I got an old 4x4, and one of the follows with a similar 4wdr was prattling on (in a good way) about prospecting.
it sounds intriguing, and I figured I should probably go slow and get the recommended book, which I ordered from Amazon and get my head around the various detectors,
So the concept would be:
1) to do some local prospecting on the occasional free weekend,
2) do some on extended trips for a couple of hours/day.
3) maybe go on some trips with the others like the gentleman mentioned above.
There are a few mining sites in the area, and I suspect that they have been picked over, so that might make choice of a detector and sensitivity more of an issue. And then there is the legendary "Lasseter's reef"...
Until I have questions I'll just do a 'Chancy the Gardner' and watch.