Ever Try Metal Detect A Park Downtown On A Week Day? It's Hilarious :punch:

[John-Edmonton]

I had yesterday off, so I headed downtown to a fairly small park with a wading pool in the center. It is surrounded with grassy hills, trees and park benches. I hunt this location only once a year, as it is an experience all on its own. There are soooooo many people around gawking at you while you detect. Many can't help but approach you and ask the darnedest question.

The first inquiry was from a business man who thought I was playing croquet, with my detector as the mallet. After I clarified what exactly I was doing, he sincerely asked if anyone had ever suggested I was crazy, to which I admitted yes. He proceeded to give me a good firm handshake, said he was very glad me meet a fine fellow such as myself and asked if I wanted to search for a lost ring at one of his golf courses.

The second hilarious interruption came from an elderly lady, perhaps in her sixties. She wanted to know if I had any luck, then told me she too once found a ring once in her life, of course without using a metal detector. Then, she said she was a nature lover, a kind of tree hugger type, and proved it by taking her last puff from a cigarette, then stated she always makes sure she steps on her cigarette on the sidewalk (which she did) before tossing it in the grass, so as to not hurt the grass. Bless her heart.

The third person didn't beat around the bush. He was straightforward and asked where he could buy a metal detector like mine...or should I say "MINE". I told him mine wasn't for sale, and he walked away disappointed, as he figured winter was going to start next week and he wouldn't have one for the rest of this week.
There were many others, but these stood out in my memory. A great experience it was! I ended up hunting two other parks and these are my totals below.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

That's why I avoid going to crowded parks. I like to put my headphones on and enjoy the peace and quite (aside from the detector music) and serenity of the area I'm detecting, not get asked a bunch of redonculous questions. It's even worse when there's a flock of kids following you around, crowding around your every hole, asking what your looking for, asking what did you find, the works (they ask the darnedest questions).

 

[dave5710]

Gosh, John how do you move fast enough to dig 196 coins carrying all those coins around?

I remember one day a lady asked me "Is that a Geiger counter? " I told her, "if it is, the way it's beeping, we are both be in alot of trouble."

Another favorite one of mine is when they ask, "do you ever find anything with that thing?" I say, "No, You don't suppose it takes batteries do you?

Real nice haul, Take care, Dave

 

[woodchiphustler]

n/t

 

[Nugget Hunter Smith]

Here in AZ almost all the city, county and state parks allow detecting and you do run into some crazy questions but that is all part of detecting.
Finding that many coins and things must of give you a good workout, who needs going to a gym when your up and down that many times!

 

[ikandiggit]

A couple of stories:

I was detecting near a park bench where a miserable-looking older "lady" was sitting. She watched me for a while as her grandson was burning off a sugar-fix in the tot-lot.

I heard her say something so I removed my headphones and she asked what I was doing. I replied I was looking for coins and jewelry. She then asked why would someone bury coins. I explained that lost coins and jewelry over time would sink and generally the deeper they were, the older they would be. She looked at my machine and said with a sneer, "So, what's that thing do? Suck 'em out of the ground?" I said, "Yes, that's what it does" and went on my way.

Story Number 2:

Just recently, I was detecting and was approached by a man who looked like he had something to say to me. He asked me what I was looking for. I told him, "Coins and jewelry." He asked, "Why?" I said, "Because I collect coins this is a pretty good hobby." Then he said, "Why can't you just go to a store and buy the stuff instead of digging in the ground like a rat?!" And off he went.

I could have stood there and defended myself but I'm sure these types of people do this all day long wherever they are. I just happened to be their target of the hour.

 

[amcjavelin]

got to love it for sure i find that kids are the biggest fans and even offer to dig i would let them if would'nt dig a hole to china now if you want to get rid of them just dig pull tabs for a while and makes them lose interest for sure and they just wander off and then back to the regularly schelduled program on those coins!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

On a particular pocket beach near me, where bed-rock is not to deep, we sometimes dig down to bed-rock,where the coins have settled (can't sink any further). This requires a pit that can be as deep as 6 ft. deep. Although we only do this at "off hours" (so as to avoid the busy-bodies), occasionally some late night, or early morning walker will ask what we're doing, etc.... We came up with this stupid line, that sends people on their way with no more questions: I point to my friend who's digging, and say "I'm his parole agent. He's doing community service by rotating the sand on the beach" At that ..... they usually leave us alone.