Archery Clinic

Mandy loves archery. She started using a bow because she didn't like the loud noises of firearms, but even now that she loves the Action Pistol Shoots, she still goes back to her first love of archery.

Luckily, her awkward stance of leaning back on the back leg doesn't hinder her in archery like it does with pistols.  I found it amazing that Mandy (and Jordan) are both like me - cross dominant.  They are right-handed but left eye dominant, so I need to be the one to work with both of them more to help learn how to do everything left-handed such as archery, shotgun and rifle.  It's a good thing that Mandy is a natural with it all!!

The California Department of Fish and Game posted about a free Archery event.  I signed Mandy up immediately especially since it was local to us in Phelan. She was very excited to learn about her day, and I kept reminding her to always remember that I love her dearly because the weather was NOT going to cooperate.

We arrived early and got her checked in.  I had never been to the Mojave Archers Club out in Phelan, and it was an interesting experience.  I like that they had plenty of bows for the kids and even a number of left-handed bows. They offered mostly recurve, but they had a few compounds for kids to try.  

The facilities are in open desert. They have a set of shaded bleachers which was nice except the bleachers have not been kept well.  I ended up with some serious splinters after being knocked down. Sadly, I was wearing shorts, so my shin ended up ragged from the over-eager parent with a camera. 

There is a skate track which has not been kept at all. It was cracked and uneven everywhere, and I thought it odd that there was a skate track on an archery range. Hmmmm.  Well, everyone has different likes.

The archery range was set up and scattered through their acreage. They set up to 10 yards for the kids and had shaded tents to help the kids in the lanes.  There was plenty of accessories - arm guards, fingers/leathers, etc. They had ice chests full of water and were handing out gatorade and pop throughout the day. I was silly and followed the directions of bringing water and a chair along with a book.  Some of the other parents in attendance were really irritating to me, but that may have a lot to do with the fact that I wasn't enthralled with archery because of The Hunger Games, and that I knew about archery already.  (I will say that the Mom who was there talking on and on about how she just learned she's pregnant and about how her boyfriend is a firefighter annoyed the crap out of me.  She was high maintenance and drove me crazy.)

Mandy was shy at first and it took some prodding to get her to go to the table, get fitted for accessories and then line up to shoot.

Once she got through the first hour, Mandy was completely at home.  There was a boy her age there who was showing off, and Mandy found herself caught up in the competition, so she was releasing too fast for a while.  I reminded her to breathe and take her time, and she did better, but when she got caught up with the other kids, she complained that she didn't do well.

 It took a LOT for me to just sit back and let these people lead and direct my child.  

I was so glad when the woman, Mabel, corrected her arm guard!

I was really surprised that Mandy and all of the other kids managed to shoot for 2 1/2 hours!!  It was excruciating for me to stand there and wait due to the heat and other parents, but she really had a blast.  I was texting Ken her pictures since he was flying to see his sister in Utah, and he was really glad that she enjoyed herself.  

After they were done shooting, it was time to eat. The BBQ was really good, and I loved the nice sausage surprise that I received!

I asked the man what was in it because I had allergies, but as soon as he said rabbit and rattlesnake, I asked for more! The man was so excited that someone other than his friends like his sausage, and he was surprised to find a "lady" really liked it.  I didn't have a chance to tell him my rabbit shed story about my Opa and the rattlesnack incidents. Ha!

Mandy and I had planned to run some errands after the event, but there was no way I could do it. I was beat after being out in the heat all day.  Here's where the temperatures were when we got home:

And I kept reminding Mandy that it's always 3-7 degrees hotter in Phelan. Holy crap!! I am not going to be pleased with the electric bill, but I had to turn on the A/C again. The evaporative cooler just doesn't do the job when it's this hot!!  I also hate to say that I'm looking forward to Monday because it will be so "cool".  Ugh! Who would have thought at 80-90* weather would be "cool" to me?!

Mandy went on and on about the Archery Clinic.  Ken reminded both of us that the AVGC has a 3D shoot on the same mornings that he does the USPSA shoots.  I guess it's time to dust off my Rebel and get out practicing again with Mandy.