Sunday, July 20, 2008

FISAC 2008: Cape Town Attractions

ESPERO VER ALGO DE ESTO!

Cape Town panorama

Table Mountain

Cape Town's most popular tourist attraction is also its most famous physical feature, the flat-topped mountain that stands sentinel over the city. Table Mountain has been proclaimed a nature reserve, protecting its diverse floral species, some unique to its slopes. The views from the top of the mountain are quite spectacular. A Swiss-built rotating cable car carries visitors smoothly up the mountain and back. The mountain-top is equipped with a restaurant and small gift shop, as well as numerous pathways and vantage points. It is possible to climb the mountain via different routes, but inexperienced hikers should take care because Cape Town is prone to sudden weather changes. The walk up can take anything between one and four hours depending on the route and level of fitness. Route maps can be bought at the cable-car station. It is always best to check the website or call the weatherline to see if the cable car is in operation.

Address: Tafelberg Road; Website: www.tablemountain.net; Telephone: 021 424 8181 (weatherline) or 021 424 0015; Transport: Bus to Kloof Nek from Adderley Street and a 1.5km walk up the hill; minibus taxi from the Parade; Riki taxi; or as part of the Cape Explorer Topless bus tour; Opening time: Cable car operates daily (weather permitting) every 10-15 minutes from 8am to 8pm (November); 8am to 10pm (December to January); 8am to 8.30pm (February); 8am to 7.30pm (March); 8am to 6.30pm (April); 8.30am to 6pm (May to mid-September); 8.30am to 7pm (16 September to October). Closed for annual maintenance in July and August.; Admission: Cable car: R130 return, R65 one way (adults); R68 return, R36 one way (children under 18). Other concessions available. Bookings are not available due to changeable weather conditions

Changing of the Guards at the Castle of Good Hope © SATOUR

Castle of Good Hope

South Africa's oldest building, the Castle was completed in 1679 (replacing an earlier mud and timber fort built by the first Dutch Governor, Jan van Riebeeck). Situated adjacent to a parking lot and bus station in Buitenkant Street, its walls mark the original boundary of the seashore where the waves washed up against the fortifications. Its outside aspect is somewhat foreboding, but inside are some interesting features and collections that have been restored, offering a good insight into the early days of the Cape when it was the centre of social and economic life. The castle is a pentagonal fortification with a moat and five bastions, each named for one of the titles of the Prince of Orange. The entrance is a good example of 17th century Dutch Classicism, and a bell, cast in 1679 by Claude Fremy in Amsterdam, still hangs from the original wood beams in the tower above the entrance. The castle contains a Military Museum depicting the conflicts that arose during the Cape's early settlement, and also houses the William Fehr Collection of decorative arts, including paintings, furniture and porcelain. Of interest are the dungeons, which bear the graffiti carved by prisoners incarcerated here centuries ago.

Address: Buitenkant Street, opposite the Grand Parade; Website: www.castleofgoodhope.co.za; Telephone: 021 787 1249; Opening time: Daily 9am to 4pm, with tours at 11am, 12pm and 2pm from Monday to Saturday. Self guided tours are possible with the aid of a map, provided by the Castle; Admission: R20 (adults), R10 (children); half-price on Sundays. Concessions available

Planetarium

South African Museum and Planetarium

The imposing South African Museum, dedicated to natural history and the human sciences, contains a huge variety of fascinating exhibits from entire chunks of caves bearing rock art, to traditional arts and crafts from several African tribes. The natural history galleries are full of mounted mammals, dioramas of prehistoric reptiles and a collection of whale skeletons, which can be viewed with the eerie sound of whale song echoing in the background. Alongside the museum is the Planetarium, which has a changing programme of thematic shows involving the southern constellations.

