2008 Paso Robles Rock, Gem & Mineral Show Pt. 2

Part One
Part Three

On this morning we had to get up early as in 6:30ish early.
We had much to do before we would actually be ready for the show.
Yesterday we got most of the material that would comprise our booth transferred from my storage unit as well as my home in Atascadero to Pioneer Park in Paso Robles where the show venue is located.
Yesterday I made two runs and this morning we'd need to drop by my storage unit to pick up one final load on the way up to Paso Robles which we did.
We arrived at our booth early in the 8 a.m. hour and got right to work transforming a pile of boxes and crates into the decent-looking display seen below.

Although we were not entirely ready at 10 a.m. when the show started and were surprised by how many people arrived in the first half hour I doubt we lost much money as folks seemed to be walking around looking at what was available first before shopping and we did do some decent sales during that period. Nonetheless, we were fully ready to roll by no later than 11 a.m.

This show is the one show I bring all my lapidary rough, hence the three trips up to Paso Robles with material for the show. Although K&K Earthwerks does have some slabs and other rough from areas outside the Central Coast we mostly have petrified whale bone and beach agates and stream and ocean tumbled jasper and jasper-agate and jasper-quartz and brecciated jasper and a wee bit of orbicular jasper all from San Simeon Creek and Inlet. We also carry a good bit of petrified myrtle wood from Bandon, OR, as well as even more obsidian from Lake and Modoc Counties in Northern California. In the future we hope to expand beyond that into other material.


This day went pretty well business-wise leaving us extremely satisfied in contrast with last year's show which was dismal on Saturday and even worse on Sunday.
Each show is different and one never knows what to expect. We do know the Santa Lucia Rockhounds did a great job of promoting this show but then we also know the Orcutt Mineral Society did a great job of promoting the Nipomo Show which was a stinker for us this year like the Paso Show was last year for us.

Anywho, we did great this day doing about as well if not better than Saturday two years ago but this time I was entirely read for this show unlike then when I was on standby as a last minute replacement and got the call on set-up day and scrambled to be ready and really wasn't.
The feeling of being overwhelmed and under prepared has haunted me since and drives me to be always ready.

We were delighted to see so many familiar faces at our booth including a wonderful surprise, Bob Hurless, former President of the San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club dropped by and gave me a big hug. He has been busy in Idaho all Summer and looks better than ever.
Sandie and he are back for the season while they weather out the Winter here on the Central Coast.

We saw a lot of repeat customers from both this show in the past as well as other shows elsewhere like the Cayucos Show and the Nipomo Show. It is these people who are our lifeblood and we appreciate both their friendship as well as their business.

We also saw a lot of club members be it the club hosting this show, to wit the Santa Lucia Rockhounds, as well as the San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club as well as the Orcutt Mineral Society as well as Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society. These people not only make good friends but they are reliable if not more discriminating customers as well as excellent sources for the latest local rockhounding information.

Lastly, it was nice to see the many fellow dealers/vendors there, many of whom are our friends.
Keith Olivas was there along with his cool wife as was Gary and Janice as well as Tom DeMaris and his wife as was Manny and his wife and Susan Chaison-Walblom and her husband and last but not least, Dale "the more you buy the more you save" Harwood with all his minerals.
Sammy and his wife didn't make the trip for Henderson, Nevada, this year which bummed me and I miss Mr and Mrs. Covert from over in the Valley and hope they are doing okay as I have not seen them the past couple of years at this show.

Speaking of dealers, Andy you-know-who showed up which meant more interesting incidents and stories of which I will mention none this time around other than to say I heard some interesting new stories of past incidents and one knew but small thing was spoken by him to one of the other vendors at the barbecue tonight.
I won't mention the details of anything but that which I personally observe or experience so my lips are mum but tonight's comment was mildly interesting given his history with whom he spoke it and the other stuff I heard about regarding incidents prior to this show were extremely interesting as well.

Speaking of barbecues, the Santa Lucia Rockhounds feted us with an awesome barbecue done up Santa Maria-style with all the fixings. The company was also good as we sat with Wes Lingerfelt and his wife as well as with Mike Doherty of the Paso club who is the Chair of this show.
We discussed among other things, the origins of Deedeeite a.k.a. Avila Rhyolite (which I will soon be blogging about) as well as Wes' fascinating career in the Military-Industrial Complex.

Following that barbecue we headed back to Atascadero where we picked up some yogurt at Yogurt Creations in the Adobe Plaza and then headed home and crashed.

Part One
Part Three