Best Detecting Trip Of My Life So Far

[F350Platinum]

Hey y'all, 

A few weeks back I had this "great idea", to drive down to Cocoa Beach Florida and not only detect but to meet up with some forum members I've been conversing with for years. 

It was my 65th "Medicare" birthday last week, so we packed up the Bronco Sport and drove to Cocoa Beach, over 800 miles away.

My wife was up for it, we booked a Hilton and brought my little dog. She was fine relaxing at the hotel while I went out on the mornings. It's my first "Birthday Week", I usually take her camping and do that for her. ❤️

Originally it was supposed to be @Joe D., @PI-Man, and @dogodog, but Jamie (Dogodog) had life get in the way so he had to drop out, he was sorely missed. 🥲 I've hunted with him before, it was a blast. It ended up being the 3 Musketeers. 

That's me on the right, Rich in the center, and Gary on the left.

While there I also met up with the legendary @ColonelDan too! 

It was awesome to meet him. 🫡

Got there on Thursday the 6th, and originally was going to leave on the 11th, but a winter storm was forecast here that ended up being pretty rough, so we stayed until the 13th.

Well that worked out. 😅

It was a perfect week , no rain, a bit warmer than usual, off season but lots of people on the beach. Even got to see a SpaceX rocket launch while I was there!

Thought Elon might be at the hotel, but it wasn't him 😅. 

I have to say, I wondered when talking to Gary and Rich, why they never really find all that much when they go out detecting. 

I found out why the hard way! These guys have to deal with tons of competition, beach renewal that buries everything, storms that shift sand all over the place, not to mention the sticky, heavy gray sand itself. 😖 It's somewhat the same as the sand at Myrtle Beach , but heavier. Absolutely brutal.

I can't imagine summer detecting there, you'd have to be a camel. In that heat you dehydrate fast. If you're not ready to go on a moment's notice or if you work, you can't get out there enough to get the good stuff.

Stuff sinks really fast and it's really hard to dig. Rich and Gary are seasoned detectorists, no doubt about it. 🏆 They search mostly the wet and the surf, in the water too. Hardcore...

Gary said one day he could see sharks swimming around him. 😬 

While I deal with jellyfish back home, another hazard here is the "Bluebottle", or Portuguese Man of War, a nasty little bugger that makes you think twice about going in the shark infested water: 

A sting from one of these can ruin your day. 😬

The only tougher thing I can think of is scuba.

We all got out early every morning, Rich showed up at the hotel Friday, Saturday and Sunday early, and we hit the beaches up and down the coast there, they took me to some of their best spots. Monday and Tuesday I was on my own, and Rich picked me up Wednesday morning for the finale.

 

One day we went to the Treasure Coast, and I got skunked but for some iron bits and "space poop" as Gary called it: 

The blue thing I thought was old china was a broken bit of sunglasses. 🤣

I switched back and forth with my trusty Deus 2 and 13" and my new Manticore with the M9. Gary had his Deus 2, used a PI one day, and Rich had his new Manticore.

One of the days we were all pretty skunked, I was heading up to meet the guys on the higher beach, and I got a coin signal. Then I found another and another, and Gary jumped in, we ended up with about 15 or so coins between us, the place looked like it had been carpet bombed when we were done .

I did ok over the week:

54 coins, a couple of Hot Wheels (I gave one away to a little kid for jewelry karma), a Disney Star Wars pin, lots of chain but not precious metal, 4 NCV tokens, and bling jewelry. My best find was a silver Pandora earring. 

The Deus was my find-all machine, and the Manticore was a spear both in and out of the water. I was very impressed but dug less trash with the Deus. Sorry no trash photos, but got some every day.

While not the most spectacular detecting I've ever done, none of us got a ring, the camaraderie was incredible. It was off-season, go figure.

Like hunting with dogodog (Jamie) it was a total blast, laughing and joking all day. These guys are the best of the best, and it was an honor to hunt with them. I may make this an annual event, but we might meet up elsewhere to trash the place!

I hunt with @Chase Goldman, have since I joined here, it's always fun with him too. 🙂

I've met 5 people on this forum so far, and have the best memories and great friends.

🍀

[Joe D.]

Well Bob, 

   It was truly a pleasure! Very much enjoyed the detecting company, and the dinner with the wives! Can't wait to do it again wherever we end up! And hopefully Jamie and his wife will be along next time! Wish conditions were better for us, but that's how it goes! In any case, it didn't take away from the fun! Gary and I will take care of finding the good stuff you "missed" for the rest of the year!🤣 I claim newbie status on the Manticore, so that's my excuse!🙄 I'm sure you will make up the difference in quality finds, now that your back home!

