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Handcar Regatta
Sep. 27th, 2009 06:45 pmOK, how cool is it that Santa Rosa is apparently home to a steampunk event? This would be the Handcar Regatta, (http://handcar-regatta.com/), a way keen rail-based kinetic sculpture race with decided steamy styling. Unfortunately, it was a very hot day, so I only stayed for a few hours, but it was a very fun-packed couple of hours. Lots of bicycle-based craft and a pervasive pro-bike/bike activism atmosphere, which was also lovely. Also, really delish fair food, but then this is Sonoma county, after all.
Chaos was extremely well behaved, although he got a little bit overwhelmed at the end, mostly because of the heat. But he enjoyed himself too, and politely met a lot of people and dogs, most of them also polite. It pleases me very much that his overwhelm behavior is to lay down quietly behind me and occasionally hide in my skirts, and also that he likes to drink water out of a bottle, a feat that impressed several people. I love my collie, and not just because he's the ultimate neo-Victorian fashion accessory.
Nobody knows he's a collie, though. I get this about Coba, too...approximately 8 people out of 10 who approach me about either of the boys say something to the effect of, "What a beautiful dog! He's Australian Shepherd and...what?" Nope. Purebred Collie (or Sheltie). No Aussie anywhere. Like Lassie, only blue. And no, it's not a new thing. They have come in that color (and Tri, which must exist in at least half the population if a breed comes in blue merle) at least since they were first exhibited in 1860; the sables were originally the weird new color and can all trace directly back to one dog. Of course, this was also before they were crossed with Borzoi to make them what they are now. Today I got the most interesting 'what is your dog' comment I've heretofore received; some lady asked me if he was an Afghan hound. I was totally amused. But it's true: anyone who has looked closely at sighthounds can see the influence clear as day in a certain snout.
So, here we are.
( cool kinetic sculptures! )
Chaos was extremely well behaved, although he got a little bit overwhelmed at the end, mostly because of the heat. But he enjoyed himself too, and politely met a lot of people and dogs, most of them also polite. It pleases me very much that his overwhelm behavior is to lay down quietly behind me and occasionally hide in my skirts, and also that he likes to drink water out of a bottle, a feat that impressed several people. I love my collie, and not just because he's the ultimate neo-Victorian fashion accessory.
Nobody knows he's a collie, though. I get this about Coba, too...approximately 8 people out of 10 who approach me about either of the boys say something to the effect of, "What a beautiful dog! He's Australian Shepherd and...what?" Nope. Purebred Collie (or Sheltie). No Aussie anywhere. Like Lassie, only blue. And no, it's not a new thing. They have come in that color (and Tri, which must exist in at least half the population if a breed comes in blue merle) at least since they were first exhibited in 1860; the sables were originally the weird new color and can all trace directly back to one dog. Of course, this was also before they were crossed with Borzoi to make them what they are now. Today I got the most interesting 'what is your dog' comment I've heretofore received; some lady asked me if he was an Afghan hound. I was totally amused. But it's true: anyone who has looked closely at sighthounds can see the influence clear as day in a certain snout.
So, here we are.
( cool kinetic sculptures! )
