On our own

Today our travel companions headed home.  We were up at the crack of dawn to drive them to the airport.  what should have been and hour and a bit drive ended up being two hours their and two hours back.  Of course, I haven't been driving at all until today so nothing like navigating through gridlock to get back to the hotel.  I seemed to have caught a bug that it making me feel pretty gross so I decided to chill out at the hotel today with a quick trip out to the local shopping area to walk around.  The sun was out and the trees have opened since we have been here.  It was so pretty here today.  Hard not to be at peace when you are surrounded by such beauty.

When you are getting homesick and you are by yourself McDonald's is oddly comforting.  Slice and I had a picnic on the grass end enjoyed the sunshine.  

If it looks like a Big Mac, smells like a BIg Mac and tastes like a Big Mac it must be a BIg Mac!

Back at the hotel, this afternoon and we have the terrace doors open and we are enjoying the breeze and contemplating a nap.

A lovely quiet day for me and my girl.  She is such a pleasure to travel with and I have so enjoyed spending time with just her.

Finally Venice

When i knew I was coming back to Italy this year the first thing I checked was how far away I would be from  Venice.  I absolutely love Venice and couldn't wait to go back. It was a three hour drive to get there but so worth it.  We had a lovely leisurley day just strolling around the streets and shopping.

 So many beautiful places to take pictures.  Slice however would rather chase the pigeons and check how far it is down from every ledge and bridge.  She does have an inner daredevil personality.

Of course when in Venice one must partake in eating of delicious snacks.  Slice thinks her daily dose of gelato is simply fabluous.  Our flavour choice in Venice was Mou or Toffee in English.  So yummy.

If you love merangues you cannot leave Venice without enjoying a gigantic merangue!  I swear you have never had a merangue like this back home.  They are bigger than Slice's head!  Bigger than my hand.  Nothing dainty about eating these yummy treats, you just have to bite into it and watch the crumbs fall. I chose Fragola or Strawberry this time.  Much preferred the lemon last year but it was still delicious.

After a few hours of walking around we decided to stop for a bite to eat at the Rialto Bridge.  It is the iconic bridge in Venice and a beautiful place to eat right on the Grand Canal.  The sights and sounds of Venice surround you and you are simply immersed in the culture.  On the water gondaliers row by while singing to thier passengers.  The smells of all the resteraunts overload your senses and it makes it very diffiuclt to make a decision on what to eat.  Of course the dogs are welcome at our table and they even bring them water to drink.  Slice loved the view from our table but thought the breeze was a bit cool.

We shopped until the stores closed and then wound our way back to our car.  Some special gifts purchased, plenty of pictures taken, a bizillion pigeons chased away and we were exhuasted.  The three hour drive home was very long.  So glad Christina was driving as I couldnt even keep my eyes open.

Lake Como and Milan

Our first free day and we planned to drive to Lake Como and see what everyone has been bragging about. Unfortunately the Funicular was closed that takes you to the top of the mountain for the view. That changed part if our plans so instead we walked around took some pictures and visited a beautiful cathedral that took 400 years to build. 

 Fountain on Lake Como

 Sitting on the lake wall

 A stop for a well earned gelato. The cone was as big as slice so we shared. 

 Lit a candle for Bailey and Porter at the cathedral. 

 Photos don't do it justice the detail and beauty of this place was incredible. 

We left Como and headed back to Milan to see the parts we didn't get to the last time. Long story short parking was horrendous, Christina sprained her ankle on the cobblestone and we seemed to walk for miles without finding any shops open. We got to the fashion district and walked where the rich people shop. They only let you in if you can pay for stuff or have an appointment. Unfortunately, we didn't fit into either category. Took pictures of what we could. 

The Galleria

 These shoes were covered in sparkly stones. No price tags so I'm sure they were ridiculously expensive. 

 Slice's view of Milan. 

Tomorrow we are suppose to go to Venice but we may be changing our plans in the morning. 

IFCS is a wrap

 

IFCS World Championships are over for another year. What a fantastic week spent with an amazing group of people. 

The competition was a tough one for Slice and I. I won't lie, I did have bigger expectations for this week but when Slice came up with a strained psoas on Monday it put me into a completely different frame of mind. She came off the plane that way and I was completely baffled as to how it happened. With the help of our awesome team of Catherine Belanger Lavoie and Diamond Ruman they worked on Slice to get her better for competition. I can't thank you two ladies enough for listening to me when I knew she wasn't right and doing everything you could to fix her. Special thanks to Roxanne for also coming to the rescue. Thank you also to our management team for making sure we had access to what we needed. 

