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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 6, 2024 6:53:02 GMT -5
I notice we have a lot more East Coast members in recent times. I'm always jealous of the Q meet up. Maybe we can have one of our own? I have no plans, no ideas, no location and no dates. I'm just throwing this out there to test the waters.
Who would be interested in an East Coast meet up?
tagging jamesp in case he misses this. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 6, 2024 7:26:03 GMT -5
It seems the halfway point is in Virginia. (I just looked it up.) Oct is a nice month weather wise. It can be really hot and muggy otherwise. The only place that might be interesting rock and fossil wise is Yorktown where you can find fossils. There is also camping and RVing there.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 6, 2024 14:20:22 GMT -5
Id go if I had capacity. However it appears my track record is crap. Every time I make plans, crap blows up at work and I get stuck to clean it up
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 6, 2024 16:55:25 GMT -5
The big east coast rockhound meet up used to be held at/during the Spruce Pines, NC rock and gem shows usually held the first weekend of August. There used to be three or four shows held at the same time in that town. Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s it was by far the largest rock & gem show gathering east of the Mississippi. There weren't a lot of nice motels in the area back then but there were a couple of large nice camp grounds and several cabin rental companies. The mountain altitude made the weather a little cooler and less humid than the piedmont and coastal plains of the mid-Atlantic states for that time of year. In addition to the many venders from across the country, in the evenings rockhounds who attended would spread out whatever they had to sell or trade on the picnic tables at their campsites and folks would walk around the sites to buy, trade and socialize. Those were great times!
But in the mid-90s when furniture and textile manufacturing (which were huge industries in the western and piedmont regions of the mid-Atlantic states) moved offshore (which also heavily impacted supporting industries), too many folks in that region of the country lost their decent paying manufacturing related jobs and no longer had the extra funds for such endeavors. So Spruce Pines along with most of the other large shows in those areas either shrank to a shadow of their former selves or ceased altogether.
Around 2010 the MAGMA (Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association from the Asheville, NC area) began holding a Rockhound Round-Up in conjunction with the timing of the late July early august mountain shows where they had camping, rock swapping, and fieldtrips to local mines. But I think those ended when Covid started making it's rounds, or at least I haven't heard or read of that event being held for about five years now. And there used to be, and maybe still is, a sizable rockhound meet-up held at Graves Mountain, Georgia a couple of times a year. Graves Mountain is a fantastic collecting local, plus they would have a rock swap too. I always wanted to go to that one but never made it.
Might could possibly work something out partnering with/ or at least piggy-backing on one of those mentioned events.
There does seem to be more interest in rocks and gems in the region than there has been for a while. With traveling expenses being what they are these days an area with good camping would be a plus and with our unpredictable weather during hurricane season in the that would have to be a consideration for scheduling. But yes I would like to see another good rockhound meet-up develop.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 6, 2024 17:28:39 GMT -5
Thank you so much! I'm pretty ignorant having never rock hounded before. I'm familiar with Gem Mountain and that's about it. Lots to think about.  |
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Post by chris1956 on Apr 6, 2024 17:39:10 GMT -5
Id go if I had capacity. However it appears my track record is crap. Every time I make plans, crap blows up at work and I get stuck to clean it up Sounds like the typical engineering life. Been there, done that. Just keep thinking about retirement.  |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818 
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Post by Mark K on Apr 6, 2024 19:23:20 GMT -5
If there is 6 months notice, I would show up. I am not afraid to do a little bit of driving. Just as long as it in NOT in NJ. I will never step foot in that unconstitutional hellhole.
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Post by orrum on Apr 7, 2024 7:10:07 GMT -5
Color me going!!!
