Cool!

It has to be nice knowing you don't have to come back to work when the trip is done. I hope you guys have a great trip.

Jim,

I look forward to hopefully seeing you and Joyce when you pass through Dubai.

I am actually at Dubai International Airport right now waiting for my flight to Switzerland.

Back in a week, then another trip before your arrival.

Time tends to slow down as you get closer to your travel date.

Certainly will be a longer trip in time than ever before. The multiple locations have made for some planning complexity but that's all part of the fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Jim,

I look forward to hopefully seeing you and Joyce when you pass through Dubai.

I am actually at Dubai International Airport right now waiting for my flight to Switzerland.

Back in a week, then another trip before your arrival.

Time tends to slow down as you get closer to your travel date.

Saeed,

We too are looking forward to meeting you as well. We appreciated the invite.

It's funny that your clock slows down before a trip. Ours seems to speed up.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Jim, is this the leopard hunt that you had to postpone?

Going to Rungwa in September. Wife would like to see Dubai and I haven't been in 20 years. How hard to bring guns thru Dubai on the way to Tanzania?

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
It has to be nice knowing you don't have to come back to work when the trip is done. I hope you guys have a great trip.

i retired in Dec and yes it is very nice knowing that when i return after 3 weeks in Namibia in June, it will not be to go to work.
Jim and Joyce i wish you nothing but the best on this postponed trip. i know how much you have both looked forward to it and you certainly deserve to enjoy things to the max!!!

Jim - Really happy for Joyce, so glad all is going well for her and what a pleasure she is to hunt with. I sincerely mean that!!!

However, I recommend bringing plenty of booze - that way the PH's on both hunts will be able to deal with the daily beating that is JIM!! Did I just say that in public? Really!!

quote:

Originally posted by BillsBillsBills:
Jim, is this the leopard hunt that you had to postpone?

Yes we will have His/Her Leopards on quota in the Niassa Reserve, hunting with Derek Littleton of Luwire. Originally had that hunt slated for 2014 but Joyce insisted on getting cancer. The Leopard hunt will not occur till after a Trophy Elephant Bull hunt with Buzz in Zim.

We will also have a 3 day stopover in Dubai on the way and will have 3 days at Vic Falls between the Ele and Leopard hunts.

We have an extra week in Moz and have been invited to hang at Derek's "beach bungalow" on the Indian Ocean.

Pretty jazzed to say the least but a mountain of fine minutia to deal with in the planning.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Jim - Really happy for Joyce, so glad all is going well for her and what a pleasure she is to hunt with. I sincerely mean that!!!

However, I recommend bringing plenty of booze - that way the PH's on both hunts will be able to deal with the daily beating that is JIM!! Did I just say that in public? Really!!

Bro!! You'd never make it in Philly. "No blood no foul". Really!!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by mgrem:
Going to Rungwa in September. Wife would like to see Dubai and I haven't been in 20 years. How hard to bring guns thru Dubai on the way to Tanzania?

Paperwork has to be submitted no earlier than one month before the trip.

Email NYCRREK2@emirates.com

It's not rocket science but it must be done properly. If my computer illiterate ex-boss can pull it off I suspect anyone can.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
It has to be nice knowing you don't have to come back to work when the trip is done. I hope you guys have a great trip.

i retired in Dec and yes it is very nice knowing that when i return after 3 weeks in Namibia in June, it will not be to go to work.
Jim and Joyce i wish you nothing but the best on this postponed trip. i know how much you have both looked forward to it and you certainly deserve to enjoy things to the max!!!

Thanks Jerry,

I am personally shocked by what retirement has given me. I absolutely love spending time with Joyce, always have, always will. Now, somehow, this type A, driven, anal retentive, planner has found another gear. I still have all those same traits, it's just that I can now put some things off till tomorrow.

We leave on March 24th, literally one year and 6 days after Joyce's last dose of Chemo. She will have her "one year" followup Pet Scan right before we leave. No expectation it will be anything but negative. She's back to rocking it in the Crossfit Box.


Cheers
Jim

Tell me, Jim, what countdown is more exciting: retirement or Africa?
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Tell me, Jim, what countdown is more exciting: retirement or Africa?
Cal

Having passed the retirement finish line I have to say Africa my friend.

Shot at Birchwood tonight. Your heated shooting shed is sounding like a really good idea.

Cheers
Jim

Jim, I am really happy for you & Joyce.
I hope your safari is as much fun as the last one.
Looking forward to ROCKING hunt report!

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Jim, I am really happy for you & Joyce.
I hope your safari is as much fun as the last one.
Looking forward to ROCKING hunt report!

Each trip is different, but rest assured we ALWAYS have fun. Presuming Joyce connects with a Leopard we have already discussed an interesting photo option.

Jim

Should be an awesome trip.

Does emirates hold the guns while you vacation in Dubai?

Mike

All the best to you both, and I know how exciting this one is going to be. I know you guys have done some great trips, but this has to be the trip of a lifetime seeing so many very cool places, being there for over a month, and hunting a bull ele and leopards in great areas with great companies. This opportunity couldn't be seized by two finer people, and I know you too will absolutely appreciate every single bit of the wonderful experiences from the trip. I just hope you don't decide to stay in Moz. on the beach permanently, I want to see you guys again in Sept. when I come to AK...oh...and I think Joyce deserves to shoot the first leopard, and you can be "bait bum"...