Address: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens; E-mail: info@iziko.org.za; Website: www.iziko.org.za; Telephone: 021 481 3800 (museum), 021 481 3900 (planetarium); Opening time: Daily 10am to 5pm. Planetarium shows Monday to Friday at 2pm and Tuesday evening show at 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm, 1pm and 2.30pm; Admission: Museum: R10 (adults), R5 (children), free on Saturdays; Planetarium: R20 (adults), R6 (children)

Greenmarket Square

Situated in the Central Business District, near the main station, is Greenmarket Square, the perfect spot to observe South Africa's 'rainbow nation' in all its hues. Once the scene of slave markets, this is the site of one of the city's most vibrant flea markets, where clothing, jewellery, knick-knacks and souvenirs are on sale every day, and tourists and business people rub shoulders in the many sidewalk cafes that surround this busy cobbled square. Be prepared to haggle at the market to get the best prices and be warned, touts are prevalent. On the west side of the square is the Old Town House, dating from the mid-18th century, which is a wonderful example of Cape Dutch architecture and houses the Michaelis collection of Dutch and Flemish landscape paintings.

Opening time: Greenmarket Square open daily till 3pm, closed Sundays. Old Town House open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm

St George's Cathedral Interior © www.stgeorgescathedral.com

St George's Cathedral

Cape Town's Victorian Gothic style Anglican Cathedral, founded in 1901, is situated in Wale Street and is historically significant for it is where the enthronement of South Africa's first black archbishop, Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, took place. The Cathedral is unique in that it became a political powerhouse in the struggle against Apartheid, known as 'the people's cathedral', stating openly from the 1950s onwards that it was open to all people of all races at all times. This was a brave stand in the racially segregated society of the time. In subsequent years the cathedral became the venue for many protest gatherings and vigils and on occasions the building was surrounded by police, water cannons and barbed wire. Victims of forced removals were even accommodated in the cathedral at times. As far as architectural merit goes, the cathedral does feature some fine Gabriel Loire windows, including a magnificent Rose Window above the south transept.

Address: Wale Street; E-mail: info@sgcathedral.co.za; Website: www.stgeorgescathedral.com; Telephone: 021 424 7360 (Cathedral office)

Kirstenbosch Gardens © SATOUR

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Five miles (eight km) south of the city centre lies the magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, covering a huge expanse of the rugged south-western slopes of the Table Mountain range. Kirstenbosch was bequeathed to the nation by mining magnate Cecil Rhodes in 1895, and today contains more than 22,000 plants, a research unit, botanical library and nursery. Numerous paths meander through the gardens, including a Braille route for the blind, which are full of lush shrubs and 'fynbos', the Cape's indigenous floral heritage. A tearoom, restaurant and coffee bar are on site. In summertime the delightful setting becomes the venue for Sunday evening open-air concerts, when picnickers relax on the lawns, sipping Cape wine, and enjoying the sunset entertainment.

Address: Rhodes Drive, Newlands; Website: www.kirstenbosch.co.za; Telephone: 021 799 8783; Opening time: Daily 8am to 6pm (April to August); 8am to 7pm (September to March); Admission: R30 (adults), R5 (children 6-18). Concessions available. Concert fees are applicable on Sunday afternoons during the Summer Sunset Concert series

Llandudno, Cape Peninsular © SATOUR

Beaches

Cape Town has some great beaches, but the most easily accessible are on the Atlantic Ocean where the water is unbelievably cold; the locals rarely venture in beyond knee-high depths. The most popular is Camps Bay beach, a long, wide stretch of golden sand packed with locals and tourists alike and backed by a strip of fashionable bars and restaurants. Just towards town is Clifton, whose four beaches, imaginatively called First, Second, Third and Fourth, are situated beneath exclusive houses and apartments set into the cliff that protects sunbathers from the harsh southwesterly wind. First Beach is the largest and most popular with families (the steps are shorter), Second Beach is preferred by the 'camp' and 'hip' crowd, and Third and Fourth are usually frequented by well-toned locals and, when the waves are up, surfers. The small suburb of Llandudno, 15 minutes south of Camps Bay, is home to another excellent beach and is popular with locals from the Southern Suburbs or those keen to avoid the crowds. There are no bars or restaurants here, the nearest being at Hout Bay, another 10 minutes south. Hout Bay's long beach is popular with families and walkers but is not as stunning as its neighbours.

