Wild Things | The Adventures of Jack n Kat

What a sensational week!

We arrived in Millmerran (well actually Captains Mountain), QLD for a weeks worth of shooting, catching up with cowboys, cowgirls and partying.

Monday afternoon we headed down to check out the new ranges and see if we could assist in any way. Whilst Jack spent time down on the range, I unpacked, organised and commenced socialising.

The cabins are great and there are a heap of people arriving for camping. In to the tavern for dinner that evening with Chuck and Pearl Starr, meeting a new cowboy action shooter that has just moved to the area. We wished him all the best and hope they get to the range real soon.

Tuesday and Pearl and I headed to the office to assist Flipper where we could with getting packs finished and registering people as they came in. This followed with Butterscotch Schnapps into the ‘early’ evening and a very quick trip to bed.

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Had a blast with Clancy and Pearl Starr amongst others.

Wednesday – Pat Garrett match began early followed up with the ‘Cowgirls with Calibres’ coaching clinic, held by myself, Clancy and Pearl Starr. With 20 lady shooters from juniors to the more mature, we spent the afternoon giving them some tips on technique, transitions and critiquing. Pearl, Clancy and I take the opportunity to thank all the ladies for attending and we hope you enjoyed the clinic and got much from it. We already have half the class full for next year’s one!

Thursday – Warm Up match followed by speed events and then the Flamingo Sista’s (not to be confused with Flamenco) came out for a visit. Mary-Lou La ChaCha (aka Mary-Lou June) and Mary-Lou LaBamba (aka Mary-Lou July) hit the camp stomping in their flamenco style with pink, pineapples, flamingo’s and all!

Friday – With a great kick off with the opening ceremony, Bill The Kid and Barb Wire were presented with gold watches for 20 years of service to Chisholm Trail. Their dedication across the years for assisting Virgil Earp and Alvira Sullivan Earp and now the friends of Chisholm has not gone unnoticed. We all appreciate the work and effort you have tirelessly given to all the shooters over the years.

The opening was completed with Corporal Argan and his bugle skills! He also gave us our early morning wake up calls with either the bugle or trumpet performances. You Sir, are a gem and we enjoyed it immensely! First day of main match is under way and 6 stages is a huge undertaking, finishing around 3.30pm.

Saturday – First thing this morning the LOCAS (Ladies of Cowboy Action Shooting) gather for a group photo and we think we have most everyone. 8.30am and its get moving to your assigned posse for the 2nd day of main match.

Today we are on the “beach”! The new top 4 ranges are extremely hard going and the stages are full of movement, so it was somewhat survival of the fittest to get through these ones. We had perfect, warm weather for the entire match with just a light shower on the Monday evening. So no actual relief but what more could you want!!!! Would take a hot day any time over a rainy shoot day.

We had awesome posse’s 11 & 12 – Slap Happy, Henry Sharps, Jackhammer, Little Ditty, Bob Younger, Jim Younger, Pistol Dawn, Capt. J C Jackson and his wife Miss Kitty, Rooquero, Chic Chic Boom, Hoss Rustler, Marshal Jack Malone, Sidewinder, Kitty Pearl, Johnny Behan, Sam McGee, Deslaredo, Sambucca Kid, Lonestar, Amazed, Carter Moss, Mister Longcolt, Sassy Lilly, Dr Death, Buck n Bull, T Bone Trev, Deputy Dude, Weasel, DJ, Wonderinghans, Ugly, Halliday Kid, Jack and myself.

Saturday evening was time for shindig. Almost all the cowboys and cowgirls in attendance for Chisholm Trail invitation/SSAA Australian Nationals were there for the evenings festivities. The first Cowgirl of Honor awards for LOCAS in Australia was held and then dancing, partying ensued with the announcement of the top 16 mens (Henry Sharps, Chuck, R C Shot, Deadwood Gunslinger, Mungo, Drop Bear, Bat Masterson, Bindi, Hoss Rustler, Trooper, Red Morgan, Frank James, John Slocum, Rooquero, Mad Dog Tannen (replaced by 1st alternate Ricochet aka Jackaroo), Painted Mohawk) and top 8 ladies (Clancy, Amazing Grace aka me, Pearl Starr, Lucky Strike Lass, Harley Quinn, Lil’ Backfire, Miss Chevious, Meggs).

Sunday – Shootout! The best of the best go head to head in the shootout and when all is said and done Henry Sharps finishes on top for the men and myself for the ladies. The beach does not offer any relief and we are digging in heaps. Pity I hadn’t shot like this the whole weekend!!!

The awards were had and Ricochet aka Jackaroo finished 2nd in Silver Senior. Congratulations to Painted Mohawk, 1st and 3rd, Pistol Peter. Jack was a Posse Deputy also and received a fantastic hip flask in memory of the shoot and for his assistance.

