Greetings Dawgs from day 1 of my "Batsons Recovery Clinic"! Myself and the "Pup" headed down yesterday morning with all the expectations, excitement and youthful vigor of a teenager! Although he's not quite a teen yet, and I'm far from it, we were so excited to go. Upon arrival to the park, we we're blown away by the sheer beauty of it, I know, I live in Alabama and that shouldn't be nothing new, BUT I live farther south of that area, they have bigger hills, wider creeks, and the park itself is in pristine condition, an excellent choice of location for such an awesome event. Once we got there I started off looking for the "Baron", Aldo Bruno. As Murph said, he is a real dude! And I will say my favorite YANKEE2thumbs I've ever met! I do believe Aldo, is a reincarnated southern boy, the wires got crossed somewhere! So, me and "the Pup" found Aldo and set up our modest little table of wood and some horn material. I've had the Pup in training for a while, and pretty much put him in charge of the table. I went shopping!!! I met Pop from Pop's knife shop, "Uncle Al", Wayne Coe, and so many more my poor brain can't keep up with.
Deals were there to be had, I will say if your looking for motors, call Wayne Coe!!!! Man what a deal on motors, I'll let him post his prices but I'll be buying my new one from him pretty soon. I ran out of money too quick! Wayne is a wonderful man, as with MOST knifemakers. A person would be hard pressed to find a better group of folks to be associated with. I do my very best to be as nice to everyone I meet, treat people the way they should be treated, generally I strive to be the nicest guy in the world,(mainly cuz I'm so ugly, I have to add some incentive for folks to hang out with me, without having to pay them). I'm not only proud of my work, it makes me proud to be associated with such a group of people that go so far out of their way to be nice. In this day and time of everyone out for themselves, this bunch is constantly giving, of themselves, their time, knowledge, experience. I guess I'm just in awe that this mentality still exists.
The "Pup" as he was nick named yesterday was a big hit, he stayed with my table practically the entire day, talked to every customer like they were his new best friends, of course I'm biased, but I'm so proud of my son. Most 11 year old kids won't talk to adults the way he does. And I can't count how many compliments I got about his manners, the Pup will have his own account here shortly, so he can make his own posts.
As for me, I'm so sore I can barely move! But I will, with all the steel I got from Aldo, the new tongs I got from Uncle Al, I've got to get to the shop!!!! If Ty (the Pup) didn't have a game today, we'd still be there. Trying to talk the wife into going tomorrow....I can try!
For those of you who missed it, put it on your calendar for next year, it's a can't miss event! Not to mention it's just plain fun, the scenery is beautiful, the people are incredible....I just wish they had some good southern cooking to brag about, the park concessions are expensive and not very good. But you can bring your own grill and cookout! That's what I'm planning for next year, and we'll be staying all 3 days! What a BLAST!!! Rex