Remember when you were younger and you went On that special trip that you will never forget? That is where I took my boy this weekend!
Every year I try to build a new bow to take to Denton Hill. This year was no exception, the only problem was I didn't pull it out the spray booth until 11 o'clock Friday night! At 5 o'clock Saturday morning we were loaded up and ready to make it 3 1/2 hour drive to God's country close to where I grew up. I could tell my boy was nervous because I answered questions for those 3 1/2 hours! He wanted to know if I would know anybody there and I told him that if I didn't we sure would by the time we were ready to leave!
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/A0F1EBCC-38F2-4769-A0A9-A12083A24AF3-7885-000007DA2FB88A44_zps49dc419c.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/A0F1EBCC-38F2-4769-A0A9-A12083A24AF3-7885-000007DA2FB88A44_zps49dc419c.jpg.html)
When we pulled in, we had to park high upon the hill and by the time we stopped my boy had his St. Joe's River longbow in his hand and was ready to go. I explained to him that it would take me about 45 minutes to make the new string for my bow and he would have to be patient. About 20 minutes into twisting and answering questions I saw this Chevy diesel pool next to me with a triad gang sticker in the window. Low and behold it was Charlie, Manny, Drew, and Nate, All friends that I met last year and shot the course with! I explained to them that my boys only concern was people were going to laugh at him because he's a little "rusty". They assured him that at the end of the day he would be the one laughing at us! We parted ways in hope that we would see each other later in the day! That little conversation was all it took to get rid of the butterflies out of his belly.
After a a few hours of shooting my boy wanted to know if we could find my friends and shoot a course with them? I explained to him that with a a few thousand people there it would be hard to find them again. It wasn't 15 minutes later that I felt somebody trying to pull some arrows out of my quiver in one of the tents and turned around and saw it was Drew! He asked if we would like to shoot the iron Man course and I had to run to catch up to my boy! We stopped along the way so Thaddeus could get to shoot the spinning target. Everybody there made him feel very good about his shooting ability.
On the way up the hill we were talking arrow building, bow building, and shared some hunting stories when I looked up and saw Drew and Thaddeus carrying a conversation like they've known each other for years.
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/4D2A613A-52BA-4609-B51D-0C06FB62F078-7885-000007D9F043736D_zpsf55edf6b.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/4D2A613A-52BA-4609-B51D-0C06FB62F078-7885-000007D9F043736D_zpsf55edf6b.jpg.html)
I was happy to see every body one by one explain the rules of safety and shooting techniques to him. Like most eight year olds he seems to listen to others more then he will listen to his parents! That is okay though because I remember when I was eight!
Everybody took their turn taking him a few steps closer to the target and helping him with focus, draw, anchor, and release. You have no idea how happy I was see him soak it all in.
After a a few more targets I Look at Thadeus wearing something around his neck. I asked him what he had there and it was a necklace with a Bearclaw on it from a bear that Drew had shot with the bow that he was carrying that day! I can tell you that my boy knew he had something very special! Thanks Drew!
We ended up shooting a few more targets and shared a couple stories before we snapped a few pictures and parted ways.
We had to sprint down off the hill to make it to the eagle eye competition that he is had qualified for earlier in the day. We made it there just in time for him to shoot and qualify to go to the next round. After he hit the target he walked over to me and said how his necklace has "mojo"! The final shoot got delayed due to rain and we weren't able to make it back but he was very good about it!
Later on it was back to the rotating targets where Thaddeus was on a roll. He wanted to get a picture to show his new friends how much better he Has become! "Mojo"
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/FC9AA866-FF79-4D91-A8F2-B77EA24DE18D-8382-00000822547CF6AF_zps9a091aef.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/FC9AA866-FF79-4D91-A8F2-B77EA24DE18D-8382-00000822547CF6AF_zps9a091aef.jpg.html)
After a rough night sleep in the vehicle we were up and moving to the top of the hill on the ski lift! We had the course to ourselves so I let him shoot every arrow out of his quiver at every target the whole way down!
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/ACC6407D-EFEE-4947-9CC9-CA587B2CC97D-7885-000007DA10BF27AD_zpsda7eaeba.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/ACC6407D-EFEE-4947-9CC9-CA587B2CC97D-7885-000007DA10BF27AD_zpsda7eaeba.jpg.html)
When we finished the course we looked across the mountains and he told me it was weird because it feels like he has been here before? I just smiled and we walked off the hill and back down to the range!
On the way home I looked in the rearview mirror to see Thaddeus staring and holding the Bearclaw that Drew had gave him! I don't believe that Disney World could have brought him the same joy that this trip did!
I made some new friends and ran into some old ones but I would like to personally thank fellow trad gangers, Charlie, Drew, Nate, and Manny for the memories that they have given my son and I. You are all great leaders And may God bless you!
