Although it's late August October is right around the corner and Henry is very busy. It's been a year of ups and downs for Henry. Just after Christmas Rudy got very sick, he wouldn't eat and could barley walk. On a trip outside to do his "business" he collapsed in mid stream literally. Henry knew it was time to give Rudy that last loving thing he could do for his friend and called the vet. It took all Henry could do not to break down at the vets as he watched the life ebb from his friend. Even though it was the right thing to do it was the hardest thing Henry had ever done in his life. He had brought Rudy's blanket with him so Rudy would have a familiar smell for his last journey and when it was over he wrapped his friend in it and took him home one last time.
In the spring Henry was doing some trout fishing using the flies he tied from the Grouse feathers from the pervious fall. He found he was going north every chance he could and on one of his fishing trips he noticed a worn reality sign for a cabin. He called the relator but that wasn't the place he was looking for but it got the ball rolling.
Initially Henry was looking for something out of the way on a gravel road with maybe a few acres to call his own. He looked at a lot of places but they were either to expensive or to run down. Sometimes things happen for a reason and quite by accident while passing through a small town on his way to fish he saw a for sale sign and investigated. It was a small two bedroom on three city lots with woods on two sides. It wasn't the woodsey atmosphere he desired but it had potential enough. It was well built but needed some work but certainly affordable. After some negotiations the deal was struck. It amazed Henry that everyone knew his name. There was a gun club nearby which he joined as he had become fond of doing some clay target shooting and became known as the guy who bought "Vicki's house". Now Henry has a camp and though it's a ways from his prior Grouse coverts it's not insurmountable distance wise.
The "camp" purchase led to other necessities such as a new GPS with a map feature as new hunting venues need to be located and stored. Gus got a new collar as well with a beeper feature as well as corrective. Gus is a lot more hard headed than Rudy ever was. The best is a new to Henry GH Damascus 20 gauge that he padded the loan for. It's got 26 inch open choked barrels and a straight stock,a Grouse getter for sure with some RST 2 1/2 #8's.
It will be a bittersweet fall this year without Rudy to enjoy the new camp and explore new coverts and Gus is still a young upstart but he's coming along fast and in the end Rudy will always be with them.
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There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter...Earnest Hemingway
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08-21-2014, 12:41 PM
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