Lanny

Say, that makes sense Paul, most likely well worth it.? All the best, Lanny

SD, thanks for the notification, much appreciated. All the best, Lanny

Steve, that's good to know that the Commander coil is a solid choice, and I appreciate your open reply about its performance. In addition, thanks for taking your time to post the information on the Goldstalker coil. All the best, Lanny

Rick, A big thanks to you for responding with your highly detailed response. What you've written up is a great help, and I appreciate the time you took to write such a lengthy reply! All the best, and thanks again, Lanny

Lunk, Many thanks for the specific feedback, much appreciated as I appreciate your generosity in sharing some details. It's always nice to ask and get such a concise and informative response. All the best, Lanny

Great lookin' haul for sure! All the best, Lanny

Good morning, just looking for some feedback on the CoilTek 18X12 Goldstalker Mono Elliptical coil. Anyone had any experience with it? If so, what are your opinions on its abilities please. On a different note, how about the Minelab Commander 15X12 semi-ellipitical mono? I realize there are newer, probably much better coils for the GPX, but I'd really like some information on either of these coils by anyone that's used them. Any feedback on either coil is much appreciated, including which one you think might be better than the other . . . (I've never used either one, but have a chance to buy, but can't find any reviews so far except by the manufacturers.) Thanks for your time, and all the best, Lanny

Incredibly detailed review Steve. You are the unsurpassed master of detector reviews without the motivational bias of so many others, and that's an invaluable detail that is solid gold in my opinion. Nicely done, and all the best, Lanny

I truly miss dredging, but around here, it's just about impossible to get a permit anymore. Nice, beautiful gold! All the best, Lanny

You'll always remember the first one! Congratulations. All the best, Lanny

On the second day of detecting, my detector gave to me, two bottle caps, and a copper BB in a tree. All the best, Lanny

Here's your Christmas wish Swampstomper: All the best, and I sure hope you enjoy your holidays, Lanny

Many, many thanks for all your kindness over the years, and of course, all the best to you and yours as you enjoy the holidays. All the best, Lanny

Are you volunteering to post your masterpiece? Please do! I'd love to read it. If you're hinting at something else . . . . All the best, Lanny

For you Simon:

Many thanks for dropping in to say so, much appreciated that you took a little time to do that. All the best, Lanny

I'm working on posting that other poem Simon, but I've hit a roadblock for some reason . . .

Many thanks long-timer and old bull-o-the-woods, much appreciated, truly! All the best, Lanny

JW, It was indeed almost an epic, but I kept it just under book length . . . It did take quite a while to throw a loop around all those word in order to corral them to be able to slap a brand on them (having some fun with western slang, hope you don't mind). All the best to you and the missus during this holiday season, Lanny

Jim, Your expressions of appreciation always astound me, and I'm grateful you enjoy my attempts at poetry as it's just for entertainment and my own enjoyment more than anything else, so I really am impressed by your ongoing kind words, truly. As for poetry, some people like it, and many hate it, so that's why I always post it with a strong warning as I don't intend to offend by writing it, but to some folks it's like a strong deterrent to the enjoyment of words. Thanks again, and all the best to you and yours during this festive season, Lanny

Hi Simon Yes, I wrote it. So many thanks for your kind words. I grew up in the West, and we always ran a small herd of cattle; I've always had horses to run with those cattle as well, still do. Furthermore, there are some of the largest ranches in my area only minutes away, so I got to spend time rubbing shoulders with some of the genuine old cowboys, so I've picked up some Western slang as well. (Pictures thanks to Wiki-commons, 1888.) As for the prospecting poetry, I've fired off a poem or two, generally at Christmas time, just to have a little fun playing with words every once in a while. Thanks again, and all the best, Lanny P.S. I'll post what I believe is my favourite Christmas Western/Prospecting Poem I've composed so you can have a gander.

On the first day of detecting my detector gave to me, a copper coated Daisy BB (in a tree). Yup! All the best, Lanny

