This morning starting with a steady hard driving rain, temp in the lower 50's and 30-40 mph winds with gusts to 55 mph. By midday the rain slowed to occaisional downpours and by days end the sun came out and the winds began to subside. The best shooting was late - the shooting ended at almost 6:40 PM which is just about as far as you can go and still see the bells at 25M on the AQT.
The good news is that in spite of the really adverse weather conditions, there were three Riflemen awarded patches today. The new Riflemen are SgtRock (221), Adam (210 - Northbridgewater bath ensued), Josh (214 - ROTC - absent from pictures below). Ashley shot a 206 with her bolt action Savege .22. We expect to give her a patch tomorrow and she will take an Orange Hat. Of the Riflemen today, SgtRock and Adam accepted the new responsibilities of an Orange Hat. Way to go Burlington Falts, NY crew!!! O0 HUZZAH, HUZZAH, HUZZAH!
It's about 11 PM now and the winds have subsided and it's supposed to be a sunny day with liitle wind and a high of about 50F. It should be much easier to award a few more Riflemen patches this weekend at the first Appleseed at the NY DAR - Barre Center
Doug
The weather was really bad outside today so breaks to gather in the pole barn for training, history and lunch were sorely welcome. Another D.O.M.'s LP heater did a great job and keeps the place toasty - it better, there are about 10 people camped out in the pole barn for the weekend. Some started Friday with tents outside, but the 55 mph gusts were too much today and they blew away. So everyone is in the pole barn. Talk about getting to know your fellow Appleseeder!
Some pictures of Crak doing the Second Strike with Northbridgewater demonstrating with the Brown Bess. It's a real shooter - we are going to launch a bunch of 75 cal lead balls downrange through a thick cloud of white smoke tomorrow afternoon, to give everyone a chance to see what shooting a real Brown Bess is like. Wish you all were here. Huzzah! :)
Doug
Outstanding!
Any chance of seeing a group photo of the new IIT's in their new hats? I have a picture frame reserved and a special place to put it! O0
That was Bob giving an excellent second Strike and despite being in the perfect position to do so, I was not using him as a ventriloquist's dummy. :D
Nice pics!
Looks like a good "foul-weather" test of your new DAR, to smoke out any issues which may have been overlooked. There's nothing like some moisture to make things ugly and uncomfortable, or some high wind to test your target mounting...
O0
Howdy!
This is Josh, the 214 scorer from Saturday. What an awesome time I had this weekend. So proud to be a Rifleman and I can't wait to shoot at an Appleseed again.
For the record, I am not ROTC as you have me listed in your post. My 2 friends who came with me are. We all go to school together.
Thanks for hosting things NutFarmer!
Two things to note in this picture.
1.Our host Doug pulling his hair out at all the last minute details.
2. Shorts and sandals on 9pm Oct 30th in Upstate NY is a gift from heaven.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1417.jpg)
Late night set up of HQs.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1415.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1422.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1425.jpg)
Bob did an awesome 2nd strike. I did not get a picture of it but while Dave (on the left) was doing the 1st strike Alan was out front of the HQ with Dougs flintlock pistol. They timed the first shot perfectly.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1432.jpg)
Alan working with Pete. Pete is headed off to the Air Force soon.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1469.jpg)
Matthew shot all weekend. He scored a 186 on one of his many AQTs.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1465.jpg)
Another D.O.M. telling us about Dangerous Old Men. Excellent job.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1483.jpg)
Burlington Flats NY dispatched three club members with orders to return with Orange Hats.
stgrock (Steve) was the first to step up.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1434.jpg)
Then Adam. Water supplied by Josey Wales (Nick) and hat by Theblonde (Becky)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1451.jpg)
Way to go Ashley! I knew the score would be the easy part, the hat is a bit harder. Remember, you can create the talent when the mission requires it.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1474.jpg)
Albion DAR local area gets it first Rifleman and Orange Hat. Great job Mark.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1476.jpg)
Josey Wales has been working hard for Appleseed over the last year. One hurdle jumped, more to come. He has had the hat since August when he helped kDan at the Calverton shoot.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1477.jpg)
AnnMarie shot a 215.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1485.jpg)
Josh gets his patch.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1445.jpg)
Landon knocks out the score.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1473.jpg)
Chris was on the edge of getting it all Sunday pm and pulls it off right near the end.
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1494.jpg)
Last but not least. DAR owner Nut Farmer get a patch and takes the Hat. (Hat not in picture)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1490.jpg)
10 Rifleman, 5 new IIT's (one more thinking hard about it) and 3 IIT advancements at the first NY DAR Appleseed. That will work. Steve, Josh and Adam did it in 55 mph winds no less.
Remarkable accomplishments for what we're told is the first event at this DAR.
Must have been some Appleseed magic in the air!
Or, was that crak, in the background, swishing that clown bat back and forth, to inspire one and all? :)
Kudos to all for a perfect Appleseed weekend - bad weather and all!
