Ok...I'm gonna start how this trip began for me.
Friday Morning (March 9th)
5:45 A.M.
I started this trip off with the intention of leaving early Friday morning to go and pick up Mudd in Missouri and maybe hang out and do a little shooting, then head south to the great state of Alabama. As things would have it I didn't get as early a start as I had hoped for.
9:20 A.M.
Packed up, Nephew to school, paycheck in the bank and bills paid!!! Whew, NOW I can leave for Missouri...I was filling up with gas to head to Mudd's when the phone rang and to my surprise it was Mudd. Mudd offered to drive an hour and a half closer to me to save some time, and me some gas, so I agreed to meet him at a different location. I ended my conversation and the first trip to get Mudd was underway....
3:30 P.M.
Arrived in Missouri to pick up Mudd....I had a great drive into Missouri and was anticipating having a wonderful traveling companion and fellow TG'er in tow for what was looking to be a fantastic few days of hunting with and meeting fellow TG members. Mudd and I got loaded up and headed south.
We stopped off in Kentucky, for dinner, of all places Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mudd and I had several tries and misses for a Cracker Barrel. Mudd and I had dinner, made a few calls and then continued south. I called Larry Surtees and told him we were close to where he recently moved and he was kind enough to offer for us to stay at his residence for the night and then travel together to Alabama in the morning. Mudd and I respectfully and reluctantly declined the offer and decided instead to continue to drive south, due to us being a little farther away from Larry than I had originally thought. (Larry's hospitality, along with our hosts in Alabama WILL get talked about some more as this progresses).
11:30 P.M.
Finally!!! After about 14 hours of being on the road we stopped for the night in Monteagle, Tennessee, only about an hour away from our destination in Alabama. Mudd and I hunkered down for the night and a few hours of sleep before getting to meet some of the GREATEST people I am now privileged to know.
I know this sounds boring right now, but I promise it'll be worth it! I'm having fun typing this just becuase I'm getting to remember the trip with Mudd, and getting to know him and all of the other fine folks I met during this trip. For all who haven't met him in person yet all I can say is He IS everything and MORE of what people think of him in the TG community. Mudd is a very generous, and kind man. I had and hope to have many more hunts with him in the future.
That's all for now....I'll type a little more about Saturday's festivities, and maybe post the few pics I have as soon as I get another chance. One of the stories has been told a little, but not the WHOLE story....