Headed out 7.30 this morning on a cool, clear Oklahoma day, will be a nice day here today. For now though we are planning to make Moriarty at the halfway point – about an 8-9hr drive.

A small diversion into Sayre and 25miles North to Cheyenne OK this time to the Washita Battlefield Visitor Centre. The Washita Batlle occurred November 27, 1868 – starting 4 days earlier Custer set out from Camp Supply in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) for the Washita River Valley where some 6000 Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa had laid out winter camps.

Custer and his men took a smaller camp, that of Black Kettle, the villages leader. At the end of a few hours, Black Kettle and his wife Medicine Woman Later, were killed by soldiers as they tried to cross the Washita River. 30-60 Cheyenne lay dead in the snow, 800 village pony’s and mules were slaughtered, any lodges, food and clothing were burned and 53 women and children were taken captive.

Black Kettle is credited as being “a good man with deep wisdom, who devoted his life to trying to lead his people to safety, working against forces too mighty to fight”.

The brochure says, “Custer’s victory at Washita catapulted him into the publics imagination as the nations preeminent Indian fighter and possibly helped inspire his behaviour that led to his death at Little Bighorn in 1876.

Sounds to me like Custer was perhaps a little bit full of himself. Black Kettle warned him that should their paths cross again he would kill him. I guess Black Kettle’s death was avenged at Little Bighorn when Custer met his demise.

Onto Amarillo, a quick stop for provisions and call in to Long Hunters shop to get springs and then it was back on towards Moriarty for the night.

Arrived 6.30pm, a long day and another ahead of us tomorrow!

Cheers

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

Well the plaits may have kept me warmer but it’s still cold!! 55F/12.7C but at least the wind has now disappeared.

Six great stages, had a couple of hang ups with shotgun and a small jam able to be cleared for pistol. Jack had a couple of rounds jacked but otherwise not too bad.

Our Posse – Bois D’Arc, Broncho Red, Missouri Mae, Flat Top Okie, Stonewall Jackson, Brazos Belle, Crooked Bullet, Choctaw Al, KD Steel, Gun A Do It, Cal Cogburn, Scott Wayne, Jackaroo, and me – Kathouse Kelli.

Day 2 started a little on the cool side but the sun is shining and looking like a beautiful day for the last 4 stages.

Another consistent day with two unnecessary rifle misses on the last stage.

After lunch we had a man on man elimination Shootout. If you both miss, you are both out. I made it through to the final run against Green Hills Bart. A hang up on shotgun and then the pistol meant Green Hills Bart was the overall victor!!

So as it turned out in the wash, congratulations should go to overall winners, Paladenton and Missouri Mae!

Missouri Mae won Ladies Wild Bunch Modern and OK State Champ, Paladenton – Men’s Wild Bunch Modern and OK State Champ, Crooked Bullet- Men’s Wild Bunch Traditional (2nd Place and OK State Champ – Stoney Cahill) Brazos Belle – Wild Bunch Ladies Tradional and Flat Top Okie – Men’s Wild Bunch Senior.

Jackaroo finished 2nd Place in Men’s Wild Bunch Senior category and I finished 2nd Place and OK State Champ in Ladies Traditional.

Starting to understand the game more now, still learning how to run the shotguns but other than that, all good! A lot of fun to say the least, great stages!

Cheers

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

We have had a great few days at the Gold Coast, checking on the house, spending time with great friends Dug Deeper and Trixie. Beers with Mad Dog as well.

Shot a club match at Gold Coast Pistol Club on Saturday with a great bunch of cowboys and cowgirls with dinner after. Caught up with Chuckwagon and Pearl Starr! Met a couple of new faces as well and look forward to seeing them again at Chsholm Trail along with many more!

The car is loaded up and We are on our way to Millmerran, shooting Dalby this weekend and then bring on the Nationals! Woo hoo!

Will keep you updated this next week with all the goings on!

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

Been through Coffs Harbour, Grafton and will be stopping in Woodburn for lunch.

We are now heading into sugar cane country but the cane fields don’t appear to be as healthy as in the past. Has the rain affected the crop? Or is it harvest time? I’m sure when we’ve taken this route before at the same time of year that it’s been a lot greener.

It’s gorgeous blue skies and warm sunshine at our lunch stop in Woodburn and the best BLT with sweet chilli sauce. A slight breeze, enough to keep the Aussie flags and NSW one flying high.

Cruising up the highway and approaching beautiful Byron Bay – looks inviting today. In the middle pic if you look hard you might see the lighthouse on the headland.

