Author Archives: kathousekelli70

Capulin Volcano

Posted on by kathousekelli70

On our meanderings up through New Mexico from Moriarty we headed for Raton and a side visit to Capulin (pronounced Car-poo-leen).

Jack had read about Capulin Volcano National Monument and had decided we would make a stop.

This now inactive volcano at its peak is 8182ft above sea level and is covered in rich volcanic soil and forested habitat.

An aerial view of Capulin from Wikipaedia.

Part of the National Parks scheme it is $15 per vehicle to go to the top, where you can take a couple of different hiking trails. One goes around the top rim and one shorter one down into the cinder cone volcanic crater itself. Be prepared for a steep climb back out though on a well paved path.

At the top of the Volcano you can see to parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Kansas.

It was President Woodrow Wilson, in 1916 who would have Capulin Volcano set as a National Monument.

From here we took a right out of the park gates and headed for Folsom, all we found was a tiny little town, didn’t go into the museum and the historic hotel was closed.

Back on the road our next stop would be Trinidad, Colorado and on to Limon for the night.

Tuesday we headed NW to Cheyenne and on to Wild Horse John and Saginaw Sue’s – Wild Horse Haven as I like to call it.

Kat xo

End of Trail 2018

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's that time of year where cowboys and cowgirls come together for one of the biggest weeks of shooting.

 

The World Championship of cowboy action shooting is the agenda at Founders Ranch, New Mexico. Five countries – Australia, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and United States of America competed for the top honor's in both Wild Bunch and Cowboy matches.

This year, as previously reported, we decided to forego Wild Bunch and headed to Cortez prior to this week.

Monday: picked up packs, caught up with friends and readied ourselves for the week ahead. A pleasant surprise was my picture on The Independent for Cowboy Days in Edgewood/Moriarty. Thanks to Cat Ballou the photo BT Blade took of me during Wild Bunch last year was used for their front cover!

 

Tuesday: we did 6 stages of warm up and attempted to get acclimatised to the altitude whilst running uphill or across some of the stages.

Tuesday evening we had a great trip up Sandia Tramway with dinner beforehand at Sandiago's grill with the Range Riders (from Australia) – Pearl Starr, Charlie Wagon, Judge Ruger, Tumbleweed Wagon, Sarah, Stan Wellback and Dallas Roarke.

 

Wednesday: Doily Gang Clinic was on, instructing with Honey B Quick, Shamrock Sadie, Lefty Jo, Two Sons. We had 18 ladies attend the transitions clinic, some returning for the 2nd or 3rd time and others their very first.

Plainsman, shotgun clinics and side matches were on. Cowboy swap meet, vendors are open and the crowds are starting to increase.

The evening kicked off with the opening ceremonies, Tumbleweed Wagon carried the flag for Australia.

 

The Wooly Awards were announced with Texas Jack Daniels receiving one as 2017 Governor of the year and The Territorial Marshal's with match directors Missouri Mae and Flat Top Okie took 2017 Match of the Year for Red Dirt Rampage.

 

The class of 2018 Regulators were announced! Congratulations to each and every one!

 

Thursday: first day of main match and we had the late wave start. It's hot, dusty but ready for action! Stages 1-4.

 

Friday: second day of main match, mid wave, stages 5-8, shopping with vendors and we're still having fun!

 

Saturday: it's the final 4! With the cooler very early start we were soon done and all up to the total scores to see where we all finished. We had a great posse – Posse 25 with posse marshal Chickamauga Charlie, Polly Penny Bright, Coffee, Shotgun Boogie, Hell Hound, Rephil, TinTin, Slow Hand Don, Dutch Bear, Justice Ann, Coal Train, Buck Garrett, Chantilly Shooter, Hot Rock, Hud, Hawkeye Kid, Pearl Starr, Charlie Wagon, Jack and myself.

With the posse shoot done, it was lunch, ice cream and head back to get ready for the banquet.

 

I attended the costume contest and was 2nd place in the new Steampunk category. Congratulations to EZGZ in 1st place. Congratulations to all other category winners and placings! There were some fabulous costumes!

 

The beer flowed, the music played and some showed off their dance skills.

The top 8 Wild Bunch men's and ladies were announced, as was the top 16 cowboys and cowgirls. Clancy and I were the only two Australians to make the shootout this year for cowboy match and RC Shot for the Wild Bunch shootout as an alternate.

 

Sunday: the shootout gets under way. Congratulations to Idaho Sixgun Sam and Last Chance Morales for winning not only the shootout but overall top lady and man for 2018 Wild Bunch.

