Hello all. I know it has been awile since my last post but my other obligation as a Paranormal Investigator has taken precedence over my metal detecting for now. You see I am the Fouunder of an Ohio based Paranormal Investigative Team called The Ohio Ghosthunters Association (aka T.O.G.A.). We have suddenly become very busy and in demand.
I did however manage to get a day off from that and spend it with The Dayton Diggers at Armco Park for our groups cookout that was postponed from our Virginia hunt due to bad weather that moved in.
Off course it managed to find us lol. The first 4 hours of the cookout was rain soaked. But we all managed to make the most of it and sit around and mingle and get to know each other better. Steve Green...founder of Dayton Diggers, held a Metal Detecting 101 class that was very informative. We had a raffle and I actually won something and so Did Lacey. We ate, and had a great time diggin into the desert table. Tony's Brownies are to die for and Leeann's cherry dump cake OMG!....It's one of those things that taste so good your tongue can just slap your brains out. And Leeann if you happen to read this, my birthday is july 21st lol.
After everyone filled up on grub....it was only logical to work it off, so we grabbed our detectors and began hunting. I myself didn't hunt for long because the heat got the best of me. But overall Lacey and I had a great time and we hope to do it again soon. There is no better time to be had than when you get together with good friends, family and food!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Update for everyone
Well readers as you know I haven't been posting anything on my ventures in metal detecting. The reason for my lack of posts is becasue I have enjured my knee and at the present moment I am unable to get out and swing my coil. I hope for a fast recovery because I am going stir crazy for treasure hunting. But on a good note I plan to use my recovery time as a time to do research on some areas so I can find some great places to "hunt". So wish me luck on a speedy recovery and in the mean time I will be posting interesting history finds on areas I plan to hit with my detector as soon as I am able.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Digging Virginia part 4...the last installment
Our convoy of Dayton Diggers arrives at the new dig site. In no time doors were flying open, trunks were popping up and tailgates were dropping down as everyone went to work getting there gear out and on as well as setting up there detectors.
In no time everyone had their coils to the ground. Lacey walked about 20 yards from our jeep and hit on a target and was starting to dig. Aj had locked his coil on a target and began his dig. I myself worked my way past them and found my own target and began to go to work on locating it. My find turned out to be a modern nail. Lacey was still digging her target, Aj had found a nail as well and had worked his way past me.
I looked around to survey all the other diggers and I hardly seen anyone, they had all dispearsed in all directions. Brandon was just a few yards up past Lacey working on a target. Tim and Floyg the treasure pug were still in the area. Other than that there was not amny diggers to be found.
Lacey, having gave up on her target walked over to where I was working on a new target and she was a little discouraged. Until she had overheard Aj talking that he heard someone found a button. And that they found it pretty deep.
Lacey then asked me if I felt she should go back and keep working on the target she had previously given up on. I told her it was up to her. Well she decided to go back and keep digging. It wasn't long before she had found me once again to tell me that after diggin for what seemed like forever she located nothing more than a moder pop can. I myself was having no luck either.
It wasn't long before Aj was holding up a target he had dug up. It looked like and old door stop, but not sure (we are still trying to identify it).
The three of us then ventured into a wooded area and around the lake where I hit on a target which turned out to be an old crank of some sort and a large washer.
We then made our way back to the jeep for a break and some lunch. Boy it felt good to sit down.
As we enjoyed out lunch of sandwhiches, chips, and pop we chatted about the fun we had had the whole time we were in Virginia and how we wished the weather would have held out onr more day so we could have stayed. It was during this time that Brandon and Doug had made their way back to the vehicle. It wasnt long before they to were digging in their coolers for food and drink. We all just sat around talking about metal detecting and various other topics as we waited for others to come back from their hunt.
Members began trickling in to tell of their finds or lack there of as it was in mine, Aj's and Lacey's case. Others had more luck as there was talk of buttons, buckles, horseshoes and what not being found. One member (Ben) even found a White's Bullseye pinpointer, which was returned to its rightful owner after razzing him on its size and the fact that it looked more like an 80's cell phone rather than a pinpointer.
Manny returned to talk some of the others to return with him to the house foundation and retrieve a piece to bring back as souveniers. Of course I knew at that point I would not be able to make it back to the home site and back so I volunteered Aj to go, after instructing him to bring back a piece for me, Lacey and my sister as well.
