Mike Miller's Blog

Well, I really wanted to get back and update this much sooner, but ya know what they say, “shit happens”, and you really don’t want to know just what it was. If you are really interested, catch me on the road sometime and we will talk over a couple beers….. No, a bunch of beers………

In less than one week, I will be packing off for 60-70 days on the road. I will be going to Denver for the Challenge, Minneapolis Minnesota, Budapest Hungary, Brussels Belgium, Napperville Illinois, Florida (several cities), Chattanooga Tennessee, possibly Purina Farms Missouri and then back home. Oh, and Atlanta in there somewhere. You can see from the route that I will be at a few really great contest competing in some, and judging some, and just having fun at some. I will be stopping back here for updates as I travel and hope you enjoy my thoughts if you care to come check them out. If you happen to see me on the fields anywhere, PLEASE come say hi and share a big Hug….. Kathy loved Hugs, and got me hooked as well.

Above all, remember, “have fun out there”…. Thats what were all about………

Well, all I can say is Life Goes On, (no matter what), and mine is for sure doing just that.  Lord knows, Kathy and I had our share of mishaps both on our travels, and here at home.   My trip to Phoenix was no different.  Many know that over the years I have made many trips on my own to contest without Kathy, but only with One pup.  She would watch over the others while I was on the road.  Phoenix FDDO being my first trip without her, and 3 boys, I decided to ask my friend Eric Holt if he would like to join me and play with BigBoy.  Our trip was to be simple, one day over, the two day contest and one day looking at used/new RV’s as we made an extended voyage home.

Day 1, Friday early April, we hit the road to Phoenix and about 90 miles from the city this car gets my attention and says I should check the rig.   We pull to the side, and as I walk around I see that the awning on my 35ft travel trailer has come loose and is now torn while hanging out at the front end.  This rip is in a place where there will be no repair, so replacement was the only option.  We tied it up for the rest of the trip.

Upon arrival at Peoria Sports Complex (a beautiful ball field just like the AT&T field in Chattanooga) we found where we were allowed to park and spend the weekend on site.  After setting up, we had a chance to check out the field layout and could see that a lot of work had gone into making it very nice.  We were able to throw some practice for the wind, but poor Bill and crew had to take down all the obstacles for the night which they were not happy about.  Some Field problem would not allow them up over night Friday night.

Saturday morning things started early, and by game time, the place really looked good.  Early on rounds had the luck of no wind, but as the day progressed, it got pretty stiff.    My only real deal of the day was taking out last years Obstacle course winner in an early round of the Shootout.   Only problem was I was removed in my next round, even though it was a very entertaining round which came down to the very last Obstacle.   Much to my surprise,  RT and I pulled off a win in the distance pyramid at just over 43 yards, but Jeff Hill and Todd Murnan were just inches behind me for 2nd and 3rd.  Dropped my jaw when I heard we won.   The actual longest catch of the day was Joel Zucker and Baily, but it was to long……   The top of the pyramid is 50yds, and Joel’s throw was around 68 I believe.  Anyway, the day was fun, and we took home some hardware.

In the evening, we had a very fun meet with all the players at a watter hole which was for a much younger crowd than I fall into, so after some conversation and awards being given out, Eric and I went and found burgers for dinner and headed back to the trailer.

Sunday rolled around, and the day started off the same as Saturday, and got very windy early as well.  Freeflite was fun, and with the wind, speed disc was just not happening for me.  Oh well……

Eric and I packed up and got off early and made one stop to look at a real nice used Class A, but really not what I am looking for.  To make an even longer story short, our trip home only had one bad event.  The RV park we were to spend the night at had not left info at the front gate (gated private community park) and the guard had no clue as to how to help find our space.   Soooooooo, we went to an other RV park near by and spent the event there.  Monday we stopped by Yuma Az and looked at several new Class A Motor Homes, and if it were not for the distance, I would buy there.

Oh, forgot one other problem back at Peoria,  the heater stopped heating in the trailer… LOL one thing after another I guess.   Anyway, when we returned to home, the trailer sat at Camping World for over a month waiting on parts, but after almost $700.00 and the wait, that saga was over.

Just as a note here,  although I am no longer a member of the FDDO team, I must say as I always have, if you can make it to this game, DO SO………   It is without doubt the most diversified, and challenging contest in the circuit and just loads of fun.   Props to Bill Watters for coming up with this fun weekend.  If you would like to see the full outcome of that weekend,

http://www.fddo.org/match_play.HTM

Well, this year will be my first traveling alone in the RV.  Well, sort of, cuz there will be the boys.  Ruckus BigBoy and RT have no idea what the year will bring for them.  I sat today going from web site to web site getting dates of events happening all around the USA.  I have this grand plan to travel for several months visiting many locations to be a part of contests all over the US. I am also going to be a part of the KMRT (Kathy Miller and Ruckus Trophy) contest in Belgium and Hungary, but I want to be involved in more contests here in our country as well.  I will not start my tour of the country till August, however I will be making several trips prior to that for some local games here in the South West, as well as Denver for the Open if possible.  If you want to follow my trip this year, feel free to stop by the blog here to see where I am.  And remember, at every contest you attend this year, and in the future as well, stop for a moment, look up and remember Kathy, Our Spirit In The Sky.

Pairs In Chattanooga 2008

Mike Miller has been involved in canine disc sports for more than 25 years. He and his wife Kathy, were awarded the very first Skyhoundz Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. The couple founded one of the earliest canine disc clubs — the Southern California K-9 Air Corps. Mike helps stage competitions for organizers across the United States.