.... Well I may be visiting on the last visitors day at least!

I was going over our proposed itinerary for our US road trip next year and saw that If we leave New Zealand on June 11th we will be in Albuquerque over visitors weekend.

So I rearranged a few days to ensure that we rest over on Monday the 25th June. Mrs Kiwi Cop can have a rest up and I'll go experience the biggest CAS shoot int he world.

Well, that's the plan right now

Hope it all works out and you have fun!
Jim

I'm happy you'll be in the area! Please PM me if you want recommendations for places to eat good quality New Mexican food while you're here, or if you need any other info about the area.

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Now go make God proud...

You will be welcome here, if you get in the KC area. Not much of a tourist attraction, but you can see some cool custom revos. I hope you have a great time at End of Trail.

That’s a great event!
And an excellent time to visit NM.
You’ll need to rent a car.
NM is a large place with a lot to see, but it’s all over the place, usually you need to drive a ways to get there.
Lots of places to see and to eat.
Like - in Edgewood, NM not far from the Founders Ranch, is Chili Hills.
Owned by my Buddy Ralph Hill and Family.

Chili Hills • New Mexican Food Restaurant in TWO Locations

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Kansas City is on our list of places to visit. At this stage it's on the last weekend in June.

My wife and I have always wanted to tour the US 'mid-western' states. In my case as a Cowboy shooter and musician. She saw a TV programs hosted by Billy Connolly a few years ago about touring Route 66 on a 3 wheel motorcycle and said she'd like to do the same, but in a car.

Originally it was a long term "bucket list" item that I was planning, in he back of my mind, to complete after I retire, sometime after May 2016, using the payout from my long service leave. It would have been around 6 months pay but I've had to use most of it this year.

When she was in an induced coma in Auckland ICU back in March and not expected to live, I promised the both of us that if she came through as soon as she was strong enough I'd find a way to make this trip happen.

We have another income stream commencing next March so the plan is to re-mortgage the house we live in (currently nearly mortgage free) to pay for the trip and a few other things (the house needs painting so I keep getting reminded).

She thinks I'm crazy for planning this, and when she sees how much the budget is she will probably try to talk me out of it, but you only live once.

The plan is to fly into Houston, visit a few places in Texas, then up through Arizona, New Mexico and along the basic line of Route 66 (but not the exact former route) with detours to Las Vegas and Kansas City.

Then at St Louis turn down Highway 61 to Memphis, across to Nashville (she's a huge Elvis and country fan) then down to New Orleans for a few days before driving back to Houston to fly home.

My aim is to get a photo at the entrance to every town and city that we can visit that is mentioned in songs. I may even take a guitar to get some signatures on it of musicians we meet.

Kiwi Cop:

It's my understanding that Winter Range just NW of Phoenix, AZ, has more participants than EOT. I believe it's held in Feb.

hm

There is a Cowboy Action range about a mile from here, I'll see when their June matches are. Maybe there will be one you can shoot in, don't know yet.

I'm in Taos, NM, native to the area. Lots of great stuff to see here. Let me know if your trip brings you this way.
Robbie

When planning our road trip I spoke with my supervisor who informed my that my shift partner was going overseas for 5 weeks in early May. Our planing factored this in and I was due to leave on our rostered days off immediately before he came back to duty.

This past week I caught up with my shift partner for a chat (he starts work an hour away from where I start and sometimes we don't catch up during the day. My absences over much of the past 9 months have added to the situation).

He is now commencing his annual leave/overseas trip in late May and not returning to duty until the first week in July. That means we cannot travel until the second week of July.


So no Trails End. But hopefully I can find some other activity to replace it.

WOW! So sorry that you will miss End of Trail. I have been 4 times.
Once in California and 3 times in New Mexico. Just a terrific time
Geronimo Jim SASS # 21775

Kiwi Cop - Check out the calendar at powdercreekcowboys.com and see if there is a match that fits your KC schedule. These are local ones, not Nationals, but you would still be able to shoot some.

Thanks. I checked the link and nothing planned after the end of 2017 just yet is published. The range seems to be a good one and I would like a chance to visit.

Unfortunately while I was able to schedule a rest day to visit Trails End if we had travelled in June, our itinerary is not likely to give any time for actually shooting. By travelling in July and August we would be in KC around the 27th/28th July which leaves not much time.

This trip is as much a celebration of my wife's surviving her lung transplant surgery this year as anything, so it is packed with those things she likes to do with some of my favourite pastimes when it suits.

I hope everything works out for you to come over and have a great vacation. If there's anything we can do on this end to make your trip more enjoyable, let us know. Best wishes to both of you.