When I suggested to my Julie that I should retire. She presumed I already had.

When I suggest we swap positions she said OK you go do all the work and I will drink beer on the sofa and fart.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Have a great time!

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Jim

Should be an awesome trip.

Does emirates hold the guns while you vacation in Dubai?

Mike

Hi Mike

The Airport police do in consort with Emirates. They also keep my luggage with the ammo. That is a problem if traveling alone in that you will only have your carry on.

Since we are only taking two guns in one tuffpak I have 4457'd both guns in my name and that way Joyce should have access to her checked bag.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
All the best to you both, and I know how exciting this one is going to be. I know you guys have done some great trips, but this has to be the trip of a lifetime seeing so many very cool places, being there for over a month, and hunting a bull ele and leopards in great areas with great companies. This opportunity couldn't be seized by two finer people, and I know you too will absolutely appreciate every single bit of the wonderful experiences from the trip. I just hope you don't decide to stay in Moz. on the beach permanently, I want to see you guys again in Sept. when I come to AK...oh...and I think Joyce deserves to shoot the first leopard , and you can be "bait bum"...

Already planned!!

quote:

Already planned!!

Never was any doubt about who goes first.
That man really loves his wife!

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:

quote:

Already planned!!

Never was any doubt about who goes first.
That man really loves his wife!

Being Valentines Day I will show her your post Cecil. Beats the crap out of a card and another Orchid.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Jim

Should be an awesome trip.

Does emirates hold the guns while you vacation in Dubai?

Mike

Hi Mike

The Airport police do in consort with Emirates. They also keep my luggage with the ammo. That is a problem if traveling alone in that you will only have your carry on.

Since we are only taking two guns in one tuffpak I have 4457'd both guns in my name and that way Joyce should have access to her checked bag.

Cheers
Jim

I am going to do that in November when going to Zambia to hunt with Andrew.

Been a while since I gone to Dubai - 2006.

I like the old city - places does not change unlike rest of Dubai. it's worth a visit.

Mike

Elephants and leopards can it get any better?

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Jim - Really happy for Joyce, so glad all is going well for her and what a pleasure she is to hunt with. I sincerely mean that!!!

However, I recommend bringing plenty of booze - that way the PH's on both hunts will be able to deal with the daily beating that is JIM!! Did I just say that in public? Really!!

Bro!! You'd never make it in Philly. "No blood no foul". Really!!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
Elephants and leopards can it get any better?

Plus.......Location, location, location!

Good luck you two!

Since you are hunting this March, if you make it back to CO for the antelope hunt in the fall, perhaps you guys can stop by the house again and tell us all about your hunt (with pictures of course). We too are "hoping" to hunt Leopard this summer, along with some other hopefuls.

Waiting is the hardest part...

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Good luck you two!

Since you are hunting this March, if you make it back to CO for the antelope hunt in the fall, perhaps you guys can stop by the house again and tell us all about your hunt (with pictures of course). We too are "hoping" to hunt Leopard this summer, along with some other hopefuls.

Waiting is the hardest part...

Thanks for the invite and if we are back there we certainly will visit without the time crunch this time.

Jim & Joyce;

I'm so excited for both of you. This is a well deserved safari!!!!! Of course, I have to say, I'm very envious also....you'll be having so much fun!!!!

I expected regular hunt/report updates as there is no way I'll be able to wait for your return to hear all the antics and adventures you have had.

Hugs, Darin

Sounds like an awesome trip

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
Elephants and leopards can it get any better?

Only if you came along and took the pictures!!

I booked our flights using air miles and because of that at this point we will have two nights in Houston on our way back. Still trying to get that fixed to one night but no guarantees.

Love to hear from folks with boots on the ground about suggestions on where to stay and what to do other than hang out at a hotel.

Cheers
J&J

Jim,

Best of luck to you guys. Elephants and Mr. Spots. Lots of fun! I'll be very interested in how it goes through Dubai.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

Best of luck to you guys. Elephants and Mr. Spots. Lots of fun! I'll be very interested in how it goes through Dubai.

Mark

Thanks Mark,

Nice chatting with you and Sadie at SCI.

I'm optimistic there will be no issues with Emirates and Dubai concerning a stopover involving firearms. I have been in email communication with them for close to six months getting the answers needed.

I will be emailing all the scanned documents this Sunday (their monday) as that will be 30 days out. They request it not occur earlier. My ex-boss had no issue but he only had a short overnight in Dubai. I gave him all the info he needed to complete the permitting 30 days before his flight.

I'm going to give the ePermit site of USF&W a shot for the leopard permits as well. I'll let you know how that goes.

Cheers
Jim

I am sure your hunt will be a success ,
Luwire is a hell of a place , beautifull and adictive , Dereck is a wonderfull person and Ph , Niassa is magic , Lugenda river ....
All the best to you and your dear wife , enjoy life as it comes !
Good luck .