SAR's "Mock Search" Weekend!!

I had been up late the night before finishing a "dog" porch and ramp out front.  But SAR training is so important, we agreed to get out early with the new boat we had purchased for SAR practice. It had been a longgg time since we had all roughed it...I was looking forward to being out in the wilds again. As most of our searches involve water, we had bought a boat and needed to train the new dogs to search on water. This was to be an all round weekend, but mostly to launch the new boat.

We were back up the next morning to build a "platform" for the new boat.. To work, the dogs need a stable deck to work off of...so we cut and built a 35" x 33" "deck" on the front seat of the boat for them to "stand" on while searching...

Now my hubby can glue two boards together and they Rust...so I had to get up early and make the "plans" for the deck...I took a paper bag and opened it out...laid it out and cut the edges with a blade...bingo a pattern for the shape. Hike UP the hill to cut a piece of plywood...down the hill to fit...and then UP the hill to set the 2x4's to frame the bottom edge...down the hill to fit and Up the hill to glue and fit with screws...DOWN the hill to cover with green artificial grass...UP the hill to get the staple gun...down the hill to staple it in place...and at last we were to set it in place...UP the hill to get a bigger screw...down the hill to drill and set it in place...we were finishing the clean up when here comes the unit and let's load and go to the lake...yippee!

I get to pull it. Well first I have to BACK it out the drive...and everyone watches me go into Jack knife mode...up and down back and forth...with my hubby dying with laughter...But finally I get it right and I do it perfectly...yea!! to much good-natured teasing. It has been 11 years since I had to "back" anything...it took a bit of practice!!

We arrive at the lake and we "pick" a site...no way I can back it in...so we take it off the van and PUSH it into the space...everyone stood behind the trees and screamed as I came close...shoot, anyone would think I was gonna HIT them or something...now to set up "camp". First I set up the x-pens and unload dogs. I unpack the screen room first, which has NOT been out of the bag for 7 years...and the laughs were on...

I watch this weird sculpture appear...rods sprouted in all directions and the cover caved in around them as I LAUGHED...Ray ...and Ruth crawled out from under and we started again...after I got the directions out (when all else fails read the instructions!!!) WE DID IT...only took 45 minutes to
do a 12x12 screen house.

So as WE did the screen house, Sharon and Marty were tackling a tent that had NO instructions...and the poles all had angles to them...that took a few more collapses and screams of laughter to get us going...finally we had the idea and this saggy...baggy tent had crossed poles!! and once we crossed them...it went up and got tight!!! 

Next came ours...easy...and Ruth's...the kind you pull out of the bag, shake and instant tent!! Neat...till Sunday and putting it away...I'll take mine. So now we have 4 tents and a screen house, 3 x pens, two tie outs, a "kitchen" tarp over the table and a load of food on the next table...we have WORKED for 2 hours and are ready to "play". So we load a few crates and all the cadaver into the boat to "float" it down to the work area. HOOK UP THE BOAT again...means backing up to the hitch....and the boat is sitting in the TREES.

I manage NOT to get stuck and bring it out...off we go.  Time to put it IN the water and I back (5 times) to get it straight down the ramp!!! I want to put it into the water...and Ray notices the missing cover on the lights...so we PICK IT UP AND PLACE IT IN THE WATER...to the full amusement of the watching fellow boaters!

Now to get ON BOARD!?! Ray walks the trailer and steps into the boat...whose motor is NOT hooked up and floats away...no rope...Dear Marty simply walks into this 54° water and hauls him back to safety!!  They get the motor going and Ray goes to "back it out" and comes flying into shore again...screeeeching on the ramp...let's try the OTHER reverse!!..and off they go to the working landing down the shore line...