Just before leaving Brandon made the comment that he wished he had a backpack to carry his pieces back in. As luck would have it Lacey had brought her drawstring back pack from Kings Island and offered it to Brandon to use. He was thankful.......well until he seen what color it was....pink. So you know we had to get a picture of that...Brandon with his pretty pink backpack. And then they were off.
Watching them all walk across the field towards the woods was like watching Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion walking towards emeral city...weird huh?
So there we were Lacey, Myself and Doug left again to wait for them to return. I decided to pass the time swinging my coil. I had gotten 20 yards from the jeep when I hit on a signal. I began digging but had not located the target. Lacey came over and offered to dig for me. Well of course I wasn't turning that down. So she began to dig for me. We had a good sized hole dug and still no target, yet the signal was strong. It was still showing about 6 inches on the screen so Lacey kept digging. I took over for a few and after about a minute my shovel hit on metal. It was just a small piece sticking out of the side of out trench....I mean hole...anyway i tried pulling on it and it wouldn't budge. It was bigger than I thought. finally after Lacey began digging and pulling we unearthed the item. It turns out it was an old plow piece blade.
I know it wasn't much but to me it was my best find. As I looked at it I couldn't help but wonder if it could have been used during the time that Meriwhether Lewis was on this farm. Could he have even had it in his hand at one time. either way I was happy.
I wasn't long after that Aj and the gang had returned with the foundation stone pieces.
After clearing Aj of all the ticks that had clambered on to him. We began saying our goodbyes to the handful of diggers that were there. Then we started our trek towards home.
After stopping several times at rest stops along the way to sleep we made it home. It was good to be home but we will never forget the good times we had and the new friends we made on our trip to The Dayton Diggers 2010 Virginia Hunt.
So that pretty much wraps up digging up the past in Virginia. Thanks for reading along!
In no time everyone had their coils to the ground. Lacey walked about 20 yards from our jeep and hit on a target and was starting to dig. Aj had locked his coil on a target and began his dig. I myself worked my way past them and found my own target and began to go to work on locating it. My find turned out to be a modern nail. Lacey was still digging her target, Aj had found a nail as well and had worked his way past me.
I looked around to survey all the other diggers and I hardly seen anyone, they had all dispearsed in all directions. Brandon was just a few yards up past Lacey working on a target. Tim and Floyg the treasure pug were still in the area. Other than that there was not amny diggers to be found.
Lacey, having gave up on her target walked over to where I was working on a new target and she was a little discouraged. Until she had overheard Aj talking that he heard someone found a button. And that they found it pretty deep.
Lacey then asked me if I felt she should go back and keep working on the target she had previously given up on. I told her it was up to her. Well she decided to go back and keep digging. It wasn't long before she had found me once again to tell me that after diggin for what seemed like forever she located nothing more than a moder pop can. I myself was having no luck either.
It wasn't long before Aj was holding up a target he had dug up. It looked like and old door stop, but not sure (we are still trying to identify it).
The three of us then ventured into a wooded area and around the lake where I hit on a target which turned out to be an old crank of some sort and a large washer.
We then made our way back to the jeep for a break and some lunch. Boy it felt good to sit down.
As we enjoyed out lunch of sandwhiches, chips, and pop we chatted about the fun we had had the whole time we were in Virginia and how we wished the weather would have held out onr more day so we could have stayed. It was during this time that Brandon and Doug had made their way back to the vehicle. It wasnt long before they to were digging in their coolers for food and drink. We all just sat around talking about metal detecting and various other topics as we waited for others to come back from their hunt.
Members began trickling in to tell of their finds or lack there of as it was in mine, Aj's and Lacey's case. Others had more luck as there was talk of buttons, buckles, horseshoes and what not being found. One member (Ben) even found a White's Bullseye pinpointer, which was returned to its rightful owner after razzing him on its size and the fact that it looked more like an 80's cell phone rather than a pinpointer.
Manny returned to talk some of the others to return with him to the house foundation and retrieve a piece to bring back as souveniers. Of course I knew at that point I would not be able to make it back to the home site and back so I volunteered Aj to go, after instructing him to bring back a piece for me, Lacey and my sister as well.
Just before leaving Brandon made the comment that he wished he had a backpack to carry his pieces back in. As luck would have it Lacey had brought her drawstring back pack from Kings Island and offered it to Brandon to use. He was thankful.......well until he seen what color it was....pink. So you know we had to get a picture of that...Brandon with his pretty pink backpack. And then they were off.
Watching them all walk across the field towards the woods was like watching Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion walking towards emeral city...weird huh?
