Yesterday "Cuz" (Brad) & I were at a Drive Hunt in Bad Wildbad-Calmbach.

Brad & I translate German-English for University of Wisconsin Forestry Students who visit the Forestry in Calw during the summer and our reward for a day of translation is always (gratefully accepted) an invitation to the Forestry's annual Fall Drive Hunt for Wild Boar, Red & Roe Deer.

As they were calling out names to receive the Shooter's Branch, I went forward and humbly accepted mine; hurrily weaseling my way back into the assembled crowd of Great Good & Unwashed who were all anxiously awaiting the cermony's termination so they could depart ASAP for the local Guesthouse (Pub) to begin the "Last Drive" which similar to the 19th Hole in Golf is all about telling lies & taking liquid libations in copious quanitites .....

..... meanwhile outa the corner of my eye someone I don't recognize slips up next to me and whispers in my ear, "Are you THE Gerry Clayton?".

Thinking to myself, "F**k, a Court Bailif or an IRS Special Agent." I begin to give him the once over and before I can tell a great lie, such as "No, my name is John Smith.", he sticks out his hand, smiles and says, "Hi, I'm Dirk Kern."

Well, Dirk posts here as DUK and we've been e-mailing and telephoning periodically for a coupla years now but never managed to meet face-to-face; which we had actually arranged to finally accomplish next month at a hunt in Bavaria.

Net, here we are post-hunt ceremony and then quickly off the the local Pub for a drink .....

It was super to finally meet you personally, Dirk and thanks to Saeed & AR have made a great new friend who is also an avid, passionate hunter and as can be noted by the double "Shooter's Branches"; makes the most out of his afternoon in the forest (=shoots good).

Indeed. When I approached Gerry and asked for his name he looked at me as if I was going to ask him for a loan or to borrow his German luxury car for the next 12 month or so. Hahaha, Gerry, what exactly do you have to hide? Just joking, of course! It was a nice but totally unexpected outcome of an already great hunt in the Nordschwarzwald region.

Gerry and Brad were among the big rotwild whackers on the hunt. Thanks for the picture and "Weidmann's Heil!" once again, this was indeed a memorable event. Besides, like it was to be expected from the State Forestry Administration, a very well organized and safe hunt. The overall result were 9 red deer, 15 roe deer, 1 wild boar and 2 foxes if I recall that well.

My wife seeing the picture just remarked that adorned with the branches or pine twigs on our hats we only miss two red glass globes as ornaments on our ears and some candles and we would make perfect christmas trees.

Gerry,

You look way to damned happy!!!

As for the IRS catching up to you, well we will have to see about that. LOL

And yes, it is a small world brought even closer via AR.

Don

Don,

All he has to do is put n the real tree pyjamas and stand in the shrubbery.... They will never find him!!

You gonna be at Vegas in Feb?

K

Kiri,

Go take a peek through the curtains - there may be a dark SUV with tinted windows cruising up & down the street .....

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
Kiri,

Go take a peek through the curtains - there may be a dark SUV with tinted windows cruising up & down the street .....

Remind me at Livemere to tell you the story about the three Russians I met at the bank. The security guard kept looking at our feet. I swear it was to work out how much concrete he would need!!

K

"Are you THE Gerald Clayton?"



Mate , you are justly famous!

quote:

Mate, you are justly famous!

According to some - only when I'm in the "stealth" mode ......

Kiri,

Unfortunately Mate I will not be able to attend the Vegas show. Something about my work schedule. Damned four-letter words!

Not sure what would be more of a shock - Gerry in leather trousers or Real-Tree PJ's.

I had hoped to do the AR weekend, as I will be in the Fatherland the first week of March, but can't get free to travel with Gerry for the get together. I have to play driver for the boss, no not the better half. So close, but no cigar.

Don