Trackrock bound

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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Nov 28, 2000
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Heading out bright and early. Well I normally get up at 4 am so maybe I'll sleep-in till 5 and hit the road by 6.

Carl - I should be rolling in around 4 pm. Cabin 4.

Michael - I'll bring the gearhead motor. We can talk there. Is the topper a double or single?

Hope everyone has a safe trip. See ya.

Mark
 
I'm leaving Thursday before lunch. Hope to be there around 2... Tell Carl to keep his phone on incase ya'll are out prospecting.....jc
 
I'll be getting there late Thursday or early Friday. Depending on the amount of work I get done before leaving.

I'll bring my forge setup (such that it is) and some of the basic blacksmithing and copperworking stuff I've been doing. I'll also bring the knife blank I forged at the Moran Hammer-in to finish.

See you all there!

Pam
 
Hope to get to meet you folks there. Drive safe all!
 
I chickened out again, as usual. :barf:
Might a been a good thing I did anyways. Went to the bank Yesterday afternoon and the car was makin a loud clickin noise again.
I'm useless when it comes to travelin and get togethers.
I'm sorry guys and Pam!
Guess I'll have to fly up to visit my brother.
I did at least get a folder finished but theres a couple boo boos on it so it's gonna end up my personal carry. Been wantin one for myself anyway.
This one isn't flat either, Kit. :)
 
We certainly missed ya Mike! Every time a vehicle pulled up we were hoping it would be you.

What an awesome time. The weather and the facilites could not have been any better. It was the first time I have ever hit steel with a hammer and the guys were especially patient with an office desk jockey and a 120 pound shy puppy (Jonah):D. Mark and his wife Debbie are awesome. I ended up picking up one of his hawk's and then he walked me through hammering out a rat-tailed little knife out of 01. (actually he did most of the work :)). I am sure I was putting on quite a rookie show, bending over that anvil trying to keep everything squared up at eye level. :). (Oh well with more practice a technique will come to me someday.)

The best part is that I left with new friends as well as spending some time with old buddies (Pam, Pat, Sandy and Kit) as well as a deeper appreciation for the talent and experience that it takes for making knives and there also seems to be a hook in me to learn. Another great experience was watching the folks working with young and enthusiastic attendees.

I want to thank everyone who was able to come, those who organized the hammer-in and shared their art and knowledge. I enjoyed it more than I am able to express and am looking forward to building on the friendships that were sparked. Getting all that equipment there and setting it up, feeding us lunch, having all the passion and patience you displayed was a great gift. Looks like the only way I can repay that gift is to learn and pass it on in the way I saw each of you treat folks.

Gus
 
Just purchased an anvil. I'll be picking it up in Ten-uh-cee over Thanksgiving. It is sitting in my dad's warehouse as of 15 min. ago.:D.
 
Were Home!!

Just got through unpacking.

Man what a great time!!:D

I sure did enjoy meeting Gus , Ken , Pam , Kit , Evgeny, and all the other folks that made there stop just to socialize with us .
Michael were all sorry that you couldn't make it this time but it wont be the last one that's for sure.
It really is a pleasure to be able to pass on a little that I have learned from folks right here on BF.We hope to make this event a learning experience and a place just to come have fun. Heck we even let Jerry Hossom come.

It sure was wonderful to see everyone again. It get harder to leave every time.

Sandy , Thanks for being the great man that you are.(Dont forget my holster) Carl , I dont have the words to describe how much I appreciate knowing you Brother.I know we didnt get much time to talk but it'll work itself out.

Thanks to everyone for making this a roaring success.

Mark
 
Oh Man! Where to begin? Great company! Great Food! Great Fire!!!! :D

Everyone I met was just fantastic. Carl (Crex) and Mark (Gouge) make it all seem so easy, (even when it was me doing the pounding and they were just giving pointers). Sandy and Carla van Horn were so free with their knowledge and leatherworking tips (what a treat to see Sandy's shop).