District Six Museum

Until the 1960s, District Six was a vibrant district of Cape Town, close to the city centre and the harbour. In 1966 the government declared District Six a 'whites only' area under the Group Areas Act and over 60,000 residents were forcibly moved to the outlying Cape Flats, a barren area several kilometres away, and their homes flattened by bulldozers. Communities and families were uprooted and torn apart, and this moving museum serves to safeguard the memories and the spirit that was District Six. The museum houses an impressive collection of historical materials, including photographs and relics such as street signs, much of which were donated by former residents. The museum also offers a guided tour of the area led by an ex resident, but these must be booked in advance.

Address: 25A Buitenkant Street; E-mail: info@districtsix.co.za; Website: www.districtsix.co.za; Telephone: 021 466 7200; Opening time: Monday 9am to 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm; Admission: R15 (adults), R5 (children)

Cape Town Waterfront

Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront

This working harbour, historical site and shopping and entertainment development has become one of Cape Town's most visited tourist attractions. The waterfront offers everything from shopping malls, and arts and crafts markets, to live music, cinemas, buskers and a variety of festivals throughout the year. There are also more than 70 eateries ranging from pubs and fast food outlets to five star restaurants, luxury hotels, and a variety of boat trips, harbour cruises and helicopter charters. The Two Oceans Aquarium is the largest of its kind in Africa and is an impressive display of life in the oceans surrounding the Cape Coast (www.aquarium.co.za).

E-mail: aquarium@aquarium.co.za; Website: www.waterfront.co.za; Telephone: 021 408 7600, or 021 418 3823 (aquarium); Transport: A Waterfront bus service links the Waterfront to the city centre and the Atlantic Seaboard. Buses from the Victoria & Alfred Hotel travel to Adderley Street in the city centre, while buses from Breakwater Boulevard outside Victoria Wharf travel as far and the Peninsula Hotel in Sea Point; Opening time: Aquarium: daily 9.30am to 6pm; Admission: Aquarium: R76 (adults), R35 (children 4-17). Concessions available

Bo-Kaap, Cape Town © SATOUR

Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap, or the old Malay Quarter, was declared an exclusive residential area for the Muslim Cape Malays under the Group Areas Act of 1950 during the Apartheid years, forcing people of other religions and ethnicity to leave, and today is still closely associated with the Muslim community. The houses have been restored and colourfully painted, and the steep cobbled streets, mosques, minarets and blend of Cape Dutch and Edwardian architecture make it one of the most interesting historical and cultural areas of the city. The Bo-Kaap Museum on Wale Street documents the history of the Cape Malays Tel: (021) 481 3939.

Website: www.iziko.org.za/bokaap

Tropical fish © Two Oceans Aquarium

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Cape sits at the meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and over 3,000 sea animals from both oceans are showcased in the aquarium, highlighting the diversity of marine life found in the waters around Cape Town. The Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the city's top attractions and visitors of all ages will be fascinated by the variety of exhibits, such as the Predator Exhibit, featuring large sharks and rays, a kelp forest, and animals such as seals, penguins and turtles among thousands of different fish. It is also possible to dive with the ragged-tooth sharks, or in the kelp forest while feeding hundreds of fish, but advanced booking is required and divers must present dive qualifications.

Address: V&A Waterfront; E-mail: aquarium@aquarium.co.za; Website: www.aquarium.co.za; Telephone: 021 418 3823; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 6pm; Admission: R76 (adults), R35 (children 4-17). Tickets valid for the day. Shark/Kelp forest dive: R450 (R350 with own equipment)

Westcoast Ostrich Ranch

The ostrich farm is home to over 220 ostrich species as well as other birds, including dwarf ostriches, black-necked ostriches, peacocks, emus, and rheas. Tour guides are informative, and a 45-minute tour includes an opportunity to sit on a live ostrich, stand on an ostrich egg, and visit the breeding enclosures where newly hatched chicks can often be seen. There is also an Egg Factory, Leather Factory, curio shop and a restaurant specialising in ostrich dishes.

Address: Van Schoorsdrif Road, Philadelphia; E-mail: info@ostrichranch.co.za; Website: www.ostrichranch.co.za; Telephone: 021 972 1955; Opening time: Tours are run daily, every half an hour on the hour; Admission: R32 (adults), R24 (children 6-16)


Garden Court Eastern Boulevard



Garden Court Eastern Boulevard


Located on Cape Town's Eastern Boulevard this Southern Sun Hotel overlooks the sublime Table Bay and Harbour.


