Do have the Right Stuff??..

[DavHut]

This is just what I mean. I aint looking for trouble - heck our hobby is about as passive and benevolent as can be. That's one of the things about it I dearly love. But others see it differently, especially the more misanthropic members of society. To them, you are a helpless doofus with a toy, ripe for the picking.

Think I'm being melodramatic? How many of you have been heckled by teens and other smart-asses? Plenty of you, Im sure. Now, take the few of those same young hecklers who end up as thugs and put them about 10 years down the line. They didn't go away or grow up; oh, no. Mere heckling is over for these cats...they've graduated to robbery. Or assault and battery. Or even worse.

Should a gun be part of your "possibles bag?" Only you can decide (for our Canuck friends, I believe the Canadian governement has already settled the issue for you). I advocate a paid-up cell phone and flight long before gunplay becomes an option. But, please, if you ever come through here and see me detecting, please honk real loud, wave alot and smile as you approach, okay?

 

[Uncle Willy]

Wear a Sci-Fi helmet and a ray gun and really confound them.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah a gun is handy in some areas of big cities. I have one that fits in the palm of my hand.

Bill

 

[NM5K]

Oh, I'll usually have my toys and such, but they
will usually be in the car or truck. So I'll have
em if I need them, but I don't usually carry them around.
I camp a good bit, or at least when I get the time,
which is scarce these days. I take along all kinds of
junk. IE: TV/DVD player run off a converter, ham radio
running off 12 v, etc ad nausium.. I'm thinking about
getting a generator now that the prices seem to be
creeping down. That way I can run a small 5000 btu
window unit on the back of my camper, and maybe run a
coffee pot, etc..
If I go out of town, I take everything I have as far as
tecter tools. But I let the vehicle carry the load..
When I actually swinging, I carry very little. Usually just
my coin probe , pinpointer, and a rag. If I need a digger,
I go get it.. Course, I suppose if I had to leave the
truck/car a distance, I'd take most of that stuff with me.
I can use that tool holster belt for that. I have two ford
trucks, both have campers. Also a honda accord now too.
I can actually sleep in that thing the way the back seat
folds down.. I'm getting spoiled on the honda cuz it's
like a go-cart compared to the trucks, has A/C, is quiet
to hear my radios, etc.. Better MPG too.. :/
MK

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah back in the old days I had A Nash Ambassador. THe seats folded down and made a full size bed. Was real handy for traveling. One person could drop their seat down and sleep while the other drove.

Bill

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

These are a few eesentials I carry as well as the usual gear.

[attachment 38819 etrex.jpg]
[attachment 38820 v330.jpg]
[attachment 38821 Bottledwater.jpg]

I am working on designing a MD Utility belt which will hold These plus trowels, a pinpointer and a small shovel.

Any input on what you would like to see in a belt is appreciated

 

[NM5K]

Yea, that was a selling point for Nash/ AMC..
Most all those old Ramblers had the fold down
seats. We once had a 60/61 Rambler American
which would do that. Also later had a big AMC
Rambler Ambassador wagon. "68". Did the same
I think. The honda accords back seat will fold
down, and let it act like a wagon of sorts, with
full carpeting, etc. I've tried it out, and I can
fully stretch out if I lay down diagonally across
it. But it's front seats also fold down rambler
style also. I think sleeping in the back would be
better as it's fairly flat, but with a slight uphill
slope to the front seats. If you had a cushion , it
would be fairly comfy. Of course, either of my ford
trucks with campers have plenty of room. One of them
has retractable slatted windows, opening windows in
the back, etc. Real good ventilation, and with those
down sloping slatted windows, you can leave them open
even in a storm, and get very little water inside.
My other truck with it's more modern camper is a rain
nightmare, cuz the windows slide open sideways, and
are big rain holes.. That truck does have a utility
bed though, so it's handy for storing stuff out of
the living area. Both are trucks are pretty old models.
The big camper is on a 74 F-100. The ute bed/camper is
a 68 F-250. Both run good, but I have a pretty fresh
engine in the 68. I've also totally rebuilt the front
end on it too, so it rides/steers real good. My 74 is
just about needing the kingpins done. I'm kicking around
selling the 74, and just keeping the 68. Triple dipping
the insurance kinda hurts after a while, and I don't
really need two ford trucks that do basically the same
thing.
MK

 

[DavHut]

...has been done. I have an old article from a way-back issue on just such a thing, which might give you some good ideas. Email/IM and remind me, then I will get it scanned and sent back to you. THEN, we can share it with the group.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Somebody big enough to carry it after you load it up.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I used to drive Ford pickups. Good rigs. One of the best cars I ever owned was my 74 Ford LTD. Had a 400 CID engine and got 21-22 MPG on the highway at 70-75 MPH. Drove that sweetheart for 15 years.

Bill

 

[azdigger]

I detect way out in the desert of Az and you can bet one of my items to carry is my .357, I did carry a .44 but it got to heavy.
I always carry when out detecting.
I was looking at an old mine dump and saw a ground squirrel, he came running around the rocks, I stood up to see what it was, then right behind him was a couger....made my heart jump, before I could react the cat was gone, I am glad I was too big to eat for him, I would not have hada chance as fast as he was.....
Just goes to show you, ....pay attention to what is around you....

 

[DavHut]

I used to live out in AZ and Im trying to warm Lori up to the idea of living there again. I liked that idea of going out into the desert, rockhounding, detecting and shootin to my hearts content.
I envy you

 

[azdigger]

Kind of funny Dave, I used to live in SC, I lived in Pelzer and also Clinton and charleston.
I am glad to be here in the desert where I can prospect as I feel.
I do miss the bass fishing.

 

[DavHut]

Yeah how weird is THAT?. I would miss fishing - good point.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I seemed to be armed similar to you NM5K. I use a bum bag for a finds bag and also carry a spare set of batteries. The only tool I wish I could carry, is a Lesche tool to cut plugs with a retrieve my finds with. The only problem; the police would see this as an offencive weapon which could bring unfortunate consequences. In Australia, it is illegal to even carry a pocket knife. The only exception; is if it is a tool of trade.
Mick Evans.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah if the cougar was after a squirrel he wasn't even interested in you but they have killed a few folks in California. I used to see a lot of cougars when I lived in Arizona. Another thing, aside from the eleven different kinds of rattlers they have there, is javelenas. THose little boogers can take you down in a heart beat. Most guys that hunt them from horse back use the 357.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

How about a hunting knife?

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Where'd you live there? I lived in Phoenix. When I first moved there I practically died from the heat. It's lovely in the winter but a bitch in summer.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

You've got some of the best bass fishing around unless it's been ruined over the years. Waterdogs are the best bait,

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

You talking Mogollon Rim? Hunted all over that puppy. Did you ever fish Canyon Lake. Used to be loaded with bragging size bass. Did you ever scout out Sycamore Canyon, second only to Grand Canyon. It's the upper reaches of Oak Creek Canyon.

Bill