Met another Tradgang member today!

[Mudd]

I got a call this morning from Travis"Gabby" Gabbard aka Claypipe letting me know he was going to be overnighting in the vicinity. I told him to call me once he got to where he was going to be staying and we'd get together and fling a few arrows.

I got the call about 2 this afternoon telling me where he'd be by 3:30 so I loaded up a couple of bows since he didn't have his with him and headed out to Midway Truck stop.

Gabby and I hit it off right away. One of the things I knew I was liking about him was "what you saw was what you got!".

After a not so quick stop at Walmart we headed to the range and spend several hrs flinging arrows even though there was quite a wind blowing.

There was another man there from Columbia(wheel shooter) with his two children who were shooting traditional bows. They were practicing for a 4-H match. The dad never had his wheel bow in his hand while we were there but he did shoot my bows a good bit. Before he left he said he liked the simplicity of this type of shooting so much he was going to shop around for a bow of his own. He also said that he would feel better shooting the same way his kids were. I say "Good for you Mike Thompson!" I know Emma and Wyatt would be thrilled to have their dad shooting a stick bow.

Thanks Gabby for making the effort to get us together.

God bless,Mudd

[JDeanP]

Good on ya. I have family that are "on the road" and I know how much it can mean to get a break in the middle of all that driving and actually spend time with another human being.

[Steve Clandinin]

Good on 'ya Mudd.You are truly a fella I would love to share a campfire with.Everytime I read one of your posts you cease to amaze me with your senserity and generosity.A tip of the Fedora to you my friend.

[Chris O]

Sounds like a great afternoon!

[Claypipe]

Thanks, Mudd and I just want you to know that I had a blast.  Guess I will have to keep the bow in the truck.  Have a good one, Travis.

[loston66]

Thanks for the great afternoon, Mudd!  The comradery amongst archers makes shooting all the more fun, but it is taken to a new level with people like Mudd.  As he said, I shoot a "wheel" bow, but grew up with a Bear recurve.  Mudd generously allowed me to shoot his bows, which probably ruined me! Through his advice and technique tips, he had me hitting in no time, which definately increased the grin factor! I know everyone in this forum already knows, better than I can describe, the feeling of going from a "mechanical" bow to shooting something that becomes an extension of yourself, so I won't try.  I just know that I have been thinking of a traditional bow for quite some time, so my chance meeting with Mudd and Claypipe only served to spur me on with certitude. Also because of Mudd, I immediately joined this forum to learn as much as I can about traditional bows. I hope to find one soon so I can have as much fun shooting as I did with Roy and Travis.  Thanks to both of you. - Mike
btw Mudd - I knew you would remember our names! - and you made a great impression on Emma and Wyatt.  I hope to shoot with you again.

[Claypipe]

Hello Mike, it is good to see you and I hope you get a bow soon.  Just remember what Mudd said and shoot as many as you can before you buy to compare.  Will see you around here, Travis.  
p.s.  Tell Emma and Wyatt hello for me.

[Dave Bulla]

Well as I'm sure you two figured by now, you hooked up with a real nice fella in Mr. Roy Williams there...