In coming years some of you will look back on this and think "Right here, right here is when it all started - and I was there!" O0
Actually, of course, it started because you were there... O0 O0
Glad to see we made an honest rifleman of our host, Nut Farmer!
And gave him a FREE hat to wear!!! (The life-time obligation is also FREE - can it get any better? **) )
No more slacking for him - laying around, on the firing line, watching that front sight show how allergic it is to being near the target - no sir!
Now it's up out of the deck chair, and teach your fellow Americans about their tradition and heritage.
Ahhhh, it's a good feeling - gotta be!
(Thanks, Nut Farmer, for making all this happen. O0)
Does anyone else feel like it couldn't possibly have been just a 2 day event? It feels like I was out of work for a week!
My goat certainly seems to have been well-fed in my absence.
Sixteen shooters on the line, ten of them new riflemen. Five new orange hats. Wow.
Great crew behind the line. Thanks to everyone who made the trip- this one will be a shoot that sticks in the memory! Wind? You haven't seen wind!!
First timer here and I'm hooked. I'll be back, probably with a bunch of friends. Can't wait for the next one. Thanks to all the instructors and everybody who put this together.
And to think I almost made it all the way to the year 2010 (otherwise known as The Future) without meeting a single one of these New Yorkers next door... What a mistake! Now I know why Nickle keeps going way the heck out there. ("No guys, I can't help you with that understaffed New England shoot, I'm going to drive 10 hours in the other direction to the NY shoot with 5 instructors per shooter.")
B9 (and kDan and Nickle) you've grown quite the crew here.
Some things I won't soon forget:
Gunville looking for the Usual Suspects.
NBW giving the entire "Liberty or Death" speech. You're right up there with Buzzworth now for showing me something I didn't even think could be done.
I can't wait to hear Anders do it someday. :-X ;)
Successfully doing IMC on a Mosin front sight made out of duct tape (sight adjustment tool: Scissors)
The Shot heard 'round the DAR. Nice work Imker and NBW. That was fantastic.
Sgt. Rock getting something in his eye the exact moment Ashley got handed her patch. ;) (Or was someone chopping onions?)
Trevor John (sorry 'bout that) lighting up like a Christmas tree when Doug mentioned he was working on a merit badge.
Another DOM explaining why he picked his name.
theBlonde getting all technical about the screw thingy.
Ann Marie showing me what she finally got. :)
The big blue Rifleman tarp. 100% effective with 6+ people on it. Might want to reverse engineer that thing and start selling it as a combo package with North Bridge water.
Josey Wales, a fellow city guy, getting laughed at for fumbling with some knot. Man, I almost want want to hold the IBC in a smoky basement underneath a Chinese nail salon on Canal St next to 6 guys in wife beaters playing mahjong just to see if any of those bumpkins even survive the trip.
Doug, Doug, Doug. I don't even know where to start. It takes one to farm one, apparently. :D
Revenge of the stick rifles on the way home. $$-0
This Appleseed is not finished yet... I have to hide from the NH crew until MA Community Organizer Karen gets a 210. All this is going to take is some ammo that doesn't jam her rifle up like a pretzel 4 times an AQT, because she's doing everything right. We're going down to Harvard Wednesday to get it done.
Finally, one of the ways I stay awake driving is coming up with songs. Here is the second best one from last night's ride home.
Sung to the tune of We Almost Lost Detroit: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovKv4-YxYM)
She stands in an ex-cornfield
Barking orders at the firing line
Wind inspires red hats to panic (Oh Crap!)
Flipping rifles on their side
But no one stopped to think about the backers
Or how they would survive
And we almost lost theBlonde
This time
How will we ever get shooting?
No target line
See y'all December 5-6th for the NY IBC in some Walmart parking lot or Chinatown gambling racket near you. O0
..I would like to believe that I will be remembered one day for more than a knot struggler, I can make a clovehitch and a noose but they were not needed in Albion, NY....but, I was..
..And so, I had a great time with my fellow American's, I was proud to be amongst such fine people who know what they are about.....God Bless You All......
............Strength & Honor.................JW..............
Congrat's to all the shooters - they put up with a lot of challenges.
It's amazing anyone could shoot rifleman on Saturday - the line was blowing up and down 10 MOA at times (well, once we got the backers to actually not blow away.)
The only disappointment for me was not getting a chance to light off some ball with the 'Bess. (I hope I get the opportunity before Doug converts it to 6.5 Carcano.)
I give kudos to the Burlington Flat's crew; that is a community that knows what it's about. They will be an incredible asset to Apple Seed.
Is there a spot on the Dec. IBC agenda to add knots and lashings?
I'll bring a boyscout to teach it. We'll get JW and Crack up to at least tenderfoot skills with knots.
The Blonde set's the standard for time management; she had it easy though - Imker had to call the line over the wind on Saturday.
I'm glad Crack got the shooters triggers fixed - I don't think I could do a "trigger finger wet-willy" - I hope that's not a requirement for the next level.
