Tag Archives: USTrip

Day 2 Siege of San Juan

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Up bright and early again this morning, we headed out into another glorious day of sunshine and high altitude air. Was a little cooler this morning, requiring gloves between stages and with a light breeze blowing up later it was almost time for a jacket.

We finished out the final 6 stages today and seemed that everyone was in the same boat when it came to degree of difficulty and misses.

This was a challenging match, to aim and acquire. Targets were a little small, awesome shapes and further out. So yes, you really needed to be on the ball.

The stages were fun, plenty of movement with a little bit of thinking in the mix.

After lunch the shoot out was on with Mesa Belle and Bulldog Ric taking out top Ladies and Mens. Congratulations to you both!

Back to covered area for awards which went pretty quick. If I can count correctly, 13 Aussies were at this match (129 shooters participated) with 6 of us placing in our categories!

Jack was 1st place in Elder Statesman and finished 9th overall.

I finished 1st place in Lady Wrangler and finished 7th overall.

Men’s Overall and Colorado State Champion was Cobra Cat and Ladies Overall was myself, with Lefty Jo as Ladies Colorado State Champion. Congrats!!

Ladies Colorado State Champion, Lefty Jo
Mens Overall and Colorado State Champion, Cobra Cat
Ladies Overall, Kathouse Kelli

Again we had an awesome posse and it was so good to catch up with so many we hadn’t seen in some time and making friends with new cowboys and cowgirls.

Thanks to all those who help out with San Juan Shooting Range and Siege @ Mission De San Juan.

Kat xo

Siege of San Juan

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Day 1 of the Siege/Colorado State Championships kicked off this morning with the pledge, prayer and the firing of a bowling ball out of a canon. You can’t even see the ball when its in the air if you don’t pay close attention to the trajectory of it!

The skies are blue, the wind is light and we are ready for 6 stages. You need to aim! These targets are smaller and a little further out there.

Suffice to say it wasn’t exactly the greatest of days but I had some really awesome rifle runs! (Always take away the positive!)

We have a great posse with Babe Ruthless and Union Jack (our gracious hosts for the weekend), Burgundy Ballou and Ric-A-D-Split, Bijou Blade and Tolinka, Sixgun Louie, Sam Balin, Section Hand, Rufus Thornton, Lucy Trigger, Gateway Kid and of course Jackaroo and myself rounding out Posse 7.

There is lots of movement on these stages and a few you really need to think about but all in all they are good. Everyone is in the same boat!

Sixth stage done and its time to pack up, have lunch and socialize with others hearing their triumphs and woes of the day.

Bring it on tomorrow for the final 6 stages!!

Kat xo

San Juan Range

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Montrose, Colorado – San Juan Shooting Range this year host the Colorado State Championships 2019.

The stages are set and were written by Cobra Cat.

Range is looking great with some touch ups to props and new building improvements.

Bit of perspective on the cowboy and Indian targets with Jack in the thick of things!

The newest edition to the range is the gorgeous mission that we will shoot out of the inside of it. Just spectacular!

And of course, what better backdrop than the snow covered mountain range beyond.

Registration and side match day today!

Kat xo

32 States

Posted on by kathousekelli70

In the past 5 years, together Jack and I have hit 32 of the United States!

Found these magnets today at Monarch Pass, no 🙄 I don’t know why we have never bought them before!

Any who, I am missing Utah!!! Eyes peeled! Need to find that one and we still have more states to visit!

Kat xo

Onto Montrose

Posted on by kathousekelli70

We left Pueblo this morning and hit the road again to Montrose.

As we climb into Cañon City we were kicking ourselves for not bringing our rafting shoes. Having already bought new runners in OK the old ones have been ditched already, again kicking ourselves for not thinking of it earlier and could have worn them.

Maybe we will try one of the zip line’s this time in Royal Gorge!

The Fourteeners (Colorado series of mountains above 14,000ft) are displaying small dustings of snow still and everything is green and gorgeous this time of year.

It never gets old driving through here!

Through the gorges at around 6,000ft (elev.) we pass rafters, rock climbers and beautiful scenery as we head into Salida.

Another quaint little downtown historic district where white tail deer roam the streets….

…..and old buildings wear gorgeous ghost murals old and new! There are more brew houses than coffee shops and it’s the wrong time of the day for beer tasting.

The temperature is perfect and the weather today is just stunning.

Monarch Pass at a summit of 11,312ft, temperature has dropped to 51F, I seem to recall last time we stopped here it wasn’t as clear and a little cooler than today!

We cross the Continental Divide and make our way down the other side of the pass with coffee and views of pines, snow, sunshine, a chipmunk!! and freakin’ roads with little or no barriers!