Thanks for the memories!🙏🍀👍👍

My "wonderful" finds of the week!😎

[F350Platinum]

12 hours ago, Joe D. said:

Well Bob, 

   It was truly a pleasure! Very much enjoyed the detecting company, and the dinner with the wives! Can't wait to do it again wherever we end up! And hopefully Jamie and his wife will be along next time! Wish conditions were better for us, but that's how it goes! In any case, it didn't take away from the fun! Gary and I will take care of finding the good stuff you "missed" for the rest of the year!🤣 I claim newbie status on the Manticore, so that's my excuse!🙄 I'm sure you will make up the difference in quality finds, now that your back home!

Thanks for the memories!🙏🍀👍👍

My "wonderful" finds of the week!😎

Haha, thanks, and my pleasure too! It was so cool to have the ladies get along as well, seems we're all birds of some feather or another. My hat is off to them for their patience with us. ❤️ It's a happy Valentine's Day today, for sure.

I am sure you guys will have better days, but I miss the place already. 🥲 Especially the warm weather. 🥶

I'll be down the East Coast from April to September, got lots of beach trips planned. Also going to hit the local places hard, but I am going to get back to relic hunting for a while. Want to give the Manticore a good shot out there, I know what to expect with the Deus! I'm hoping to get a new permission or two here soon. 

Best. time. ever. 🍀

[JCR]

Now that’s what it really is all about. Making memories that will not be lost like the lesser treasures we seek. 

[1491]

Looks like a good time and a tribute to how tough this hobby can be at times! Giving away toy cars to the kids is always fun.

[F350Platinum]

9 hours ago, JCR said:

Now that’s what it really is all about. Making memories that will not be lost like the lesser treasures we seek. 

 

5 hours ago, 1491 said:

Looks like a good time and a tribute to how tough this hobby can be at times! Giving away toy cars to the kids is always fun.

Thanks Gentlemen, 

This was more a "feel good" post than anything, but it does illustrate the fact that yes, you can drive 800+ miles in one day (14 hours) and back, and not get much in a week of hunting. 😅 That is only part of it.

These guys I met I've been talking to via text almost every day for years, it's like having a group of friends in your pocket. I've never met such fine people in my life. Between the two of them are probably more years of experience detecting than I have lived.

I live in an extremely rural area with very few residents, for a while we were members of a Yacht club, but since have sold the boat and got out of that lifestyle. I do communicate with one member but more sporadically.

This forum has added a social element to my life that has no ideology except the drive to get out there and do and be the best you can, from the excitement of finding rare and valuable things, to the joy of returning a lost item or merely giving a kid a used but nice toy. 

It's about finding and learning history and treasure hunting, also the sharing of ideas and innovation, and following an unwritten code of honor. In a way this hobby makes me feel like I've returned to Military service, it has all the elements of that without the stress. It's hard work that is rewarding in knowledge and self-esteem rather than profit.

That, to me, is priceless. I don't feel competitive, I never envy another's good fortune, and strive to return that which is lost that has sentimental value to others.

Detecting has enriched my life in ways I never thought possible, and I am grateful. 🍀

[Ripcode]

That looked like an awesome and warm adventure for you all! Thank you for sharing it! Reading posts like these keep me motivated until it thaws here in Michigan! ☺️

[F350Platinum]

16 minutes ago, Ripcode said:

That looked like an awesome and warm adventure for you all! Thank you for sharing it! Reading posts like these keep me motivated until it thaws here in Michigan! ☺️

Thanks Ripcode, 

Their "detecting window" is essentially the opposite of us in the more northern states, during the summer months it can be so hot and humid one has no motivation to get out unless there is an onshore wind, hard to feel unless you are right on the coast. 

This is the best weather there possible now, but the beaches are pretty empty, so the odds of finding great stuff decrease a lot. At least one day it was unseasonably warm, I had to drink a whole bottle of sports drink before I went out, and another while out there to keep hydrated, and reduce or eliminate muscle cramps later. If you're hunting the wet finds are few and far between, expect a long walk.

Sunburn is still a risk this time of year as well.

I've always said if you don't like your current conditions - change them. 🤣 We did just that. 🙂

[rvpopeye]

Took the show on tour did ya ? 

So for months I have been wishing I had some thawed ground like in VA.    And then you go even further south to warm beaches ! Yer killin' me here uptah camp 350 ! 🙄

Guess I'll go detect a snow bank or two . There WAS a Skijour event last week ! (and it snowed that night). So, the cold has kept me behind my insulation. 

The nox is charging I have found my mad bomber hat and I'm thinking a propane torch for a pinpointer and dig tool ! LOL  😜 

 Big storm a comin' . Now or never..... Tell me again about the sunscreen.