Scott Linden Outdoors

Where is the Aliner parked tonight?

My guest at Warne Ranch was our “TruckVault Cares” Facebook contest winner, Bill Zeromski. It had been 25 years since he last pursued ringnecks with his late father, so you can imagine the anticipation permeating the air.

But it was also Bill’s birthday. A significant number (I’ll let him tell you how many some day) that many consider a wake-up call: do the things on your bucket list. We did our best to help.

Methodical Labradors teamed with first Buddy, then Manny, with many of the pheasants streaking for the far end of fields and CRP grasses before we could get within gun range. Some shots were taken, some birds fell, and we honored both Bill on his birthday and Bill honored his father’s memory.

We headquartered at the Best Western Ramkota hotel. It’s like a second home to me, having been a guest at least once every season for the last five. So while the Aliner rested in the parking lot, we relaxed in comfort without our wheels. But there are a lot of Ramkotas, so you’ll have to guess which parking lot is harboring my trailer.

The birthday boy, ready for a noisy flush from a wily ringneck.