Now that we have found CCHunter, where is Ann, haven't seen a post in a long while. Does anyone know? I sent her email, but no answer.

D. Nelson

Yes, where is Ann?

I've communicated with the wonderful lady lately. She's had some problems with her farm, floods, chickens and Vermont's snow... however, she is a champ and getting everything in order. She will do just fine. I'll pass along your concern.

If any of you have the chance to hunt with her, do it. She's a great bud to hunt with... but don't go fishing... she'll make you run the motor and never let you fish.

Ann is in Vermont? Thats right nearby, I'd love to see the mount of that monster kudu she took a few years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by KevinNY:
Ann is in Vermont? Thats right nearby, I'd love to see the mount of that monster kudu she took a few years ago.

Me too

ann is looking at taking a job in syracuse NY at the moment. she's been somewhat active over at nitro express

Hi All,

Still alive and well but been a very busy 2008. Not enough hunting for sure.

I could not get to my house with a vehicle after the summer floods and had some knee surgery too. Yucky year, I do need to catch up with everyone though. There have been many other unexpected events to keep me way too busy.

Here's a couple of flood photos:

This is what I woke up to early one August morning. It had rained all night (and basically for the previous month and a half prior to this event) and I had no idea this happened until I looked out the window. This is actually just the first wave. There was enough room to squeeze my car out at this point after I sawed up the trees laying across the top.



The second wave taking the rest away. The water rose 15 feet with in minutes. The roar was so loud you could not hear people speaking.



To add scale the culvert which looks like the end of a fire hose is 10 feet in diameter:



What was left was only enough room to walk across. Total damage $30,000. I am a regular person with no extra income other than sporadic overtime (which ended with the state budget early this year). When this stuff happens no insurance covers it, no federal or local help. None.

A week after knee surgery I started cutting hemlocks off my mountain to build a bridge which I just finished.





I'm not a carpenter and just did what seemed to be the best to hold the weight of my car and tractor. I built four trusses which are hand laminated 2X10X16's to span 32 feet and bolted hemlock logs to them. Then added decking. No one helped other than a friend of mine who showed up with her arm in a sling and brought some tools for part of a day. It took over a month to get the trees down and moved and the deck built. My poor little girly tractor did a great job, some of the logs are 40 feet long.





The car spent the night on it and I have been driving over it regulalrly with success. Now just to get through winter which normally brings at least 12 feet of snow.



So I won't be traveling for a long time now. I did not have enough money to make it any wider than it is but it works....

Still trying to get various taxidermists to do the mounts from several safaris. That for sure has been very disappointing. I've paid lots of $$ in deposits and no work is being done. I know I am not the only one facing this scenario.

I doubt I will bring stuff back from future African hunts due to this problem.

Anyway, I am still here and there just no time lately and not much to talk about.

Ann,

I hope that everything only gets better from now and the worst has passed. Good luck.

No fun. Good luck.

Brett

I wish I knew this was going on Ann, I would have come with friends to lend a hand. Looks like you did a hell of a good job.

Ann;

So sorry to hear about the flood and knee problems, but glad to hear you are OK!

I am amazed that you built that fantastic bridge on your own...way to go girl!

Please keep in touch. Darin

That bridge is great even more so that you basically did it on your own. Sorry to hear about the taxidermist as I am sure a couple of us would'nt mind to see that Kudu on the wall.

Keep well

Glad to hear you're getting along Ann. And hey, take it easy making excuses for that beautiful Massey Ferguson! Not everyone in the States prefers those green ones you know.

Good to see you're still afloat Ann! Sorry to hear about all your troubles.

David

All the best Ann

Ann
We got some good rains this year! The water was high all year here in Schroon Lake. Watch out for them hemlocks in bridges. Find an older logger and ask one.
I am glad I got my taxidermy from Steve. The guy who picked it up did my impala and kudu was done fast. I have the zebra almost done. I do taxidermy myself. I think Ill do things myself or settle for pictures.
Good luck with the snow we got our first last night.
Dean

So sorry to hear about your misfortune Ann.
But I´m sure you are a survivor, and at one point things have to turn and start going the right way again

Ann,

Sorry to hear of all the problems, I wish you all the best in the coming year.

I love the bridge, you are AMAZING!!!

It's too bad that an AR crew from the East Coast couldn't go in and rip rap and fill in Ann's road for her and stablize the situation. With her bad knee, finanaces and all, it sure would be a worthy project.

I have offered by e-mail any help Ann requires carpentry wise.

Have tools....will travel....

Dan

Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement. Things always work out sooner or later, just not as fast as we would always like.

I suppose I could try buying a few lottery tickets now and then? Can't win if you don't play, etc, etc?

Obama has promised to spread the wealth so I am waiting for my share. There is still hope of a bull elephant hunt in my life yet...

ann , incredible tenacity ...well done and i am sure you will get that elephant one day !

Hey Ivan, maybe you will walk me up to him too!

Where in Michigan did you move off too? I was born/raised there.

Hi Ann.Vermont sure is beautiful!

Ann,
You are an amazing person! Keep the faith sister.

Ann
Wow life sure can throw some curves, eh!
Great job on the bridge..don't know if you have added it since the bridge was built but make sure you add brow logs to both sides so you don't slide off it in winter slippery conditions.
I sure do hope the coming years share of luck is vastly improved for you Ann.

Hi Guys,

Thanks.

WC-

The snow has come before I could get some side logs on but so far I have been able to keep the wood surface clear of ice and snow. I have a 7 foot plow blade on the back of the tractor.

Lady Ann,

I wish the She-Wolf and I were closer, we'd be glad to help. The two of you would doubtless become great friends, as you're both bloody fearless and oh, what's the word I'm looking for...

Indomitable (adj). incapable of being subdued

Yeah, that's it...indomitable. We used to be a nation of can-do, find-a-way people...proud to see there's some of that left.

From frontal brain shots to the Vermont version of "Bridge on the River Kwai"...gal, I'm impressed!

Mark

Ann: Sorry to hear of your tribulations, but glad to hear you have met them like a champ. If the new president indeed shares the wealth, I'd be very pleased to book an Obama bull elephant hunting package with you!
Bill Powell

Guys,

It was actually dubbed "The Bridge To Somewhere" and no alcohol was wasted by breaking a bottle to Christen it. Though I won't deny there was no actual consumption before, during and after construction.

Well done Anne, great job on the bridge could not have done it any better myself.

Are you still booking hunts for Namibia and who, what, where?

Daaaaang!

Good job on the bridge to somewhere!

I regret to inform you that if Obama sees what you have done you will not be eligible for any of the redistribution.

You posses waaaaaaaayyyyy too much drive and initiative to be considered for this program.

Plus, you have a job.

However, I would not rule out the possibility that he would consider taxing your bridge.

As Mims would say, "Better tomorrows!"

Wendell, you are probably correct <sob>. RB, yes indeed, one outfit is full up though, the other on the brink of being so for 2009. Just let me know what you have in mind and when. I have a good place in RSA for quality plains game at the moment too. Some real screamer kudu and bushbuck there.