15 July 2013

Dedication....

These guys have it!

The SCSon's SCTP team (Rio Salado Target Terminators) are participating in the SCTP nationals this week in Sparta IL.

 A couple parents (two fathers with their sons) are making the 20 hour drive.  Unfortunately the engine gave up the ghost before they'd cleared the state.  They were towed to the dealership in Gallup NM.  Mechanics there report the engine threw a rod.  It's toast.

They were unable to rent a suitable car to continue with the trailer or even just load up the essentials and continue on.

The vehicle owner bought another car sight unseen and is having it driven up to them.  They expect to be back on the road around midnight.  Plan A is to alternate drivers and only stop for fuel and bathroom breaks.  They still have 18 hours to go which puts them on site around 8pm Tuesday.  First round of sporting clays is 10:30 AM the next morning.

Now this affects the entire team as they are carrying the team's shotguns & ammo (enough for a pretty good stand at surviving a class 2 zombie horde!)  The shotshells are easily replaced at that end of the trip.  But the guns not so much.  If something else breaks, the team will have nothing to shoot. 

The SCSon and I fly out waaay too early for my likes but it gets us East of St Louis early enough to clear the city before rush hour traffic takes hold.

Plan B is for the SCSon and I take the risk of taking the guns with us on the airline.  My initial perusal of the airline website suggested the oversized case would cost $175 each way.  The SCQueen called the airline and clarified just $25.  With the risks of bringing it through TSA and getting "misplaced" enroute, I'd rather not take this option.

I reached out to IL resident TrueBlueSam looking for other options.  Unfortunately his only scattergun is an inherited short barreled coach gun.  This would be one step above throwing rocks.

One idea we discussed would be to buy an 870 at my local Bass Pro or Cabelas  (complete the 4473 & transfer funds) and take delivery in St. Louis.  I ran this by my phrendly purveyor of phine phirearms.   He tells me as far as he knows, long guns can only be sold in state or to residents of adjacent states

He suggested shipping it to myself.  That's a good idea and one that can wait until late tomorrow to pull the trigger (pun unavoidable).

If anyone is going to be on site in Sparta, drop by and say hello.  Come on out an meet the team.  Email me at sandcastlescrolls-at-msn-dot-com and I can let you know where we'll be.

Also, while plan A and plan B get us to 99% confidence, if anyone is going to be on site with a gun to lend, please contact me at same email.  For Sporting Clays, we only need one gun... the boys can share.  The team will contribute labor for cleaning duties! (under your direct supervision and with as many "you missed a spot's" as necessary and/or entertainment value dictates :-)

Also check back here for daily updates.

Update 16July2013 2100.  The guys driving are on the western edge of St. Louis.  They are still in the wrong state but close enough we could go pick them up if something happens now.  They will hit their campsite around 2300 and I bet they will be some very tired guys.  We've heard rumors of inclement weather accross Texas,Oklahoma and Missouri and a couple new tires somewhere along the way.  Will update again after we hear the stories tomorrow.

BTW, I reached out to a couple Bloggers in case they get swallowed up in a black hole.  Neither had anything appropriate but were willing to go way out of their way to help.  TBS was willing to make a couple drives out of his way to buy a gun for the team to use and keep us from running afoul of the local laws.  DOOT didn't have anything either but reached to a friend who said "If you know him and say he's a good guy, we'll make it happen."

Quoting Roy: "More community action the Anti's don't have."

Thanks guys!  You are the best!

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