Day one at a new range for Appleseed in beautiful Muskegon, MI.
Fantastic range, fantastic people from the range, fantastic students!
Instructors camping on site, camp fires, stories, venison, bacon.
Rain, rain, rain, more rain, heavy rain, followed by more really heavy rain.
Some folks had to pack up, soaked to the bone, shivering and freezing. Still leaving with thank you's and smiles on their faces!
Some folks staying until 6:30 PM shooting AQT's!!!!
Quite possibly my favorite shoot of all time! And we still have another day to go.
More to come........
ST
You guys are doing it right if you've got bacon! We call it "Tactical Bacon" or "tac bac" here in the Hoosier. Thanks! ATM!
As you know, it's not an Appleseed unless we are doing the Rifleman's dance in it!
Wish I could be at all of them. There's. Good times to be had while doing the business of bailing! Enjoy!
OK, so the weekend didn't go quite as expected. The constant driving cold rain sent 5 shooters home early on Saturday. Rather than catch their death of pneumonia they decided to live and Appleseed another day. We applaud them for sticking it out that far; they were soaked to the bone. Elise, Jeff, Hunter, Kyle and Adam, thank you for coming, getting deluged, and thanking us on the way out. You are all some truly stand up Americans.
Then on Sunday we had to pack in early due to incoming lightning.
Wow!
Maybe not the best Appleseed? Or was it?
We had 4 of the most persistant shooters I have ever seen tough it out under brutal conditions and then come back for more! I should mention one of them was an 8 year old girl. I think if we hadn't called the shoot because of the lighting, she might still be there shooting.
All four of you consistently shot better and better all weekend, our three "grown ups" were all knocking on the rifleman's door with scores in the high 180's and 190's. Guys, you WILL get that patch, soon. And young Alexandra broke open the first step to being a rifleman by qualifying as a marksman. Great shooting Alex! ^:)^
Lunch on Saturday turned into a lengthy rain delay so we just decided to tell ALL of the history of 4-19-1775 in one shot! By request! The students just wanted to hear more and more. OK, and take a little time to dry off. ;)
So, let's look back on deluge-seed. Bad? No way! More Americans so close to becoming rifleman AND fully awakened to the true greatness of our country and our heritage.
Complete win in my book!
Now, about that fair weather request for our return in August.....
Thanks once again folks for a great event!
P.S. I did get a few photos with my phone. I'll post them here once I've drained and dried it.
ST
Perseverance is alive and well in Muskegon. The rain washed any doubt away that people still like to learn marksmanship and history.
Great people at the range. In addition to the students we had several range officials out for most of the day Saturday and Sunday. They seemed to have at much fun as the rest of us.
What's the saying? "nice weather, (if you're a duck"). Even with rain gear one eventually gets wet if one is swimming long enough. On the other hand, it cleared up enough Saturday for us to get in a late AQT.
Also had a good time camping out. Good fellowship and talk (and peppered bacon) with a couple of the students, Derek and Carl.
Then there was young Miss Alex and her dad Doug. They and the aforementioned Derek and Carl stuck it out through the whole weekend, rain and all. They were still smiling at the end. Is there any doubt by anyone why we instructors do this stuff?
Alex, you go girl, great improvement this weekend, it was fun working with you.
Now THAT experience made some memories! Good going! I'll bet the shooters will remember that for the rest of their lives!
Without pics, it didn't happen. Right?
Here's a few. Post up people!
Nothing quite like a cold spring rain to find out how well all the gear works. >:D
It was a blast rain was not a factor for me it made me feal like I was really there on April 19 1775 it was a very insperational weekend and I got given my new Name there and I will wear it proud and that is Gump. And my faverite quote well one of them .......... you dragging wood GUMP. !!!!! ;D swaump thing .. me yeas sir!!!!! Good times good food and all of the instructors. That were there amazing. Job you all rock one on one when you need it help with what ever you need thank you all for a funamilal time...... and p.s I did get the chance to shoot glen's M1-Garand wazza
Copperhead -- you should know sir, after that Bellevue weekend!