WEDNESDAY

We have arrived in Cheyenne Wyoming. the problem causing the 'tour bus' to overheat was a dirty screen on the radiator, likely NEVER cleaned, not a fan clutch but an expensive lession in routine maintanence!!The topography in Wyoming is totally different fron NM, the temps are about 20m degrees cooler, and RAIN happens, the winds are far less than NM all in all more pleasant. The trip thru Colorado was uneventful, even thru Denver at am rush hour was okay. Much better than last year! We spoke with Colin, but were unable to hook-up due to conflicts on both sides. The match Hell on Wheels starts Thursday, warm up matches tomorrow and the Wild Bunch Match is tomorrow. Ash will wear her new EOT belt buckle on her gun belt, and boy is it impressive..."Pull your pants down size" is a great description..Rodeo rider buckles are not as impressive!!! Grant is being a good traveler, it has been difficult for him not shooting and being a spectator, but he has taken it all in good humor, has learned about 'front pocket money in a money clip, fired the Gatlin gun and the Cannon so it has not been a total waste of time for him. We will be here at the Northwest Regional Match until Monday and then will head back towards the ranch (home) I will post during this match and then likely not again until the next round-up. Will hopefully p0ost some more pictures as they happen

MONDAY

Sat..Sun...Mon..Saturday last day of shooting 4 stages..HOT!!WINDY!!! NEW MEXICO!!! All interchangeable words...Ash had two misses on Saturday but REALLY Good times, total misses on the 12 stages was 5...Mom here and she and Ash went shopping for a really pretty dress, hat, etc etc...Sat Night gala she looked MARVELOUS...but came in 3rd in the costume contest...general consensus is that she was robbed...we'll post pictures and you can voice you opinion ! Scores posted, Sat night and it looked like she was slated to win..finished 24th woman shooter, and was the 8th alternate for the shootoff. Did not make the shoot-off, but was officially declared the WORLD CHAMPION FEMALE JUNIOR SHOOTER!!! Was awarded a 'pull your pant's down belt buckle" gold and silver, and the SASS marshall trophy!! Pictured with one of the other 4 first place winners from GEORGIA, Silver City Rebel (7 Time Frontier Cartridge Winner)

THURSDAY

Wednesday was a day off..we drove up the Turqouise trail to Madrid shopping and buying! Thursday..first day of the main match, shot the early rotation, starting at 7:30,with seven am safety briefing!! early..ariseing at 5:00 am,...showering and feeding folks and getting to the range, both shooters had a few misses today but good times ...four stages down 8 to go..a lot can happen before the last shot is fired..Ash has a new beautiful dress to wear to the Saturday night gala..we'll post pictures..Courtesy of Fast Eddie, acting as the indulgent Uncle Eddie, Grant (Chisholm Trail Kid) shot the Gatlin Gun, the 75 mm Cannon and the .30 Caliber Browning Machine Gun...SSS shot the Browning... we will stream the video (if we can figure out how to do it) Grant now is a very happy boy!! He had a great big smile on his face that we can't seem to get off!!!

Tuesday

It's official, Slick's Sharp Shooter is the 2nd place Ladies Traditional Wild Bunch World Champion! She received a very nice trophy and 2011 EOT belt buckle.

Today was the warm up for the Main Match, which starts on Thursday. The wind was barely blowing at all today....THANK GOODNESS!!! After we finished shooting, we scoped out the vendors with no money in our pockets, the smartest way to walk around those parts. At 4pm the Wild Bunch awards were presented. In the mean time, we are getting ready to go eat some good old Mexican food with the Georgia Gang! That would include Sassy MIss and Willy Shoot, Fast Eddie, Mackenzie River drifter and of course the SLICK Gang...after all we have reason to celebrate!!!

MONDAY

Monday ..day two of wild bunch, wind less than yesterday but still some poweful gusts!!! Ash is doing ok,..she finds the smaller targets, further away and the WIND....very much different from Georgia, quite a few misses, but her times are good, she is shooting one handed and will finish no lower than 2nd. Grant and I took today to do laundry and go grocery shopping. He got mighty bored at the range ysteday. None of the vendors are open yet and not much for him to do, starting Thursday there is much more entertainment, music, horse shows, ropeing demos, indian dancers etc etc. so he will enjoy it much more!!!. He is a good sport tho and has enjoyed the getting dirty part! Doesn't take much, with this wind and dust storms, you can just stand still and the dirt finds you! Wildfires north of us and to the west, but danger here no active fires tho, You appreciate the work of forrest fire fighters dealing with fire in these winds, Tough! Asyou have guessed, not much to report,..just keeping the blog going..more to come!

EOT Sponsorred by Georgia SASS Member Donations

This year 4 Georgia Young Shooters are being sponsored By the Penny Denny Young Shooters Fund. Money was raised by donations for Georgia SASS members and vender donations.

This post follows the adventures of Slick's Sharp Shooter as she traveles the USA competing in SASS matches starting with the Georgia State Match in May 2011. SSS won her catagory and is the 2011 Georgia State Champion!

Friday>>> First day out was good made good time, when we got to the RV park it was late and we found out the HHR had a dead battery, and a blown fuse, for the power steering which was not addressed in the owner;s manual..thank goodness for the internet nexrt am to the Auto Zone fixed the car and on the way Thursday hit high temps, 105-107and high winds, 35-40 sustained and gusts of 50! tough drive, then the engine light comes on overheating...but slowing down was the cure, we dined at the steakhouse in Amarillo with the offer of a free 72 oz dinner if you can consume the steak, baked potato, salad, bread, shrimp appetizer and dessert within 60minutes, there ws a taker who managed to do it..to the chanting encouragement of the crowd..rowdy place!!! Drove on to New Mexico today still some winds but not as bad, The coach seems to have a problem with the cooling clutch? and we have an appointment for service on Monday week. and it should be covered under the warrenty! So good news and not so good news. Ashlynn shoots the warm up match for the wild bunch tomorrrow and the match on sunday. the main match does not start until Thurs and runs thru Sat, we are psyched! She WILL be the new world champion!!! Trying to attach pictures so tuned!

On the Road Again!

Here we go again! Not going to be out as long this time. Headed to End ot Trail, SASS World Championships on Wed, the 15th of June. Ashlynn is ready for all comers in her category and We are taking Curts' oldest, Grant, along with us this year to help 3$ Rose spectate..he'll be shooting also before too long!!. We will do EOT, then take a side trip to Dodge City, KS on the way to Cheyenne, Wy to shoot "Hell on Wheeles" We plan lots of pictures and even a video or two so stay tuned! New wheels this year..a 31 ft Class A motor coach named the" TourBus"! So we are traveling first class. Shelly will be flying to NM to watch Ash and Mike shoot, so we will be 5 in tthe coach..We will blog whenever we can and keep you all updated on the trip