Curious what is different? The vendors? The upkeep? Crowd? New to all of this I have noticed most things I’m interested in are becoming extinct…. Everywhere I go the volunteers/participants are getting older crowds getting smaller infrastructure run down. I do my best to look past all that hoping my support financially and physically will help revive things....buddy of mine lives down in that neck of the woods. He'd commented on coming up for the 1500. Decided I'd drive down and we'd run through Friendship instead. Good place to go but have to admit, been going down there off and on for 30 or so years. It's not the same as it was then.
....yeah, say you're on point with this. The crowds down there seem big as ever. First I'll address the NMLRA side. The "sheep sheds" and shooting lines were decent in my view. Plenty of people looking and I suspect buying. Now, the types and variety of vendors, well, compared to when I was much younger. I'd have to say they have evolved to morph with the times. I got into BP in my late 30's, staring at 70 now. Back then, you had to make a lot of your own gear or become friends with people who did.Curious what is different? The vendors? The upkeep? Crowd? New to all of this I have noticed most things I’m interested in are becoming extinct…. Everywhere I go the volunteers/participants are getting older crowds getting smaller infrastructure run down. I do my best to look past all that hoping my support financially and physically will help revive things.
seems if it isn’t Disney world, wisconsin dells, or on an electronic device people don’t DO things anymore. All the little tourist trap towns are dying, all interest in history is dwindling.
I was happy with what I did find in the primitive area but I was a little let down by it also. The people over there were great and friendly but I did expect what you mentioned people openly crafting etc. oh well hopefully my membership and continued support will help make a difference. Preserving history and tradition is important to me.....yeah, say you're on point with this. The crowds down there seem big as ever. First I'll address the NMLRA side. The "sheep sheds" and shooting lines were decent in my view. Plenty of people looking and I suspect buying. Now, the types and variety of vendors, well, compared to when was much younger. I'd have to say they have evolved to morph with the times. I got into BP in my late 30's, staring at 70 now. Back then, you had to make a lot of your own gear or become friends with people who did.
That leads to the primitive area. Not many participants in primitive camping. My buddy remarked, "there were a lot of expensive RV's" in the adjacent lot. So, draw ones own conclusion to that. I just recall a time when there were many people making crafts, clothing, many smiths openly working. Saw next to none of that, in fact there was a fraction of the area in use.
The flea markets both the one in town and the across the creek from the range. Both still have a variety of characters. If you're looking for antiques or something unusual. There are still things to be found. More so at the town end. The other one is full of what you would find at your typical flea market. I will keep my feelings about that to myself.
WOW!!!! so well stated, cg21!!! sad but true.Curious what is different? The vendors? The upkeep? Crowd? New to all of this I have noticed most things I’m interested in are becoming extinct…. Everywhere I go the volunteers/participants are getting older crowds getting smaller infrastructure run down. I do my best to look past all that hoping my support financially and physically will help revive things.
seems if it isn’t Disney world, wisconsin dells, or on an electronic device people don’t DO things anymore. All the little tourist trap towns are dying, all interest in history is dwindling.