This is the story about two European guys who met on Tradgang. One lives in Germany, the other in the Netherlands. After some e-mail exchange, they decided to meet each other and became real friends. This particular story tells about the first visit to Germany last summer. Enjoy the adventure and the pics!

July, 28, 2012. At least it was so far!  Me and my wife were about to visit Hubert in Germany. Hubert, my Tradgang friend, brother of the bow and my soul brother in the first place, who visited us already two times. I would have to defy the famous German Highway (Deutsche Autobahn) for 300 miles, being the distance that Hubert and me separates us.
It was going to be exciting, because we would meet with Hubert's' wife and children for the first time. What was even more exciting: next day planning was the visit to Collenberg, another 60 miles drive, were you find Germany's most beautiful permanent 3D course, high in the hills 25 hectares big, 29 stations with in total 90 targets, all foam animals, many up/downhill shots. Mwah, I can do that!
We left on Friday 13.00 and arrived, due to traffic jam, at 18.30 at Hubert's place. The temperatures were exotic: 38 C or 100F!
Fortunately, Hubert and his wife Kerstin have a big refrigerator filled with ice-cold beer. Kerstin cooked us an outstanding meal and we talked as if we knew each other already for 50 years.... Archery really has no borders! We also met Mia, the 2 years old darlin' daughter and Finn, the 4 years old big brother. How adorable they are!
After the meal we went outside for some shooting in the garden and discussing some archery stuff. It was to hot to sleep, so we went on and on and had some more beers.....

     

     

Then it was time for bed, but none of us saw much sleep. The weather was too pressurizing. The next morning we drove at 09.00 the 60 miles to Collenberg. The temperatures were high again, 35C or 95F already in the morning....

This was going to be challenging for me to say the least! After all I suffer from MS and high temperatures really kill me. Furthermore I hadn't slept very well and had a long drive the day before. Then there would be much climbing on the course, since it is in the German hills. I never practiced any up- or downhill shots, because in the Netherlands we have no hills and/or mountains. Would I be able to hit anything then?  Furthermore, it would be the first time I would shoot a course with my new Cari-Bow Peregrine, 51 lbs at my drawlenght and Sitka Spruce woodies with a weight of 9GPP. I trained a little bit with this new set-up, but the real proof is in eating the pudding.....
Before we knew it, we arrived at the parking place of the archery range of Collenberg. I couldn't believe how neat everything looked. They even made parking boxes, so your car would stay in the shade. No wooden cabin fore this club, but a beautiful real big brick house. Some nice seats outside with a BBQ you are free to use. German perfection and hospitality!

     

We paid our fee from 10 bucks each and then went to the training location first, were you can warm-up and exercise some shots as long as you like. Like everything, build to the perfection. Foam targets at different distances and if this wasn't enough yet, app. 10 different animals at different distances. Incredible!

     

     


After some shooting and warming up, it was time for hitting to course. 29 stations and 90 targets in total... let them come!

The trajectory we had to walk was very clearly indicated, so finding the way was no issue at all.  We were walking in a lovely landscape, all nature with great views. The pictures don't do any justice. I soon found out that those Germans mean serious business. All targets were placed at big distances and one target was even at 70 yards, Hubert told me enthusiastic.

     

     

Each station had  more targets, so we decided to pick one target for the score and then afterwards shooting the others, just for fun.
We started the course and to my astonishment we shot equally well. None of the targets were easy to hit and none of them were at close range. We arrived at a group of hogs, and I made a false release with my first arrow. Happily my second went right in the inner kill. Hubert hit it with his first one, but no kill...  Hubert is proudly posing here.

     

We walked and climbed and shot. Sometimes we were in the open, sometimes deep in the dark forest.

 

We both shot an outstanding kill on a grizzly with our first arrow. It wouldn't be the last time, our arrows together in the kill-zone with the first shot!