The food was awesome! Between the guys cooking ribs and the wives doing side dishes and dessert on Friday night, and the Bruswick Stew that the wives cooked the next day...yummy doesn't do it all justice.

I brought my forge down to find out what was not working correctly. Took these guys about 2 seconds to figure it out, and develop a fix. I fired it up breifly Sunday morning, and it worked like a champ!

While I made alot of new friends, it sure was great seeing old friends again (Kit, Pat, Gus, Jerry, etc.). Mike, we really missed you!

Trackrock is a beautiful site. The owners went all out and let us use a fantastic shop to set up in. While the weather was perfect, it wouldn't have mattered it it had rained the entire weekend. The forge would have stayed nice and dry!

Everyone involved: Thank you for going all out to make a memorable weekend. I am so psyched to unpack my forge and get started, I can hardly wait until morning!

Pam
 
Well folks, it sure sounds like you all had fun and I sure would have liked to have been there and pounded on some hot steel with you. Most of you folks I won't see until Blade show, but Pam I'm expecting to you you on Friday for the NYCKS. Not a bad life. ;)
 
Sorry I could not make it any of the weekend. I'm still getting over tired during recovery. Besides I'd of been hard pressed not to pick up a hammer again. That would of hurt, too soon after surgery for the hard work.

Hope to make it next year.
 
Another chapter in my Book of Memories and what a wonderful chapter it has been! It is always a pleasure to again be with old friends and exciting to meet and make new friends. The warmth of those friendships was only exceeded by that emanating from the forges. The weather and the location could not have been better and our host, Frank Alexander, took enthusiastic part in the festivities and swings a mean hammer. I was able to give a few tips on sheath making both at the campground and at my shop. I was very fortunate to receive world class backing by Karla Van Horne, a dear friend whom I consider the finest leathercrafter I have ever had the pleasure to meet. John Costa, the gentle gentleman whom I consider as a son, arrived a day early and he, Carl, Mark, and I spent most of Friday with Chuck Patrick in his shop in Brasstown, NC. Chuck was unable to come to Trackrock as he had previous commitment. Pop Poplin showed up with a fine display of knife makng supplies and Pat Fogarty had a mouth watering exhibit of his knife collection. Chuck Fogarty brought his huge smile! Gus Kalansis is now hooked on forging! John and Joan Poythress, Mark and Deb Williams, Carl and Karen Rechsteiner, Kit and Betty Carson, Ken Simmons,Jay Harmon, Jerry Hossom, Greg D'muth, Norman Hennigan, Brent (forgive me for not remembering your last name!) and a host of others seemed to have a great time. If I have forgotten any names it is not meant to slight anyone-- It just means that I am having another "senior moment" which seem to be more often and of longer duration lately. I was very impressed with a young lady from West Virginia, Pam Shire (sp) and her exquisite copper center piece. Her hammer rang as loud as the boy's----- Mike Wilson seemed to enjoy himself, and other than myself, lives closest to the campground--
 
Wow!

Thats all I can say about the hammer-in. It was a big crowd compared to the first one, but it wasn't any harder to meet people or get instruction or pick up usefull tips. I can't remember the names of half the people there but it was a fantastic group in a fantastic place. I came out of it plum wore out and I didn't even swing a hammer the whole time I was there:o (I know y'all are gonna kid me about that for years to come).

Isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said about the event. IT was great. I also want to thank everyone for making my stepson Max feel at home and among friends at his first hammer-in. He was really dreading going to this thing(didn't want to hang with the old folks all weekend), but when he got there he almost immediately started having a good time.

See y'all at the next one!!!

Chuck
 
Well, I'm sorry I missed the larger crowd on Saturday, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone still there on Sunday. It really was a nice experience, and one I'll make a point to attend for the whole session next time around.

Kit, sorry I missed you bud. Next time!
 
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