Tag Archives: sunshine and fresh air

End Of Trail

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Day 1 – Thursday

It’s hot hot hot in the Arizona desert and we were on the late wave starting at 2 pm. Shooting stages 5, 6, 7 & 8 for the start.

Stage 5 – The Rough Rider Saloon

Line is: I’m getting dizzy!

Finishing shotgun
On to pistol
Start rifle
Then on to shotgun

Stage 6 – graveyard rundown

Line is: Are they dead yet?

Start rifle, on to 2 shotgun, run down to finish with pistol.

Stage 7 – Colorado Cattleman’s Association

Line is: I want to make a deposit

Start holding money bag in hand.

Stage 8 – Dodge City Depot

Line is: they’re getting restless!

Continuous Nevada sweep with pistols, move and repeat with rifle, finish with shotgun

We finished the day and headed for the swap meet, couple of drinks, then home to clean and get ready for the next.

Day 2 – Friday

It’s still hot and dry but on the middle wave starting at 11am, slightly more pleasant than the afternoon wave.

It’s also RED shirt Friday – Remember Everyone Deployed. So a sea of red whether it be shirts, tops, skirts or whole outfits from top to bottom, cowboys do it well.

And have to say on Stage 10 Holysmoke Harmon perfectly matched the train also with red blue and gold.

Stage 9 – the cattle race

Line is: load ‘em up!

Stage 10 – Train Depot

Line is: All Aboard!

Stage 11 – Fort Sinclair

Line is: point me to the sawbones

Start on the middle with rifle, got a couple of knockdowns so if you don’t take them down, makeup with shotgun, move to shotgun then into pistol and if needed use shotgun if pistol knockdowns left up.

Stage 12 – Coosies Mercantile

Line is: Got a cigar?

Nice little rundown from rifle to shotgun and across to middle to pistol

That’s day 2 done and it’s one more day of main match to go! Let’s see how it all comes out in the wash tomorrow, where tails of wins, woes, should have’s and could have’s will unfold. we will see.

Had my hat cleaned and reshaped today by the lovely Dugan Hats. It’s been 12 or 14 years – lost shape, got wet, dried out, in the rain etc. used to be flat top with a rolled edge all round.

THIS is what it has been like for many years now.

Bent out of shape

THIS is the cleaned, reshaped and stiffened version I have now. Slight telescope top, rolled edge at the back with a slight tip at the front.

Bought a few other bits from her also and will take my brown hat tomorrow.

Tonight was Side Match Awards, won Speed 1911 Ladies Traditional. Other speed events, Plainsman, long range and clay events all done this evening, along with a Mexican dinner.

Right now though it’s time for cleaning off the crusty salt and dust and hit the hay.

One more day to round at the match!

Good luck to all for your final match day.

Kat x

M T W…

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – meet the west!

It’s all cowboys, cowgirls, boots, hats, corsets, chaps and so much more! It’s flashy B-Western shirts, rigs that shine with bling, guns sporting colourful grips for that signature look!

Welcome to End of Trail, the World Championships of Cowboy action shooting.

Everyone has their persona, their style and sporting the same cowboy/cowgirl smile and anticipation of shooting and meeting people both new and known.

Monday

A casual start to the match, headed to the range to check out vendors already open and meet up with a few people.

Still trying to get rid of head cold and getting the right stuff for it.

Bit of shopping around.

Tuesday

L.O.C.A.S – Ladies of Cowboy Action Shooting had a mini match this year at End of Trail. 70 odd ladies turned up to shoot 3 stages and a great time was had by all.

Top 3 Ladies – Midwest Hale 1st, Gunslinger Grace 2nd and myself 3rd.

Top 3 Belles – (under 17’s) Sweet K Oss 1st, Freckles Sure Shot 2nd, Calamity Gray 3rd.

The Aussie ladies of LOCAS (missing Lucky Strike Lass) L: Pearl Starr, Kat, Wild Ruby Rose, Sassy Belle, Sister Sarah Carnegie, Ringers Ruby and Clancy

Wild Bunch has been running for 2 days and the Sweet Sixteen was held this afternoon.

Two Australians made the Top 16 for shootoff – congrats to Broken Spur (and it’s his first EOT!!) for the men’s and Sister Sarah Carnegie for the ladies.