The cowboy shootout is run and final finish was Holy Terror for the ladies and C.S. Brady for the men.

Jack finished 10th in his category with 1st place going to Long Swede, 2nd Hell's Comin, 3rd Silver City Rebel, 4th Angry Tom, 5th Lucky Thirteen, 6th Texas Mean Gene, 7th Fast Eddie, 8th Kansan and 9th El Lazo. Congratulations Silver Senior's on your placings!

 

In Lady Wrangler category, 10th Wild Cattle Kate, 9th Ms. Laurie Darlin, 8th Ex Sighted, 7th Young Lady, 6th Ruby Jewel, 5th Idaho Sixgun Sam, 4th Legally Loaded, 3rd Clancy, 2nd Echo Meadows who cheekily offered to hold my World Championship trophy again. Lol! Congratulations ladies!

 

Out of 22 Aussie's 14 placed, 2 received Spirit of the Game awards, 2 placed in costume and if I remember correctly, 6 or 7 got clean matches.

Overall winners this year were Matt Black and Holy Terror. Congratulations to two fine young shooters!

 

For everyone who attended End of Trail 2018, may it have been with goals achieved. Whether your first ever or multiple entry, I sincerely hope you enjoyed the experience.

Kat xo

 

Revenge of Montezuma

Posted on by kathousekelli70

We arrived into Cortez Thursday afternoon to a quick shower of rain. The range was looking great and Windygap Regulators had it well set up for the match.

Friday was sunny and hot with Long Range, Cowboy Clays, an afternoon warm up stage and a fun team match. Jack, myself and Lefty Jo did a run through and then we did another run with Dutch Bear – who I'm going to call 'lucky shot' now! Lol!

 

That night we headed to the Brewery with our Nederland friends Dutch Bear and Justice Ann. It was nice to sit and chat over dinner and drinks with you both.

Heading to the range early Saturday morning it was a little overcast but rain was not forecast until later in the day.

Hmm, well that soon turned around to be light rain on and off while we were shooting. The fine powdery bull dust soon turned to layers of mud and we all found ourselves about 3″ taller!

 

We had a great posse, everyone worked, laughed and had a great time! Hawkshaw Fred and I were Posse Marshal's along with Jackaroo, Annie D. Vine, San Juan, Hurricane Camille, Prairie Dog Brown, (Silky), Judge Ruger, Tumbleweed Wagon, (Sarah), Stan Wellback, Dallas Roarke, Hot Tamale, Cowtown Scout, Awful Ernie, Shotgun Shell, Private Pappy and Wooden Nichols.

 

We were pretty much done with 6 stages by 12.30pm and with lunch out of the way, the afternoon was free to do what you like. Having been out the night before and the weather was still a little indifferent, we opted for TV dinners and found a western channel with no ads! Uninterrupted, 3 old westerns I'd never heard of before – Gunfight in Dodge City, Bite The Bullet and can't remember the other one now.

2.12am – awoken from my slumber, thunderstorm and more rain!

Up at sparrows to head to the range as we were supposed to be starting again at 8am and it is awash with mud, puddles and still sprinkling.

 

Some were ready to finish the 4 stages but rightly so, the match directors called it. Everyone was given a 19sec stage for the 4 uncompleted ones and it was changed to a rank match given we all had shot a different 6.

 

With gear packed up everyone hung around for door prizes and eventually awards. There were a number of happy shooters who shot clean yesterday so got a clean match award, the famous Revenge soap, cloth and delicious fudge!

Thanks to Judge Ruger's wife, Sarah for getting the 'Aussie' contingent pic for us!

 

Jack finished 2nd in Senior. Congratulations to Quickly Downunder in 1st place and Kodiak Kid in 3rd place.

 

I was the only Lady Wrangler. Congratulations to all who placed in their categories!

New Zealand and Australia finished top overall. Congratulations White Lightning Jack on your overall win and I wish you all the very best for a great match at End of Trail!

 

It would be remiss of me if I didn't thank the Windygap Regulators for putting another great match despite the rain effects! As always your small group put in a huge effort to host the 18th Annual Revenge of Montezuma.

To all of you, especially Stumble Leena, Piedra Kidd and the Martin family we thank you again for having us! We all know the area definitely needed the rain too!

Well….We were able to do a late checkout in Cortez and secure our room in Moriarty for an extra night. So getting laundry on whilst packing, we were able to hit the road just after noon. We will be there late in the arvo and can catch up with others at Founders Ranch.

