The entering process begins.

I decided after walking all over and getting no response from her on anything other than lizards that I was going to see if I could short circuit the process and take Peg over to Christmas Valley where a bunch of guys including Dan Pike, who bred her, were flying their birds and see if I could get a chance to fly her with their birds to show her what it is all about.

I stopped at Crystal Crane Hot Springs on my way and tempted Ron Kearney to join me on the trip. I had a phone number that no one was answering, and other than a general agreement a couple of weeks ago, no one knew for sure that I would attempt it. So the chances of it working smoothly were pretty long. I would have been able to stay as long as necessary, but Ron needed to come back the next day. It was still an adventure, and worth the effort.

We arrived in Christmas Valley at dusk, and still no answer on their cell phone, so we got something to eat and a Motel room. The next morning as soon as it was light, I broke out the telementry equipment and got a signal off to the North East. We finally tracked down Toby Bradshaw, whom I had not seen since the 80's. Other than thinning hair there was no difference. Still a great guy to be around and a great sense of humor. We tried to locate some of the other ones but were unsuccessful. We then went driving, trying to find a rabbit in a spot that we might be able to get her a chance at. The guys had returned to their rented house by then and finally turned on a cell phone to call us.

We arrived to a nice breakfast, prepared by Toby and "shot some bulls", and got caught up on the latest in their lives and ours. Dan looked at Peg's leg and insisted that he was going to send me a replacement for her when she (new bird) was old enough. I have to admit that I am torn, because I like her a lot. She may or may not be able to handle Jacks with her leg being the way it is, but she is a sweetie. Perhaps Karen will take her for her own? We finally said our good byes and headed back.

When we returned, Ron picked up a glove so that he could carry her, while I attempted to shoot a Rabbit for her. We were walking in some sage and a Jack jumped about 20 yards in front of us. Peg took off after him and tried her best to catch it, but he had moves that she had never seen before and escaped. She also tried to catch a Short Eared Owl, but thankfully had no chance at that either. We walked back to the truck, it was very hot and I was tired and thirsty. Ron was having trouble getting her on the perch in the truck, so I laid the 22 down on the bumper, Tied her up and promptly walked to the front of the truck, leaving the gun on the bumper. (my multitasking days are apparently over) I finally remember it when I got home about an hour later. I called Ron and one of his neighbors found it lying in the road.

After I got every thing squared away here at the house, we took Peg out and sat her, loose, on a perch on the hot tub, while I sat in a chair in front of her. After a bit one of the Jacks came into the yard to munch. I shot him and let Peg have her fill of nice hot Jack Rabbit.

She spent the night on the perch in front of the stove where she has been since I got her. This morning it became very apparent that it is time for her to go out to the hanger for her night perch. She has a lot more range with a full crop. It took Karen and I a lot of scrubbing to get the hearth and stove cleaned up.

When she comes back to her flying weight, we will go where there are a lot of Cotton Tails. Actually they are Brush Bunnies, but they look like little Cottontail Rabbits. Not sure how long that will be, at least two days for sure.