Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Quemado 2015...

Thank you everyone! We all had an amazing time, and it's good to be back with some friends after far too long. I'll get some pics up though I didn't get many. Also there are a few that DARBY has threatened me with death if they make the 'fire!
I don't know what that's about?...

He told me today he expects that it will show up. He has plans for it now himself!

I got home about 2 hours ago. Was nice to get a shower and see my wife and dog. Ruby was still letting me know that she wished she had come along!

Traffic was pretty bad today. Worse than the 4th of July weekend for idiots!

Was good to see everyone again. I hope Miles makes it home without too much fanfare!

This was undoubtedly the best one yet! Those of you who weren't able to come missed out on a great weekend. Lots of shooting, lots of kids and wonderful camaraderie. Saw some old friends who weren't able to make it the past time or two and some new ones that will be back next year.

Stuck around and helped police the campsite. Left about 2:30. Have lots of pictures but am too bushed to download them tonight. Will get them sorted out tomorrow.

P.S. I don't understand what Joe is upset about. We saw a side of him that we hadn't seen before, but he is still the same old Darby to us.

Joe pulled my trailer to Springerville so I could pull my new camper. I dropped the camper there and switched to my trailer.

While I've been to four or five campfire gatherings now, I concur with Ben. What a great time was had by all. Seeing old friends and making new friends too.

Looking forward to seeing many of them in February at Roosevelt Lake, AZ.

Best wishes to Miles. Get well soon my friend.

Thank you to Dr. Howell for the conversation. It's always a pleasure.

A huge thanks to Paul and Matty and everyone for the many hours of time and effort spent before, and after to make this gathering a success.

And another thanks to Ken and Cheryl for the time spent cooking, cleaning, and making sure that each of us were well feed and taken care of.

Thanks to Dennis and Jeff P. for setting up the firing range. A great time was had by all. Too bad for me that I failed to shoot well again. Maybe next time...

Hoping that I have not left anyone out.

Jeff

We had a record 54 attendees, 11 kids and 14 women... and that's what I actually counted with all the constant activity. We might have had a few more. We had a great mix of generations.

The family participation is something we've been working on and it paid off huge this year.

I want to thank all my old and new friends for attending.

Some pictures from Northern Az and camp in NM.

I caught up to you guys before Springerville... Dennis in the lead, then Joe, then Jeff.

All of us made it home this evening, with no problems.
Grandkids are beat - but very happy, and want to attend again.
Thanks for all the volunteer help, for looking after the little heathens!
Hope everyone has a safe, uneventful trip home.
Prayers sent for a good outcome for Miles, and for Bob's wife.

Young Mr. Alan asked if I wanted some Hootch...

You mean like shine...

Yes sir...

Like from a still shine...

Yes sir...

Never had any, let me get a glass...

Oh, you don't use a glass, just sip from the jar...

Chit was smooth as water, luckily they live in Louisiana, or I might turn into an alcoholic...

Kent

kent- I saw you pull off at the Circle K in Springerville.

Salt River Canyon sucked today. Some real losers driving!

Very smooth! Some of the best I have ever sampled.

Looking forward to seeing them again--soon.

Yeah that shine was REALLY good!

We took the 260 down just to do something different. Boy was that a mistake. Bumper to bumper creeping along from outside of Star Valley all the way to the junction with 87.

I didn't dare salt river canyon pulling my trailer with the traffic. Though I wanted El Reys after cooking all weekend.

260 is faster from my house anyway.

Tom, next time if it's backed up to star valley, which it was for us also. Turn north at the light by Payson concrete, it swings around to 87 at Home Depot. We wanted mexican food at Swiss Village anyway.

Kent

Still thinkin' of how to get Blue's .450 Howell and .300 Wby into my grubby little hands.

You're not git'n the lyman either...

Kent

Schit!

As a few know, I showed up at the last minute, coming down from the ABQ area, so that technically makes 55.

For those of you in the convoy I passed, that was me in the old green Land Rover. There were only 6 or 8 left when I got there, but they were around for a while packing up. All great folks, including the six-year-old that is the same age as my daughter.

I came alone so I could at least scope out the location for next year, and to shake down the recently acquired LR, which handles fine, but came out of the shop with emissions issues that we're working on.

What spectacular scenery coming down on 117 through the reservations. I told the family that they would really regret missing that and Quemado, but none of them were willing to wake up early.

BTW, I finally got the gun safe open and brought some goodies for show and tell. Those included my 1906 H&H .500/450 double express rifle that Jim Bell brought back from India and was the start of his obsolete cartridge business, and the custom .375 H&H on a LH Remington 700 action on which Butch Searcy had installed a Winchester 70 claw extractor and ejector. I can bring them next year too, if anyone is interested.

By the time I left, there was quite a bit of rain and lightning all the way back home east of Albuquerque.

It's really a bother waking up to elk chirping and bugling around camp for an hour. Some huge herds this year but few calves.

There were some wolves around also.

Kent

Rolled into the driveway at 2:17 this morning. Uneventful trip home!

More later!!!

Bob