Contact Details
General Manager : Richard Keet
Garden Court Eastern Boulevard
PO Box 2979
Cape Town
8000

Cnr. Melbourne and Coronation Roads
Walmer Estate
Cape Town
8001

Tel: +27 21 4484123
Fax: +27 21 4478338

Email: gceasternboulevard@southernsun.com

FISAC 2008: Puerto Rico! Ya estamos listos para partir!

Ya estamos casi listos para partir hacia Cape Town al mundial!
Aqui les dejo la direccion y alguna informacion del hotel para que la tengan disponible.

Holiday Inn Garden Court Cape Town Eastern Boulevard Hotel
Cnr. Melbourne and Coronation Roads Woodstock - Cape Town 7925 - South Africa

Tel 27-21-448-4123,
Fax 27-21-447-8338
Siempre marcando 011- antes para internacional
Acabo de comunicarme con el Front Desk en Sur Africa y Nuestro registro esta confirmado!

Quiero compartir esta opinion de alguien que fue alli y dejo su comentario!

Gracias
Nino

Reviews of the Holiday Inn Garden Court Cape Town Eastern Boulevard Write a review

Total of 1 reviews Showing listings from 1 to 1

Rating
8
Submission date: 2006-04-15 - Date of Stay: April 2006
Submitted by: Pamela - From: United Kingdom
Type of Traveller: Large Group/School - Age Group: Under 18
Ideally situated
We stayed as part of the Aylesbury U15's Rugby Club Tour of South Africa on a B&B basis. The Hotel was ideally situated, allowing the boys to venture out in small groups. They made full use of the pool (perhaps not to the liking of those wanting a gentle sunbathe and dip!)and the accommodation was well laid out for us to do our nightly curfew check ups! Rooms were clean and well presented. Breakfast was superb, ranging from exotic fruits, to cereals, to cooked and was on as eat as much as you like basis. Staff were friendly and helpful. We also found a great restaurant around the corner for our 'adult' evening meal - Hatfields. There were also some small shops/filling station close by for small purchases of sweets and soft drinks. Thank you for a great 2 nights at the start of our tour.
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Friday, July 18, 2008

FISAC 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PROGRAM

Taken from
http://sa-rope.blogspot.com/2007/05/cape-town-host-to-2008-fisac-irsf-world.html

Al registration documents and info are available on the FISAC website
<http://www.fisac.org>.

*PROGRAM*

*Day1:* Tuesday 22nd July
First Arrivals & registration & training
Judges Training workshop

*Day2:* Wednesday 23rd July
warm- up training
Judges Training workshop – Mandatory Coaches and Judges meeting;
South African International Competition : Single Rope Competition (10 -
12; 13-14 )
Masters (15-17 & +18)

*Day3:* Thursday 24th July
South African International Competition : Team competition (10-12;
13-14; 15+)
FISAC - Meetings: Board; Judges; Coaches etc.
FISAC Opening Ceremony
*
Day 4:* Friday 25th July
FISAC World Championships Team competition
(Junior Girls; Senior Boys; Senior Mix)
*
Day 5:* Saturday 26th July
FISAC World Championships Team competition
(Junior Mix; Junior Boys; Senior Girls;)

*Day 6:* Sunday 27th July
FISAC World Championships Masters Competition

*Day 7:* Monday 28th July
Out reach workshops into townships
FISAC Demo Cup & Closing Ceremony

*Day 8:* Tuesday 29th July
Sightseeing

*Day 9:* Wednesday 30th July
Departures

FISAC 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Puerto Rico Listo Para Mundial de Cuica 2008

Ya esta todo listo para el equipo de Puerto Rico. Se trasladaran a Sur Africa para participar en El Campeonato Mundial de Cuica 2008 de la Federacion Internacional de Cuica (FISAC), el proximo lunes 21 de Julio del 2008, y estaran de regreso el dia 31 de julio del 2008. En el pasado Campeonato Mundial en el año 2006, Puerto Rico trajo a casa la tan deseada medalla de oro, y la de plata en "Free Style".
Entre los paises participantes se encuentran, Australia, Alemania,
Belgica, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Estados Unidos,
Francia, Gran Bretaña, Hong Kong, Hungria, Japón, Netherlands, Sweden,
South Korea, South Africa, Trinidad, y *Puerto Rico.

