Ashokan!

[Matthew Gregory]

Well, after leaving work last night with enough rage to power a small country I've managed to spend the entire night writhing and burning rather than sleeping, so... I must now drive 6 hours in a state of anger and sleep deprivation only to be accosted by Vitale, who will no doubt try to cuddle with me and play with my hair.

I'm trying to see how this could get worse, but so far my imagination is failing me. Maybe when I start hallucinating due to lack of sleep I'll come up with more...

AND YET

I'm still in Superfreek mode! I can't wait to get there and see what happens and how and who and everything! So many people to meet and talk to, so many new things... I'm completely overwhelmed, and I'm not even there yet.

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Hope everyone has a safe trip out (everyone except Mace, whose going to try and kill me at some point during the weekend, most likely after I've been lulled into a false sense of security and am at my weakest), and I hope the weekend isn't so jam-packed that I don't get to meet people and stuff.

See everyone there!

Mace- Spangler and I get to tag-team on the thumbwar challenge, right? See ya there, bro!

 

[J.Marsillo]

That's this weekend?? damnit i have to work Ashokan is like 45 minutes from me.
If you're looking for something to do in kingston,lookup Stanz antique shop,he usually has some good stuff as far as blacksmithing goes.P&T surplus is a cool store too for industrial scrap,motor's, brass, copper and just some cool stuff.They are right on the roundout creek in downtown kingston, check the phonebook.

 

[Michael J. Spangler]

lucky Bastids. i can't make it this year.
you're gonna have it to make it down this way sometime. as soon as i can find a motor to get my hammer running. we'll be all set
good luck with Mace... if he tries to tackle you just shin kick him

 

[Wulf]

I sent in my registration form with payment but never heard anything and the check hasn't been cashed. Hope they don't turn me away when I show up...

 

[Matthew Gregory]

The seminar was a blast! Had a great time, met great people, learned that I know nothing, and most of what I thought I knew was dead wrong.
I want to personally thank everyone that took time with me on an individual level... my head i s still spinning, so if I left you out I mean no offense!
Jerry Rados - I have every intention of coming out to visit you, both to watch you work and hopefully pick your brain, as well as to shoot the shit with you!
Jim Siska - Your grinding was singly the greatest reason for me to have made the 6 hour trip, and your willingness to explain how and why means more than you'll ever know.
Kevin Cashen - I don't need to tell you how important it is for you to divulge what you've learned... in 15 minutes you destroyed everything I thought I knew about steel. I'll be getting in touch with you sooner or later, so expect me when you least expect me!
Don Fogg - I'll send pictures when I finally get the forge done, along with whatever I come up with for a blast gate/air supply delivery system. Thanks for the insights!
Tim Zowada - I didn't get enough time to talk with you, but it was your observations that have made me reassess my forge design. Thank you!

Here's a link to some of the pictures I took:

Ashokan 2006

Hope you enjoy them!

I met tons of great people there, and I'll try to keep in touch!

Mace, you're an enormous asset to me, and a good friend. Thanks for all the help you've given me -- I really mean it! My wife loves the knife, and it'll be exactly what she needs when she's out tromping through the woods. Thanks, bro.

 

[Wulf]

Good seeing you Matt. Thanks for posting those pictures. Gary Graley posted a few in the general forum too.

And the seminar really was superb. Everyone involved deserves huge accolades for making it such a successful event.

I'm already looking forward to next year.

 

[Michael J. Spangler]

Come on this is too much i can't believe i missed it!!!!!
Man i'm glad you guys had a good time. nice looking knife form mace too

Does every picture of Mace have to be of him with a knife in his hand and threatening look in his eyes... or is that just the picture we take ?

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Missed you there, Mike. Your presence would have greatly appreciated, although I must admit Mace was surprisingly well-behaved... he's just a big ole teddy bear, after all. Apparently there was a mixup with his nametag, though...

Good seeing you again, Derrick! We have to get together again when we can both set aside 15 minutes or so...

 

[Michael J. Spangler]

well Next time i'll be there

But before then i know you'll make it to an indian George hammer-in down this way right? Or just one of IG's unofficial weekends. Hopefully i can get my power hammer running before you're down. then we can mess around with it
Maybe Mace will show up and show us how to run it

 

[Kevin R. Cashen]

Great Photos! BUt several of Michael McCarthy are labled with my name, can't let that go uncorrected. Michael did a fantastic job at one of the coolest demos we have ever had at Ashokan! But more importantly, we already have got him to agree to come back next year and do an all out STEEL smelt that we can bang some blades out of . NExt year could be even better than this year, and this year was very good indeed!

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Sorry about that, Kevin... always the problem with doing stuff like this without proper coffee intake!

When can I expect the first draft to proofread for you?

Great to meet you, but now you won't be let off too easy!

 

[indian george]

well Next time i'll be there

But before then i know you'll make it to an indian George hammer-in down this way right? Or just one of IG's unofficial weekends. Hopefully i can get my power hammer running before you're down. then we can mess around with it
Maybe Mace will show up and show us how to run it

Yep!!! That would be cool. We should try and get Kevin's butt down here too. :thumbup: Oh!!! He may have to make two trips????? HEHEHEHEHE!!!!

 

[Mace]

Wow! What a great time. Ashokan has quickly become one of my favorite blade events...and this was only my second trip.
I have to say my favorite aspect is the atmosphere. It's just a big combination of good things all weekend. The people...the place....the staff....It's kinda like an extension of summer camp with the scouts, theres just more snoring in the bunk house.
Very, very cool weekend...I'm looking forward to going next year.