My sweet sweet girl put her heart into every run and I only asked for what she could give me. Unfortunately, it meant we weren't competitive in the all around but we still had some great runs. By the time our biathlon and team runs came along she was back to her normal self and we finished 5th in biathlon!  I can't express how proud I am of my girl. She was a trooper and even though I knew she had a huge heart and we were a team through and through now more than ever she is my best girl.  Without her I would never have the chance to have these experiences. She may not be taking home any hardware this week but she is my champion. I love you Slice. 

Thank you so much to everyone back home who was cheering and sending words of encouragement  during the week. Even though I couldn't respond to all of them. I did see them and appreciated them all. 

We have a week left of taking it easy and just hanging out. Girl time. Shopping and eating, two of our favorite past times.

 

Official Check In

Today we got our first look at the venue. The Cowboy Ranch is quite a different place. Picture  Wild West show as a theme park. I will take more pictures of the funny signs as the week goes on but today we have Slice near the Saloon. 

The footing is wonderful. Nicely packed dirt. The dogs seemed to really like it. The team had a great practice and everyone seems to be comfortable and happy. 

Following our half hour practice we moved on to the official vet check. This is where the vet checks each dog's microchip, limb movement, gate and this vet was checking toenails and pads. Slice got the all clear and moved on to measuring. Never do I have to worry that Slice will have a measuring problem. The cut off for her division is 30 cm and she measures at 22.8. Plenty of room. I am pretty sure Slice is the tiniest dog here so imagine the comedy in the measuring process when it was her turn. The official put the wicket next to her set at 30cm and laughed. Then he proceeded to turn the wicket three ways to show that she was smaller than 30cm length width and height. It was pretty comical. 

After we were done there a few more pictures of the team in supporter gear and then we were free for the afternoon.  We found the big grocery store called iPer and picked up a few items for the week. I love grocery shopping in Europe. It doesn't matter what language you speak you can find groceries. There are things we can't get at home but there things we can't find here. 

The premade pasta counter. 

The dry pasta bar

Now that is a giant salami!

Not wanting to eat pasta or pizza for lunch we stopped for McDonald's Italian style. It was a nice change. 

Team Practice Day

LToday was a busy day starting bright and early this morning. The team headed Click For Fun for a practice. It was a lovely outdoor facility and the weather was beautiful and sunny. The dogs ran well and worked out the kinks of traveling. Slice seems to be suffering a bit  of jet lag which I haven't experienced with her before. As a result she spent most of the day in her bag relaxing and sleeping. 

After practice the team headed into Pavia to a castle that Seanna had picked out as our team photo location. The team became quite a crowd draw as we posed for photos. People were even stopping us to take pictures. The photos will be up later but I do have a couple I was able to snap while we were hanging out. 

This was our meeting place. A dog statue in the park around the castle. 

Apparently it was windy when we took this shot. Slice is sitting on the wall around the castle that drops down 30 feet to the moat around the castle. 

On our way back Christina and I stumbled upon a beautiful cemetery that was enclosed with a castle like. We went in out of curiosity because it looked so intriguing. The beauty of the mausoleum  and cenotaphs inside were breathtaking. We have photos but on the camera. 

The rest of our day involved relying on the GPS to find a grocery store that was open on Easter Monday. That search lead us through many quaint little villages each just as lovely as the next. 

It's 11:00pm and we are just back from dinner (which is early here) and getting ready for bed. Tomorrow is official onsite practice and vet check. 

Arrived in Milan

We made it safely to Milan and Christina and Quasi picked us up at the airport. We spent the day walking around Milan but because it was Easter Sunday everything was closed. It was a great day for checking out what we want to go back and see. We did find a castle to tour around and a fountain that seemed to be a gathering place. 

Of course no first day would be complete  without gelato. 

We arrive at the hotel around dinner time and now being up for 24 hours I'm pretty exhausted. The hotel is very quaint and cute. Quasi and Slice have made themselves at home and quiet enjoy the view from our balcony. 

Time for bed. 

The 24 hour travel day

NThe alarm went off at 7am to start our day and after a good nights sleep we were ready to roll. While I'm rushing around getting ready Slice laid patiently waiting but keeping a close eye on me so I didn't leave without her. 

After a quick adjustment of weight in the luggage we are loading up the van and heading out of the house. The boys know something exciting is going on but really no idea they are staying behind. Except maybe Pint, he kept trying to get in Slices's bag as he thought he should be going to. 

We arrive at the airport right on schedule and figure out where we need to go to check in. 

I have been making this journey for five years and I can honestly say this year I should be expecting the unexpected. Today the Air Canada guy at check in wanted to see my international paperwork.  He shows me some code on his computer and asking me if I know about this. Seriously?  How do I know what his codes mean. Out comes the paperwork that he has no idea how to read anyway. Twenty minutes later we are checked in and headed to security. 

Going through security is always a good time with your dog but today was extra special as they unpacked my whole carry on to determine the ends of my training wicket weren't a bomb and that Slice's energy supplement wasn't drugs. Oh my. 