Wild Bunch Awards were Tuesday evening and 6 out of 6 Australian’s that competed placed and won buckles!! With none other than Sister Sarah Carnegie being the first Australian lady to win a World Championship in Wild Bunch in the Ladies Classic Modern category! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Mean Mongrel Matt 3rd Traditional, Broken Spur 2nd Modern and 6th overall from 164 shooters, Sister Sarah Carnegie 1st World Champion Ladies Classic Modern, Constable Nelson 2nd Senior Modern, Front: Ringer 5th Senior Modern, Ringers Ruby 4th Ladies Modern

Wednesday

Is warm up day – it’s all about cowboy action shooting from here on in. Well some shopping with the vendors on the side.

Our day started early with a safety briefing before the 8am wave, the sun was coming up and the very almost nothing slight chill to the desert air was about to disappear.

That moment at sunrise before vendors row will be filled with cowboys and cowgirls!

We shot 4 warm up stages in some very reasonable times.

We set out then for speed events – a quick couple runs at shotgun, rifle and pistol before helping out Shooting Fox from Oklahoma on the Speed 1911 side match – had to have crack at seeing if I could still shoot traditional. Couldn’t help myself.

Then it was on for another 4 stages of warm up to round out the afternoon.

Tonight was opening ceremonies, this years End of Trail hosts 45 of the 52 US states, 11 countries being Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovakia, United Kingdom and USA.

Flags from participating Nations.

This year is also the largest junior, buckaroo and buckarette contingent ie: the kids – 32!!

The Class of 2026 saw 30 new Regulators honored.

AND the US National Championship will go back to the Arizona Rough Riders in 2028 and the World Championships will move to Oklahoma and the Territorial Marshals!! A beautiful central location for both sides of the country, outstanding facilities and the best banquet held at the National Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame! We can only hope it can hold more people because it is one spectacular cowboy be all and end all.

Phew! It’s late, may all your bangs go clang for main match this week if your competing and stay tuned for updates if your not!

Kat x

JacknKats Place

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Yep, so it’s been awfully quite in Jack n Kat’s world what with COVID and all.

This past couple of weeks (and another to come) we should have been in the United States for Comin’ Atcha, Talledaga Speedway, Alabama and more, then that got cancelled with not being able to leave the country.

So we were to go to Chisholm Trail here, then that got cancelled.

I was going to cancel my leave but tired me having still worked during all the so called lockdown’s etc I was ready for a break. And hey! After the past six years of not having to work and then a year of part time – full time work has been an eye opener again!! 🤣🤣

So….I decide to keep two of my weeks leave and have a break with Jack. Let’s get some outdoor stuff done we say! Sure! Then thankfully we got quotes for some work to be done instead of assuming our very active and young brains could make our older and in Jack’s case much older body could keep up with our intentions.

Suffice to say it was still a very busy two weeks as I take every moment this evening of my last break for a very long time and head back to work tomorrow.

So what did we achieve?

Well it started with nights of painting the mural ready for the pool backdrop. 18ft long and 4ft high. Meh, did I bite off more than I could chew? Procrastination was taking hold about small difficult sections. Hence the horse and rider being the very last 6” x 6” done. He is my most favorite piece now!!

My interpretation of Monument Valley

So the rest was organizing gardens and getting them set for ‘Pandora’ the garden fairy to arrive and work her magic revamping, planting and guiding me to be a good green thumb!

We worked our butts off moving plants, shoveling dirt configuring plantings, getting it just so for future garden happiness in a minimalistic care style for me.

The tidying up process prior to gardening and paving guys coming in. Ie: that was NOT Jack and I!

The after effects from Pandora’s magic! Oh and Scottie and Ian the paving guys. 🤣

The after effects, including painting of fences I might add and new bamboo screening.

So now it’s time to tidy, reinstall pool fence (‘cause you know I’m gonna change that up to glass later!) for safety and regulation, seal pavers, install mural and a bit more mood lighting before return to work.

