Stumbled into a real find on the buy and sell page here. Just lucky I guess. Guy was selling the very first issue of Rodmaker ever produced. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Please don't ask for me to make copies and send them out. That wouldn't be legal, but I did want to maybe get this out some way. I thought about bringing it to Charlotte and Tom could display it in the Rodmaker booth or something. I just don't want it torn up from too much handling. I'll see if we can work something out.

Really looking forward to the big show in Charlotte again this year.

I still haven't decided whether I am going to the "big shew" or not. I would like to go to meet some of the folks I have been in touch with throughout the years such as Putter, Mike Barkley, Doc Ski , Bill Stevens, et al. It seems that I am always going someplace that I want to go that may not be of interest to my wife. If the wife goes, are there any shopping or sight seeing tours for ladies that are not into rod building?

Look at teh link in teh above left

There is a ton to see and do in Charlotte. Check the official website for a long list of local attractions. If she likes to shop, and you can fund her buying choices, the Concord Mills Outlet Mall is a place she can get lost in for a week. Bass Pro Shops has a nice store there, but compared to the mall overall it's just a pimple on a elephant's butt - the place is huge and has more to see and look over than she can cover in a weekend.


..............

She could learn how to cast a fly rod at the show, also. They were doing that quite a bit while we were gadding about!! I'd sure like to meet ya, Ellis!! (Loved yer post, Tom!!)

Putter
Williston, ND

Ellis,
My wife and I will certainly be there. I could put her to work in the booth with Emily....of course she may never let you go fishin' with me again after that!

Andy Dear
Lamar Manf.

Andy pays "really" well too. Too bad there is no :rolleyes: icon here.

Sure like to see you therre, Ellis! Bring some of that Gumbo and I'll bring a crockpot!!

Mike

I hope Andy's pay is better than his guided fishing trips. Have I got a story for you, Billy. Hey Mike, if I go (Danny started this and got my juices going) I will treat you to some southern hospitality at a good restaurant. Back to the show, should one go a couple of days early to take in all of the sights? Is the show a whole day affair? Do some of the ladies get together and go make the sights? Is there a Wal-Mart where I could leave my wife for a couple of days? I went to a seminar sometime in the 80's that Clemens put on in Austin, Texas and while the rod builders were at the seminar there was a shopping and sightseeing tour arranged for the ladies. By the way, Andy did treat my wife and I to a fine seafood lunch that my wife is still talking about...best shrimp po-boy we ever had.

Ellis,

This is a much different affair than the old RodCrafter seminars. Because of the far greater size and scope of this event, it would be tough to organize something for all the wives - you might have 1,000 of them to deal with. Certainly, individuals could get together by phone or email before the event and make plans with people they know, but to try and organize something for the spouses when we're talking about such a huge crowd really isn't feasible. At least not for me anyway.

The actual event is a two day affair. I doubt you'll see and do everything you want to in just one day. There's a ton of seminars and even more to see on the show floor as well. The RodMaker reception is a pretty casual thing on Saturday evening and your wife is certainly welcome.

I don't view Charlotte as the same type of tourist destination as places like Charleston, SC, Asheville, NC, etc. Charlotte is one of the banking capitals of the U.S. So it does have a fairly vibrant downtown and with a population of a couple million or something, there is stuff to see and do if you look for it. But I don't think your wife would be bored over a two day trip to Charlotte. Browse the show website (link at top left) and see if any of the attractions might appeal to her.

.............

Hey Yankee Boy...I did offer to pay you, remember?


Andy

Yes I do, but that's not funny if I post that, now is it? lol.

Thank you gentlemen. At least now I have a better idea of what to expect. Heck, I might even low ball Billy and get his position at Andy's.

Ellis,
You're really scrapin' the bottom of the barrell to come to work for me...only way you could get any lower would be to go to work for Ralph O'Quinn...not only is he a hard man to work for, he is ugly to boot.

At least I am handsome and charming.


Andy

Handsome? Andy, you've got to be kidding! Seriously, theres a great soul food/ cajun restaurant about 4 or 5 blocks from the convention center that has some of the best southern style and home cooking that you could ever want. Bill Stevens and I ate there for the two nights that we were there and wished we were staying for a couple of more. Maybe some of us Cajuns and Texicans could get together for some great food and conversation.

Lance, most of the restuarants seemed like they were really, really good. I ended up eating out of the Holiday Inn restuarant (no driving or advanced planning it was just convenient) - and was amazed at how good and fairly priced the food was. I saw the CAjun restuarant in teh local guide, but didnt know exactly where it was. TEHre was also a Spanish or Brazilian spot rightnear the center of the city that looked great, would love to eat tehre as well.