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/166948F9-8966-488D-B59C-774D9297AC3D-7885-000007DA086A185C_zps17e90598.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/166948F9-8966-488D-B59C-774D9297AC3D-7885-000007DA086A185C_zps17e90598.jpg.html)
(http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz136/thadbow/D4BA22F7-D553-495C-B692-8677A656D70E-7885-000007D9F8FA6FDB_zpsc178a4e7.jpg) (http://s821.photobucket.com/user/thadbow/media/D4BA22F7-D553-495C-B692-8677A656D70E-7885-000007D9F8FA6FDB_zpsc178a4e7.jpg.html)
Thad
That's awesome!! One lucky kid....and one lucky dad. Thanks for the story and pictures.
Good for y'all... He'll never forget that trip :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing!!!
Great pictures it looks like you guys had a blast. I know the feeling my son turns nine tomorrow and I gave him his first real longbow yesterday.(he's been shooting one of those cheap Wally world bows for to long). I don't know who was happier me or him to see that arrow fly straight and to it's mark. We are truly blessed!
Thank you very much for this. I am Charlie's dad and wanted very much to join him there this year. It would have been a 18 hour drive for me, I was hoping for a rider to share the trip, from this area, it just did not work out, Then work got in the way. I am glad you and your son had a great time. These are things he will remember for ever. I hope next year I will be there to share in these memories for my son.
Take care and thank you for the pictures.
Thad, you can tell a great story. My Daughter and I also had a great time at Denton Hill
Thanks for sharing.
Tom
:thumbsup: You hooked up with a good bunch ;) :archer: :archer:
Cool. And those guys you and Thaddeus met up with are the best. Thanks for sharing :clapper:
Thad enjoy him as much as you can now they grow up fast. Great trip. I have a question on the bow you made it looks like something sq. and kinda clear in the site window. What is it bow looks good.Kip :thumbsup: :campfire:
NICE! Good stuff, men! :thumbsup:
Awesome story! Thanks for sharing it and the pictures with us!!!
Thad and Thaddeus it was an honor to shoot with both of you . I am blessed to meet and shoot with such great folks . Thank you both Drew
Thad good to see ya again, I had a great time, will be back next year, hope to see ya at Baltimore next year, shoot straight
Great post !!!
That is a memory that will last a lifetime.
Awsome stuff.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kip:
Thad enjoy him as much as you can now they grow up fast. Great trip. I have a question on the bow you made it looks like something sq. and kinda clear in the site window. What is it bow looks good.Kip :thumbsup: :campfire:
Thanks Kip, that little square that you see is a natural(green) g10.It is what I like to use for I-beams in my risers.
Great story...I LOVE SEEING THAT SMILE ON THE LITTLE GUYS FACE!!
Nice post for sure.
This is one to print for his scrap book of "best times ever."
Looks like a great trip!
Very cool! You can't beat good company. Sounds like he won't forget that trip!
It was so great seeing you two again.. Here is the Picture of Tracey and Thaddeus at our booth on Saturday
(http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac260/Stjoeriverbows/TraceyandThaddeusatDenton2013_zps760fe4b9.jpg) (http://s905.photobucket.com/user/Stjoeriverbows/media/TraceyandThaddeusatDenton2013_zps760fe4b9.jpg.html)
"This is what it is all about"......INDEED!!!!
Great post. You will cherish the memories.
Thadbow-not to hijack the thread, but what is the white-ish material in the sight window of your bow in front of the side plate?
Great story Thad. :clapper: :clapper: ..hope to see you again next year at Baltimore.... I wasn't able to make the ETAR event this year....
great takes me back to when my boys were that age thank you
Thad, trust me when I say, It was all our pleasure for sure to share some shooting with you. It may sound weird but we were destined to meet up and shoot that day. A little birdie named Robin told me so.
Your bow shot great, a little too new for me but thats not the bows fault :readit: ;)
You and you and Thad are welcome to shoot with me anytime.
Thank you!
I'm curious where you grew up close to Denton Hill?
Keith, it was also great to talk to you again! Congratulations on winning the VA state shoot! That is awesome! Please send me a few photos of that Bigfoot SS when you get it!
David and Tracey, thanks for that photo! Love it! I am looking forward to see the new 50+" youth bow you are coming out with!
Kirk, I wish you could have made it to Denton this year. You my friend have helped me more with making bows than anybody! I wish you could shoot my latest!
Charlie, I will be picking your brain here in the near future on your arrow making skills! I would really like to try that splice! You make some great arrows my friend!
Gangreen, I grew up in Elk County but still do my hunting off of 872!
Good stuff! Those are things he will remember when he grows up. :clapper:
Very cool. I missed going this year with my son. Pray we get there next year.
That really is what it is all about.
Great stuff!