Life on the Farm

[Pappy]

That's some really cool stuff, waste not want not, got to love that. 
 Pappy

[GlisGlis]

I'd solder the archer in front of the truck 

[bjrogg]

I'd solder the archer in front of the truck 

Makes me want a whole army of them.

That’s a great idea GlisGlis, but I think right now he seems to like it right here. I think he feels right at home in this strange land.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

I’ve been promising my wife we would go somewhere for the past three winters. It seems like something always happens and our plans kept falling through.

This year we decided to take a road trip. We both enjoy the people we meet through Primitive Archery. We really miss the Michigan primitive meet as we both made a lot of friends there.

We decided that we would like to hit the road and look up some old friends and meet some new ones.

We loaded up our trusty old Ford Edge with the essentials for a few weeks on the road. Our youngest son wanted to join us and we decided to take our small dog to.

We decided before we left that we wouldn’t have a schedule and we wouldn’t have any reservations.

We did have a several places we wanted to stop along the way.

The morning of our departure arrived and I found myself helping our oldest son sort and load cattle.

It went pretty good but we still got a little late getting on the road.

We were hoping to make it to Missouri and it looked like we might still make it but then we ran into traffic jam . DVS Hunter told us that he would leave the door open for us, but he had to work at 5:30 am.

We decided it was going to be too late for a good visit by the time we would arrive. We got something to eat and a room for the night. I told Dave we would hang around the next day and I would see him after work. We would get a lot better visit that way

The next morning we took our time getting on the road and located Dave’s house. Then we looked up a nice hotel with an indoor pool.

When Dave got home he called and I went to visit him. It worked out great. We did some flint knapping and told lots of stories.

Dave handed me a beautiful piece of Georgetown and an equally beautiful moose antler to hit it with. It was my first introduction to both and I was impressed with the combination. I probably should’ve put them down about 30 minutes sooner than I did. I’m not sure I did them justice.
Started out looking pretty good, but ended up with less than I was hoping for.

I’ve met Dave before and he is one of my favorite people from this site. We both had a busy day ahead so I didn’t stay late. Really enjoyed the visit. It went to fast but it was time well spent.

Before I left Dave gave me a little gift bag with soap he made from rendered deer tallow, some venison summer sausage and some baked goods.

He also gifted me a short Osage stave.

Then he handed me the biface he was working on and a nice flake that came from it. I know he would have given me more but I was limited to how much I could fit in our vehicle.

Thanks Dave it was great to see you again. Always enjoy it. And hopefully we can do it again sometime.

Here’s the biface and flake. And end of day two on the road

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

The next morning we had breakfast and hit the road. We were heading to see someone I have chatted with many times but never got to meet in person.

We have chatted so much and shared so many pictures it feels a little like I know him and his farm already. I’ve even looked at it on google maps.

It was an interesting drive. Was much more hilly than I had imagined. Curvy roads to. We arrived at our destination just a little before dark and I was glad we didn’t have to drive in the dark. The last 40 miles took something like 1hr and 35 minutes if I remember correctly. Lots of 35 mph but being flat landers the hills were a cool experience.

We arrived at Bob and Kathy (BowAholic) just in time for supper. We visited till close to midnight we couldn’t believe how fast the time went.

We went to bed around midnight and got up about 5:30 to the smell of breakfast. And Bob was on his computer checking out a few sites and weather. We had a couple cups of coffee and then Bob took my son and I out to his old chicken barn. I’ve seen so many pictures of it it felt like I had already been there.

Bob has several targets set up at different distances and lots of bows of all kinds just waiting to be shot. It was a very nice setup. I didn’t get pictures of the barn. But I might be able to find some he sent me before

We loaded everything back up and hit the road again

Thanks Bob and Kathy for putting us up and the conversation.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Here’s Bobs setup

Really nice

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Our fourth day we drove till late afternoon and decided we would stop a little early. We got a room somewhere in Texas and settled in for the night. It was a lot easier for everyone including our little dog to have a couple hours to whine down before bed and feel a little bit more at home. Our little dog was a good traveler but she doesn’t like noises in the night and it really helped to get her settled in before she went to bed.

You’ve heard happy wife happy life. Well when you are traveling with a little dog your wife isn’t going to be happy if your dog isn’t.lol

Nobody is. lol

We had a really nice night. Enjoyed our hotel and got ready for our true destination the next morning.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

The next day we made our way to Arvin and Debra’s house.

It was a nice drive and a beautiful spot . Debra got along really good with our little dog.