So there we were Lacey, Myself and Doug left again to wait for them to return. I decided to pass the time swinging my coil. I had gotten 20 yards from the jeep when I hit on a signal. I began digging but had not located the target. Lacey came over and offered to dig for me. Well of course I wasn't turning that down. So she began to dig for me. We had a good sized hole dug and still no target, yet the signal was strong. It was still showing about 6 inches on the screen so Lacey kept digging. I took over for a few and after about a minute my shovel hit on metal. It was just a small piece sticking out of the side of out trench....I mean hole...anyway i tried pulling on it and it wouldn't budge. It was bigger than I thought. finally after Lacey began digging and pulling we unearthed the item. It turns out it was an old plow piece blade.
I know it wasn't much but to me it was my best find. As I looked at it I couldn't help but wonder if it could have been used during the time that Meriwhether Lewis was on this farm. Could he have even had it in his hand at one time. either way I was happy.
I wasn't long after that Aj and the gang had returned with the foundation stone pieces.
After clearing Aj of all the ticks that had clambered on to him. We began saying our goodbyes to the handful of diggers that were there. Then we started our trek towards home.
After stopping several times at rest stops along the way to sleep we made it home. It was good to be home but we will never forget the good times we had and the new friends we made on our trip to The Dayton Diggers 2010 Virginia Hunt.
So that pretty much wraps up digging up the past in Virginia. Thanks for reading along!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Digging Virginia part 3
Morning came and I was awakened by the light sound of rain hitting the top of the jeep. My first thought was "oh no I bet the kids forgot to put the dry goods box in the tent last night".
So began my scrambling to get moving after sleeping all scrunched up in the back of the jeep. You have to realize I'm 5'9" tall sleeping in 4' of space. (yet it was still better than sleeping on a pine cone!).
I finally manage to get my shoes on and get the side door open, but getting out was going to be the tricky part. Here it is not quite 5am and I'm trying to be quiet getting out of the jeep. Yeah that wasn't happening. Quiet was the last thing I was being.
I had managed to get one leg out of the Jeep but the other was not yet ready to wake up so lets just say I was well ....stuck. Now I am no spring chicken, (in fact I'm much closer to the "Old Buzzard' award) and I just don't bend like I used to. Hell I don't think I had ever bent like I needed to in order to free myself from my predicament. Anyway there I was with one leg out and the other one stuck and I'm thinking "Ok now what?"
I'm trying not to hang on the door because not only am I NOT a spring chicken, but I'm also not a stick figure either and I don't want to pull the door from its hinges...... I don't have the six pack abs I had back when I was 18. That was 22 years and two kids ago.....I now have a keg!
Anyway finally after about 10 minutes of trying to balance on one leg and slowly hop backwards a little I managed to get loose from the jeep. Which by that time it had stopped raining and I found that the kids had actually listened and put the box as well as the detectors inside the tent.
Once again I turned on the bacon alarm clock. I had gotten the camp stove lit yet once again with out incident. In no time the smell of bacon again permeated its way through the campsite waking everyone up. It wasn't long before some began heading over for a bite.
Though we were all excited about getting to hunt the new location, there was still a bit of somberness in the air because none of us wanted to leave. But we also didn't want to get caught in the storms that we were doomed to face. So began the tear down of campsites and loading of vehicles.
Tim walked over and looked in my jeep after we had it all loaded and he said "boy and I thought I had alot of stuff in my car, how did you get all that in there?" Lacey replied "Oh we call mom the queen of cram, she can get more stuff in one small space than you could ever imagine".
So there we were all loaded and ready to roll out when Brandon walked over and asked if we had jumper cables. Well of course I did. I never leave home with out them or a jump box.
Tim's car wouldn't start. after all of the stuff he had charging that he worried would drain his battery, it was the dome light that did it.
We got Tim up and running and off we were once again in a convoy ........ following behind Manny. Now you know we were all thinking ( whether or not any of them want to admit it) "Is he going to get us lost again"?.....but he didn't and we met the rest of the group at the first dig site. We picked up the owners daughter and headed out for our second day of civil war relic hunting.
Come on back tomorrow for the final installment to Digging Virginia
So began my scrambling to get moving after sleeping all scrunched up in the back of the jeep. You have to realize I'm 5'9" tall sleeping in 4' of space. (yet it was still better than sleeping on a pine cone!).
I finally manage to get my shoes on and get the side door open, but getting out was going to be the tricky part. Here it is not quite 5am and I'm trying to be quiet getting out of the jeep. Yeah that wasn't happening. Quiet was the last thing I was being.