*Esten atento al blog a la izquierda para que vean la hora local en Cape
Town desde donde espero mantenerlos informados!*
*
Angel


MySpace Countdown Clocks

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Rugged Midwest Hunting In The Northeast?

Looking For Rugged Midwest Hunting In The Northeast?

March 5, 2008

Try Vermont's Green Mountain Range and Northwoods Outdoor Adventures

By Blaine Cardilli

Duplissey Lodge, VermontPlans for making this particular hunting trip had been on the table for three months and although we knew from the website what the basic lodge was going to look like, nothing could have prepared us for what we actually saw when we pulled up. Stepping from the truck, dusty from many miles up long and winding dirt roads, we rounded the front corner of Duplissey Lodge where we were graciously met by Steve and Dan Barbour, our hosts and the owners of Northwoods Outdoor Adventures. My partner, Orrin Parker, and I were on a working hunt for a national outdoor tv show at the time, and were anxious to see what Steve and Dan had to offer us in the way of turkeys.

After shaking hands and accepting a cold drink, we stepped out onto the lodges' front deck and were taken completely aback by the majestic spring beauty of the Green Mountains of north central Vermont. We had driven up through the foothills but now found ourselves staring at the awesome ridges squarely in the face some 2,200 feet above sea level. I must have murmured something because Steve chuckled and said, "We get that a lot here".

It was true, no photograph or video could ever do justice to what we found ourselves in the midst of. The view was reminiscent of a big mid-western ranch, as the meadows before us rolled lazily down, some 400+ yards, to a lush, grassy plateau where a broad but quiet beaver pond rested, right at the base of Duplissey Ridge. The mountains picked up from there and rose solidly into a crystal blue sky, the foliage just beginning to burst out in bright green and white-flowering hues. From the front porch we could see the transition zone on the ridge as the red pines, thick as wall to wall carpeting, contrasted sharply at the half-way point, into a wide open expanse of hardwoods. Steve even claimed that those higher elevations housed hundreds of wild apple trees as well.

Inside Duplissey Lodge, VermontAfter unpacking and taking a short rest, we met our guides on the porch and chatted about the upcoming hunt and what we could expect. Steve and Dan took turns explaining in unison the differences and complexities of hunting high up in the mountains as opposed to hunting in the lower regions of the state. Here, for example, we would discover that the oxygen levels were different this high up and that walking even the shortest distances uphill might tire us more than usual.

An Abundance of Game, Guides & Great Food!

As to game species in the region, we were told there was an abundance of whitetail deer, moose and bear, as well as turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and even ducks and geese. The deer, we were told, were of good age and size in the mountains, as were the bear and moose, since the land was extremely remote and privately owned. The property, covering some 8,000 total acres over four separate parcels, boasts the Duplissey Lodge. It can comfortably sleep 14 to 16 people. "Judy's Kitchen", which is a separate facility where all meals are prepared for the guests, two remote log cabins, and two "yurts", make up the remainder of the facilities. The "yurts" are 20-foot round, insulated, canvas-style mountain "tents", for lack of a better comparison. All yurts are completely outfitted with propane cook stoves, wood stove heat, and multiple bunks, as well as outhouses, while the remote cabins and lodge have all the modern conveniences except television and phones. The cabins are reachable by pick-up but the yurts can only be accessed by means of 4-wheel drive vehicles or horses.

Steve and Dan are the main operators of the lodge but they also have several guides available to help get hunters on game. And the packages they are offering as a newly opening service to the public are downright affordable, almost to the point of being ridiculous for the level of one-on-one service they provide for their clientèle. We were definitely taken care of on our stay with them. In fact, they even offer deals on hunts that are priced to include more than one year, (at a discounted rate), if you wish to reserve packages ahead.