From Gunnison we keep on to Cimarron and finally into Montrose.

Side matches start tomorrow!

Kat xo

North through Oklahoma

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Through back fields heading North in Oklahoma, past oil fields and Ranches.

On through Kingfisher (where we visited the Chisholm Trail Museum last year) everything is lovely and green. A stark contrast against the red dirt and a somewhat grey looking sky today.

On to Woodward, established 1887, this little town has a tonne of history! Once home to Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes it later became one of the most important depots in the Oklahoma Territory. The Great Western Cattle Trail met the railway at Woodward and so it became a big depot for shipping cattle East and North.

Like Dodge City, KS, Woodward had its own cattle town feel, full of saloons, gambling halls and brothels. Which brought famous ladies and the occasional bar brawl to town.

Temple Lea Houston (son of Sam Houston and former Texas state senator) arrived in Woodward with his family and law practice in 1894.

Houston himself, killed a man in the Cabinet Saloon after a personal disagreement but although charged and tried for murder, the jury acquitted him.

He won a reputation as a brilliant trial lawyer and was known for his courtroom dramatics.

He even argued on behalf of prostitutes making his “Soiled Dove Plea” where after just 10 minutes the jury acquitted her.

I had to look up what the “Soiled Dove Plea” was as it had sparked my interest when reading Wikipedia and Woodward history. More on that later!

From cattle town, to crops and cattle again, oil and gas or even iodine, Woodward still thrives today with a population of around 12,000.

From here we weave further West and head North to one of THE greatest cattle towns of all time, Dodge City, Kansas.

We will make Dodge City by lunchtime. Steak anyone?

Kat xo

Trippin’!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Yes folks it’s that time again where we get to go play on the other side of the world.

Only for a short stint now as this past crazy 6 months Jack and I have settled back into reality here.

Things have been quite on here but hectic nonetheless and will do some more blogs of costuming in the next day or so.

Today we head for Newcastle, bags packed and surprise surprise all under weight!!?? Yippee! More room to bring stuff back!

We fly out of Sydney tomorrow and head for the next adventure. Stay tuned!

Love and hugs to you all!

Kat xo

What A Great Week!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Although kind of hectic, we had a good week of visiting.

Tuesday evening Wild Horse John and Saginaw Sue came down, spending Wednesday with us and leaving Thursday morning.

We headed out Wednesday morning to Stockyard City, perusing the wares of a few stores, picking up Jack's boots and what else do you at the stockyards but dine at Cattlemen's.

Cattlemen's has been around since 1926, being one of the only Cafes that stayed open after sundown. They served many working at the stockyards and the meat packing facilities. Christmas Eve 1945, saw Hank Frey (then owner of Cattlemen's) and Gene Wade have a game of craps. When Hank ran out of money he put up Cattlemen's against Gene's life savings if Gene could roll a 'Hard Six' – two 3's!

Of course he did and the 3 3 brand is prominent on the wall in the Hereford Dining room in recognition of Gene's good luck that night. This story of Cattlemen's (my bits are just a shortened version of their history) is featured on the menu.

What can I say, THE best steaks, great sides and fresh rolls. It is always filled with people and often a wait line to get in. Tables are waited on by staff in black and white, while linen napkins adorn the tables with silverware and glasses. Cattlemen's Double Deuce beer is exceptional, with its Weissbier flavour.

 

As we rolled out the door and headed for the car it was decided that we should take our Wyoming friends to the Land Run monument. They hadn't seen it on previous visits to OKC and I knew there was at least 1 new installation to this great monument.

 

I will have to look back at previous photos to see just how many are new but I'm guessing there is at least 2 or 3 that I felt we had not seen before.

 

Further culling, more sewing and frustration ensued the next couple of days with some successes and not but Saturday we are headed for Leonard, Texas to play with the Texas Ten Horns.

Six great stages, themed around The Christmas Story, where little Ralphie wants a Red Ryder lever action BB gun. Good fun, great lines from the movie and a couple chances to win a BB gun and free shoot at the Great Spaghetti Western next year. Well done Ten Horns and well played!

Mary-Lou July caught up with her cousin Bubba November and suffice to say they had a blast. If nothing else they amused their own posse and themselves. Haa haa haa. Jingle your own dang bells! 🙂

 

After the stages we went in to Lea's for the Christmas party and Dirty Santa, heaps of fun had by all. We have made many great friends down there and will miss them all – another day filled with great memories.

To our hosts for the evening, Hairtrigger Hayes and One Chance Fancy, thank you again for having us. We thoroughly enjoy your company.

Thanks again, to you and yours

Kat xo