As for us "country bumpkin" roaming in a big city - I can only think of Crocadile Dundee's line "You call that a knife? Now this is a knife..."
Quote from: gunville on November 02, 2009, 07:54:17 PM
The only disappointment for me was not getting a chance to light off some ball with the 'Bess. (I hope I get the opportunity before Doug converts it to 6.5 Carcano.)
;D
Here we go with the Carcano again and Nickle was not even there!
I'm almost at a loss for words (I can just see the eye-rolling of those reading this) - there's not too much I could add to the discussion.
I had a great time at this shoot. As TheBlonde points out, it seemed to last a lot longer than two days, but it was worth every minute. So much learned, so many new friends, 10 new Riflemen and five new IITs, watching Anders and TheBlonde chase mats and backers through the trees and cornfield, running through the corn stubble and mud from the line to the barn and back half of Saturday (yup - I ran more on Saturday than I have since high school - mostly against a 20 to 30mph head-wind) - and that's in addition to a nice new orange hat I brought home with me.
Fabulous!
crak - do you sing as well, or are you just a writer?
For the last time,, D.O.M. does not stand for Dirty Old Man - now stop it!
Thanks to everyone for their knowledge, pointers, patience and training on my first Appleseed as an IIT. You're a truly great group of teachers and I'm looking forward to working with most of you again at the IBC in December.
'Til we meet again...
Quote from: Another D.O.M. on November 03, 2009, 03:21:45 PM
crak - do you sing as well, or are you just a writer?
Only in Polish. $$-0
Another fine job by the NY crew. Hey Gunville- I think you're going to need a new hat. Great first strike! Nut Farmer, what can I say? For those of you who don't know, NF went to his first Appleseed a little over 2 months ago. He kind of reminded me of me after my first encounter with the AQT-pretty enthusiastic. Well, the similarities ended there! Two months later and he's hosting an Appleseed at NY's first DAR!! Top notch facility. Classroom/clubhouse, loooong firing line, even a permanent outhouse. Outstanding! You tower above the crowd. Talk about stepping up!! I stand in awe. Way to make it happen O0. So, if any of you are wondering whether Nut Farmer has a bunch of nut trees on his land or if he's just a farmer who's a nut, you're going to have to go to the Barre Center DAR and find out for yourselves ;D.
P.S. Enough about Carcanos! ;D
Sorry for the delay on my pictures from Day 2 of my first time hosting an Appleseed. The people were the absolte best - I hope I get that kind of crew again in the spring. In On the third weekend in February for our Polar Appleseed. The pole barn will be heated and the range will be plowed. No problem. @)
Enjoy some more pictures, forgive my enthusiasm, but this on meant a lot to me. Thanks to the GREAT instructors - you all work so well and get along so well with eachother. I am very proud to have earned that Orange Hat on this day and now can join the ranks of the NY RWVA Instructors. IBC December 5-6, 2009, Burlington Flats, NY (many thanks to SgtRock).
Doug
Quote from: Nut Farmer on November 04, 2009, 12:06:06 AM
forgive my enthusiasm, but this on meant a lot to me.
Enthusiasm is what we need Doug.
2 days and 2 AARs later and still no one has said a word about the boots. :o
Mike Rowe is still looking for who took his favorite pair.
Quote from: B9 on November 04, 2009, 12:26:32 AM2 days and 2 AARs later and still no one has said a word about the boots. :o
Yeah, between the boots, the 10-mile duster and my rain jacket we didn't need any sunshine on Saturday - the place was
all lit up!
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/B964/DSCN1422.jpg)
After B9's intro, Imker did a great job on the third strike. You can see the enthralled Appleseeders gathered in the new HQ.
Doug
As promised, this shoot didn't end until Wednesday afternoon with 11 Riflemen. When Karen (henceforth to be known as Stovepipe on these forums for obvious reasons) finally got 40 rounds on paper in three minutes and 45 seconds with only two malfunctions, she scored a 222. I ran out of orange hats several weeks ago, so orange ear plugs will have to do for now. Ridiculous yellow boots don't come until she's stuck "waterproof" boots in one too many hidden ponds to care how they look.
Please disregard all similarities to Harvard Sportsmen's Club (Harvard, MA) in the photo... Nut Farmer obviously modelled his DAR very closely to our own Rifleman factory.
Way to go Karen!
11 Riflemen and 6 new IITs.
Way too cool! A big old NYS Congratulations! to Stovepipe; and many thanks to crak for bringing another Rifleman into the fold.
Way to go Stovepipe! Piece of cake, eh? :)
Beautiful, Job well done Stovepipe, I knew you could do it. Congratulations
Stoner
Thanks to everyone for all of your Advice and Help! I'm excited to be able to move forward. Finally!
Karen - Stovepipe :D
A picture is worth a thousand words...I can empathsize, it took 7-10 round mags to get my #$@&*$ 10/22 to make it through the AQT and get the patch.
Nut