We get to walk into the "Group" area to climb the gates and walk the mile into the shore...it was a wonderful walk and I enjoyed the smells and flowers I saw all the way, into the wilderness group camp. They wouldn't "open it" as the cost is $150 for us to use it...free if we walked. They have come in ahead (Ray and Marty) and set up "Base Camp"..cages and chairs. The wind is blowing so hard the waves are smashing into the rocky shore. The water levels are high and all the small trees are under water...we make up the "bait" and place it...Marty is to be the first to be drowned ..oops I mean to work...LOL...she gets into the boat and it goes NO WHERE!!  Ahh ma'am, we can push you out in dry land..LOL...she steps out, we push and SHE gets to walk in the water... Toni, my daughter takes the anchor and the cadaver out to the "spot" for them to find...100 feet out and in shallow water. Well first we CAN'T get the bobber to work...rope is too heavy when wet, so we bring out the boat...reverse Ray...and here he comes BACK into shore...THE OTHER REVERSE...as we die with laughter, and push them back out. Ray swears they built the motor backwards as the reverse in clockwise...out they go...the 20 mile per hour wind PUSHES them back to the shore...out...in...out...in, going no where fast and we only have 3 hours on the battery.

Soon we get the hang of it and they began to really work. First the experienced dogs then the "students"...all got GOOD and wet. All complained!! My turn, and I take Magic man...he is awesome. First time since the seminar in NC last Oct!! and he gets it right off the bat...and he uses the "TOUCH" command perfect.. The boat gets slower and we call it a day so they can go back to the loading ramp.

More Backing...good practice for belly laughs, but I manage much quicker this time. And we "load"...again much to the amusement of fellow boaters...we WALK into the water and LIFT it onto the trailer!! 3 women and 1 man...glad it's only a 12' jon boat. But remember it has 3 crates, 4
chairs and coolers in the bow...yep HEAVY.

Now we go to relax...Marty sleeps and I play with the dogs and sit back to smell those roses. Lunch...it's 3 o'clock and I am starved!! So we all share the chores and make the weirdest food up from the selection of all who brought food. I have home made bread and salad to share...

Now to walk off the stuffed feeling, we go to the marina to see about charging the battery...we take the dogs...and they have a special "feeding" area for fish...BIG fish...and Magic goes crazy watching this school of BIG fish pile one atop of the others to get the pellets!! He just about falls into the water trying to say Hi to them...Bubba actually hangs down and touches the fish...which are "sucker" or Carp and they grab his nose!! This starts a BARKING fest and all join in!! HUSH HUSH!!

Now for a "walk" on the floating docks and  boat walks...oh my, poor Pete...he.walks like a kid with a full diaper!! He is stiff and ridged with the movement...we move him to safety and the Schips RUN and play...My fear is falling into the water off the docks...BIG FISH...little dog. But we have
once again entertained the crowds...

Supper and starting a fire!! collect the wood...Marty pulls the fire duty...she has packed the "fat" wood to start it...I "feed" the flames...soon it's cooking and 8 o'clock... Then we made Marshmallows over the coals...I cooked and Marty made s'mores. Yummmmm. With good full tummies and camp fire tales (of searches of course) Our newer students learn from our mistakes. It is the sharing that we do that helps them see what a search really is, and how the dogs will work.

Time for bed...and the air mattress is FLAT...we blow it up...hey guess what...you can have TOO MUCH air...as I ride the bucking plastic monster to get into the sleeping bag...I got "thrown" a few times, till I got the hang of it.

Sleep...and that was just Sat!!! <G> with another day to come...

Part two, Sunday

It was late when we had gotten to sleep and I was fighting that darn air mattress so much that once I got to sleep I died. At about 4, my darling says...My bladder is killing me, I'm off to water a tree. Now a word of history...he has Sleep Apnea and wears a CPAP machine to sleep. He is a KNOWN sleepwalker as well and at home has scared me a time or two.

WELL a few minutes go by...I wait..10..15..no hubby...so I get up and let Fox out of the tent...and dig out a flashlight...I see his SHOES...LIGHT and think...ohoh where can he have gone with NO shoes?  (A wimp with sore feet)...I start to "search" with Fox...trying to be QUIET in the early dawn...nothing. NOW I'm worried. So back to Marty's tent and I say...AHH Ray is missing...and NO MARTY this is NOT a test (my sense of humor is legend)...she says a swear word and comes out with a flashlight and a dog...we set off to "find" one of our own...after all, we are TAUGHT to think search...and we did have a FIND...right in the MEN'S bathroom!! Poor Ray had walked all the way to the bathrooms and we came and disturbed VERY important "business"!!!!! What a hoot...we (Marty and Me) giggled and joked all the way back...after WE used the little room, too. Ray was NOT a Happy Camper!!

