Home Sweet Home

It is Tuesday Feb.8th and we are at the big sportsmen show in Harrisburg Pa., and my thoughts constantly turn to home. It is not that I do not enjoy myself at the show, as there is so much to see and so many great folks to talk to, but there truly is no place like home. We have brought along Ozwald with us once again, which gives me some comfort, but I miss the little ones that I left behind. I have become a home body for the most part which makes it good considering that is also where I work from. However with the many adventures one could pick from here at the show, I have only one desire and that is to live my life in the outdoors right here in the Katahdin region; kayaking the Penobscot, gazing at the mighty Mount Katahdin, fishing Nesowadnehunk Lake and hunting the phantom black bear.
However, here I am, at the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show so let me share a bit of that with you all. Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulu, the stars and hosts of " The Archers Choice" TV show are just a coupld booths down from us. I met them for the first time last year, which was so cool as I watch their show faithfully. I have always liked the way they interact with each other kidding and joking and they way they share their experiences in the outdoors. I tell you honestly, they are as they appear on the show; down to earth real people like you and I.
There is every kind of hunting and fishing adventure one could imagine or wish for to pick from here. Some day, I would like to go somewhere and hunt for a color phase bear. I'm a bear hunting addict!! I could go to Alaska, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia,or Manitoba! One can go to all points of the world from right here; Africa, New Zeland, Newfoundland, Labrador, any place in Canada, Mexico to Australia! Some of these is simply out of the question for me cause if I can't drive there, I'm probably never going. However for those adventurous it is an opportunity of a life time.
Along with adventures, and there are many I have left out, you can also find anything and everything to take on your adventures and then some. Lots of just really cool stuff to look at and buy as well from jewelry, clothing and every imaginable gadget. You can even buy a new truck!!! What make and model are you looking for, it's here!!! How about a new 4 wheeler, or motorcycle?? It's here. Boats, boats and more boats!!!! Even log cabins!

However, we are here to keep our business alive so we can continue to live, love and play in the place I love the most.......Home!!!!

After all, it is winter

It is Tuesday, February 1st, 2011, and we are getting things ready to see what we have to pack into the truck for our yearly adventure to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the annual Eastern Outdoors and Sports Show, where we exhibit for the guide service. Currently, PA. is getting coated with ice in a huge storm that has affected and will affect most of the lower 48 States. The predictions for us here in Maine is snow, snow and more snow; up to a foot and a half starting this afternoon. We have been going to this show now for 5 years and have had the good luck to travel in good weather. Many times we have had a storm on our heals..but good roads still. Well, I knew at some point this luck would end, or just the fact that it IS winter and with winter comes snow.
Last year we traveled to Harrisburg and overlooked bare fields of brown. However, when we opened the motel door the next morning we were greeted with 22 inches of snow. Well we are from Maine, and have experience with snow!! Even though it is winter in Pennsylvania too, they seemed to be devastated with this amount of snow. Big E and I just simply put the truck into 4 wheel drive and off we went, no problem. Well as the week progressed, they got more snow...and for the very first time in 55 years, they closed the show due to the snow closing the interstates and stranding some exhibitors at the exhibit hall. Still we thought, oh well...it is winter!! We arrived back at our motel around 1:30pm and relaxed for a bit. Around 4:00pm, we thought well, lets go get something to eat. So we hopped in the truck and off we went, only to find that not even a McDonalds was open. It was like the city shut off all the lights and rolled up the sidewalks! Nothing, absolutely nothing was open, not even a convenience store could be found open. No Dunkin Donuts for a coffee..no nothing. We were asked why we were even out on the roads, and simply replied, we are from Maine and it's just snow....
This year looks to be much of the same, and we will even prepare a bit more for that fact, but still, it is just winter. I will admit, I do not like to travel on bad roads or in storms, however it is not for fear that we will have a problem, but that someone else will involve us in their problem and with some of the interstates we travel on to get there I have little to no faith that some of these people should have drivers licenses to begin with! Once we get there, I care little what happens, but ask of Mother Nature to treat me with a little special consideration that although I can handle what she decides to dish out in general, let me get there and get home safely and a little sunshine would really be nice.