Wild Turkey Breast frying on the StoveJudy, Steve's wife, takes care of all meals and let me tell you, everything is made from scratch and there's no fear of ever going hungry during your stay. The first evening before our hunt, she prepared her own recipe for baked stuffed chicken, seasoned with secret ingredients and topped off with a creamy layer of cheese melted over the breast meat. Side dishes of vegetables, a green bean salad and rolls were more than enough for us but Dan kept insisting we eat more. When we were finally done and bursting at the seams, he brought out a freshly made strawberry shortcake, lathered up with a rich whipped real dairy topping. Hunters today crave an experience that also includes a great spread of vittles and at Northwoods, Judy offers it.

An Exciting, Fast Paced Turkey Hunt

After settling in and getting to know our hosts, we headed out about 3:30 pm to set up our ground blind in an area Steve and Dan had already scouted on a remote part of the property. The turkeys had been roosting on a wooded shelf just below a grown-over apple orchard, some 100-120 yards below a flat, and both guides felt sure the birds could be coaxed up to where we were set up - that was our plan for the morning.

Though the species we were hunting were Eastern's, Steve told us these "mountain birds" were a bit different in several respects than what we might be used to. For instance, many might be slightly less stocky than the birds we were used to in Maine, due to a difference in food sources, climate, and geographical terrain. Our birds were basically living on flat ground and eating well from the many agricultural food sources found in such an extensively farmed community, while theirs were struggling to survive brutal mountain winters, steep, hilly terrain, and a much wilder food base. Jakes would be abundant but we were assured we would see many mature gobblers in our travels as well, (20 lbs and up), if we were willing to spend some time afield.

3:00 am came quickly as I heard the stirrings of our hosts as they entered the lodge to rouse us. Orrin and I got up, got dressed, and met them in the kitchen where we sorted out the morning plan over cold orange juice and hot coffee. It took about 20 minutes to drive to one of the remote cabins but once there, Dan and Steve settled in, where they planned to listen for any gobbling that might rise up from the valleys and ridges below while we hunted about 200 yards away.

Unfortunately, as is the case with hunting turkeys from time to time, the birds hadn't read the script and as we unzipped the blind to climb inside at a dark 4:15 am, the noise caused two gobblers to sound off not 30 yards behind and above us, as they spooked from the roost. We managed to remain there for two hours anyway, calling to two separate groups, but none came in so we headed back to the cabin. While sipping a quick cup of coffee, Steve said he had pinpointed a group of birds in the neighboring valley and Dan had himself watched a huge solitary tom walking an open ridge some 600+ yards away, so we decide to pack up and run-and-gun for awhile, with Steve leading the way.

It took time to go down one side of the mountain and climb the opposite ridge but once there we stopped and I did some locating. We eventually got two separate bird groups gobbling but none would move so we decided to sneak in between them and try calling. It was working until we were surprised by a single tom not 50 yards from us, over a knoll to our right. His gobble was in response to one of my calls and we were left with mere seconds to dive into the only clump of small spruce available, to avoid being seen. We were barely inside when he broke the hill and began gobbling non-stop, clearly expecting to see a hen that wasn't there. Poor Steve was hunched up against bristling, spiny branches trying not to move while Orrin was on bended knee with no way to turn and raise his gun. I, on the other hand, had dropped to my knees and was trying to get the tom on film through a small opening.

The seconds turned to minutes as the big bird, (Steve later guessed him to be 21-22 lbs with a 9″+ beard), lingered not 15 yards from us, but he was too close for Orrin to move on and when he finally got a shot opportunity, I had to say no because of a poor camera angle, much to his disgust. Old Tom ended up suspecting something and busted us, flying straight off the ridge. After that encounter we regrouped and started stalking the first bunch we had heard.

Dan, Mack and Steve Turkey hunting in Vermont at Duplissey LodgeTwo Hunts, Two Doubles!

Over the next hour and a half and several miles of walking and climbing, we got within 125 yards of a group of birds feeding at the bottom of a wooded swamp. Neither of us could see the other, and though they gobbled at my calls they appeared not to be coming, so we set up and decided to get really aggressive on the slate. After another 20 minutes they began climbing the ridge, but as they approached, they veered left, altering our set up drastically, and unknown to us at the time.

