Martha and I were excited about getting back to Tennessee for the third convention since they moved the location from Las Vegas to Nashville. The eight hour drive had been an easy trip for us in the past and we anticipated no problems. Then the day before we left we had an unprecedented six inches of snow and ice to fall right along the Georgia Coast creating the “drive from hell” north up I-95. It normally takes an hour to drive from my home in the tiny shrimping village of Darien, Georgia, to Savannah where we would connect with I-16 west to Atlanta. Eleven jack-knifed tractor-trailer trucks and six hours later we finally reached I-16. Within 20 minutes heading west we were out of the ice and finally up-to-speed to Nashville. As I knew it would be, it was well worth the effort.
Since moving to Nashville SCI has enjoyed increasing attendance thanks to a more central location, one where many folks drive, and for others it’s a short flight with no connections. This growth in attendance attracts the very best in outfitters, guides, gunmakers and vendors of all top-drawer items for the outdoor world for sportsmen and sportswomen alike.
In past years I had made presentations at the convention on both hunting in Europe and in Africa. Martha and I have also booked many trips which led to hunting and fishing in 69 countries. But at age 83 I promised her that this time we were just going to enjoy visiting old friends and catching-up. You know how that goes. We booked a trip to Mexico for Gould’s turkey in hopes of completing my slam, and a fishing trip to Kodiak Island, Alaska. I just couldn’t help it – but what fun. That’s a big part of what SCI is all about.
It is also a way to help win the fight against hunting and fishing by anti-hunters and animal-rightists – folks who don’t have a clue what they are doing, and want to ruin it all for everyone else. SCI is the leader in fighting these groups and we are glad they are there. Safari Club International now has more affiliate partners in Europe, Africa and South America than ever before. And their global reach continues to expand every day.
It took Marhta and me three days of walking, talking and visiting just to take it all in. We can’t wait for next year, February 18-21, and hopefully no ice on the roads.