Okay then, we're on to Part II of the Year in Review, 2008.
AS I said in the first part, I didn't do a lot of detecting n 2008. From around February to mid September, I layed off. Between work and a general malaise over the whole business, I didn't pick up a detector even once. They simply hung there on the wall and gathered dust, the metal detecting world orbiting off at a great distance.
To a lot of newbies, still in the honeymoon phase of metal detecting, every thing is new and there is endless possibilities awaiting them. But after 20 years, or so, well... you get a little jaded.
So when the urge isn't as strong and the days are just a little too hot - it's easy to find something else to do besides go detecting.
It wasn't until mid September that I was lured back into the detecting fields again. Nothing really earthshaking happened to blow away the fog, it just sorta happened and I decided it was time to go back at it. Once you have a patience and a little time under your belt, you learn to roll with these things.
I can t recall the exact date the phone rang, but my caller ID showed it was my hunting pal, Hal.
"What are you doooin'?!" he hollered, once I'd answered. This is Hal's standard greeting, which he knows bugs me - so he says it nice and loud.
"Working man - you know me, always working."
"Well, let's go huntin'... I know a good spot."
"Sure, why not. It's been a while and I need to see if my detectors still work."
And that is how it started. One day, nothing... the next day, we're off.
Now, Hal is a real relic head. He is NOT happy unless he is ankle deep in dirt and digging up something old. The older the better - it doesn't have to be good, mind you - just old.
I don't reckon a days hunt is complete without a coin; old or new, I don't care. But there better be coins.
Hal doesn't care about that. As long as he has found an old harmonica reed, cartridge casing or some nameless bit of shattered brass, he's good to go.
So here are a few "relics," gleaned from some of our hunts since September:
[attachment 114326 DSCF0029a.JPG]
On the left, are ferrous EO's. A hook, a pick a spike and some sort of farm wrench doodad. In the bowl up top are two large lumps of coal (not left over from my Xmas stocking), some old shower curtain rings and the benchmark by which all old house sites are judged - a Ball Jar lid.
The big giant nail looking thing? A lightning rod grounding spike.
Below the bowl are some broken harmonica reeds, a door lock plate, some costume jewelry pieces, a couple of buttons, an old Henry rifle casing, a clock gear and crumpled brass seals.
See those round, lid looking things in the lower right? Those are makeup tin lids, and we find scads of them. Either those were some powerful good looking babes back then... or they really needed all that rouge - we ain't figured out which.
There's also a piece of spur, a thimble, some lead and broken pottery.
This is the sort of thing that makes old Hal giddy. Me? Well not so much. It's okay, mind you, and I do like to go detecting for it.
I really just wanted to show it because I know some people don't really see this sort of thing, too much.
Now I have to figure out what to with it all. I think I'll donate it to Hals little 'garage museum' he has going at his house.
Eventually, every detector faces the same inevitable dilemma: what to do with the "stuff" he or she collects.
I mean, how many of you have a little collection of your own?
You know, all the "stuff" you have recovered and which is kinda neat, so you can't part with it. But which isn't really more than "interesting."
Or outright junk, if the truth be told?
Most of you, I'll bet. It seems to go with the territory. Well, here's some of the "stuff" in my box, from the last 3.5 months.....
[attachment 114327 DSCF0031.JPG]
Now, will you take a look at this "stuff?" Yessir, this is some serious "stuff," right here!
There's everything in here from a live 7MM Magnum cartridge to an entire 9MM handgun. There are silver earrings, dinkies (toy cars), a genuine pulley and, oh look, a bunch of keys.
What is is about keys, anyway? I have a sack full of them collected over the years.
I can't throw them away, I can't return them to their owners and they wouldn't do any good now, anyway. Yet I keep them, and they are utterly useless! Weird, ain't it?
Hey look, that's a 1927 Mercury dime, down there in front of the Duckhead medallion - now how did that get in there?
Instead of pointing out everything in here, I'll just ask if you can spot the 14K gold lock charm. Can you?
Here's a hint: it's shiny.
So all that's left, now, is the 5 gal. bucket full of trash, and I'm about wore out with all this sight seeing. How 'bout let's just say I have a 5 gal bucket slap full of scrap metal in back of my truck - and let it go at that, eh?
It has been a fun season and I must admit that I'm glad I got back to detecting. I hope I don't lay off again any time soon and now it;s time to look forward to water hunting time. C'mon summer!