At one point I lost track of them, so I set the camera down and grabbed the slate again. Orrin and I were side by side, and since they had somehow skirted around us, we were left in the wide open with absolutely no cover between us and them at all. All we had was our backs against a very large downed tree and when I made one more attempt to call and locate them, they appeared instantly, heads popping up at 45 yards all at once. They surveyed the open woods ahead of them but thanks to our new Realtree AP shirts and mismatched hardwood bottoms, (to break up our forms better), they didn't see a thing. I managed to get the camera slowly back up and once they broke 30 yards I told Orrin to try and line up two heads. He did, and with one loud shot, two out four birds hit the ground in a classic double take-down.

They had worked us extremely hard and this was a special hunt for us for several reasons. Orrin had just taken his first turkey with a shotgun, (he had only bow hunted turkeys up to that point), it was his first on-camera appearance, and it was a classic double, caught on video! All of us were elated and spent the rest of the morning breasting and prepping the birds for the trip home. When we got back to the remote cabin, we enjoyed a break, thanks to Steve and Dan's foresight in bringing along a large carafe of hot coffee and some of Judy's famous blueberry muffins and home made cinnamon rolls. After much congratulating, we made the transfer of camera and gun and it was my turn to focus on getting a bird.

Blaine Cardilli's Wild TurkeysThe next morning we tried the blind again. Once daylight broke and legal shooting light hit, I grabbed the box call for some soft raspy calling but got nada. Several more attempts produced nothing, so I got aggressive and a bit louder. Instantly, three distinct gobbles erupted not 75 yards below and behind us and we heard them fly down. It didn't take long before they were five steps from the blind but they got cautious and crossed the tote road, heading to the other side of the orchard. Another call from me got their attention and they spotted the decoys and headed right in.

I could hear Orrin's breath coming quicker as he waited for them to come into frame. Three big birds came in and gobbled so well, and put on such a great show for the cameras I got ready quickly. When they reached 15 yards he said I could shoot, so I raised and fired, taking the center one. He dropped like a rock and the other two jumped and started to run but one hesitated at 30 yards and I instantly decided to take him, too, even though it was a jake. I had never taken a double either and since Vermont allows two birds and Maine doesn't, now was my time, especially since this was the last morning of the hunt.

The shot echoed throughout the ridge and as the smoke cleared, I had two birds down and we were tagged out after only two mornings and a total of five hours hunting. Steve and Dan couldn't have been more pleased. Both Orrin and I would have loved to have waited for all mature birds, (Northwoods definitely has them), but our schedule that particular weekend was just too constricted to fully enjoy such a demanding hunt. Not to worry, though. We plan to return annually for both turkeys and deer.

Gracious Hosts

Duplissey Lodge, Vermont in WinterIf you want to try some really remote hunting in an absolutely gorgeous mountain setting, you have to give Dan and Steve a call at Northwoods Outdoor Adventures. They're located in Washington, near the town of West Topsham, Vermont, and their professionalism and dedication to the client is second to none. From the moment you arrive they make sure you want for nothing and will give you an incredible hunting experience to remember. Steve took me on a tour through some of the mountain trails and showed me moose hookings and buck rubs from last season, fresh bear tracks from that very day, as well as tree stands, ladder stands and ground blinds all set up for deer, moose, coyote and bear, along the open ridges and in the swamps.

And when it comes to bear, Steve is the man to put you on the big boys. Vermont does not allow baiting so the hunt is much harder but much more rewarding also, since you have to sit on stand or spot and stalk. Steve has taken bears himself, ten years running by doing so, and put Dan on his first successful hunt two years ago as well. They know their business.

They provide all transportation to and from stands, bring you lunch, and will completely care for your animal the moment it's down. They provide a mountain-top base camp in the more remote regions for hunters, and also outfit you with hand-held radios for safety and convenience. Check out their website at www.northwoodsoutdooradventures.com to view their accommodations and pricing plans. The spring of 2008 has us already scheduled to head back there, and this time we're filming for "Northwoods Adventures TV", seen weekly on The Sportsmans Channel. Check the boys out at their website and book a hunt. And as always, as we say on "Northwoods TV",,,,,,"We'll see YOU…in the woods!"

(Blaine Cardilli is a freelance outdoor writer & columnist from Maine. He is a member of the Hunters Specialties prostaff and a member of the Northwoods Adventures TV filming team.)


--
Upasaka Ángel Manuel Almodóvar Almodóvar,
Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun
OHYBZ
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