Have an awesome week and travel safely if y'all are still getting to End of Trail.

Kat xo

 

On and On….

Posted on by kathousekelli70

On we travelled through the 'Land of Enchantment' with its ever changing vast open plains…..

 

to rocky outcrops….

 

taking on sculptural like features on an otherwise desolate landscape.

 

We have now arrived in Cortez for Revenge of Montezuma! A quick trip to the range, a change of hotels, a trip to Walmart and we are settled for the night.

Side matches start tomorrow!

 

Travel safe if you are on the road for EOT! If you're starting Wild Bunch World Champs, go get 'em!

Kat xo

 

Places We Hadn’t Been

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Amarillo, Texas – The Big Texan

Jack and I have been through Amarillo many a time before. Every time we do he makes the comment about how he has been to The Big Texan before………..but I haven't!!

Finally we stopped and I got to experience this fabulous venue on Route 66 with its colourful hotel, the big cowboy, the odd cowboy boot wearing excited dinosaur and the big bull outside the restaurant.

 

Inside is a gift shop, laser shooti arcade, their own craft brews and bar, a fabulous restaurant with stuffed animals, deer horn chandeliers, wait staff all wearing the mandatory cowboy boots and hat and of course it wouldn't be complete without the outdoor area and the big rocking chair!

 

What a unique experience! Oh and I forgot to mention this is the home of the 72oz steak that if you eat it in under an hour you get it for free! Holy cow! That's massive but one lady, Molly Schuyler, holds the current World Record for eating not 1 but 3 72oz steaks in under an hour – to be more precise, she did it in around 20 minutes!!

 

This restaurant has been running since 1960 and if you haven't had a chance to stop there then you need to! Even if only to brows the gift shop and check out the place.

Adrian, Texas – Midpoint

Midpoint on Route 66 in Adrian is the exact halfway point of the route! 1139 miles to Chicago and 1139 miles to Los Angeles.

 

Nothing much else in Adrian, the poor little Cafe was struggling with burst water pipes this day meaning no rest rooms and no food service. There were people from Leeds, England, Chicago and us.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico – Blue Hole

Again, every time we drive past the signs we say to each other, we should stop there one day, so came the time to take a side exit back onto Route 66 and visit the Blue Hole.

 

It's spectacular curiously crystal clear blue waters sit at a constant 61F/16C. It is 60ft wide, 81ft deep and has an outflow of 3000gal per minute. I'm curious about that and how large the outflow is, where does it go to, where does water come in? Divers can explore the hole but with lifeguards on duty it is for those wants to just jump into the refreshing waters from various rock points over and over again.

Moriarty, New Mexico – Sierra Blanca Brewery

How many times have we been to Moriarty now and not once have we managed to get to the brewery?! I hear you all gasp in disbelief knowing Jack and I enjoy beer tasting, okay well drinking, especially trying out new local craft brews and we hadn't been to this one just two minutes from the hotel!

 

It's been in its current location since 2006 and has around 14 varieties on tap for tasting, beer flight samples, or full glasses, your choice. Here we sampled the Outlaw Lager, Alien Wheat, Alien Vanilla Milk Stout and the Pancho Verde Green Chile Cerveza. Then Jack went for a straight up Alien Wheat and I had the Cherry Wheat – I like that one too. One case Alien Wheat $30 bucks!

Grants, New Mexico – Route 66 Drive Thru

Into Grants to drive thru their new neon sign for a photo opportunity. We will visit this again in February and see it of an evening lit up!

 

We stopped at the Mining Museum briefly and agin we will make time for this next trip as there is an underground tour of the uranium mine right below the building!

 

Milan, New Mexico – Transcontinental Air Transport Museum

A small little building of National Heritage, the restored 1953 Flight Service Station. The Federal facility operated until 1973. It tells the tale of Charles Lindbergh's involvement in TAT's historic plane and train cross country travel, mail routes and his gegraphical aerial photography taken in 1929.

The photos were recreated in 2008.

The Beacon 62 power shed sat in the Zuni Mountains when it was in operation. Each beacon tower with its accompanying power shed and concrete arrow made for a visual “light line” along the route.

These beacons were located 10-15 miles apart with every 50miles having a landing strip which would also consist of actual radio contact and a weather station.

 

Also on the grounds is the metal route arrow of 59B moved to the museum location from El Morro.

 

A 1955 “Delta Platform” UHF antenna.

