Thanksgiving For Forum Friends

[F350Platinum]

I've been on the forum for almost 4 years now, and have been in contact with many people, I have met a couple as well. Thanksgiving has passed, but I got something from a forum member today that inspired me to write this, it might be kinda silly to y'all, but it means a lot to me. 😅

I was invited to join a group of forum members a few years ago, they wanted me to check out Tesoro detectors, which I did, I wanted a Tejon but couldn't get one for a decent price so I bought a Vaquero. I have to say after using the Equinox 600 and the Deus 2, it still has certain advantages, and showed me the "old stuff" still has merit.

I talk to these gentlemen via text almost daily, we share hunt finds and other crazy stuff, for me living in a remote area it's like having a gang in your pocket. They're brilliant and funny guys, and they have many years of detecting experience over me. They have helped me identify finds, and one in particular, @dogodog, (Jamie) has identified many coins for me or at least pointed me in the right direction, from a 1640 William and Mary Twopence, to a 1773 Virginia Halfpenny and a 1607 King James I sixpence. He is still employed, and now and again while at work picks up on what we are doing for the day, two of us are retired and the fourth has his own business. 

When I find silver or gold, I often text everyone this photo and wait until someone asks "what did you get?"

It's "King Bob" of Minion fame. I also send it to my wife so she knows I'm going to take her out for dinner somewhere, or bring home takeout. Now and again it's for a ring or jewelry, that's always fun. Happy wife, happy life. 🙂

I met and hunted with Jamie back in 2022, we had a blast at Virginia Beach, somewhere here there's an article about it. It kinda feels like I've known him all my life. I guess if you communicate with someone daily, it seems that way. 

About a week or so ago we were talking about electrolysis for cleaning coins, and he mentioned he would build me a kit and send it. I've got some Barbers and other silver objects that are black, and want to try it out.

So today I get this box from UPS, and this kit was inside: 

A very creative and well made kit, a nice glass quart jar, a stainless spoon and bar of aluminum anode to choose from, and a 5v DC power supply. Wow. I've seen some of the things Jamie makes in his shop(s) and they would knock your socks off, from cabinetry to Holiday decorations. I'm not worthy, man! 😅 

Jamie and my other buddy @kac are literal creative geniuses, Ken sent me two of his fantastic diggers. @Joe D.,(Rich) rounds out the crew, he's quite the DIY guy, always has creative suggestions. I guess I'm the "fiddler", I come up with creative ways to dig myself out of a hole. 😏

Well there was another box in the box, kind of a joke gift, but in it was no joke:

We always kid each other about chasing unicorns and rainbows (and other associated meanings), I kinda dreaded this one. 🙄

But it was the coolest thing I could imagine, future generations will be scratching their heads, but the joke will be on them too:

A hand made bell jar display with King Bob, a Deus 2 with a button coil, a Predator Ranger shovel, and various artifacts including a 1960 Roosevelt dime - he was always laughing at me for not finding one, he has over 100 - my birth year. The gold chain is from the real gold chain he got when we met up at VA Beach. He nailed that chain with his Nox 800, and my D2 at the time couldn't even "see" it. 😵 Notice King Bob is sporting a pistol, I often have one on me in a chest holster when hunting. No better caricature could have been created!

There is no way in hell I could ever repay a gift like this other than to remain loyal to a great friend, perhaps a thought will pop into my head someday.

I have a lot to be thankful for, including @Chase Goldman, who has helped me understand the ins and outs of my detectors, and hunts with me often. He has been with me from the start.

This is all due to this forum. 🍀 Thanks @Steve Herschbach!

[Joe D.]

   Much appreciated kudos Bob, but the pleasure has been all mine! You guys are awsome; no small credit to the wives!🍀👍👍

[Northeast]

Nothing silly about that at all.  And a great read.

Here's to many more happy hunts with good mates  🍻 

[Chase Goldman]

Bob,

Thankful to you for letting me detect your "front yard" way back 4 years ago when we first met up and it has been a joy ever since.  Detecting is highly restricted in the suburbs of N. Virginia, practically all public city and county parks are even off limits.  So whenever I get the invite to make the 2 hour meetup drive to the Northern Neck of Virginia to hunt the wide open farm fields and old home sites in pristine soil conditions, I jump at the chance to do so.  As a result, I have recovered a number of unique and first-of-a-kind targets and the hits just keep on coming, thanks to Bob's generosity, friendship, and the awesome coffee that keeps me awake for the return trip home in the evenings.  Happy Thanksgiving and here's to many more Northern Neck and other Virginia detecting adventures with King Bob.

Chase

[Steve Herschbach]

Wow, now that is easily the best and most heartfelt testimony to the power of a forum I have read anywhere!  Making connections, friends, life experiences… that’s what it’s all about. This versus that detector has little to do with any of it and I’m happy to see that highlighted here. Thank you King Bob!

[King-Of-Bling]

That King Bob doll is awesome ! You have some great friends.

[dogodog]

Wow !!!!!!

What you just wrote was a testament to our friendship. I doubt I could ever explain it that well. I have very few people in my life that I would bend over backwards for, your one, Ken and Rich are the others.  My daily joy and pain are when you bastards start texting when I'm trying to e-mail on my phone HaHa. Occasionally I get inspired to make something special for people that I have great respect for. Yours started at Walmart in the x-mas ornament isle looking at a Minion and things snowballed from there. I can say for sure that without you guys, my life would be really boring and uneventful. At some point I'm going to drive the 5 hours to see you again but in the mean time I will just keep sending you really crazy video's!!! Love You My Brother From Another Mother.

[rvpopeye]

Geeeze I don't know 350...🤔 Now every time you post I'm gonna picture you as that stuffy !  Don't know if I can handle that ! 😜

Meeting forum friends IS like finding old friends long absent from our lives . Being here reminds me of what life was like with the bands+/crews  I used to tour with ,,,, basically family .   uh oooooh . It's happening !  Cue the music.........

On the hunt again , sharin'  targets with my friends.

Just can't wait to go out and dig some pulltabs on the hunt again  !

I wish this was around when I was out on the road full-time . Maybe I could have pulled an occasional "detour" . I couldn't imagine doing this on a pay phone though , even when I had a pocket mail e-mail device  ! 

 

[CVISchris2]

I lost all my forum stuff when it went down a while back but, this post was too good to pass up.   I finally re-registered and just to say Bob I have always enjoyed your posts and this one is well deserved.   I’ll start posting again as I just fell for the 500 off the  Manticore.    The D2 has been my buddy though.  Good job and your field finds have been pretty cool