I had managed to get one leg out of the Jeep but the other was not yet ready to wake up so lets just say I was well ....stuck. Now I am no spring chicken, (in fact I'm much closer to the "Old Buzzard' award) and I just don't bend like I used to. Hell I don't think I had ever bent like I needed to in order to free myself from my predicament. Anyway there I was with one leg out and the other one stuck and I'm thinking "Ok now what?"
I'm trying not to hang on the door because not only am I NOT a spring chicken, but I'm also not a stick figure either and I don't want to pull the door from its hinges...... I don't have the six pack abs I had back when I was 18. That was 22 years and two kids ago.....I now have a keg!
Anyway finally after about 10 minutes of trying to balance on one leg and slowly hop backwards a little I managed to get loose from the jeep. Which by that time it had stopped raining and I found that the kids had actually listened and put the box as well as the detectors inside the tent.
Once again I turned on the bacon alarm clock. I had gotten the camp stove lit yet once again with out incident. In no time the smell of bacon again permeated its way through the campsite waking everyone up. It wasn't long before some began heading over for a bite.
Though we were all excited about getting to hunt the new location, there was still a bit of somberness in the air because none of us wanted to leave. But we also didn't want to get caught in the storms that we were doomed to face. So began the tear down of campsites and loading of vehicles.
Tim walked over and looked in my jeep after we had it all loaded and he said "boy and I thought I had alot of stuff in my car, how did you get all that in there?" Lacey replied "Oh we call mom the queen of cram, she can get more stuff in one small space than you could ever imagine".
So there we were all loaded and ready to roll out when Brandon walked over and asked if we had jumper cables. Well of course I did. I never leave home with out them or a jump box.
Tim's car wouldn't start. after all of the stuff he had charging that he worried would drain his battery, it was the dome light that did it.
We got Tim up and running and off we were once again in a convoy ........ following behind Manny. Now you know we were all thinking ( whether or not any of them want to admit it) "Is he going to get us lost again"?.....but he didn't and we met the rest of the group at the first dig site. We picked up the owners daughter and headed out for our second day of civil war relic hunting.
Come on back tomorrow for the final installment to Digging Virginia
Monday, April 26, 2010
Digging Virginia Part 2
I left off yesterday with Lacey's Tick problem and how it turned out. What was really funny was on her MP3 guess what song came up? If you guessed Brad Paiseley's Ticks you are right! So now we have come to the second part of that evening. Which consisted of the Dayton Diggers raffle and Doug and Manny playing Bobby Flay and Chef Vitoli on the Grill. Good eats I might add. Beats me having to battle the camp stove after a hard day of digging in the Virginia dirt. Being tired...lord only knows what I might have burned off! Anyway on with it your saying right well ok here we go....
So we were all sitting around the camp fire waiting for the raffle to start and just talking and all that jazz. Nick was snapping pictures, everyone just chilling basically. Finally everyone that was participating in the raffle had arrived and it got underway.
Steve started it off by presenting Manny with a Gift of a Proof coin set and certificate for setting the Virgina Hunt up. We all applauded and of course you know we just had to razz him about getting us all lost.....TWICE. So after everyone got their jabs in on poor Manny we got on with the raffle. Nick and Suzanne (Webbie) cleaned house. Which was awesome. Mark did his "Hot Damn I won" dance, which could become a Dayton Diggers Signature happy dance move when we find a cool item.
There were alot of Steve's numbers called...hmmmm? Just kidding he donated items back when his number was called except for the Hat...He Really wanted that hat! In fact there were a few that donated back to the raffle which I thought was very awesome.
As I sat and watched and listened with hope of having my number called I couldn't help but look at this group of people and think how wonderful it was to be a part of it. We felt welcomed and part of the "family" so to speak.
As each number was called I could hear Lacey saying "dang it"....the kid wanted to win something so badly she could taste it. Then it happened,,,her number was called for a Garrett Ball cap and after all that anticipation all I heard from her was "Yessss"...she wouldn't even do Mark's happy dance lol. Of course the last time she tried to dance around a camp fire she stepped in a hole, twisted her ankle and almost fell in the fire. Guess it is better she just accepted her prize, smiled and said thank you and walked back and sat down. And then there is Aj. The poor kid, not only did he not find anything on the dig that day but nor did he win anything at the raffle. He came close by the difference of one number but as they say "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". Then the last item was up, the ticket was drawn.....and.....it wasn't Aj's. Manny had the last winning ticket to win the finds pouch from minelab. Aj was very surprised when Manny said "I want to give that to the big guy in the dodge hat", so Aj got to walk up and claim his prize and you would have thought Manny had given him a pouch full of gold. He was grinning from ear to ear and he said "Looky here mom, I got a prize too". Thanks Manny for making Aj's day. I didn't win a raffle prize but seeing my kids enjoying themselves with everyone was reward enough for me.
