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FROM THE LIZARD

First of all let me apologize for not putting out a Broken Arrow for such a long time. I guess there are three major reasons for this. I. A computer came into my life. 2. It wasn’t a priority there for a while. 3. My personal life has been like a fire fight in the Rung Sat Special Zone in Nam. I won’t go into details on all of this but I will mention a few things just to "Help me" if nothing else. Its been a few months ago that Max Egolf and his wife Sharon lost their grand daughter in a car accident. This was bad. To make it worse the Egolfs have had custody of her for some years and Jackie was as close to the Egolfs as if she was their daughter. Max and Sharon gave Jackie all their heart and soul to this eight year old. This event about destroyed my long and good friends Max and Sharon. It also tore a hole in me the size of a truck. I have always been close to this family of three. The other thing was for the first time in my life, I couldn’t help my Bud Max.

After the funeral I went back home and fired out a Broken Arrow telling what had happened and blaming it all on God with all the words using any Lizard Language I wanted to. This Broken Arrow didn’t go to press thanks to good friends Andy Buckner and Kelly Rose. They did the right thing. After that for a long while I didn’t care about anything, including the Broken Arrow.

After that my marriage was just about over, I fell in love for the first time in my life.(Quit laughing, this hurt too) There is an old quote‑"There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your hearts desire. The other is to get it." Oh well!

Soon after that a couple of long time good friends got capped in Shri Lanka, trying to help the people there. All of this hit me at the Fall Nationals and I left. One thing I can tell you guys, no money in the world can buy your friends. If it weren’t for you guys out there, there would have been a different ending for this story.

Well my friend and club member Russell Rudd told me that after finally I ran smack into that four lettered word(not the f word folks) I’d be changed forever. I laughed, but it was true. I know because people at the Northeastern, Friendship, and Frank Houses shoot came to me and said "what happened to you, you’re not your self" They all agreed it was for the best. I can’t say that, not yet anyway. Well I went long into this and I apologize for it. Sorry!

NORTHEASTERN RENDEZVOUS

Well, lets get down to the real thing. This years Northeastern Rendezvous was again the best in the land. I’ve always tried to get you all to go up there. Once you do you wont miss another one. Next year its farther South in New Hampshire. The best thing we got two club members who are going to get married there. To each other, and ones a woman and the other is a man!! Cool huh! Crash and Slamfire are tying the knot. The neatest thing is I get to give the bride away, Yeh! They had a great shoot, and everything is so laid back, and the people are tops. This year they had a beached full size pirate ship with cannons that roared now and then. Down at the beach a pirate tavern was well lit up at night with torches and winches. It was a ball. At the end of the rendezvous the beached pirate ship was attacked by Indians, and flaming arrows soon put the end to the ship. They always have something different and big up there. The best part is for the shooters who go there next year, won’t have to go by the Profs way of scoring. Thank god for that!! Even his own people could never figure it out.

JUNE FRIENDSHIP

About the same old bull, lots of politics, no one listens to the Primitive side of things, and a lot of club members cleaned up as usual.

SEPTEMBER FRIENDSHIP

Disaster time!!!! I told the x‑board what would happen if they raised some of the fees on the Primitive side, and it happened. It was a no‑show. The Primitive side had the fewest camps since I started going there in 1970. It was a ghost town. I think they may have had 50 camps there after the first week end. The Pres and the EVP and some of the x‑board members came to my cabin and wanted to talk.(A little late) One of the board members renamed me "I told you so". Well if the 1999 June shoot comes out the same way, in my opinion its all over

1998 EASTERN RENDEZVOUS

The biggest yet. I was told that there was over 4,000 people set up in camp. That’s a lot. As far as I’m concerned it was not only the biggest, but the best ever. The land lay out was the best. Gentle sloping hills, lanes all named after the Indians in the Iroquois federation, and other local tribes, the meeting house during the day and the bar during the night was built by the Chief and his staff on an original foundation that was hundreds of years old, and left for the park service to use. Is that neat or what? Lots of shooting, but very few club members showed this year. The President of the Association camped with us, as did the EVP2, and some of the other board members. We had a blast! An older gentleman came with the Pres. I forgot his name , but I named him PoPs and adopted him as my father since I didn’t know my own father. If both of us was 30 years younger and we ran together, Buckskinning would have been outlawed in most states. PoPs always had a fruit jar shine that he called "smooth". He would get up in the morning and come over and say Lizard, want some smooth. This went on all day. PoPs is a good man. If my real father was half of that, it would have been good. The Pres. Chuck Hearn, shot every kind of match that was being shot every day. The EVP got to try out his new flintlock, and the other Directors were all shooting too.

PREACHER DOESN’T DIE!!

This has got to be a first. The Preacher survived with only bad sinus troubles. We didn’t have to make any emergency runs with him though. Packman (Fulmer) was the happiest I’ve seen him. No wonder, he was camped with all the Politicians. Mrs. Fulmer cooked for the whole crew. I don’t know how she does that and shoots the matches too. All together it was a grand time for all and I can’t see the Chief bringing in no less then $30,000.00 for the Eastern. This is good!!