 

Then we came to the spectacular climax of the course. Hubert told me several times about the shot on the caribou  which was to come. It should be spectacular. We arrived there, and first I couldn't discover it. "NO, look further! There, deep down!" Hubert shouted and pointed enthusiastic. And there it was, deep, deep, deep and far, far away in a steep valley stood a caribou. "It is 7 feet high at the shoulders" shouted Hubert, to give me an idea of the distance. Darned, it looks so small, it must stand at least 70 yards away.... " Yeah, you are right" Hubert admitted, "You shoot first!" I didn't hesitate, picked one arrow, aimed just above the place were I suspected the kill would be (hearth area) pulled my bow, and released. Half a second later I heard the sound of my arrow hitting the target. "KILL" Hubert shouted. "Unbelievable!" He on his turn copied my amazing shot and hit the kill with his first arrow too. . You are soulbrothers or not ....... We had fun like schoolboys and enjoyed our skills. We shot several times for fun and hit each time the caribou.  "To easy for us...." we decided and climbed down to get our arrows. Of course we posed for a pic.

 

 

 


We moved on and one and had the time of our life. The last five targets I was too tired and had to use more second arrows then was necessary. But  I thanked God that I with my MS was able to do this exhausting course with extreme temperatures . A real miracle for me!

 


Sadly enough we arrived much to soon at the last target. Two deer in a lovely valley close to a small stream. Looking very realistic.  Suddenly I realized that I hadn't missed a single target on this course. Would this become my first perfect course, without any zero's? I aimed and tried to get my head empty.... My first arrow bounced from the back. My second was way over from the stress... My third and last arrow now: carefully aiming and ..... darned! A bouncer from the shoulder. What a pity! Because I wanted to know if it were the nerves who had plagued me, I shot another arrow. And there it was, right in the kill! And one more on the other deer: right in the kill again. When I had done this with my first arrow, I would have had 20 points, in stead of 0 now!

 

All together I had a very good round: from the 29 targets I hit 13 with my first arrow, among which 5 kills, 14 with my second arrow among which 2 kills, 1 third arrow and one zero. Good for 380 points.
Hubert did it even better: 22 first arrows among which 6 kills, 3 second arrows and 4 third arrows. Good for 422 points.

Not bad for a first time! But, as we decided, this game has no winner or looser, it is all about enjoying the ride!

Tired, but satisfied, we drove home, we had to set-up the BBQ,  because tonight it was the celebration of  the anniversary of Kirsten, Huberts' wife. We had a great time with all their nice friends that evening.

Next morning it was time for some more shooting.... What else?? I test-drove three different Whippenstick bows, all great shooters. The Phoenix was to become mine, but I didn't know that yet at that time.... But that is another story    

In the afternoon we visited with Huberts' family the beautiful surroundings. How lovely this area is! In the evening we had the last meal with our friends, and on Monday morning we left again, going back to the Netherlands. We said goodbye with sadness in our hearths, but grateful for those beautiful days.

This shows how deep Tradgang friendships goes... Hubert and me have many contacts and I have this strange feeling more meetings will follow.

Any time again, Hubert!

OHHH Brother there were unforgettable days!!!!!
We have had soooo much fun......
Im proud to call you my friend and brother.
My familiy is grown now...Brother Ad and Sister Joke    

You are always welcome,any time again, Ad

TradGang is a great place!! Merry Christmas to ALL!!

Likewise Hubi! These was one of those  weekends you put in a diamond frame in the gallery of the paintings of your memories!
Like you said, my family has grown too! We will never forget this terrific weekend and we have this feeling there are more to come.....  

Wow, sounds like an incredible meeting!  Glad you guys had a great time and thank you fir sharing it with us  

Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing guys, love seeing the country over there  

Thanks for sharing your story,... looks like a fun day and some beautiful country..

Ad and Hubi great stuff there, glad the friendship is so strong! Great story about friendship and mutual love for this sport  

Ad, Thanks for sharing your story with us. Friendships our the foundation of our world. God Bless

*****EXCELLENT*****

Awesome story!  Thanks for sharing!  I'm half German, lived there in my childhood, miss it all the time haven't been over to visit since 2002, bout time for me to get back but plane tickets are so dang expensive these days!  

Frohe Weihnachten und ein guter Rutsch ins Neue Jahr!

Hey Ad!  Cool story!  Thanks for sharing it with us!  

Thanks for sharing!!

What a great adventure!

Looked like a a fun time and the 3-D course looked great.Thanks for sharing,I did not know that Texas summer heat made it all the way to Germany lol.

Great pics!

loved the story and pics...AWESOME

Now that is a great friendship.

looks like great fun!

Ad
You are enjoying life the way we all should.
Happy Holidays.
Abe