.

Ezri made it to the quarterfinals race. She was in the lead out of the boxes. But she got squeezed out between two dogs and did not get first or second in her race.
My race was uneventful and I was able to make it to the semi-finals.

In the Semifinals, there was a trash talking piebald dachshund next to me in the boxes. Mom could not get me to focus on her. So out of the box I barked at the other dog and so I lost my spot and was eliminated from the finals.


Here are the trophy Winners. 

They Tell me next years event will be bigger as it is the 20th Anniversary of the Event




After the races ended we headed to an outdoor dinner in Buda Texas at a place called Willie's Joint BAR and BBQ


They had a drink called the Wiener Dog. So dad had to try it. It had Vodka cranberry and a chocolate kiss. I guess sweet with a bite.



Mila was tired ....

 But before we left I talk her into the Teeter Totter and Jenga.


 
 

There were several Wiener Dog Themed restaurants. - this one is called Nates 

We will try that next time?

Keep an Eye out for the next blog 
Our trip home......

Friday, May 20, 2016

Adventure on our Road Trip to Wiener Dog Races in Buda, TX - Day 2

DAY 2 ... Thu, 21 Apr.

We had many plans for the day.

So we woke up Early, packed up the car, ate breakfast at the hotel and Hit the Road.

First Stop......

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.





By the way we happened to hit all the National parks at the right time. 

It was National Parks Week .  They were all free, for the first part of our trip.

This is a large place...

We decided to do the Dunes Drive, it is an eight-mile (13 km) scenic drive, it leads from the visitor center into the heart of the gypsum dunefield. The 16-mile (26 km) round-trip drive takes approximately 45 minutes. However, you may want to allow additional time for taking walks in the white sand, photography, or learning about the natural and cultural history. The first four miles of Dunes Drive are paved and the last four miles are a hard-packed, gypsum road. The road is suitable for cars, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and buses. Along the road, you will find wayside exhibits, hiking trails, picnic areas, vault toilets, and parking areas.


First we stopped at the Dune Life Nature trail 



This is the Nature trail where we learned about the pocket mice. 

Now where did they go? 
I need to find one.



Checking out the dunes with dad....



We Even got in a Practice Race!

*

Found a hole of a pocket rat...

Just had to try and dig the pesky thing out.


Ezri wanted in on the dig. She can be a pushy little sister. So I took a breather and Let Her have a Crack at it.



Enough! ....... let the pro take over.



I could have kept digging all day. 

But Dad said, "enough digging", 
we need to get going so we have time at our next Destination. 

So Back in the car for a  181.6 mi  to 





@ 12:30 pm we made it to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I was hoping I would get to see the cave with Mom and Dad. I was up for another adventure, especially down a tunnel. But the place said, "no dogs allowed" :(. They do run a kennel. It is located off the Gift shop, so that the Pets stay comfortable while they wait. Mom put our bed in the cage with water and treats. At least we got to wait together in the same cage. I was not really happy, the other dogs were making so much noise. I said to them, "Really!!! Like you have never been told to wait before???" I said sarcastically. At least we were in the other room, where there was much less noise. Hurry back mom and dad! So Mom and Dad went off to to explore for about 3 and a half hours.

So in the afternoon, all we got to see was the parking lot and the kennels at Carlsbad Caverns. Maybe that is why it has bad in the name. Thanks Mom :(


Here is what Mom and Dad told me about what they got to see. 

 
 

The Big Room hike is a 1.25 mile hike down the Natural Entrance trail it is extremely steep, descending about 750 feet. You have the opportunity to follow the footsteps of early explorers as you see formations like Devil's Spring, the Whale's Mouth, and Iceberg Rock.


The Natural Entrance is not an accessible trail. Please assess your fitness before attempting this strenuous walk.  But they were running out of time because they need to be back to the kennel by 4:30 to pick us up. 
Once you reach the big Room there is a circular route taking approximately 1.5 hours, it passes many large and famous features including Bottomless Pit, Giant Dome, Rock of Ages, and Painted Grotto. Highly decorated and immense, the Big Room should be seen by all park visitors. the Big Room? At about 8.2 acres in size, roughly 6.2 football fields would fit into the Big Room! It is definitely well-named as this is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. Other caves might be longer or deeper, but few can live up to the grandeur of the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns.

They got only as far as the Big Room and it was time to start back so they could pick us up on time. The Kennel only stays open till 4:30 and they did not know how long it would take them to walk back up the trail.


Now off to the Hotel, We are tired....

1829 South Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Chilling by the Pool

What a nice way to end the Day.....


Stay tuned for more exciting adventures.....