Taking The Plunge, Spending Our Summer Downunder

[Condor]

I hate to distract us from the spirited discussion of ZED aftermarket coils and new gold detectors, but I've been working on a plan to spend a few months downunder detecting WA.  I sold some gold to finance the operation and convinced my Baja detecting partner we need to get us some Aussie gold.  Just so you know I'm not a idiot and going off half cocked here, I purchased the premium edition of Nurse Paul's primer "Yank's guide to plundering Aussie Gold".  Some very helpful information..."when handling sharp digging tools, always wear flip flops".  Or the timeless, "When drinking a few cold ones with the locals, the acceptable ratio is 3 to 1.  Buy 1, drink 3, it makes them feel superior."  What could possible go wrong with that kind of wisdom at my disposal?  Yeah I know, $16,000 worth of detectors got stolen while he slept on watch, but that could have happened to anyone.  He's matured alot since then.

Seriously though, we leave May 19 and don't expect to return until my 90 day visa expires.  Paul has in fact helped me get a handle on the geography, Ute selection and basic gear requirements.  We'll be boondocking it, living on road kill and brown snakes with a case of Vegimite for emergencies.   I've already purchased one of the new X-coils 17" for the Zed which will be waiting for me when I arrive.  I had a sacrificial coil cable for the jumper connection since I destroyed the original 14" stock coil, long story, but apparently you're not supposed to drag that coil behind the Rokon at cruising speed down desert dirt roads for a couple miles.  Who knew they were so fragile?  Wore right through the plastic housing and exposed the copper windings, bummer.  But, I've got me a $900.00 Minelab chipped coil cable so the glass is half full.

Nevertheless, an adventure is at hand.  I'll post updates and photos as opportunities present. 

 

 

[Norvic]

On ya Condor, WTG. BBs going to have a busy season.

[Trent King]

Don’t worry Condor we will look after you, I have already set up a bar tab for you, you currently owe 3 cartons.

Paul almost done a similar trick to his zed , first 5 minutes of meeting him he pulled his zed out and stuck it on the roof of the car with 1 rotten old strap holding it ?. 

Swapped an ounce of gold for your prospecting vehicle today, when I transferred the registration they asked if we were taking it interstate, I just laughed ‘she wouldn’t make it that far’ so I got a discount and added another carton to your bill ??

[Condor]

Contemplating such an adventure without local Aussie support would have been far too ambitious, even for me.  Paul's experiences having been helped along by Norvic, the GoldHounds and now Trent have given us a path and a certain confidence that if everything goes to "sheet", we have distant forum friends to turn for help and guidance.  Finding gold is really just the catalyst and an arbitrary goal to justify this pioneer spirit and lust for adventure.  My sincere thanks in advance to all our Aussie friends from this forum and especially to Trent for helping make this adventure of a lifetime possible.  Also an acknowledgement to our Moderator for making and keeping this forum a place of knowledge, friendship and civil discourse. 

OK, dry your eyes and harden up out there.  I got 19 days to kill before wheels up.  Paul leaves in less than a week but he got the sniffles and thinks he dying of pneumonia.  I think he allowed his blood alcohol level to drop too low and the germs found a foothold. 

[Steve Herschbach]

Wow, I am very excited for you Steve and I admit a little jealous. I am sure it will be quite an adventure and I hope you find a pile of gold!!

Seems like half the forum members here are headed to Australia this year. I am proud the forum has been able to facilitate some connections made around the world. It does not get any better than that! ?

[fredmason]

Have a great time, Condor!

The Aussies don't worry about things like spiders, ticks and snakes so just remember to keep your stuff off the ground and closed up...or you may get a surprise!

ENVY...is my middle name

best wishes

fred

[klunker]

Mr. Condor ;

Would you like to barrow my "How To Speak Australian In 137 Easy Lessons" tapes? They are only One hour and fifteen minutes long each.

[Norvic]

I`d like to barrow them too KL, and see how the hell you managed to condense our lingo so much.

[Condor]

Paul sez the grammar is no different that he larnt in Tennessee public school, they just have a funny way of sayin thangs. 

[Norvic]

I don`t know the go with lingos, I can understand Paul`s written word but be buggered if I can understand his spoken word, and it isn`t only about deafness.

Not to worry Condor, we`ll learn ya OZ.