North Albert 2009 - Day 1.

[GrahameA]

Afternoon All

First Off, lessons for all of us
- you cannot shoot Archery and take photos. So don't complain to much about the early photos
- make sure the compact flash card is fully seated in the camera
- some cameras are easy to have their settings changed as the hit against you body.

"Yes, I did have an exciting morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Okay, on with the day. I arrived a little later than I wanted, I initially took the right turnoff, convinced myself it was the wrong turnoff, drove back onto the freeway, missed the alternative turnoff, managed to double back - eventually - found the alternative turnoff and arrived 30 minutes later than I wanted. My day was starting off well.

I took two cameras with me and had intended to shoot photos and arrows - that was stupid. And I paid the penalty for it. Sunday is photo only day - and I probably shoot better photos than I do targets - well at least that is what the scorecard suggests.

Right, so on with the shoot. All the usual suspects were there plus a few new ones. My group consisted of Lorraine and Dale - seen before in many photos, Sam a newcomer but established shooter, John - from Centenary, a FITA shooter shooting a longbow he made himself with some help from Greybeard and experiencing his first Trad Shoot, David - father of John and official scorer one less job we needed to do, and yours truly - with camera in tow.

There was the usual formalities before the shoot officially started and we started on Range 1. As per the request of Mick Smith some years ago I included lots of photos of the targets so you can see what we missed. Whoever set the targets did a great job and deserves a large round of applause. Great shots - even if some were a little challenging.

The weather in SE Qld has been a little damp lately and the scrub has leafed up heaps and greened up even more.

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And if you think that looks green look at this shot. That is the group immediately in front of us.

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So here we are about halfway round the first range. (See lesson 2.) Easy looking shot? So how come half the group missed??

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And this arrows is headed underneath it.

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So here is the target - it is that turkey in the tree - partially obscured by the trunk on the right, I will break the only arrow for the day on this target.

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Dale smacks it.

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John is about to ht the tree - and you can see his arrow part way there - that pink stick on the ground just in front of the target is my broken arrow.

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This is the group behind us enjoying their stroll through the bush.

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Next a small Javelina.

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And a neat result for some. Observe 4 arrow and 5 archers.

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TBC

[GrahameA]

BC

This was a really hard target. The pig was black, the hole in the Lantana was black and the light level was low and falling. And you could not tell which way it was facing. That is my Flu-flu in the target - it is the white dot slap dang in the middle.

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And this Lorraine about to nail it - with her new Black Widow.

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Note the branch that drapes neatly across the middle of the target. Just shoot over it and drop the arrow into the target.

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The trees either side are there to ensure that your perception of depth is well and truly stuffed.

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Some people even need field glasses to see that far downrange.

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To get an idea of how dark it was look at the arrow blur shutter speed was long.

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One of the Archers from the group behind us.

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And the result. Yes, I know the photo is a tad blurred but the light was getting less and less and that was shot with a very long lens.

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TBC

[GrahameA]

BC

Go on check out the target - easy to see??????

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And some of us actually made the shot.

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Would you buy a Used Car form this lot?? I snapped that as I was heading back for a quick refreshment.

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This is Outback Archer (aka Lewis). He was enjoying himself too much.

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So here we are on Range 2. And it is looking very dark overhead - I have given the Archery away and am only shooting photos. Those able to shoot curving arrows will like this shot.

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Well known archer - observe the smile. Edit -I have heard rumours that he was smiling because he was going to win the Hawkeye on the Sunday.

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Mean while Lorraine shoots it in the foot!

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Want a challenge?? Try this.

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Notice how dry and happy these people look.....

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Another easy shot. It is, wait until you see what is coming.

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TBC

[GrahameA]

BC

We have set off the arrow recovery crew to save the arrows and the score.

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This is the group in front of us retrieving their arrows from the Croc. I am part way to the Croc from the peg, observe how easy it is to see.

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Check out the look on the archers as they check out the Croc.

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And the blur on John's arrow should give you hint how dark it is. Possibility of some precipitation perhaps.

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Ths has to be the easiest target all day and Loraine is about to nail it. What is that drop of water on my arm??