NMLRA TENT

After Jim Fulmer, the Pres, and the EVP2 set up with all the NMLRA stuff, I went over to them and said “The people are splitting up and going around you guys, why don’t you move it in front of the gate so you get them all coming and going”. They said OK good idea, and did! (And I’m a high school drop out) Wow! While we at the tent passing out memberships and giving away copies of Muzzle Blast a Lady came up and asked me if we could do one of these rendezvous next year at a another location in PA. I told her we were booked two years ahead on the Eastern. She said she was the head environmentalist in PA and had a great site for us to have one next August. I asked the Pres if me and 12 other club members could go and put on a small rendezvous to show the people there what we were all about. It would take the NMLRA into new territory, and all new people that have not heard of us. Chuck said it was a good idea, and he would talk to the x‑board about it. The Lady went nuts, and said she can’t wait to get the other head honchos in the surrounding states to come and see that they could do the same thing in there state. This will be two fold. We will getting to people that don’t know anything about us, and at the same time we are"Scouts" for other rendezvous for a place to have theirs. So if any of you are interested in doing this with me let me know. First calls get it. I need 12. if we pull this off next August, our fuel will be paid for, and there might be more benefits that come with that. Its different and its going to be a blast. They will have everything set up for us just like our rendezvous’ do now when we pull in.

Well I guess that’s all I got I’m sure Many klatch (not Redeye anymore) has got some things to put to you and as always his comments, which I enjoy. Lizard Good night Kelly Rose, wherever you are!

FROZEN CHARLOTTE AT FRIENDSHIP

Following are some excerpts from Frozen Charlotte’s article printed in Maine Muzzleloading Magazine, Winter Issue 1998.

As a new member of NMLRA, I had heard a lot about this wonderful place called Friendship, Indiana. Since my husband was from Indiana, and we had lived there for many years, I thought, “How special can it be?”.

We arrived in Friendship, after being picked up at the airport by my husband (Mr. Buzzard editor’s note), Glenn Dickey and Lizard. They were dressed in primitive gear, all part of a dare that everyone participated in.

We walked through the gates which resembled a fort....this began the wonderful trip back in time. When living in the Primitive area you have to remember.... this is not a rendezvous, but a National Shoot, and therefore the strict rules of a rendezvous do not necessarily apply... but the feel and philosophy of a rendezvous are still there.

We were camped on a hill right next to the entrance to the primitive shooting range. When looking out over the area at night, the view is first of white tents everywhere with their lanterns aglow, an then as you look farther out, you see lights and smoke for what seems like miles. This is the modern shooting line which is lighted and open until around 11:00 P.M. for shooting. All in all...quite a sight.

Michael (Mr. Buzzard) Evelyn (Crash) and I (Frozen Charlotte) were recently asked to join an international shooting group called Widowmakers. The Widowmakers consist of dedicated shooters believing in the “old ways of the buckskinners”....from all over the world, and we found them to be just like all the other folks we have met since joining in on this sport....friendly, helpful, encouraging, and anxious to share their knowledge. Yes they are serious shooters, but no one we have met is serious to the point of excess. Being a new Widowmaker, I felt pressure to perform on the range (this pressure was from within....and not from the Widowmakers). Mr. Buzzard and I spent several days shooting fun targets on the primitive range (with minor success) and then the day came for me to try the Mountain Squaw Shoot.

Lizard and several other Widowmakers asked Crash and I to accompany them on the Mountain Man shoot which is on the same course as the Mountain Squaw. We started out with timed fire starting. I started my fire successfully....in record breaking time...beating everybody that day. Whew...that was over.

I didn’t realize, but now we had gathered a large crowd of spectators....cheering and laughing us on. They thought it was great sport, seeing two women competing against such good shooters.

Next there were five targets in the woods, across a ravine and up a slight hill (unique). I was first and scared silly. I loaded my rifle and took aim. I was so excited/nervous that I wet my pants as the gun went off. I had no idea if I had hit the target or not, but when I heard my mother-in-law start to yell with glee....I guess I did. Everyone cheered and I was relieved to have another first over. The next three shots were similar, and I hit all three.

Steve Baxter (the Tennessee Whip who wins everything he enters) was with us. And he had missed at least one or two shots at this point. I took aim at the last target and missed....darn. The crowd all said....Aaaawwww...... Steve also missed so I was still ahead of the Whip.

Then we had to throw the knife three times at the block (the Mountain Man had to throw knife and hawk). I missed all three throws ( I knew this was an area where I needed a lot more practice). Even with the knife throwing I came out of the walk with a respectable margin. No woman, for the rest of the week, scored higher....so I took my first gold medal at a National Shoot. Scary, now I have to live up to that reputation. Crash took a silver in this event, so the Maine ladies are now known as decent shooters. We beat all the men on our trek, and the Whip signed our books with: “The day the Whip got whipped.”