We went out to eat and then Arvin and I went out to his bow shop. Before we knew it, it was time for us to look for a place to spend the night. We had done some research on line and knew a couple places in town. The one we were planning on was having computer problems and couldn’t check us in until they got it fixed. We went to another but it didn’t have two beds. We went back to the first one and after a considerable wait we were able to get checked in and a room key made. We got everything unloaded and settled in when we found out the toilet wasn’t working. I talked to the manager and he said that wasn’t good. He got us a different room.

The next room had a strong odor. I think it was some type of cleaner or something but it was overpowering.

We finally settled on door number three. It ended up being on the backside of the motel and quieter anyway. The next morning we went out for breakfast with Arvin. Not feeling really well rested but knowing we had a place to stay that evening and didn’t have to put several hundred miles on.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

If I remember correctly we spent the next three days with Arvin and Debra.

Arvin picked us up every morning for breakfast. Then we went to his house. My wife visited with Debra and Arvin and I worked on tillering a bow.

We didn’t get a chance to shoot holes in the sky but we w did do a little shooting and tried shooting Arvin n Me through his crono. Unfortunately it was cloudy and drizzle and we couldn’t get a reading.

We spent most of our time working on the bow we were tillering together. Arvin called it BJ n Me.

We did finish tillering it , shaped handle and tips. Served string and shoot it several times.

I left two bows with Arvin. One recurve I made from a stave he sent me a few years ago. I called it “Flats or Bust”

I also left the one i finished from a bow blank he had cut out and sent me I called “Arvin n Me”

The recurve he was going to hang on the his wall. Arvin n me he is planning on taking to the flats. Along with the one we tillered together Bj n me. Hopefully I can meet him there. Would very much like that.

Arvin gifted me a bow and several other items I didn’t have.

Before we knew it four days had passed and we could see a little break in the weather for Tennessee. We said and hugged goodbye. Definitely enjoyed our time.

Thanks Arvin for your generosity and taking us out for breakfast every morning.

Really hoping we can do it again sometime.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

We stopped somewhere in Arkansas again for the night. Then the next afternoon we went to my high school buddies place and visited for awhile. Then we did a little research and found a hotel that was supposed to have an indoor pool. It did but it didn’t have any water in it. And I’m sure hadn’t in a long time. We stayed the night but in the morning we checked out. I will just say I wouldn’t recommend it. To many things to list about that one.

We walked across the parking lot to a much nicer hotel that actually had water in its pool and none of the other problems listed at the previous one.

My wife visited with my high school buddies wife.

My buddy, son and I went to see Pappy and friends at Twin Oaks.

It was a very nice day. Pappy showed us around all the buildings and his cabin. We talked nonstop about all kinds of things.

Shawn had some burgers and brats over the fire. He did a fantastic job cooking them up and we gobbled them right down.

My high school buddy fit right in as he was retired army and flew Blackhawks. He knew some of the same people as they did.

It was a little chilly but it wasn’t raining and certainly warmer than back home. Pappy put a little gift bag in my vehicle. Two caps and a few stickers. Also a couple packages of jerky.

Our wives called and we said our goodbyes. We went to our new hotel room and got everything unloaded and settled in.

Bjrogg

PS Thank pappy for showing us around. You have a wonderful place and really good people to help you take care of it. It was really nice that you were able to spend time with us and show us around.

[bjrogg]

We were planning on heading home the next day but some very nasty weather was coming and we got warnings not to travel because of flooding. We decided to spend two nights and they were a little noisy at times. Right around midnight both nights it poured. We were safe and dry and we were glad we had decided to stay.

The morning we left we had to clean snow off our windshield and mirrors.

It looked like we had a little break in weather to start home.

We had several places where water was over the road but it was low enough that we could drive slowly through it. Had some traffic problems but we made it to mid Ohio and stopped for the night

Even got to watch most of the Daytona race.

Here’s leaving Tennessee

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

The last day we had pretty good roads until we were almost home. Even then they were passable with a little caution. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant we frequently visited and had our last meal on the road.

We got home to piles of snow and bills. Funny all those bills and just one check.lol.

I blew snow out and got a couple of the neighbors dug out. We all slept in our own beds and everyone slept in.

It was a fantastic experience. We saw a lot of country and enjoyed our time with friends. We stayed in some nice places and a few sketchy ones. They are all part of the memories now. Glad we did it a checked a few things off my bucket list.

But there’s no place like home

Home on the farm

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Home Sweet Home

Bjrogg

[chamookman]

Way cool trip BJ!  Bob

[Pappy]

Yep cool trip, glad you had fun and made it home safe. I love lots of places I go but as you said "no place like home "
 Pappy