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TBC

[GrahameA]

BC

The heavens have opened. I have hot footed it back to the canteen and dried out a little and we are about to see the "Drowned Archers Parade".

There is another 30 minutes of people after this. This is known as taking it for the game.

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And it just got heavier.

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Recognise Rob McKenzie and Steve Wallace?

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Oh, here we are, the rest of the group - soaked to the skin. That Hot Coffee and Hamburger is going to taste good.

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This should give you an idea of how dark it was. The fluros were on inside the shed and the rain was pouring down.

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The rain has stopped - more or less - and "Outback Archer" is still smiling.

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Mark was there with the "Tradbits Shop" and doing a steady trade.

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So that was that.

The speed round was held after lunch - indoors and I have photos but they are not the best. Tomorrow will see the ranges again, plus the post-poned Running Pig, Hawkeye and Bow Birds.

I meanwhile have fletches drying.

So until tomorrow enjoy the photos and don't you wish you had been there.


Day Two Photos

[Mick Smith]

Thanks Grahame, I enjoyed that!

From the photos it looks like the targets were set in fairly closely. It appears that the challenge was threading your arrow though the foliage, not assessing distances as much. It reckon that's a good way to go.

Even though it rained, I suppose it wasn't really cold. It may have even been too hot to wear a raincoat, perhaps.

I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Mick

[GrahameA]

Hi Mick

From the photos it looks like the targets were set in fairly closely. It appears that the challenge was threading your arrow though the foliage, not assessing distances as much. It reckon that's a good way to go.

There were a few longish - 30 yards - targets. The real challenge was a clean shot and correctly estimating the distance. And do not let those trees affect you mind. Notice all those famous last words. The sounds you want to hear is whiz-thonk. Rubber. Not, Whiz-clunk-rattle-rattle. The sound of your arrow rattling off the trees and then the rocks. That broken arrow of mine was a result of glancing off one side and then hitting the other.

The Croc' was a killer - a real challenge. There was also a Turkey in a tree - #4 Range 1. Good choice of arrow was a Flu-flu.

Even though it rained, I suppose it wasn't really cold. It may have even been too hot to wear a raincoat, perhaps.

Ahh the rain. Yes the temperature plummeted to around 23C according to the a chart I just has a quick look at.

I have done my bit - photos are up, arrows are fixed (a few are still in front of the fan). Now, I am going to have a cup a Coffee and pack the gear for tomorrow and then start some real work.

[jape]

That's it ... I'm going to move! What a great place you have up there! I'd rather go mouldy and rot than dry up and blow away. Still can't burn off or clean up down here . Thanks for sacrificing your shooting to take the pics Grahame, brings it alive for us.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Thanks for sharing those, Grahame. It looks fun!

[Nephew]

Oh big deal, Grahame! No one cares about your day out!! ( It's a joke, folks. Grahame will get it, don't worry.)
Looks like an excellent time, mate. I'm very jealous, but motivated! I'll have a licence & car by the time Corrival comes around,without failure!

[Hellspawn]

Very nice photographs.

[jape]

Very nice photographs.

Hola, bienvenido al infernio. Is that spawn or pawn?

[GrahameA]

Day 2

http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7969

Oh big deal, Grahame! No one cares about your day out!!

Did you enjoy the pain of not being there? Did it rain all day at your place? It was looking particularly dark over Coochiemudlo today.

Start making your arrows for next year now.

[Hellspawn]

Very nice photographs.

Hola, bienvenido al infernio. Is that spawn or pawn?

Gracias, aunque no creo que se pueda decir que éste es el Infierno. Parece bastante piola el foro.


It's "spawn", thanks.

[jape]

Gracias, aunque no creo que se pueda decir que éste es el Infierno. Parece bastante piola el foro.

pero no ha sido aquí mucho - algunos dicen que hay unos demonios aquí!

[Hellspawn]

Well, there may be one more now ..

[UPTHETOP]

Thanks for taking the time to post Grahame. As always excellent photos.

Cheers Wayno

[Tahl]

What a great day that must have been! Thanks for sharing