What else got done during the staycation? Well a bit of shooting, hanging with friends, visit to IKEA to start the next renovation, hung a couple new blinds in newly painted window frames, checking and waiting on bar install, oh did I tell you I finished the reupholster of the bar stools? Did that, bit of sewing bit of crafting and just downright enjoying being home with the man. 😉

Hugs y’all!

Kat xo

Everything’s ‘normal’

Posted on by kathousekelli70

As normal as it could be haa haa, whilst I sit eating ‘burnt offerings’ for my dinner before I go to work this afternoon.

Yes, burnt schnitty it is!

I’m like a bower bird today flitting from one shiny object to the next. (Jacks background comment- ‘stop doing other things while you are trying to cook!’)

Jacks been playing with his car, working things out in it. I picked up my embroidery machine and put the other two in for their service.

There is still some ironing left to be done but otherwise I’m almost ready to rock and roll it and get to some cutting out for the next projects!

It’s Day 2 of the push-up challenge for Headspace and I’m over halfway with today’s pushups. 155 completed yesterday and on my way to the final 89 left to be done for the 177 today!

The weather is clearing from much rain to glorious days in the low 20’s (71-73f), who said it was winter here? Think we missed it! 😂😂

Anyway, we hope you are having a sensational day no matter where you are in the world.

Keep smiling!

Kat xo

Hell On Wheels

Posted on by kathousekelli70

2019 Hell On Wheels got underway last Thursday in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

This year it is hot, the stages are utilizing every square inch of the bay – meaning you are going to have to get moving between positions – the glare of the quartz dirt is full on but the stages themselves are good sequences.

Thursday was Warm Up’s and side match day, with an adhoc Doily Gang clinic put together with Shamrock Sadie, Lefty Jo, Honey B Quick and myself for 6 lovely ladies!

Friday its an early start as we head to the range for a 91F day (33C) and 6 stages. We are done by lunchtime before too much of the heat sets in although with all the running around we are really feeling it anyway.

Jack is shooting black powder this match, so plenty of smokey fun for him.

Saturday morning again an early start although its only in the 80’s, more running, fun and laughter. The final 6 stages are done and we will see how it all turns out Sunday. Thanks to a great posse – Grizzly Grumps, Murky Mick, John Sawman, Trudy Hart, Outlaw Josey Wales, Paladin Pete, Pinewood Kid (we missed you Pinewood Rose!), Sandhiller, Panhandle Kate, Sentry, White Raven, Pick, Tin Lizzy, Velvet, Slickbald, Jack and myself.

Saturday evening we spent time with friends – Charlie Wagon, Pearl Starr, Clancy, Wild Horse John, Saginaw Sue, Jack and myself – at Accomplice Beer Company at the historic Cheyenne Train Depot. Pouring your own beer and only paying for what you’re pour, sensational place!! A great concept and not the first time we have been here. Of course, Clancy, Pearl Starr and myself had to have a ‘Margarita Sista’s’ token margarita whilst together.

Sunday morning and we head for brunch with Wild Horse John and Saginaw Sue before heading to the range for awards. Once again with 13 Aussies in attendance we faired quite well against the competition.

Stats: 208 shooters – 14 or 15 clean shooters – Grizzly Grumps, Murky Mick, Mystic Meg, Coyote Baz, Clancy won from prize draw – Senior Duelist 2nd, Sam Balin – Lady Gunfighter 1st, Sister Sarah Carnegie – Frontier Cartridge 1st, Henry Moon – Gunfighter 2nd, Deadly Downunder – 49er’s 1st, Charlie Wagon – Lady 49er’s 2nd, Clancy – Senior Gunfighter 1st, K C Woody – Senior Frontier Cartridge 2nd, Jackaroo – Lady Wrangler 2nd, Pearl Starr – Lady Wrangler 1st, Kathouse Kelli.

  • Lady Wranglers
  • Jack, 2nd Senior Frontier Cartridge
  • The Gamblers contingent.
  • With our honorary Aussie, Aspen Filly

Hell On Wheels 2019 overall champions for the Men’s was Cobra Cat and for the Ladies, Kathouse Kelli.

Hell On Wheels overall Ladies and Mens

Yet again, we had fun and enjoyed it. Now its time for packing, checking, shuffling, re-packing etc.

See you on the trail somewhere!