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 7:23:32 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 7:23:51 GMT -5
If there is 6 months notice, I would show up. I am not afraid to do a little bit of driving. Just as long as it in NOT in NJ. I will never step foot in that unconstitutional hellhole. That's one helluva drive! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 10:13:10 GMT -5
If anyone is interested but can't commit, yet. Please state that you may be interested in coming. I'm just gauging interest right now.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Apr 7, 2024 10:27:55 GMT -5
If there is 6 months notice, I would show up. I am not afraid to do a little bit of driving. Just as long as it in NOT in NJ. I will never step foot in that unconstitutional hellhole. That's one helluva drive! It is considerably less of a drive to go from here to DC than it is to go to Q. I drove to DC in 23 and didn't think anything of it. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 10:30:19 GMT -5
That's one helluva drive! It is considerably less of a drive to go from here to DC than it is to go to Q. I drove to DC in 23 and didn't think anything of it. I guess, I need to look at a map again! Good for you!
I went across country- coast to coast- twice, but my dad drove.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Apr 7, 2024 10:33:34 GMT -5
It is all about what is it worth to you.
When I am old and unable to do stuff, I won't look back and say "Damn, I wish I had done XXXXX".
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Post by liveoak on Apr 7, 2024 10:58:29 GMT -5
I focused on the Graves Mountain site that Quailriver mentioned, as it's one place he mentioned that is still an active place AND it's further south than north so maybe more attainable to not only people on the southeast but maybe also in the mid west & northeast.
Graves mountain itself sounds like quite a destination & we'd have to find out more info, but they do offer, as Quailriver said, a free open to the public weekend in Oct & April. OTOH, I just read that maybe 1500 people attend those free weekends  .
But, they will let you in, for groups of more than 1, anytime if you make a reservation. I think it's also free.
Only problem is it's walk in, about 3/4 mile, no vehicles allowed. Bring a hand truck or wagon.
An added bonus of Graves Mtn is there are a couple of campgrounds in the area, some on the lake, and perhaps a small group of RTH could meet at one of those & then travel to the mine if interested or just hang out by the lake.
I'll be curious to see if this develops.
Good idea Tela, maybe 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 12:25:07 GMT -5
I focused on the Graves Mountain site that Quailriver mentioned, as it's one place he mentioned that is still an active place AND it's further south than north so maybe more attainable to not only people on the southeast but maybe also in the mid west & northeast.
Graves mountain itself sounds like quite a destination & we'd have to find out more info, but they do offer, as Quailriver said, a free open to the public weekend in Oct & April. OTOH, I just read that maybe 1500 people attend those free weekends .
But, they will let you in, for groups of more than 1, anytime if you make a reservation. I think it's also free.
Only problem is it's walk in, about 3/4 mile, no vehicles allowed. Bring a hand truck or wagon.
An added bonus of Graves Mtn is there are a couple of campgrounds in the area, some on the lake, and perhaps a small group of RTH could meet at one of those & then travel to the mine if interested or just hang out by the lake.
I'll be curious to see if this develops.
Good idea Tela, maybe (  )
Patty
Thanks, Patty. Good to know. I haven't looked at anything, yet. Just taking a break from yard work. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 7, 2024 12:29:09 GMT -5
It is all about what is it worth to you. When I am old and unable to do stuff, I won't look back and say "Damn, I wish I had done XXXXX". You mean like me? LOL! |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Apr 7, 2024 12:35:23 GMT -5
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 7, 2024 13:02:00 GMT -5
If anyone is interested but can't commit, yet. Please state that you may be interested in coming. I'm just gauging interest right now. I'm interested but can't commit yet. My wife is having health issues again so will have to wait and see. |
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ronnsrockroundup
starting to spend too much on rocks
Hurry up and wait.
Member since October 2023
Posts: 154
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Post by ronnsrockroundup on Apr 7, 2024 13:38:04 GMT -5
I notice we have a lot more East Coast members in recent times. I'm always jealous of the Q meet up. Maybe we can have one of our own? I have no plans, no ideas, no location and no dates. I'm just throwing this out there to test the waters.
Who would be interested in an East Coast meet up?
tagging jamesp in case he misses this. Definitely interested. |
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