Wow! I should have posted first! The rest of you didn?t leave much for me to say.
First and foremost ? I want to thank Nathan for hosting this event. It was well planned and I don?t think that we could have had a better place to meet. I know Nathan spent a lot of time getting everything ready and making sure that we were well taken care of. Those of you that didn?t make it, you missed a great time. I look forward to next year.
I would like to send a special sentiment to Debbie (Nathan?s wife). She spent a lot of time preparing and cooking great food to feed the lot of us (especially me and Charlie). She took time out every day to talk with each of us and make us feel more than welcome in their home. It takes a special lady to put up with a group of men that she has never met before. Thank you, Debbie, for all that you did for us.
As has been said before: it was nice to finally meet some of the people on the site face-to-face. I had already met Charlie and Coley before and both have been at my house a couple of times. They are a couple of great guys to travel with. Coley and I just couldn?t get Charlie to do any of the driving though. Wait until next year, Charlie.
It was nice of David Aery to give us a tour of his jig making shop. What an interesting operation. I would like to see it in full operation. David spent a couple of hours explaining how everything worked and answering our questions. Thanks for the tour David.
Dan ?KCDano? Patten is the best lure painter that I have ever seen. His work is outstanding. The patterns that he paints and the way that he blends his patterns is awesome. Right now he doesn?t carve his own baits but we are trying to get him started. When he does I definitely want one of his in my collection. By the way KC, you forgot to give me the money that I won from you when I sharpened your knife.
I?m sorry that I didn?t get to spend much time talking with Dave ?Tally? Talbert. I?m sure that I missed out. We just couldn?t keep Coley away from him long enough to get a word in edgewise. Well, there?s always next year. Dave, I?m always looking for students.
Jerry, thanks for providing the venue for each of us to get together and make friendships that we wouldn?t otherwise make. When we get together face-to-face, it?s because of you. Thanks, too, for the shirts and other gifts.
I couldn?t finish this post without mentioning the ?Belle-of-the-ball?: Zoe. Without her Coley would have been lonesome.