Kat xo

End of Trail – Part 2

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Its now Thursday night and should be catching some zz’s as tomorrow we have the early start!

However, let me quickly catch you up.

Yesterday, Wednesday – Started out the morning with the Doily Gang Clinic, instructors this year, Shamrock Sadie, Lefty Jo, Honey B Quick, Iron Maiden, Sassy Dancer, Cooncan and myself Kathouse Kelli.

Was a great clinic, we had 2 shooters each to offer transition tips for pistols and more with long guns as well. Shot a couple of stages for critiquing and all in all, think they were all pretty happy to say the least when we were done. Thank you ladies for coming and glad we can offer something back to the sport for all.

Yeehaa ladies! Hope you are having great match’s!

From there it was grab some pictures of stages ready for main match. Go take a few runs at speed events. Pearl Starr and I then spent a couple hours in the LOCAS tent and in the down time helped Shamrock Sadie with a ‘craft task’ for later in the week.

Open ceremonies were held late in the afternoon. Alvira Sullivan Earp carried the flag for Australia! Legendary Lawman for Canada. Bloody Mary for Denmark. Chrissy Carson for Netherlands. The Kiwi Kid for New Zealand and in his uniform for the United States of America, Cash Cassidy.

With the anthem sung, the Wild Bunch, Match Directors, 111 first time attendees recognised it was on to the announcement of new Regulators. The 2018 Class of Regulators included many great recipients with none other than my very own Jackaroo!! Way to go man.

Two more from Australia – RC Shot, Mrs H, our Oklahoma friends – Flat Top Okie, Missouri Mae, Dutch friends – Dutch Bear, Justice Anne, Texas sweetheart – Sopapilla Sue and many more!! Congratulations to you all!

As the beer flowed, the Margarita party started at Hot Tamale’s and then it was time for sleep as Main Match was due to start today.

Now we arrive into today, Thursday – First day of main match. Jack and I are in Posse 21 with Red Haymaker our illustrious posse leader, Pepper Shot, C N Double, Captain Clark, Cowboy Jon, Deadly Don, Estancia Kid, Fast Fingers, Garrison Joe, Gilly Boy Hellbender, Huachuca Slim, James Colt, Lil Rob, Longcolt, Mick E Mouse, Old Frenchy, Sharpeye, Sunshine Belle, Jackaroo and myself. A big thanks to Nacho Momma for keeping score for all of us!

Four stages on the mid wave – 9, 10, 11, 12 were shot today with some degree of difficulty and success, blue skies, sunshine and a hell of a lot of New Mexico dust! Once we finished we shot the Posse shoot and we have a pretty good running time for that at the moment!

With weary feet, smiles as wide as you can get, we head to have lunch then back to the Motel for rest, relaxation and cleaning dust out of guns, nose etc. Haa haa haa

Coupled with a chat with Clancy, the occasional beer and a bit of hand sewing to finalise costume it is now getting late. Oh and a bit of cream puff for dessert. (groan after creammmmmm)

Charlies Spic n Span, Las Vegas NM ultra large mega cream puffs!

It is time to hit the hay, for the posse rides early in the morning with first shots down range at 7.30am.

Night peeps! Here’s to another awesome day tomorrow. Make it count! We are all still in the game! It ain’t over, til it’s over!

Hugs

Kat xo

The Gamblers Club Match

Posted on by kathousekelli70

A great day was had on the sunny Gold Coast today with 22 shooters in attendance.

 

We had a couple brand new cowboy's that certainly held their own. Congratulations Marksman and Itchy Trigger! A couple who hadn't been for a while and Trailrider was up from Canberra and came out to play!

 

We actually got 6 rain free stages done today! Yee haa!

 

Had a blast! See you on the trail!

Kat xo

 

Heading North

Posted on by kathousekelli70

From Newcastle to Gold Coast in a day, means around an 8 hour plus trip. Unlike days of old, it’s now mostly double highway, bypassing the coastlines and beach town views.

What would you find along the coast should you go the old route?

Newcastle

Beautiful beaches like Nobbys, Merewether and more.

Bogey Hole is a convict-built ocean bath. Also known as Commandants Baths, the sandstone/conglomerate rock was constructed in about 1820 intended for the personal use of Lieutenant-Colonel James Thomas Morriset.

