Saturday, December 10, 2005

Full Day.


Well, today started earlier than I'd prefer any day to start, but I woke of feeling fresh and ready to go. I was pretty excited to get out for my first real pheasant hunt in a couple years. I went out a couple years ago, but didn't hit a thing. Today we hunted with a nice sized group, six people, and got into some great cover that has been protecting birds from the blizzards SoDak has been experiencing.

While the Wells brothers were out tearing legs off in Rhode Island, we were busy knocking birds out of the sky. I hit my first pheasant in at least 4 years. I think I only hit the one, and missed some pretty easy shots, but oh well. It was a gorgous day and I just enjoyed being out with the pup, my dad, and some friends.

Mattie was amazing all day. I can't believe how good she is already this being her first year. If she has one downfall it's that she's not overly energetic yet, and likes to hang back and follow behind people that are plowing their way through the thick stuff. I feel like I rode about 3 hours today after pushing through all the thick snow covered reeds. At one point I thought I might have to crawl out, of a little draw because the snow was so deep. I was walking along next to Mattie and fell through the snow up to my thigh/waist. I tried just pushing through it, but it was way too deep, so I climbed back up on top of the top hard crust, took 3 more steps, and fell through again. This went on for about 50 yards until I could get across to where I wanted to be.

My parents had a little dinner party tonight, so as soon as we got home, my dad and I had to start helping out. I cleaned the birds, he got to vacuum and stuff. Then after we ate, my parents and the guests ran off to the symphony. I was left with piles and piles of crap to put away, clean up, and dishes to wash. I think I got it all done, and it gave me something to do, so now I'm just gonna crash in the chair and watch Clueless.

Tomorrow morning Mattie and I take off to head up to my uncle Ralph's for an extended weekend of hunting. Hopefully she's got it in her. By the looks of things today really took it out of her. She acted like she wanted to play a minute ago, but fell asleep after nibbling at my hand for about 2 minutes. I suppose I should hit the sack, since tomorrow promises to be another full day with a 3 hour drive and some more hunting.

How bout Todd and Troy Wells both winning National Championships today? That's pretty awesome, I'm jealous that I'm not at a level where I could compete with guys like that. Maybe next year I should get a fake ID that says I'm 16. This year I still would've gotten smoked by Alex Coehlo so I guess it would have been pointless. Alright, I'm out for now. Hope you all had a grand weekend.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Now this is an offseason.

For those of you who don't know, I'm back in SoDak. I took a little premature exit from school this semester, but who wants to talk about that, I know I certainly don't. It's true winter around the world now by the looks of things, I hear it's even storming in Antarctica! This afternoon was actually gorgous, the temps barely got out of the single digits, but Mattie and I loaded into the truck and headed out to find a few pheasants.
We saw plenty, but most of them were in farmyards, or near livestock, trying to stay somewhat protected from the elements, and hunters I'm sure. Some of the places we hunted had tons of signs that birds were in the area, like this marking here in the snow where I rooster had landed under a tree.
I managed to get a shot at one bird, but he ran before he got up, and then was on the other side of a plum thicket as was a good 40-50 yards out by the time I had a shot. I took a poke at him anyway, just to feel like I was actually hunting, but the distance couple with me being a poor shot resulted in him flying away, and Mattie getting really excited for a while.
The snow was deep enough that gaitors and snowshoes were saviors. It make trudging through the knee deep stuff almost fun.
At the end of the day, we were still empty handed, but I think I can speak for both of us in saying we enjoyed the day. I sure is a departure from riding the bike, but I enjoyed it.

The report said 55 degrees at ride time.

Word must have gotten out of that little toy I have stashed away, now everybody wants on the train.

Health Net to ride Cannondale for three years

The most successful team on the NRC circuit in 2005, Health Net presented by Maxxis, will ride Cannondale bikes for the next three seasons, the deal announced at Helen’s Bikes in Santa Monica, CA. The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation announced the three-year sponsorship agreement with Momentum Sports Group, owner and operator of the Health Net squad with team riders Gord Fraser, Mike Sayers, Scott Moninger, Nathan O’Neill and Kirk O’Bee all present at the event.

The new sponsorship came about in part through a long-standing relationship between directeur sportif Jeff Corbett and Cannondale, which was the bike sponsor for Corbett’s 7Up-Maxxis teams of the late 1990's and early 2000's. “I’m really excited to be back in the Cannondale family. They have always been responsive to team input and I’m confident our rides are going to be more dialed than ever for ‘06,” said Corbett.

“This team is going to play a major role in helping us launch several key products in 2006,” said Cannondale CEO Matt Mannelly. Cannondale will use the partnership to help test and refine new product, both in training and race conditions. “Starting in January we’re getting these guys out to our factory and into a wind tunnel. We’re going to do everything we can to keep them on top,” he added. In addition to Six13 frames and forks, Cannondale will provide CAAD 8 Optimo frames and forks, as well as new time trial frames and forks. The agreement also calls for Cannondale and sister company Diadora to provide kit, shoes and casual apparel for the team.

First Wenzel thought he needed to hop on the bandwagon, next Health Net, next thing you know Lance will come out of retirement rocking a raw six13.



Squeak Squeak Baby Squeak Squeak