Warning! Annual Prospecting Poetry!!Old Santy Crashed His Sleigh One NightOn Christmas eve of ‘62,Well, things was lookin’ mighty blue.There’d been a crash, a wreck all rightA prairie mishap one dark night.But let me backtrack just a bitSo you can ponder all of it.One special night so long agoFound Santy Claus all set to go.Away up North one winter’s night,The sky was filled with stars all bright.And on that Eve, old Santy flewHis magic reindeer sleigh, it’s true!But later on a storm arose,The worst one ever I suppose,The wind commenced an awful blowThat filled the air with ice and snow.Old Santy couldn’t see at all,And then his sleigh began to fall.His reindeer froze, then couldn’t flyNo matter how they fought to try.So down it went, the sleigh and deer . . .This filled old Nick with dread and fear‘Cause in his sleigh were all the toysFor countless wishful girls and boys.A dreadful drop, a jarring crash,All Christmas hopes it seemed to dash.Old Nick was groggy, light of headAnd mighty lucky he wern’t dead.The racket woke a skinner oldA muleteer if truth be told.Snug in the fort he’d heard the soundOf something crashing to the ground.Jake left his bed all safe and warm,In Benton’s fort assailed by storm,Then grabbed a lantern off the hook,Threw on his boots to take a look.No other souls awoke that nightThe soldiers, freighters, slept right tight.So Jake took off to look aroundFor what had crashed into the ground.The snow had drifted rather deepSince he’d retired for his sleep.So through the gate he left to seeThe site of such calamity.Outside the fort, an awful sightRevealed itself by lantern light,A busted sleigh and reindeer too!Old Santy Claus was turnin’ blue.Montanny winters sure are cold,They favor steely men and bold.So Jake the skinner acted quickTo save those reindeer and Saint Nick.The deer he quickly tucked awayInside a stable filled with hay.And by his fire he propped Saint Nick.But things were lookin’ mighty sick‘Cause Santy Claus was out of it.His reindeer too, the whole durn kit!Who now to take the gifts and toysTo all those wishful girls and boys.Yes, Jake was in an awful fix!He needed stuff like magic tricksTo find a way to save the nightAnd get old Santy’s sleigh in flight.A thinkin’ some, he shook Saint NickTo see if Santy had a trickTo help him on his new-found quest.Yet, Santy didn’t look his best.But all at once, in Santy’s hand,Appeared a bag of northern brand.And on it words, “Pure magic dust”,Jake knew right then this was a must.For in the back, a stable stout,Held eight old mules. They’d help him out!Those mules could fly, with magic dust,And Jake had earned their life-long trust.So in a flash, out back he flewTo coax his mules that job to do.No purdy names his mules they had‘Cause Jakey’s mules was mostly bad.As Patch, and Bob the oldest two,Why any livin’ thing they’d chew.They’d tear a chunk from hide or hairAnd once they whupped a grizzly bear!While Mike and ornery, nasty BingWould kick their hooves at anything.A dance girl once had flitted pastAnd caught herself a hammered blast.And Patch who had a taste for beerHad once romanced a long-horned steer.Old Sam possessed a nasty moodHe’d use to pitch off any dude.But Jack was just an ornery sortA little wide, and awful short.Now Jenny, she was sort of cuteTo skinner Jack, that old galoot.So Jack approached his fractious crewAnd let them know just what he’d doBy cussin’ loud, with swears and such,If troubled times they brung him much. Then findin’ harness, tack and kitJake started singin’ songs a bit.‘Cause every skinner oughter knowSome songs to sing to start the show.His mules perked up, their ears they cockedAnd on their heels they gently rockedFor singin’ soothes the savage beastOr calms it down, a bit, at least.So Jake commenced to sing a song,It wasn’t loud nor awful long,But just a shorter sort of thingThat Jake dreamt up that night to sing.“Yippy ki-yi-yippee, ki-yippee ki-yewMy home’s in Montanny, the gold is here too,Yippy ki-yi-yippy, ki-yippy ki-yayMy home’s in Montanny but Santy I’ll play.Yippy ki-yi-yippee, ki-yippee ki-yeeMy home’s in Montanny, but Santy I’ll be.Yippy ki yi yippee, ki yippee ki yewMy home’s in Montanny, but this job I’ll do.”Then Jake began to sprinkle dustA needful thing, a surest must!Them mules, their eyes grew mighty wideAs wings they sprouted on each side.Like Pegasus they rose right quick.That magic dust worked mighty slick.Alarmed, Jake staked them to the treesTo stop them flyin’ off like bees.Yet on the ground lay Santy’s sled,All bent and lookin’ awful dead.But magic dust is sure strong stuff.A pinch or two was just enoughTo perk that sleigh and make it shine.Now Santys ride was lookin’ fine!The toys were scattered in the woods,But Jake corralled them children’s goods.He set them back in Santys pack,That Christmas Eve all dark and black.Off to his shack Jake softly trodWhere Santy gave his head a nodTo give permission to old JakeOn Christmas Eve those toys to take.A buff’ler robe Jake swiftly foundAnd wrapped it tightly all around.Then up he climbed into that sleighWith mules hitched up to fly away.Those brutes of his looked mighty calmThat magic dust, a healin’ balm.The storm abated at that time,And to the sky that sleigh did climb.Without a hitch of any sort,Jake cleared the walls of Benton’s fort.Well Jakey made old Santy’s runOn Christmas Eve, and it was funA slidin’ down those chimleys blackWith Santy’s loaded goody pack.He stuffed the socks and left the toysFor all the little girls and boys.He snarfed the milk and cookies too.And sometimes sampled stiffer brewLeft out for him by kinder soulsWith Cheery Christmas warm-up goals.A snort or two, but nothin’ long,With Jake his fear was mighty strongIf Forty Rod too much he sipped,Old Santys sleigh might just get flipped!And that would prove an awful thingOn Christmas Eve with gifts to bring.At last—no more—his job was done.Jake finished off his Christmas runBy touching down old Santy’s sleigh.Of course, he put his mules away.Back to his cabin Jakey creptWhere by the fire old Santy slept.So off to bed went skinner Jake‘Til Christmas morn he came awake.But Nick was gone, his reindeer too!So Jake got feelin’ mighty blue.Yet, on his wall he found a note,And if I may, I’ll share a quote:“To skinner Jake, my truest friend,Old Santy Claus some help will lend.When Winter snows melt fast awayHead out to Alder Gulch to play.The rush won’t start ‘till ‘63The first to stake you’ll surely be.The map I’ve drawn will get you there.I figure that should make us square.”Jake found the spot without a hitch.The strike he made was filthy rich,And his good fortune was becauseHe’d helped out dear old Santy Claus.All the best of the season to everyone,Lanny

Hi Fred, That's a nice character piece, a sweet find for sure. All the best, Lanny

Simply amazing . . . What an incredible series of adventures you've had Steve, and I love the pictures you've added which only contribute to the richness of your stories. There are a lot of little tips sprinkled throughout, ones that are worth noting for later recall. I loved what you wrote, and you have a nice, relaxed writing style that is very comfortable to read. My hat is off to you for the excellent job you've done while reliving your memories. Thanks again, and all the best, Lanny P.S. I'll have to come back later to add likes as I'm out of "likes" again for the day. (That just lets me know how much good suff there is on this site to like!)