Fort Scratchley today is a historic site and popular for watchers of whales migrating. Now a museum, it was built in 1882 to defend the city against a possible Russian attack. (Hmmm first time I’ve ever read about that!) The Fort never fired it’s guns in anger however, until 1942 during a Japanese submarine attack.

Seal Rocks

Further North you can find other popular surf spots such as Seal Rocks and Treachery. I frequented that area in another life.

Seal Rocks was originally named for its fur seal colonies that have not inhabited the area for many, many years, apparently they are being seen again in the Port Stephens area.

Popular for some awesome surf breaks, Seal Rocks and Treachery are very much a surfers paradise and still remains very uncommercialised.

Forster-Tuncurry

The twin towns on the coast about 20-25mins East of Mum and Dads at Taree.

Tuncurry is the smaller of the two towns and began around 1875. Tuncurry means ‘plenty of fish’, originally a timber milling area it is a beautiful sleepy little fishing town.

Forster being the larger town of the area, boasts beautiful beaches and surfing spots. It is a very popular Summer holiday spot being only 4 hrs North of Sydney.

Best fish and chips are found in coastal towns where it’s coming in fresh daily! No trip to Forster happens without fish and chips heavily salted and wrapped in paper! Yum!

Port Macquarie

First visited by Europeans in 1818 when John Oxley made it to the coast from his interior explorations.

It became a secondary crime penal settlement for convicts in 1821.

In 1823, the first sugar cane to be grown in Australia started here. Now that is interesting, as a kid, I only ever knew far north NSW and Queensland as the sugar cane country! Well there you go, learn something new ever day!

Anyway, lots of history there and gorgeous beaches also.

Up into further North NSW, the only remaining old section of Pacific Highway still goes through Coffs Harbour. Really don’t think there is anywhere for them to bypass this section but who’d want to miss the Big Banana attraction!?!😂😂

Coffs Harbour

Home to Big Banana, banana plantations (being superseded by blueberries), sugar cane regions, beaches and porpoise pool.

Was named after John Korff when he sought shelter from a storm in 1847, later accidentally changed to Coffs by an administrative error by a surveyor in 1861.

Many resorts and marinas here, very big tourist area.

Further there is Grafton, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads before crossing into the sunshine state.

Soooo much coastline to explore and then from Coolangatta up is beach after beach after beach!

Get some sand and surf into ya!

Kat xo

P.S. with Drive thru and a couple quick stops it took us just on 9hours.

Shooting with The Gamblers

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Saturday passed with a down range kind of day! After a busy few weeks assessing and establishing we are almost there!

The weather was rather warm but nothing that a good ole icy pole can’t fix. Ooo brain freeze!

We had a great group of 17 turn out despite the heat.

Six stages with The Gamblers, saw Jack on top!! Woo hoo! Go man.

Things are starting to look good for The Duel Downunder!

Club Match Feb 2nd 2019

Hope you had a good one no matter where you are!

Kat xo

Auctions

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Jack and I are getting sorted and trying to find cheaper alternatives to new furniture etc that we know is not in the ‘yet to be delivered’ lot.

We found a new source with Lloyds Auctions online and scored pretty well this past week. We picked up 8 outdoor chairs for the back patio for the princely sum of $65 (with auction buyers premium add 12.5% = $73), 3 black mesh backed office chairs for $15 (with one going to my hairdressers son as we only needed 2) and a brand new, still in the wrapping, 7 layered, commercial grade queen mattress for $500 (RRP$3950) 😳😜 absolute bargains!

Back to the outdoor chairs. So with a few extra bucks for cleaner and oil annnnnd a little bit of sweat and elbow grease, the chairs are looking pretty nice! Hmmm one chair short of the can though so we will have to go to the hardware store for more.

Before

Cleaned

After – thinking another coat will be required after they dry.

Not a bad days work in between chasing the dog a couple of times because he snuck out to go the neighbors and annoy their dog before returning when found! Lol!

They are a little patchy in colour but I figure I can pass that off as a ‘rustic intention’.

And THAT my friends is Boxing Day! Almost time for a swim!

Cheers

Kat xo

P.S. dog behaving now while I am outside typing this.