Well, all I can tell you folks is that Fall Friendship this year was a time of unusual visions. Seeing Lizard after his shower, (Yes, the power of ^*%# drove him to water and soap) was almost worth the cost of admission. The rest of the time wasn’t quite so good, but we made it.

I bailed out of Friendship on Sunday to go to a small rendezvous in Wisconsin. They have camp activity called Round Robin Trading. Don’t know as I have ever seen it practiced anywhere else. Basically it is a garage sale on a trade blanket. Buncha folks get together with stuff that they want to trade off. First person throws something on the blanket, next, someone that wants that item, throws out something that they would trade for it. If the trade is accepted, the owners shake hands on it. If the trade isn’t acceptable, it can be sweetened by adding more stuff or the items can be pulled off the blanket and another trade is started.

I took a bunch of junk that had accumulated over the years, and some of my Shaker boxes. I got rid of the junk and most of the boxes and wound up with a nice Shawnee style porcupine quilled neck knife and sheath and a nice powder horn, along with some coon skins, and some stuff I really didn’t want.

There were some kids trying to trade some badly made belt pouches (they made the pouches themselves) for lots of cool stuff. I finally let them “trade” me out of an old shooting pouch and some patch knives. You should have seen their faces as they pulled in their loot. Some rifles were traded, Coyote Skins, hand made clothing and accoutrements.

We had quite an audience watching, comments were made by the onlookers and good trades were applauded. I recommend the Round Robin at your next rendezvous.

I just managed to get the last Broken Arrow in the mail before I left for Montana. I just realized that I forgot to send the overseas members their issues because the post office wasn’t open at the time. Sorry folks, you got both copies in this mailing.

My son Brian and I and 4 other people drove to Fort Benton to canoe down 140 miles of the Missouri River. This is the only 140 miles not dammed up. It is also a scenic wilderness river, which means there is no building allowed on the river.

The Missouri River is fairly wide, about the size of the Wabash in Indiana. The water level was three times normal according to the DNR which meant that we had a 5 mph current and it was too deep to walk across for a change. The water is chocolate brown and agricultural runoff makes the water unsafe to drink. The rapids on the map were significant only to paddle wheel steamers, I saw nothing that would rate a 1 on anybodies rapids scale.

The first day the temperature was about 105 degrees in the shade. I was pouring water on my head and shirt. The humidity was so low that the shirt was cold as it evaporated and dried in 30 minutes.

For being only a 3 hour drive from Yellowstone park, we were alone on the river. One day we saw 8 other people all day. Most of the campsites were used. We stayed at Lewis and Clark sites each night. Missouri river runs through a gorge cut in very soft white sandstone overlaid with a harder cap stone. At times the surrounding cliffs were 1,000 feet above the weather. Lewis and Clark remarked on the fanciful shapes and it is still truly remarkable.

No mosquitoes except for the last camp at Woodhawk’s landing. The weather was mild and the nights cooled down to the 70's for good sleeping.

The DNR likes to register names of boaters since some idiots destroyed the Eye-of-the-needle last year with crowbars. No charge for the river is levied however. First time I have ever been in a wilderness with clean hooters at all the campsites. You could tell where the camps were because they were fenced in. The land is open cattle range, and the only way to keep cattle from stepping on your tent is to fence the camp in.

I wore period clothing for the trip, with some exceptions. I found that a wide brimmed plains hat was most effective (DUH!) In protecting my head from the son. A wool neckcloth held water and sweat quite well and kept my neck from burning. I wore a cotton riflemans shirt that came down to my knees. When soaked with water it kept me cool for up to ½ hour before I filled my hat again and dumped water over me. I did cheat and wear nylon pants and Velcro knee pads, but if I hadn’t had the knee pads I couldn’t have knelt in the canoe for 8 hours at a time.

My canoe was a wood stripper built, 1950's Boundary waters model. It was extremely fast, tippy, and harder to turn in a current than sunken Edsel. The boat had zero rocker so I found eventually that if I weighed it heavy in the stern, it would keep straight when going downstream like a wind vane in the current.

The next time I go, I will avoid the first 40 miles of river (which we did in one day, by the way). Nothing to see but rolling sand hills and brown dirt for the most part. Our first stop at Coal Banks Landing is the right place to start. The White Cliffs area starts below Coal Banks and things stay interesting clear down to the Judith river. The campsites we stayed at were Black Butte, one below a small ferry and Woodhawk’s Landing. The next time I will take about one or two days at each camp and explore the cliffs and prairie away from the river.

We saw, Bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, golden and bald eagles, and mule deer from the canoe. I didn’t see a buffalo until we drove into Wisconsin and saw one in a farm by the side of the interstate.

All in all it was well worth doing. I took too much food, as usual, gotta learn to pare the weight down. Brought 30 pounds of food back.

Well the end of the page is sneaking up on my again. Hope to get this missive off by the end of the week. See you all at rendezvous some day.