Off to get our booster juice before heading to the gate. One Terminator to ward off germs and boost the immune system. Off course what I have Slice shared too. 

While having our Booster Juice I sit down to look at my boarding pass to see where we need to go and notice the boarding/flight is an hour later than it was suppose to be. Slight panic. I find an Air Canada person to clarify it is the right flight. Yep right flight but an hour delayed!  Awesome. We still have time to make our connection in Toronto but it may be tough to get Slice outside. Now to kill two hours in the airport. Poor Slice. Let's go find a snack. 

Wok Box saves the day!!  Slice was pretty excited to share my rice and we managed to kill an hour. 

Only one more hour to go. Guess that means airport shopping. 

Our flight eventually takes off an hour and a half late. Good grief. We arrive in Toronto and I have 45 minutes to get clear across the airport, potty and feed Slice and figure out where I'm going. Well my perfectly potty trained dog looked at my like I had horns growing out of my head when I asked her to pee on a pad. There was no way she was going to cooperate. Trying to reason with a dog and tell her she has to hold it for another 8 hours made me feel like a fool but now I just feel bad for her. The pad went in her crate hoping to save in air accident. 

The plane space is quite squishy and for some reason Slices crate doesn't fit as well under the seat as it has on all other planes. The lady beside me is adamant she isn't sharing the foot space so this will be fun. In the plus side I have an aisle seat next to the food and washrooms!  

Over and out until we land in Milan. Hopefully Christina has a great day of sight seeing figured out. 

We made the paper!

My weekly edition of the Sherwood Park News arrived today and there on page 37 is an article on Slice and I heading to worlds. So nice to see. They made a couple little mistakes on the details of the teams we have been on but overall it was a great article. 

Busy busy day

With only four sleeps until we head off to Italy today was a day filled with errands and important appointments.

Our morning started off with the crew of City TV and Breakfast Television being on location at See Spot Run.  They came to talk about our upcoming trip to Italy and the World Championships.  I asked Christina and Quasi(modo) to join us in showcasing some agility.  The four spots went great and both Quasi and Slice loved being in front of the camera.  Here are the links to see us in action.

 Slice and Quasi hanging out between spots

After a busy two hours of TV, Slice and I were off to have her CFIA forms resigned by our vet so they complied with what the government wanted.  Surprise, it was different this year than the last five years.  They sure know how to stress a person out.


Leaving the vets office we were off to our last laser therapy appointment with Penny.  One final check to make sure Slice has no sore muscles or aches that needed to be treated.  Seeing Penny is one of Slice's favourite ways to spend an hour and after her TV appearance this morning she was ready for a nice massage.

Back to the CFIA with our newly signed paperwork and our fingers and paws crossed that all our i's are dotted and t's are crossed.  Just a short wait today and we got the official seal of approval.  We are good to go!

Packed!

One week until I leave and I am all packed with ten pounds to spare. Best packing job ever!  Now to get through the next seven days. So exciting. 

Eight more sleeps...

Only eight more sleeps until we board the plane to Italy!

Yesterday we had our final vet visit to get all our official paperwork in order and our mini travel first aid kit put together.  Once the vet visit is complete you know you are getting close to going as it has to be done a week before.  We (Slice and I) have an awesome vet team!  Dr. Jennifer Webster, Dr. Kim Robinson, Dr. Joel Torkelson, Dr. Jodie Santarossa, Penny Radostis and Diamond Ruman are keeping Slice in tip top shape and healthy.  We are so lucky to have so many great professionals in our corner.  We have met Dr. Catherine Lavoie (the team chiro) in person yet but she has already been a wonderful addition to our team and I know Slice will be in good hands when we get to Italy.  Thank you to all of you for being such an integral part of our continued success.  Without such a fantastic group of people behind us we couldn't keep doing what we do.

The final pieces of the team uniform arrived this week and they are all packed in the suitcase.  This year management had custom jerseys designed and they are HOT!!!  It was an option item for team members and boy am I glad I got one.  (picture to be added)  The rest of the suitcase is shaping up and I think this weekend I will be done.  Then we will just be killing time until we go!!!

The two week countdown begins

I can hardly believe that it is only two weeks away and I will be getting on a plane with Slice and heading to Italy!  This year it is just her and I, things have come full circle since our first World Championships in 2011.  Slice and I have spent the past couple of weeks increasing our "mommy and me" time as that is what she likes best.  We go everywhere together so that we stay connected.

I have all my appointments made with the vet and the CFIA to get our paperwork completed.  The sticky notes of to-do lists are posted everywhere.  I have the boys sleepover arrangements squared away.  The suitcase is out and the piles of things to pack are starting to gather.  The excitement is building....