First Blood - Part 2

(recounting the events of early Saturday, Oct. 31 aka Halloween morn...)

I'd be lying if I said I slept like a baby. It took me a while to finally get to sleep wondering how things would go and mulling over contingencies. When I got up, I treated myself to some scratch waffles along with eggs, bacon and some coffee with melted chocolate and cream. Hey, this could be my last breakfast as a free man or a live one.

I quickly loaded up the rental car and began the 2 hour drive down. I swung by the target estate, drove past and then pulled over and parked near my special spot. I walked up to the shooting point and checked what was going on at the estate. The tent, space heaters, tables, chairs were all set up and the catering crew was setting up the BBQ grills. My firing lines looked good and my surroundings seemed undisturbed. Next I drove past the trailhead parking lot - there were a fair number of parking spaces open - looking good. I cruised by where I'd drop off my hiking pack, also looking the same, and then went to the next town over for some lunch.

I pigged out. Partly out of Last Supper paranoia and more pragmatically that I'd need the calories for a long, wet, cold night in the water. I started with a drive thru jumbo cheeseburger, fries and cheese-filled Jalapeno peppers. Then I got some fried fish and a thick chocolate malt. I'd feed one more time before going on station. For that, I popped into a grocery store and picked up some fruit, cheese, crackers and cookies then grabbed a short, digestive nap.

Fed and rested, I stashed my hiking pack then dropped off and stashed the scuba gear and then the gun and sniping gear in a separate spot. I snacked on the drive to the trailhead parking lot, unloaded the bike and pedaled back toward the hit site. About a half mile away, I did what bears do in the woods. I don't mind taking a leak in a wet suit (ahhh warmth) but steaming hot or not I'd rather not drop a deuce and then smush & wallow in it for hours.

It was fairly dark when I arrived at about 6:30. I dropped the bike near the scuba gear, checked the tank pressures, and then went up and checked the estate. It was nicely lit up and a fair number of the fashionably on time were enjoying cocktails, appetizers and conversation.

I also hit my first complication - many of the guests were in costume and wearing masks or face paint. Gah! It's a Halloween costume party. That's what I get for assuming they'd be a pack of boring stiffs...