As I get back, he is snuggled into a FLAT air mattress and I ride the bucking one again...we sleep. At least it is not HARD ground.

At 6 the dogs awake me...its time to get up...I do the chores and off to the showers. Marty joins me and I say the water is fine...well...MINE was. She let's out a war whoop and said it was &^%$#cold!! I am busting a gut as she is dancing and singing the song " cold shower blues". Back to the tents for breakfast. I start the stove and I have not got the connection tight and I see a small flame at the connection sight and quickly turn the bottle off!! Ray comes and fixes the "O" ring...we proceed to cook eggs and smother them in cheese...yummm. I have made home made bread and we "toast" it over last night's embers...Marty and I fashion "toaster sticks". I must say they worked and we had delicious toast slices!!!  Now if we had JUST REMEMBERED THE BUTTER!! lol

We took down the tents...and all went TOOOO smooth...till we came to the "instant" tent...took three of us to "fold" it back into the bag...no matter how we folded, as soon as we let go  "sprong" it was a TENT again!!..But we "tamed the monster"...laughter is the best medicine.

The rest of the day was work...and we set hard problems...Dare, the PWD we all helped with water therapy, was due for his basic test in air scenting.  The scenario was...a child was missing. Known to wander and often goes to sleep. We need you in sector "F" to search. I loaded Marty and drove her to the "F sector"...a deserted piece of the park with only one camper. She must ask all the right questions...I wait. Age...Health problems...(yes...meds) sex...race...description...last seen...history of runaways...she misses a BIGGIE...WHAT IS SHE WEARING.

I give her the scent articles and she gives Dare the commands and off he goes. About ten feet, turns and LOOKS at her...YOU HAVE CHANGED THE RULES. Yes we have...no known starting point...AIR SCENT...not track. It takes a minute and off he goes...FIND at the tenth table from us..1/4 mile on various terrain and across the park into the wind...she passes her test as he runs back , jumps, barks and tears off to "show" his find. A year's training ..it is going great and he is a basic level in Tracking and air scenting...he is going to be a great dog..

Jojo the poodle doesn't do as well, and needs more distance from her handler. They are slow and she doesn't refind. But we have time...she is only a baby and worked well for her 8 months. I reset their training schedule and head for the lake and MY test for Magic.

Water is his world...he loves it. He races around the shore line and BOOM...swing and check the water...follows it in and there it is...floating. Is It Fred??? TOUCH IT...bam...we have it...find more...and Marty reminds me to play and praise even thought it is a test. We continue and find three more "pieces"...including the one who got away...floated out into the deep brush...He is a second level now and ready for real searches on cadaver. Soon he will pass the water test and I will have a back up to Fox and Wooly. The retraining time I had done since Jan was worth it../he is
better than ever. One of the finds is a "primary" scene...a smear of blood down a tree...and a stick I had used to push the "sample" into a tube to be hidden...it was left by mistake on the ground along the shoreline!! A blood spill we did on purpose. An old bone (1976 vintage) and it is buried at the base of a stump. All are found.

Runaways...a friend runs, the dogs races off to find...and we start with JoJo...Marty runs...and we die as she refuses to go faster that a quick walk...might step on a SNAKE...LOL and she is crazy about snakes...ya sure...but we work and the dogs are great...a quick swim and home again.

Go and get all the dogs, drive home, clean the boats, unpack the bags and clean the dogs of ticks. LOTS of ticks out this year. It all was such fun. The boat worked, the dogs worked, three test had been run, two new certified dogs came home. Ahhhhhhh I love it when we have a "Mock" search weekend. <G> Now when is the next one????

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