The Joy Of Not Finding Anything..

[Erik Oostra]

Apart from a few coins, it's been a few weeks since I've found anything worth writing home about.. Not finding anything is not necessarily a bad thing and it hasn't discouraged me from spending a few hours each morning hunting the island's bays.. Getting out and about early to go metal detecting has become such a big part of my life I often wonder what I'd do without it.. Although some people might think of this as a rather boring routine (especially when I'm not finding anything), the adventures that come along when metal detecting keep the early morning hunts from getting dull..

This morning's hunt is a good example.. I was chasing out the tide at my home bay when just outside the beam of my headlight I spotted a dark shape launch itself into the waves.. It turned out to be a huge black dog trying to grab a turtle so it could drag it to the beach.. I waded in waist deep with my little shovel and an immense land and sea battle got underway.. It wasn't a tame dog, this thing was bloody ferocious.. In between dodging my shovel blows it kept trying to grab the turtle's flippers, it wasn't about to give up its prey.. Eventually a large wave dumped the turtle on the beach and I was able to get between it and the dog.. Now it was a standoff.. We looked at each other trying to figure out what the other's next plan of attack would be.. I acted first and rushed the dog waving my shovel and doing my best impression of a Zulu warrior.. To my great relief the dog turned tail and retreated back outside the light of my headlight.. I swam the turtled back out beyond the surf, the poor thing was too exhausted to try and bite me.. 

Even when weeks go by without finding anything, there's always something happening that makes metal detecting worthwhile.. I might spot a koala, echidna or a possum.. A storm or a high tide might expose a whole new area to explore.. And the sunrises never get old, each one heralds the day in its own unique way.. This is besides the feeling of contentment that metal detecting brings, whether underwater or on land.. I'm not talking about some overwhelming joy or anything spiritual, just a feeling that everything's all right in my little world.. This feeling trumps any disappointment.. Instead it makes me believe that my luck is about to change, that my next great find is only a coil sweep away.. 

    

[Erik Oostra]

Last week I did find a nice looking shell.. While I didn't find it with a metal detector, I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't been metal detecting.. So I guess it sort of counts as a find.. 

[Sirius]

I need to learn how to take in the atmosphere, the finds are slim to none here as well. But being at the beach is great nonetheless. It's the adventure i'm looking for, not just the end goal!

[JCR]

That shell is a treasure found.

[oneguy]

Your story reminded me of back in my coinshooting days where I had a dog attack me from across the street.  Dog comes full bore at me and dog owner enjoying seeing her dog go after me.  I was packing my 31" ball handled Lesche shovel and after the first swing trying hit her dog THEN she tries to call him off and also saying "he doesn't bite" (they all say that).  I never did connect as my movement was limited because my headphones were still attached to me, detector on the ground, and that dog was fast. She got over there in a big hurry once the shovel swinging came into play....lmao!!!!

[midalake]

As a beach/water hunter. Finding nothing rings up as boring all the time! 😎

[Valens Legacy]

Great save on the turtle, and very nice shell. That makes a very good week in it self, and there will always be days or weeks that there is nothing to find with the detector.

Good luck on your next hunt and try closer to the shore line.

Stay safe out there.

[TampaBayBrad]

Cool story. You write well enough to author a book or two. Maybe that should be another passion for your bucket list.

Yes, I'd rather find something on my morning trips to the beach but it gets me out of the house and gets me some exercise.

When you go enough trips without finding anything, it makes the time you do find something more enjoyable.

On another note....I'm one of the guy's that sits under the shade tree in my own front yard just to be outside and have some quiet time to reflect on how lucky I am to live like I do.

How many people still do that now days? If I had a nice covered porch with a rocking chair, that would work too. 🙂

[Rick N. MI]

Nice saving the turtle. Dogs can be a problem sometimes. I've never had one come at while detecting.

I used to ride my bicycle 20 miles a day and more on the weekends. Sometimes a big dog would come running at me and I would jump off on the other side of the bike and keep it between me and dog. It's a little scarry have a big dog coming at you on a bike. Other times little dogs will be pulling on the end of my pants and I would be laughing at them.

[CPT_GhostLight]

You have a brilliant outlook Erik and good on you for saving the turtle. And of course that beautiful shell counts as a find too. I make non-metal finds that are just as interesting as metal finds and it all counts in my book. Well done!