We made it into the Gold Coast, below is a glimpse of part of the Gold Coast horizon, the beaches are in behind the high rises. Went and did a few things at Pacific Fair and then landed at Dug and Trixies. A great night of catchup!!

Kat xo

19 Sept

Posted with Blogsy

Visited with Mum and Dad for a couple of days (and Aunty Susan whilst she is staying there) on our continuation up the coast. I didn't get into Taree sorry Fiona, I'll call you this week!

So besides visiting, I needed to get Lethal Lilly's dress tried on her and check for any alterations that may be required (and to use Mums machines while I had access!) All good in that department! Got her petticoat made but still not quite happy with it and added another two extra double layered frills last night to give it the oomph I was after.

Success! Only hand stitching to go.

Now I had to laugh, Mum says “you putting a zip in that?” I nearly died as most costumers or seamstress's of period correct clothing would recoil in horror at that statement! I laughed and explained why I wasn't putting a zip in, her retort I think went a little something like “I don't have time for that s$@#!” Haa haa haa sounds about right for Mum.

Side note – zips were first invented in 1851 however didn't get into production or marketed for garment use until 1937 if I'm correct.

AND she was a good teacher, having learnt all my first sewing skills from her. She showed me a couple of new tricks for the embroidery program while I was there this trip too. She is very clever at manipulating graphics to create new embroidery designs, so there is still more for me to learn from her yet.

Well, now we have left Cundletown, had breaky at Port Macquarie turn off and now reading (shock horror) 18th Century Embroidery Techniques book, wondering if I can't recreate some of these fabulous works of art with a modern day machine and perhaps just a little hand sewing.

Have a great day wherever you may be and welcome to Australia Aspen Wrangler and Aspen Filly! They should have landed in Sydney an hour ago, see you guys in QLD.

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

We were able to catch up with a few of the Territory Regulators for dinner last night – Trail Rider, Trail Boss, Clancy, Trooper, and Red Wolf. Catch Boss and Sheriff Seth Bullock in Queensland in a couple of weeks.

Sorted a few issues in Canberra and finally got on the road for Sydney again. Time to change over hire car vehicles to a bigger one, catch up with Leisl (Brian's gorgeous daughter) and see Mister Skye (aka Tony Cohen of Illustrated Man – no, no tattoos today!)

Here's a taste of heading into the City

And here's the Sydney Harbour Bridge

(Hmm I should have thought about going to Civic while in Canberra and showing off the Nations Capital – Canberra.) I will find some of my older pics of Canberra to show our friends in the USA where we were.

On to Newcastle to play with Granddaughter Scarlett – and see Peter & Tighan of course!

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

Arrived in Sydney, 20C/68F clear skies and…..boom! Straight into traffic, ahh how nice (said with a hint of sarcasm), tunnel turning light lets about 8 cars through if you're lucky.

A little weird sitting in a small sedan lol! On the wrong side of the road and wrong side of the car or the right side which ever way you want to look at it. Feels strange slightly for now.

Annnnd we are in the tunnel, despite the sign saying we need to do 60kms, the trucks brake noise says it all. Moving at a tad over 0km and up to 20km, thanks Sydney it's so good to see you again 🙂

Almost into Canberra, you know it's Spring, the wattle is blooming. Looks reasonably green for this time of year and quite a bit of wind! And they say Oklahoma's windy! More here today then we had in Oklahoma in a long time, although it would be called a breeze there!

Lake George is green if nothing else! Oh and the road kill has changed from armadillo to kangaroos!

A chilly few days in Canberra, got to catch up with some work colleagues down at Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (aka the poo farm) and went to lunch with a few of them. Thanks for the catch up guys!!

Trail Rider and Trail Boss still moving in so Saturday assisted with moving stuff from the farm. Sunday and it's another glorious sunny day, yet cool and will catch up with our some of our shooting pard's tonight for dinner before moving up the coast.

A HUGE thank you to Trail Rider and Trail Boss for your hospitality for the past few days.

Jack n Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy

Was quite a good flight, got one of them silly horseshoe pillows that aren't so silly after all?! Best sleep I've had on a long flight ever.

Our stop in DFW called for dinner and a beer, 'Harp' at the Irish pub.

Found candy that was shaped like Lego blocks and was just in awe of the selection there!

A stop in Brisbane to refuel and a bs run through security again when we haven't left airside? Bit bizarre but anyway.

Nice sunrise this morning and will be a glorious 25C/77F in Brisbane.

Soon we'll be on to Sydney and then Canberra.

Sent the man for a cappuccino in the mean time.

Kat xo

Posted with Blogsy