Back from the NAPgA rendezvous! :)

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

I got back a couple of hours ago and am glad to be back with my goaties. Had a real good time. That was my first over nighter away from the farm while there were babies to feed in many many years. The 2012 rendy was later in the year and all of our babies where weaned by then. Tracy was a trooper though and did both sets of chores (hers and mine) for 2 days and nights!

Got there about noon Friday. Only missed my target time by 2 hours Lots of people where there and more filed in as the day progressed.
I showed up with Legion, Lincoln and 3 prospects. Their new owners picked them up that day so that left Legion alone. Which he of course milked and convinced me to just leave him off leash to follow me around the entire time. Legions fame proceeded us. Had quite a few people whom I had never met or seen before come up to us asking if he was Legion. Which totally inflated his ego and he acted like a stuck up snob the entire time. He would turn his head and actually walk away from anyone who tried to pet him. I felt bad but no one took it personally and if anything, it only added to his fame . But other then a few clash of horns (your typical male sword fighting) he was a perfect gentleman.

Was on a trail walk within an hour after showing up but had to turn back to finish up with Lincolns new owner who I just left holding his leash... Sorry Doug! And thanks again Sussie Due for providing an outstanding home for Clydes and Daphnes boys.

Was pretty cool. I parked next to Curtic, Saltlick next to me and Taffy next to her. (Sussie joined us on the second day for the auction.)
Spent the rest of the first day walking around, chatting and bouncing from one person to the next. Met some great new people. Dawn did an absolute amazing job (hats off again) and her helping/hunting partner Bre was a pleasure to met. Not to many women cut from that kind of cloth anymore, you both rock. Wish I lived down there just so I could hang and hunt with you "chics" I got a little fishing in, in the crystal clear stream that ran next to the camp ground. All along the stream was beautiful browse which really added a kinda surrealness to the area. Didnt catch anything worth putting in a pan though. The weather was pretty epic in that it would change form every 15 minutes or so. Sunny to cloudy to windy to calm to light rain and any and ever combination in total randomness. Stayed up late chatting with Saltlick while most of the others turned in early.

The second day saw me up and 3am... then 3:20am, then 3:40am and so on until it was actually light enough to call it morning and get outta my sleeping bag. I had to sleep on a cot in the trailer with Legion cause he was all by himself. It got pretty cold but at least there were no mosquitos.
Legion woke Curtis up a few times during the night with his horns knocking against the side of the trailer while he was nibbling on his hay during the night. Sorry Curtis! At least you had ear plugs to put in.

After a cup of coffee with Curtis we took the boys near the stream to eat breakfast and to chat. 45 minutes later I went off to do some more fishing. While I was wrapping that up a large black dog (lab / mastiff mix) came outta no where and surprised Legion and sent him running in the opposite direction from me. I was able to call him back to me and was able to bash the dog with my fishing pole as it tried to run by me after Legion. Douche bag owner didnt even have a leash with him. Then that same dog did the same thing to someone elses cutie lil prospect. Legion ended up hurting a front and back leg from that and would lay down next to me anytime I stopped. All seemed better in the morning though. It happened so fast I really didnt have time to get pissed but everything time I think about it, I get a bit more angry. But thats just one of those things that happens on a public trail.

Got back to the camp and missed out on going with Idaho Nancy, Curtis and a few others on a hike up at the lake trail head. Thank God! Turned out to be much longer then they expected and they didnt return back till after 4pm pooped. In the mean time walked around and chatted with even more people. OH and Taffys hubby made Saltlick and myself a breakfast sandwich. Thanks! Poor Saltlick got burnt by some boiling water (she was making herself coffee) but Taffy had some med supplies and Salty got lucky with minimal burning and blisters. Was happy about that! Really enjoyed chatting with her.

Taffy broke out the bale scale and her cool measuring stick and weighed and measured peoples goats for the rest of the day. Charging just a dollar to do so and donated that money to Napga. Legion was of course the largest and fattest 2 year old there. Someone whom I dont remember had some big kinda fatty boer crosses in the 240 weight range but Idaho Nancy's boys stole the show of course. Even in a fabulous condition as they were, her largest boy weighed in at a mammoth 270 lbs!!! Great job Nancy on your boys and it was so great to be able to chat with you over the weekend. Legion told me when we got home, out of everyone he turned his nose up to, you were one of the few he took no pleasure in doing it to... well ok, not as much pleasure

There as a nice pot luck dinner which I didnt partake in. My stomach was acting up and food just didnt seem like a good idea. After which the auction was held. I walked away with the only item I set out to get. A 3 goat night (or whatever its being called) shirt with Nannos goaties on it Knowing how much they were going for I of course under bid that and got a good deal and no shipping But there were lots of cool items. And most went for a good price but the goat people stepped up and opened their wallets and I think it was a pretty good auction. The drinks were flowing and I was really bummed not to be able to join in the fun. Would have loved to have stayed up chatting with Salty, Dawn, Bre, Nancy and the others but with a departure time of 6am (which I actually made on time), a few drinks woulda turned into to many and pushed that time to at least noon.

It got even colder this morning (Sunday) So cold in fact that when I turned the truck wipers on to clear the due off, it froze the water on the windshield. But thanks to Saltlick letting me use her sheep skin, I didnt get woke up from the cold till it was almost time to get up. Cleaned up and got Legion loaded into the back of the truck. Was to cold for the trailer. The trip back was pretty good. Legion was burnt on traveling though and hide his face in the corner of the canopy most of the time. He would try to lay down only to stand back up 30 seconds later. I think 4 hours is our max travel time from now on. But I am so glad I didnt miss this year rendy. Was an absolute pleasure meeting everyone and chatting. Cant wait till we can do it again next year... in Walla Walla maybe? Thats nice and close

(Disclaimer) I am undead tired and have not want or need to go back and proof read. If something is spelt wrong or uncomprehending, I dont care. Its nap time!