There were a few Missoula stories I was asked to pass along. I think you'll enjoy...

While standing on the Smallbore line during Match #3, I thought we needed a tension breaker. I remarked out loud to my squaddie that what this match really need was a shooter with Tourettes. Before he could laugh, the shooter to his right ganked a shot at the pigs and let out a string of bombs that would make a sailor proud. The place just about fell apart...

And after Dave's painful 2-pt win over myself in AAA Hunter, we decided to immortalize our competition with a Steelchickens.com hat as the annual trophy. Dave had endeared my boys while I was shooting High Power and my middle son gave Dave the Steelchickens.com hat from his head so I could keep mine. Later that night, my oldest boy learned that I took 2nd place to Dave's 1st and said he thought 2nd place was a good showing for his old man. My middle boy quickly retorted, "Dad didn't win 2nd place, he took 1st Loser." God I love these boys (cause if I didn't, I'd choke'm - hahahaha).

That fine young man of yours, who so generously sacrificed that hat, needs a replacement.

One of a kind....

Some bling....

He's got a hat coming to him. Does he want a new Range Officer hat or something blingy from the store?

dwl

dwl, IM sent.

Here's a pic of "the Usual Suspects" as well as a link to the match RESULTS.

Here's a few more 'shots' from Missoula. I brought my own photographer but she spent more time sleeping that shooting pictures. She slept most of the way to Missoula and most of the way home as well. Turns out she grew another inch!


Here's Jerry and Dave "Shooting Air Rifle"


Jerry and Chuck Checkin' Out Scopes. Chuck had those discount coupons for Sportsman's wharehouse and was trying everyone's scopes. You can almost see his pockets burnin'!


A View of the Firing Line. Nice shot you don't often see. It's fun to look down the line and recognize friends. What a beautiful range!


Jerry Coaches Chuck to 3rd Place. A good spotter know's his shooter well enough to get inside his head, "Chuck, if you miss this one, it's only a 33!" Guess Jerry's been listening to Lanny's tapes again.


Red Neck With A Gun. Chuck coachin' Dave. "It's the chickens, Dave. Ya gotta start on the left, remember?" That neck really IS red, innit?



We all had a good time. Jerry's scores came up after a slump. Chuck kept me on my game and shot well himself Pavel was a machine and nobody could keep up with him.

After the first day's shooting I asked Pavel what his secret was. He showed me an obscure imported beer. I couldn't find any at the store.

For dinner Saturday night, Jim Olivarez and his son ran five grills at the same time and cooked us up another set of fine mastadon sized steaks. I had to take a breather and rest a while after eating steak and baked potatoes and corn before goin' after some of that home made apple pie his wife made. Bless that woman, that's some good pie. I would drive to Missoula just to eat Olivarez' cooking.

The beer must have worked for Pavel, look at his Day 2 scores. I figure it was the steak dinner for me. If I calcutate correct, dinner tightened up the torso providing better support for my left arm. Sure enough my scores were up too. Maybe next year I should drink beer with the steaks and see if that doesn't take me up a class.

Sunday after the smallbore match we took all the kids into town for an icecream. Boy, Mike, does your wife know where to shop in Missoula. Kind of scary don'cha think. It was fun and I bought my wife some over-priced used china which worked pacified her wonderfully when I got home. The kids all had fun in the river but next year I bring shorts and sandals. Oh, and yer boys got to learn to swim across the creek. My feet still hurt just thinkin about it.

Jason, you gotta come next year. It ain't Southern cooking, it's WESTERN where everything is big. It'll certainly make you wonder why people eat in Pe Ell.

We all had a good time. So did you, Mike. I still can't believe you got all that stuff and three kids in that car and then drove straight home after the match. Guess I'll have to find a new way to beat you 'sickalogiclly' . I figure I'll bring some of my wife's antique catalogs. That should keep your wife up at night plannin what to buy next and keep you up wonderin what it's gonna cost.

Love,

dwl

"Pavel was a machine and no one could keep up with him".....Hey next time you're going to shoot with him let me give you Chicken George's home phone # and have him call her after a few of those secret beers.....Then just sit back and laugh.........

Kitty

"...have him call her ..."

I remain confused. Have George call Pavel (her?)? Or have George's wife call Pavel? I'm game for it but it you need to clarify this for a poor, ignorant country boy like me, in a pm if necessary.

Dave,
You are not that ignorant. But there is one thing you should not do...
Putting Pavel and Chicken on the phone together after they have a few beers (especially if CHicken has added some tequelia to the consumption list) and throwing in Chickens wife to the conversation (even if it is third party) requires full attention to get the complete enjoyment factor.

Just sit back and watch some of these guys are tough to keep up with as you have kind of determined in trying to watch Kitty or myself especially if we have a canoe paddle or 4X4 in our possesion.


Innocent

Wanted to share some pics of the replacement hat Jeff59 sent my poor middle boy who's hat I repossessed as a trophy for Missoula. He looks a might happy, doesn't he? Thanks Jeff!!!!