I finished 1st in Ladies Traditional Lever for Pat Garrett, 1st in Lady Wrangler, and won the shootout. Congratulations to the other Pat Garrett ladies!

To my fellow Lady Wranglers, Lucky Strike Lass in 2nd place and in 3rd, Amazed. Pearl Starr, myself, Clancy and Lonesome Dove also received these fabulous wine glasses in recognition of our contribution to the sport and for that I would like to make a special thanks to Kat Balloo and Whiskey Rae.

I would say this would be my worst match in 3 years, however not one to let things get the better of me, it is time to regroup and get refocused. I accept with grace and honor.

To the overall top man Henry Sharps and top lady, Clancy, we congratulate you both on a superb job. Clanc, as I’ve said, the best cowgirl on the day showed up. You have worked hard to get back to top form, congratulations!

Hope you all had a superb Chisholm Trail/SSAA Australian Nationals. There were many who were visiting for the very first time and I sincerely hope it was a match you could be proud of your performance. Jack and I look forward to seeing many again next year!

See you on the trail somewhere!

Cheers

Kat xo

Thanks to Still Memories Photography and to Susan Jacobs Photography for many, many great photos taken over the weekend for all the shooters! Your work is appreciated!

Heading into Missouri now and for St Joseph where we will be exploring places like The Pony Express Museum, Patee House and Jesse James House.

Skirting the city limits of Kansas City, some old buildings amongst the new skyline, an interesting bridge and a casino taking on the appearance of an old steamboat.

Lots of trees in this part, thick groves of them.

St Joseph is just over an hour away from where we were staying in Overland Park, Kansas – so for those who live close by in the north east quarter of Kansas you could do this as a day trip or a weekend. The St Joseph website even has a couple of guided tours listed and gives you an estimate of time in order for you to plan a short trip.

We got into the older part of St Joseph and found our way to the Visitor Centre/Library in the newer business district. Not open Sundays but self serve on any of the brochure’s and maps required.

Heading back to old town we stopped at the Pony Express Monument. Oh, I’m sorry, you mean you don’t know what the Pony Express was? Well here’s a little bit of info to get you up to speed.

The Pony Express was an idea for getting mail, overland from St Joseph, MIssouri to Sacremento, California. Mail could possibly take weeks to go by sea and now it could go by horse rider and be there in 10 days! Wow, what a breakthrough. Horses were positioned along the route, so the rider could change horses and would have another rider to hand off to if need be.

The first ride of the Pony Express began on April 3, 1860 at 7.15pm. One lonely rider with monchila (mo-chee-la) loaded with mail heading out across, plains, desert and high country to get the mail through. The first Pony Express rider to set out on that day is said to be “Johnny Fry”.

Enjoy a couple of pics here, rest on Facebook and check out the website link below for more about the Museum.

Then it was on to Patee House Museum, used to be a hotel 3 times, a girls college twice and a shirt factory for 80 years prior to being turned into a museum. It is huge, 4 floors of heritage, well 3 they aren’t restoring the top floor and you can see in the stair wells winding up to the other floors – the original staircases, banisters, the timber batons and horse hair plaster detail.

There is so much to see in here it is mind blowing, two and a half hours easily spent there.

Travelling and arriving……

….and going out in style.

Or maybe you just want to take a train?

Or pretend you are still in your childhood riding the unique “Wild Things” carousel. (I’m betting put a kid on the mako shark and they will have nightmares!! I didn’t take a pic of it!)

Patee House was opened by John Patee as a luxurious hotel in 1858 to serve travellers. It is most famously recognised for being the Pony Express Headquarters where Russell, Majors and Waddell had their office starting April 3, 1860. It was also the US Provost marshal’s office and the Union recruiting office during the Civil War era, holding grand balls and court in the ballroom as well.

The Jesse James Home is situated on the neighbouring grounds of Patee House, the home Jesse bought for his wife and children and where he was shot whilst straightening the hanging needlework picture.

The bullet hole in the wall has been covered with glass but before this could be done there were many that would enter the house and chip out toothpick sized pieces of timber both from the wall and from the blood stained floor.

There are some original pieces of furniture from the house still there. An exhibit of the exhumation that took place in 1995 holds pieces from Jesse’s casket – handles, scripted plate/plaque, the broken viewing glass, his tie pin etc.

Well all done and dusted, a full day of museum history, pretty much done what we came to see, so cancelled motel and headed back for Oklahoma.

Good day. Over and out.

Kat xo

http://www.stjomo.com/discover-st-jo/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Visitor-Info&gclid=CjkKEQjwiPWcBRCTj_-Vz8fE3cMBEiQAZIMSUmDIL9tW8eWHTKp0iZhXTnbqWBQ-TLWTrXoPzo5wZOXw_wcB

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/pony-express-national-museum/

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/patee-house-museum/

http://www.stjomo.com/see-do/museums/jesse-james-home-museum/