[meteorite-list] Questions about the Tucson Show from a first timer

From: Michael L Blood <mlblood_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:03:56 -0800
Message-ID: <C1DA9EFC.32564%mlblood_at_cox.net>

Pat,
        You can read what little I know between the questions below:
> Howdy Fellow Listees,
>
> This year will be my first visit to the Tucson show,
> and I have some questions. I have the
> meteorite-times.com show guide, which has been very
> valuable.
>
> [I have a hotel in Green Valley (Baymont Inn, 25 miles
> south of the InnSuites) and a rental car]
>
> 1) Is parking at the InnSuites Hotel an issue?
NO - they have a HUGE dirt parking lot.
>Is there a charge for parking there?
No
> 2) Where can I find the bins of unclassified NWAs by
> the pound that I have been dreaming/obsessing about?
> Will there be bins ranging from gravel to mostly
> crusted stones? What might the price range be this
> year?? Is there - is there balm in Gilead?
Dean Bessey used to have the most and cheapest, but
no longer goes. They are a dwindling resource. Blaine
Reed seemed to have the most bulk last year - but ET had
some nice & cheap individuals. I am sure many others
have some.
> 3) What is the traffic on I-19 like and what time is
> morning 'rush hour' etc?
The brilliant politicians of Tucson seem to save road
work for the gem show. Either that or they simply
take over 5 years to get road work taken care of. Traffic
sucks, but you can actually move on the freeway. I
would avoid the Fwy from 2:30 to 7 PM though.
> 4) Show hours are listed as 10AM to 6PM, is this
> accurate? All the talk about parties and margaritas
> and... well you get the point, are the meteorite
> dealers open by 10AM?
Dealers are a notorious bunch of near do wells and have
been known to party late into the night - especially
Blaine and the rowdy boys that hang out there. Most
don't like to be roused in the AM but tend to be up
by 10 am. Of course, everyone is at the Birthday Bash
before 8 pm on Fri and at the Auction by 5:30 pm on Sat.
> 5) What show/location might be displaying small
> diamond saws? I want to buy an AmeriTool variable
> speed or something similar, but would like to get a
> look in person at the rock vice etc. Also Adam Hupe
> had mentioned an outfit selling really good thin kerf
> diamond blades at a show in Puyallup, WA. This guy was
> supposed to be at Tucson. Does this ring a bell?
Perhaps someone else can help you with this one. Several
"Tent Shows" in various hotel parking lots seem to carry
a lot of equipment, but I don't pay much attention to this
stuff, as I have most of what I want.
> That's probably enough questions for now. I hope the
> answers to these questions will be of general interest
> to other list readers as well.
See ya there, dude!
        Michael
> Best Regards,
> Pat Brown
Received on Mon 22 Jan 2007 08:03:56 PM PST