Good Luck this coming year, and I hope ya'll find The Big One!
AS I said in the first part, I didn't do a lot of detecting n 2008. From around February to mid September, I layed off. Between work and a general malaise over the whole business, I didn't pick up a detector even once. They simply hung there on the wall and gathered dust, the metal detecting world orbiting off at a great distance.
To a lot of newbies, still in the honeymoon phase of metal detecting, every thing is new and there is endless possibilities awaiting them. But after 20 years, or so, well... you get a little jaded.
So when the urge isn't as strong and the days are just a little too hot - it's easy to find something else to do besides go detecting.
It wasn't until mid September that I was lured back into the detecting fields again. Nothing really earthshaking happened to blow away the fog, it just sorta happened and I decided it was time to go back at it. Once you have a patience and a little time under your belt, you learn to roll with these things.
I can t recall the exact date the phone rang, but my caller ID showed it was my hunting pal, Hal.
"What are you doooin'?!" he hollered, once I'd answered. This is Hal's standard greeting, which he knows bugs me - so he says it nice and loud.
"Working man - you know me, always working."
"Well, let's go huntin'... I know a good spot."
"Sure, why not. It's been a while and I need to see if my detectors still work."
And that is how it started. One day, nothing... the next day, we're off.
Now, Hal is a real relic head. He is NOT happy unless he is ankle deep in dirt and digging up something old. The older the better - it doesn't have to be good, mind you - just old.
I don't reckon a days hunt is complete without a coin; old or new, I don't care. But there better be coins.
Hal doesn't care about that. As long as he has found an old harmonica reed, cartridge casing or some nameless bit of shattered brass, he's good to go.
So here are a few "relics," gleaned from some of our hunts since September:
[attachment 114326 DSCF0029a.JPG]
On the left, are ferrous EO's. A hook, a pick a spike and some sort of farm wrench doodad. In the bowl up top are two large lumps of coal (not left over from my Xmas stocking), some old shower curtain rings and the benchmark by which all old house sites are judged - a Ball Jar lid.
The big giant nail looking thing? A lightning rod grounding spike.
Below the bowl are some broken harmonica reeds, a door lock plate, some costume jewelry pieces, a couple of buttons, an old Henry rifle casing, a clock gear and crumpled brass seals.
See those round, lid looking things in the lower right? Those are makeup tin lids, and we find scads of them. Either those were some powerful good looking babes back then... or they really needed all that rouge - we ain't figured out which.
There's also a piece of spur, a thimble, some lead and broken pottery.
This is the sort of thing that makes old Hal giddy. Me? Well not so much. It's okay, mind you, and I do like to go detecting for it.
I really just wanted to show it because I know some people don't really see this sort of thing, too much.
Now I have to figure out what to with it all. I think I'll donate it to Hals little 'garage museum' he has going at his house.
Eventually, every detector faces the same inevitable dilemma: what to do with the "stuff" he or she collects.
I mean, how many of you have a little collection of your own?
You know, all the "stuff" you have recovered and which is kinda neat, so you can't part with it. But which isn't really more than "interesting."
Or outright junk, if the truth be told?
Most of you, I'll bet. It seems to go with the territory. Well, here's some of the "stuff" in my box, from the last 3.5 months.....
[attachment 114327 DSCF0031.JPG]
Now, will you take a look at this "stuff?" Yessir, this is some serious "stuff," right here!
There's everything in here from a live 7MM Magnum cartridge to an entire 9MM handgun. There are silver earrings, dinkies (toy cars), a genuine pulley and, oh look, a bunch of keys.
What is is about keys, anyway? I have a sack full of them collected over the years.
I can't throw them away, I can't return them to their owners and they wouldn't do any good now, anyway. Yet I keep them, and they are utterly useless! Weird, ain't it?
Hey look, that's a 1927 Mercury dime, down there in front of the Duckhead medallion - now how did that get in there?
Instead of pointing out everything in here, I'll just ask if you can spot the 14K gold lock charm. Can you?
Here's a hint: it's shiny.
So all that's left, now, is the 5 gal. bucket full of trash, and I'm about wore out with all this sight seeing. How 'bout let's just say I have a 5 gal bucket slap full of scrap metal in back of my truck - and let it go at that, eh?
It has been a fun season and I must admit that I'm glad I got back to detecting. I hope I don't lay off again any time soon and now it;s time to look forward to water hunting time. C'mon summer!
Good Luck this coming year, and I hope ya'll find The Big One!