FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

Gail, if there was an Oscar for designing mineral displays - i would give it to you! :-)

[Gail]

Tobias, you are too kind!

Hello all, I am too tired and totally exhausted to write at the moment, it is a whirlwind of wonderful fun here in Springfield! We brought 1274 minerals with us and arranged them in 12 hours, with five of us working.
We are so enjoying the compliments and kudos from so many people.

As soon as I find time to download some of the 300 photos I took already, I will enjoy sharing some with all of you.
The weather here is wonderful, the attendance was 3077 people today, life is good and all is well in my world. Can't wait to share this experience, amazing!!!
Hugs!
later... Gail

[Brooks]

Thanks Gail, we look forward to your reports but also know how truly busy you have been and how tired you are as well. Sorry I couldn't make it this year but hope to see Jim and you in Tucson come next February. Thanks for being such wonderful ambassadors that you are to our great hobby!

[Gail]

A few photos before I head off, with Jim, to give a private tour of our minerals to a local club, the Connecticut Valley Mineral Club. They are coming in early to see our collection.
We will be tearing our collection down today, not looking forward to that part!
That will be after five p.m.

In the meantime, we are so enjoying our days and talking minerals.

I will show you some random photos below, but will do a show report when I get home with lots of great photos of minerals and people.

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

We are home after driving 1668 miles since 9 a.m. EST yesterday.

After the show closed at five p.m. on Sunday we went about dismantling our exhibit. We finished at 3 a.m. !!!!
After a quick nap we hit the road home to Texas.
It was an amazing adventure full of fun, hard work, little sleep, great people and minerals. Would I do it again? Ask me in a few weeks, this is a lot like having a baby....once things have settled down the memory of the hard work go away.

Best part? WE HAD FUN.

Off to bed, will start a show report tomorrow morning. Cheers!

[Gail]

One of the things I kept quiet about was how to transport 1274 minerals, our "stuff" and ourselves in relative comfort and security? Now that things are back to normal and we are home and safe, here are some photos of the transport we rented for the drive. Both Jim and I drove this beast after never having done so before, we became quite good at it too. It was a 39 foot RV.

Climate control, cushy suspension system, bathroom, kitchen, bed, shower!

[Gail]

...

[Les Presmyk]

The security while travelling and the travel itself were the two biggest issues for us. I like Jim and Gail's solution except for having to navigate this beast over 3400 miles between Texas and Massachusetts. However, there are gem and mineral dealers taking quantities of inventory to shows every week-end across the country and that all seems to be working.

We know how fulfilling displaying at the East Coast Show can be. I realize how daunting it can seem to any collector who has never considered moving most of their collection, setting it up for four days, packing it back up, and then taking it back home. But, being able to see everything out is really exciting. Or, at least half of the collection since we shared the exhibit with Evan Jones.

[Gail]

Exactly Les, it was something we researched also. We tried hiring Brinks or Loomis, that was a bit of a joke. Loomis said they could do it, but would have to honour their districts by changing trucks and drivers with over 30 such moves just ONE WAY!
No thanks, I can't imagine anyone messing with our minerals 60 times in and out of trucks with various security guards. So we thought about an extended van, but the suspension was not anything we were pleased with.
Bryan Swobodda came to visit with his family in a rented RV and that was the nudge I needed. We had many choices on sizes, but ended up with the 39 footer as the AC was great, the generator was a breeze to run for recharging computers, phones, etc.
Climate control for the minerals, great suspension system. We removed the built in table and chairs to give us a nice "balance" area for the boxes and flats, and the back wardrobe closet as well as under the queen sized bed worked great. We padded with blankets and towels too.
The fridge held plenty of snacks and drinks, the shower was a blessing. The bathroom was the greatest joy as we didn't have to stop and leave the RV a gazillion times....
It was a diesel RV and ran great. We even climbed the mountains with no difficulty.

I was very nervous about driving it, Jim was just the opposite having hauled large horse trailers around in the past. We each took 2 hour stints at the wheel.
I got behind the wheel in Arkansas and was so nervous, but once I got the hang of it I became bolder and even left the travel lane to pass on occasion. By the time we were coming home I was so relaxed and very confident..even pulling into truck stops to refuel was a breeze.

We had only one very small break on a mineral at the base in the matrix...it was a small piece and nothing to get upset about.
I was amazed.

Now, haven't unpacked anything we brought home yet....I need a day or two to NOT look at those flats! ha ha.
Besides, it is a good chance to clean the mineral cabinets.
As stated, we brought about a 1/3 of our collection, so need to scoot things around to get the cleaning done.

Doing laundry, scratching Adularia's ears as he sits on my lap, catching up on world news.
I am still feeling a warm glow over the whole event this past weekend, what an amazing fun thing to do.
Our son Tom, as well as Dave Bunk and Irv Brown made it all easier, and the CVMC with their incredible hospitality was amazing. The two pies we were given were the best ever!
Strawberry rhubarb and apple, homemade with wonderful crust. Thanks to Lee Champigny and Wayne Corwin for their loans of tables, cars, etc.
By the way, we were given so many New England minerals as gifts by many collectors from that area as well as from Pennsylvania. The generosity of mineral people is staggering.
Proud to be involved with the community!

[chris]

Hi Gail,

Glad you came back home safely. Still thanks for sharing your "adventure" with us.

Christophe

[Wayne Corwin]

Hello Gail
I'm glad to hear you and Jim arived home safe. It was such a pleasure meeting both of you and our clubs furthest members ! I've been amazed at the whole project of doing that many cases, so far away, and you two handled it like pro's !
I know many many people were happy to see such a well thought out display.

Wayne Corwin

[Gail]

Hey there Wayne! Again, thank you for your kindness, fun adventurous attitude and patience in filming the set up. It took us twelve hours to put them minerals all in and that was no easy feat for someone trying to record the process.
Just cleaned out the RV and it is parked ready to be returned tomorrow, got rather fond of the tin can home on wheels!

[Gail]

More photos.

[Gail]

We had security guards there the whole time our collection was being set up, displayed and taken down. They only let in people who we allow and give a special badge to.

[Gail]

And...

[Gail]

...