My name is Ray Wright and I live in south central Colorado, in the San Luis Valley, and the Rio Grande flows about a mile and a half from my house.  While I hold an engineering degree I never practiced, instead I have farmed potatoes for the past 35 years. Fishing, and fly fishing have been a part of my life forever, my father bought me my first bamboo rod when I was in eighth grade. I fished it for years before age and neglect got the best of it.  Remembering what a good rod that was got me curious and I happened upon Harry's online tutorial which convinced me that rodmaking wasn't rocket science, then Maurer and Elsner's book, and the rest, as they say, is addiction.  I have finished 17 rods in the past two years and took #18 out of the string yesterday.  My father passed away when I was 28, 28 years ago, and a very nice gentleman kept my mother company for 18 of those years until she passed away in 2008.  Last night I gave away rod #16 to him, as a thank you, kind of a circle closure of some sort. Thanks to all who have helped me in this most fascinating pursuit.