And here, I thought I'd achieved the defining experience of my stay that morning:
"... and then the toilet broke."
(Friday evening, we saw evidence of a wedding reception on the Cross Creek premises. How sweet. Late Friday night, I returned to my room to discover I was lodging directly underneath the wedding reception dance floor. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, it was all about the bass/distorted loud fake enthusiastic DJ/three drunk people going WOO! For hours.)
~ P.
That's when I'd have gone upstairs and demanded free booze (coke if that's your preference), chow, and cake.
Silly me, I was focused on trying to rest up and make the most of my last day with everyone in Titusville. What was I thinking.
(Priorities, and all.
). But, I'm getting ahead of myself.
I have been trying to return here to wrap up my thoughts on the occasion (now three weeks past!), but time, life, and rassnfrassn forum software continue to conspire against me.
For now, a start:
I expected that I would still be away from home at Rendezvous time, and I am.
I'm sorry you weren't able to make it, and hope your recovery has gone apace. Gary, Eric (of Canal St.) et al, I'm really sorry we all missed you, as well.
My Rendezvous started Thursday morning when, preparing to drive away from my house and town, I received a call from an unknown West Virginia number. I guessed aright, and answered to hear Lyle asking if I was almost there? Uh, no, unless "almost" is the same as "5 hours out." Lyle then handed off his phone to Primble, so that Primble and I, suddenly finding ourselves on the phone together, could say, ".... 'hi'?"
Upon arriving at GEC that afternoon, Lyle's was one of the first recognizable faces I saw.
I love the Farmer's Jack that Lyle helped usher into being, and remain full-up with the goodness of getting to hear his heart for both the pattern and for this particular knife as we discussed what he wanted on the tube label. Seeing him there at GEC again, another year down the road (and one in which we saw 'his' knife come into production) was a grand and fitting start to my time with everyone.
I hustled into the factory to find Charlie et al (yay!), when I was located by Mrs. Half/Stop who introduced herself and asked if I'd come back outside for a picture with Half/Stop--
whom I'd walked right by on my way inside. OOOOps.
But, who knew?!
Not everyone had pictures like this ahead of time, for reference:
Half/Stop said:
Here is an early morning shot that consists of Lt to Rt, Parke1 (Dan), Waynorth (Charlie), Half/Stop (Ron) and Primble (Rob)
Ahem.
-- Alert Bladeforums members will notice that Primble does
not look like the image of a genial, bearded fellow he posted in an earlier member's photo thread here. In the interests of full disclosure, and intrigued by the juxtaposition of his Kintuck accent and his chosen headgear, I asked if his hat were due to genuine team affiliation, or if it were his gang symbol...?
Half/Stop said:
Some of the BladeForums group by the Great Eastern Sign out in the front porch and lawn area.
Lt to Rt, Jasega51 (Jake), Esynx (Evan), Waynorth (Charlie), Half/Stop (Ron), and Primble (Rob)
Rogues, all. Keep an eye on that Esnyx fellow....
It was great meeting, or re-convening with, all of you; I'm not sure where the time went, or how there seems to have been so little of it(!), but I'm glad for the interactions and knives we
were able to share.
-- Ron, I wish we'd had [taken?!] more time to look at knives together. Next time?
Jake, thanks again for showing me your LT Wright Hunter Pro Elite-- its goodness simply doesn't translate into pictures. I'm still thinking about its substance and balance, and how good it feels in hand.
It was great to meet everyone! I had a good time and the factory tour was cool. I wasn't too hot on the 83's until I saw them finishing up some of the Northfield drop points in cocobolo!
I have yet to find an official Rendezvous Knife irresistible, and such was the case again this year. However, I consider the #83 to be
my "this year's Rendezvous knife"-- hot off the production line, and uber-compelling in person. I was fine with passing this one up until I saw the knife, knives, in person. Sweet little lockbacks! Each of the cover options suit the knife well, but in the end I went with one of my default favorites, ebony:
... Stopping here, before the forum software eats my draft again and I give up for another week.
To be continued.
~ P.