 

The Transcontinental Airway was approved by congress in 1923 becoming the world's first civilian ground-based air navigation system. It was to improve airmail service from the then current daylight airmail service that took greater than 2 days.

 

The TAT passenger service cost $340 a ticket to get you from one side of the country to the other. Fred Harvey provided in Flint drinks and meals and after day 1 flight journey the Harvey Houses provided swift service to a waiting Pullman and the train ride and onto the next day's flight continuation.

 

This was a great little museum with some very interesting and unique exhibit pieces.

That's it for new and interesting places!

Kat xo

 

Rain Rain Go Away

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Supposed to be setting the range, so we can play!

Oops! Storm came through and still going. Should have known better than to leave the umbrellas up and the cushions out!

Jack was to head to the range after an appointment and help set up for the Oklahoma State Wild Bunch match, so he won’t be heading out there yet.

My guess is Arcadia is copping a lot of it as well. Red dirt will now be red mud!

Oh and throw in some tiny hail. Yes I said tiny because this is nothing compared to the baseball size they get here during some storms!

Have a good one!

Kat xo

Time Flies

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It’s been a busy week or two for sure!

Memorial Day weekend we flew the flag in remembrance of those who have served and fallen for this country.

Jack and I hit the range Saturday to do some drills and Sunday was the club match.

Tuesday I had the pleasure of doing some coaching, then Wednesday for range practice day.

All the while fitting in sewing, swimming, shopping and more.

The weather here has certainly taken a turn as Spring seems to have sprung and dissipated straight into hot summer temperatures. When you hear them speak of ‘cooler’ temps being 88F/31C then you know it’s hot!

It’s beer o’clock, margaritaville time and this weekend we will head to Cushing for a club match!

See you on the range somewhere soon!! Have a sensational weekend wherever you may be, whether with family or your shooting family!

Kat xo

Talladega, Alabama

Posted on by kathousekelli70

For every motoring enthusiast and especially those of motor racing, NASCAR, and more, then a visit to the Talladega Speedway and International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a ‘got to do it at least once!’ deal that you don’t want to miss.

There is an abundance of cars from all eras of motor racing within the museum.

There are many cabinets with memorabilia from drivers photos, race suits, flags, helmets, collector cars, you name it! They probably have it there.

Three large connecting buildings house cars that are restored, some are still original and unrestored. There are a few wrecks from one of the largest NASCAR race accidents in history involving 14 cars in 1996. There are dirt track cars, drag cars and midgets. Throw in a few motor bikes just for good measure.

The Hall of fame honors men and women from motor sports with a cabinet holding a trophy and lit description of their racing career. Around the walls are drawings of recipients, spectacular paintings of race cars and outside there is even one of the ocean racing boats, Dale Earnhardt’s tour bus, Richard Petty’s plane. It’s wild!

Do you remember the movie with Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby in, Talladega Nights? The museum also has Ricky Bobby’s Wonder Bread car used in the film! I need to watch that movie again now.

Next we took the tour bus over to the track. Bobby 😂😉 (not Ricky Bobby) was our host and as Bobby drove us around I tried to capture as much information as fast as my fingers could type.

Talladega is the biggest and most competitive track in the US for NASCAR racing.

The track is 2.6 miles long, 188 laps will give you a full 500 mile radius.

During race week it is estimated some 200,000 people would be here between fans, officials, drivers, crew, law enforcement, first responders, vendors, workers etc!

We entered the North tunnel that takes you under the track and into the infield where during a race some 50,000 people can be found camping!

The track has its own care facility/hospital for race days. The garages house up to 62 vehicles. Goodyear has its own building for tyres/tires changing and balancing any of the race cars where needed.

There are some specialty seating areas where you can join a club for a premium price to enjoy air conditioned restrooms, special food pavilion and covered seating with its own tv screens to enjoy the race on the whole track. This ‘club’ sits near the checkered line.

Moving right along and we didn’t get to drive round the track in the bus or get out to experience it.

Around the top of the stadium, in special booths, each team can have two spotters watching the race and feeding info back to the garage.

The track was built on a WWII air base. The two airstrips remain on the infield and are now RV hookup spaces.

Near the ‘front line’ there is a motor home hook up area called Front Runners club, Also pay a premium price for these spots. They have a view of a 4 stories high wall, where cars are going to be hanging on sideways above the yellow line!

There you have it, would lovvvve to see a race there but can at least say we have visited and taken in the sheer size of this famous speedway.

Shake ‘n’ bake!

Kat xo

P.S. there was no Lightning McQueen or Hudson Hornet kidlets 😉