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124 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S the car with our golf clubs and guns and headed for the hills to see how much fun we could cram into two days. T here's an old saying, "Sometimes you have to get lost in order to find yourself." To describe the location of Primland as off the beaten path would be putting it mildly and without the aid of my GPS, I would likely have disappeared in the mountains forever. However, we eventually passed through the sleepy community known as Meadows of Dan, and the North Gate to the property soon followed. The estate itself is an expanse covering some 12,000 acres, a parcel just shy of the size of Bermuda. From the entrance to the main lodge is a scenic six miles, with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains most of the twisting and winding way. Then at last, the pinnacle of the property—the spectacular lodge. Reminiscent of an alpine ski chalet, the 72,000-square-foot lodge is the quintessence of grandeur and sophistication. Primland originally served as the private, rustic playground for French tycoon and sportsman Didier Primat and his family. Primat died in 2008 and is survived by his wife and eight children. Ultimately, his vision for Primland was that it be enjoyed by sportsmen from around the world and serve as a testament to environmental consciousness and natural beauty. A vision that has indeed staved the course. U pon arriving, we were greeted by our lovely hostess, Diana Dixon, who had devised a splendid itinerary for us and after a brief introduction and tour of the lodge, we settled into our accommodations at Flying Squirrel, one of Primland's many mountain homes. With names like Black Bear, Cottontail, Otter, and Red Fox to name a few, each mountain home is special in its own way, all perched atop ridges and tucked into hillsides to provide spectacular views from any opened door. Flying Squirrel is one of Primland's two newest mountain homes. Most distinctive is the house's 13-sided frame constructed of reclaimed wood. Below a dramatic, circular ceiling are the bedrooms, a spacious living room, and full kitchen, as well as two bathrooms featuring the finest imported European glass mosaic tile. A wrap-around deck capitalizes on the unique shape, affording 360-degree views of the secluded woodland setting—altogether the ideal atmosphere for escaping the everyday and reflecting on nature. We did a quick run-through of our quarters, then hurried off to the outdoor recreation facilities to prepare for a pheasant hunt. W aiting for us and wasting no time getting down to business was Outdoor Activities Director Carl McDaniel. After a video presentation on hunting and gun safety by Sporting Classics' own Well, the life expectancy of insects is generally quite short, and eventually, one afternoon after school we came in to find him dead. The girls were brokenhearted at the loss of their little friend, so we decided a proper burial was in order. They procured one of my wooden cigar boxes and filled it with a bed of freshly picked wildflowers. Then we located the perfect sticks from an old orchard and fashioned them together into a cross using the most perfect honeysuckle vines, and gathered the perfect stones from a nearby creek to help brace it up. The whole undertaking spanned a couple of hours. Lastly, I said a few parting words as the girls gazed sadly at the grave. Just then, Ella, of whom I often refer to as the baby, tugged at my sleeve. "Dad?" she sheepishly asked. "Yep, kiddo?" I replied. "Lets bury him again." It was one of the most adorable things I had ever heard. Now much older, they've become young ladies. Parker is heading off to college in a couple of years, and the baby is almost a teenager. Their freckled faces have faded and that wide-eyed wonderment for the world has passed. Bugs have been replaced by boys, who'll soon, come before dear ol' dad as well. They grow up far too fast. It's a sobering thought. So when Steve Helms. vice president of Primland Resort, sent out the invite for a writer to come and partake in the Primland family experience, we loaded Sir James and Sir Alexander Macdonald by Jonathan Guiness is a painting the author can relate to, as a walk in the country without a rod, gun, or golf club leaves him feeling a tad bit inadequate. It's important to every so often slow things down a bit and spend time with those who mean the most to you.