Matt,
Glad your wife likes the knife...I hope it serves her well. Tell her I said it was ok to smack you with the sheath anytime your out of line...it should hold up fine.....well on second thought....she might have to smack you a lot, so let me know how it holds up!

also...I know it was you who paid Page off to try and bust my thumb.:thumbdn: Nice try.........I've almost got full use of it...when I do

....It's on!:thumbup:


Spangler,
I was thinking about you when Matt took that pic.
Mace

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Sure, keep making excuses, pal. All I know is that I was on the bridge at the appropriate time, and I was alone. No Mace. When I finally tired of waiting, I showed up at the forges, and you're hiding in your truck.

Was your thumb really hurt? Hmmmm...



...all the correct names should be with the correct photos on my picture page now... sorry!

 

[Mace]

I had second thoughts about that bridge....I could see the both of us going over the side and end up swimmin with the beaver!
It sure was funny when you came up and said "where ya been?" at about 12:30.
Next year buddy....next year.
Mace

 

[TGdula]

WOW! This was my first time, and I wasn't disappointed. Unfortunately I could only attend on Saturday - next year I'll do the whole deal. There was so much going on that I'm still digesting all of it and going over my notes.

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to teach. I can't remember everyone, but Kevin Cashen and Rick Barrett were very accessible and possess encyclopedic knowledge. Of course, when Don Fogg spoke, everyone listened. I noted that Don deferred to Kevin a couple of times regarding metallurgical topics; quite a compliment! Tim Wright was hysterical!

Does anyone know that there's a HUGE pit near the top of the hill between the pavilion and the upper parking lot? If I hadn't decided to use my cell phone as a flashlight (two steps from the big ol' hole) I'd currently be in the form of coyote and buzzard poop at scattered locations on the campus... If you decide to take that trail at night, bring a FLASHLIGHT!

-Todd

 

[Kevin R. Cashen]

I am glad you brought up Don's lecture Todd, as there was something that I wanted to say at the time but was too taken aback to speak, instead I backed off and let Don do his magic on his own.

During Don's demo I realized a very good way to recognize a true giant in this field. You are in the presence of a true master when you attend their lecture because you hope to learn something from a guy who was doing mind blowing things before you even got started, and while speaking he turns to you for input! As awkward as it can be to have an individual of this caliber turn to you for answers, it also makes it perfectly clear that this guy is so big that ego has nothing to do with it. Somebody like Don is so firmly established among the best that he is untouchable by many of the things that most find threatening in this business. Such a man would never have "secrets" or any other gimmick to keep them on top, they can show you everything they know and not worry at all, that is the way it is when you really are that good. He could give you all of his knowledge; he can share the spotlight with you with total confidence, because no matter what you do there will still only ever be one Don Fogg.

I believe the man has been a mentor to more folks in this business than any other single person. Guys like this are exceedingly rare and valuable and I am glad we got him to come back and play with us at Ashokan.

 

[JTknives]

man i wish i could go but im in utah, does any one know if there and thing like this in utah planed

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I've been asked by any number of people how my 'knifeguy' weekend went... as I know they can't understand (not being interested in our foolishness), I've been telling everyone that I spent the weekend in Olympus and walked and talked to the gods.
I'm sure it's easy for such humble men as yourself, Kevin--and of course so many others that were there-- to forget how long your shadow is cast on this business, this passion, this obsession. For those of us that are merely wading in the pond, your readiness with an explanation, your patience with our ignorance, even just your attainability on a personal level -- all this means an incredible amount to those of us that can only be described as dabblers into your realm.
This morning I learned that someone I watched forge a blade the first night at Ashokan was someone I should have been talking to all weekend. It was obvious how adept he was, but for whatever reason I didn't make the move to ask questions when I should have. I won't make that mistake again.

I'm sure it won't be the last time you hear it, but thanks again to all that attended. I can only hope to be able to walk the halls of Olympus again next year!

 

[Kevin R. Cashen]

... For those of us that are merely wading in the pond, ...

An appropriate metaphor since anymore it does seem that I spend most of my time over my head .

...your readiness with an explanation, your patience with our ignorance, even just your attainability on a personal level ...

Ignorance can be a very good thing if it is in the form of an absence of knowledge forming an empty space which creates a hunger to have it filled. Recognizing that space is there is the first step in obtaining knowledge, those who refuse to acknowledge that space are the ones that I can lose patience with, and I really don't care to waste my time with them. Voluntary ignorance is the ugliest of things and the ultimate form of laziness.

My obsession with getting good information out there comes from being fed some bad stuff early on and being led in the wrong directions, by the “popular wisdom”. When I got back on track I realized that I got the most satisfaction I had ever felt by helping other folks overcome the same trap. There really is no cooler feeling than seeing the light go on in somebody’s eyes the moment they see real data actually working in contradiction to the prevailing myths too often taught and put in print.

So the next step is filling that void with nutritious stuff and not junk food. Those who readily eat any crap that is fed to them without verifying the nutritional value themselves are no better than the intentionally ignorant. In the bladesmithing business there are scores of fast food places selling prepackaged, cheap, greasy junk, and far too few health food stores and fresh produce stands. Consider Ashokan a fat farm or health spa where those who are obese from all the junk can drop some pounds and get some good nutrition for a change.

metaphorically speaking of knowledge of course!!! Since I always put a couple of real pounds on from the best food served at any hammer-in I have ever attended! We have always had that safety net- even if we blow it on all the lectures, the food alone is worth the trip!