is a wrap.........in the history books........until next year.

It was great to see so many rockhounds in one place at one time.
Especially all you from RHL that dropped in to say Hi.
This was the first time I've participated as a vendor at the show,
so it was the first time I've stayed in the parking lot all 8 days. Didn't even bring digging tools with me.
It was a trip! A great experience that I am very glad to have done.
The knowledge, experience, and expertise of the other vendors
is way more than you can absorb in one week.
Even got the T-shirt.

For those of you that don't know, this was the 29th annual Grassy Creek rock and gem show.
It is held by the fire department in beautiful Spruce Pine, NC every year as a fundraiser,
and it always runs from the last Sunday in July thru the first Sunday in August.
The last Sunday in July is also the last day of the big show in Franklin, NC,
so alot of the dealers pack up from one and move up the mountains to Spruce Pine.

John and I left Raleigh about noon on Saturday and rolled into the parking lot
about 3:30. They got about 6 inches of rain on Friday and had just gotten
the clogged drains working that morning.
And it looked like there was more rain on the way.
We got the tents and tables set up and didn't have to wait long for the bottom to drop out.

Now, I wanted to bring atleast 2 tons of rock up that mountain,
not to mention tents, tables, coffee maker, etc,
and I didn't want to worry about the transmission or brakes on my truck,
so I told the lady at Budget that I just needed it to get to and back
and the rest of the time it was going to be sitting in the parking lot
and I'll be camping out in the back of it.
"All week?" she asks, "You're going to live in it all week?!"
I could see in her motherly eyes that she was concerned and
no doubt took pity on my poor soul, and gave me a really good deal on the truck rental!
It pays to tell it like it is.

Also, I know how it will rain up there, and I liked the idea of
having a dry, well-grounded space to retreat to.

But it got me looking at some of the other ways folks came up with to transport their wares.
I think Ken "the Alien" from Canada has got it for most customized box truck.
One of his favorite lines is, "Honest, DOT said it was allright."

Meet Pyle. Gomer Pyle that is.
He's a mastiff/lab mix, and a good big ol'dog!

The view from our booth.
First to the left, or John's side.
Our neighbors on that side were Ken and Pen from Florida
and it was fun hanging out with them all week.
The last pic is the view to the right, or my side.

But I'd say the biggest pleasant surprise of the show was
meeting a fellow local Chatham County rockhound named Paul.
Paul is finding the same rare specular hematite phantom quartz crystals we are,
only his are 10 times bigger!
The Hematite plates or roses Paul is finding are beautiful as well
but I didn't get a pic of them before he sold them.

Here are two pics of the same crystal found by Paul in Chatham Co, NC.
And I will try and post a few pics of the specimens I found at the show later.
If anyone else has pics from the show, throw'em on here.

Thanks to all the hard-working firefighters at the Spruce Pine Fire Department
for all their efforts in making this show possible.
Joe

WAS THAT LAST CRYSTAL FOR SALE,,OR JUST SHOW AND TELL,,iD LIKE TO DIG SOME OF THOSE!!!

Thanks Joe ,I think $400 is a little on the high side for price range,,but still is worth a good chunk of change that Ill agree to. Id say $180-$230 is more realistic,,,$400 yes in Arizona along with others like it in display case..just my thoughts.

Joe fantastic report! It is amazing that you got that many pics.  The overall shots were great!  Now I am in love with the phantom from Chatham Co.  Do you have their contact information?