Closing Out Another Year

[Andyy]

First off, I have been off the forums for a while.  It's not that I have not been out prospecting, but to be honest, things have just been a little down the last couple years... and well, maybe I got a little in the habit of not talking to people.   I'm sure everyone knows the feeling.  

Anyways, I did a trip with a couple buddies to an area we have been expanding upon for years.  (in the desert of Arizona)  We do ok here and there.  Usually, I have quite the luck, but this time my buddy was rocking it.  He managed to stumble upon a patch and true to his word, after he collected a few, he called out to me so that I could come home with a little gold as well.  It sounds weird, but when we travel off to a place, we try to make sure everyone goes home with gold.  This usually means, get 2 or 3 pcs, you call your buddies over.   

So I got there and went to work.  After a couple hidden cans, I found my first square specimen (sort of strange piece) and then we took turns until I had found my second piece.  Well at this point, we were content.  My buddy that found the patch kept looking and so I moved on, thankful that I would not go home with the skunk.  

At this point it was time to get away from the patch and find new areas.  I tried washes nearby and then ended up circling to the other side of the hill with the patch.  I see a little flat area and head right up to it.  It only seemed like seconds when I got a booming signal.  Once in the scoop, it wasn't long before I felt the weight fall into my hand.  It ended up being a nice chunky 11 grammer.   This day just got better.  Another smaller patch.  Of course my buddies always rag on me for finding the chunkers and skipping over the smaller nuggets.  I guess I can live with that. 

Honestly, it was just a good time hanging out. 

Some before and after pics are shown below.  Best of luck to everyone in the New Year!!

[IronDigger]

Sounds like a nice outing with some friends, and gold in the hands its what its about. Congrats, thanks for sharing.

[Valens Legacy]

Very nice hunt with some great looking nuggets, glad to see that you and your friends had some fun and some luck.

Good luck on your next outing, as it may just be the right therapy for you.

[rvpopeye]

I wish I could close out the year with a gold pic like that !

(I doubt anyone would want to see a picture of my small woodland creature with black fur and a white stripe on top ........)🙄

[Lanny]

Amazing finds, congratulations!

All the best,

Lanny

[hawkeye]

Nice finds, well done.

Give me a call, "buddy".  

[Andyy]

Thanks for the comments, all.  Prospecting with friends is still my best all around therapy.  The gold is a bonus 🙂

 

[Gerry in Idaho]

Nice story and glad to see you get back on DP.  We all go through periods were we get focused on other things for a variety of reasons and so at times our regular reading/posting gets behind.  I'm just as bad and especially after a vacation as it takes me a couple weeks to get caught up.

Hunting with friends is one of the best parts of metal detecting to me.  Sure I'll go do it alone, but I prefer to have buddies along so we can harass each other and also celebrate our successful digs when it happens.

Your gold in the pics is certainly very nice and to be able to dig those with friends , just adds to that adventure.

Keep it up.

[Andyy]

On 12/31/2021 at 9:19 PM, Gerry in Idaho said:

Hunting with friends is one of the best parts of metal detecting to me.  Sure I'll go do it alone, but I prefer to have buddies along so we can harass each other and also celebrate our successful digs when it happens.

 

So true, Gerry.  And I think if you can hunt with others you can trust, you will both benefit... both from the gold, and more importantly, the knowledge.  I would never be the gold hunter I am today, without trusting in others.  Inadvertently, we have shared in our learnings.  Yes, I found lots of gold before I ever teamed up, but I have since found much more than I would have on my own, due to me sharing my knowledge and visa versa. 

But, it can be a fine balance in finding a hunting partner.  You must ... choose wisely.  🙂

[Gerry in Idaho]

On 1/2/2022 at 12:15 AM, Andyy said:

But, it can be a fine balance in finding a hunting partner.  You must ... choose wisely.  🙂

That's a fact as I have experienced lost friendships because of gold.