So that was it for the Raffle. It was then on to more food. Everyone was eatting and talking and oh I forgot to mention earlier that Manny and Brandon had secured permission for us to hunt a different site the following day. It was 628 acres of land that was once home to Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark. How awesome is that you say....Totally!!!!
We all were stoked about that. What were weren't to happy about was the fact that it was about to rain on our parade, literally.
Tim had been in contact with a friend of his off and all day and was keeping tabs on the weather heading our way. Storms, rain, more storms, and oh yeah more rain. Bummer. Anyway most of us decided that we would pack up in the morning and go to the site and then just go home from there.
But until then we would just enjoy the campsite and everyones company. So again there were those that were sitting around the campfire and others just hanging out. I decided I wasn't spending another night on a rock or pine cone so I moved into the jeep. Of course I ended up having to roll up the window due to all of flaculent quartets and solos being perfomed by the fire, I heard so many gassy emissions that I am surprised we weren't blown into next week. I think they were all trying to see who could fart the loudest, longest, and down right grossest sounding lol. I don't know, maybe they were trying to out do the croaking frogs at the pond. I bet if an areial photo had been taken that night there would be a green cloud over that section of the camp ground. No wonder the mosquitos didn't bother us that night. I'm sure they tried but fell dead in mid air when coming with in 20 yards of the site. You know what though, men can sit and break wind all day and night and nothing is said but laughter and comments like "whooo I ripped that one didin't I". But let a woman fart....and it's front line news in the Enquirer! With that said (and I'm sure there are those who wish I hadn't) come back tomorrow to find out how it all turns out.
So we were all sitting around the camp fire waiting for the raffle to start and just talking and all that jazz. Nick was snapping pictures, everyone just chilling basically. Finally everyone that was participating in the raffle had arrived and it got underway.
Steve started it off by presenting Manny with a Gift of a Proof coin set and certificate for setting the Virgina Hunt up. We all applauded and of course you know we just had to razz him about getting us all lost.....TWICE. So after everyone got their jabs in on poor Manny we got on with the raffle. Nick and Suzanne (Webbie) cleaned house. Which was awesome. Mark did his "Hot Damn I won" dance, which could become a Dayton Diggers Signature happy dance move when we find a cool item.
There were alot of Steve's numbers called...hmmmm? Just kidding he donated items back when his number was called except for the Hat...He Really wanted that hat! In fact there were a few that donated back to the raffle which I thought was very awesome.
As I sat and watched and listened with hope of having my number called I couldn't help but look at this group of people and think how wonderful it was to be a part of it. We felt welcomed and part of the "family" so to speak.
As each number was called I could hear Lacey saying "dang it"....the kid wanted to win something so badly she could taste it. Then it happened,,,her number was called for a Garrett Ball cap and after all that anticipation all I heard from her was "Yessss"...she wouldn't even do Mark's happy dance lol. Of course the last time she tried to dance around a camp fire she stepped in a hole, twisted her ankle and almost fell in the fire. Guess it is better she just accepted her prize, smiled and said thank you and walked back and sat down. And then there is Aj. The poor kid, not only did he not find anything on the dig that day but nor did he win anything at the raffle. He came close by the difference of one number but as they say "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". Then the last item was up, the ticket was drawn.....and.....it wasn't Aj's. Manny had the last winning ticket to win the finds pouch from minelab. Aj was very surprised when Manny said "I want to give that to the big guy in the dodge hat", so Aj got to walk up and claim his prize and you would have thought Manny had given him a pouch full of gold. He was grinning from ear to ear and he said "Looky here mom, I got a prize too". Thanks Manny for making Aj's day. I didn't win a raffle prize but seeing my kids enjoying themselves with everyone was reward enough for me.
So that was it for the Raffle. It was then on to more food. Everyone was eatting and talking and oh I forgot to mention earlier that Manny and Brandon had secured permission for us to hunt a different site the following day. It was 628 acres of land that was once home to Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark. How awesome is that you say....Totally!!!!
We all were stoked about that. What were weren't to happy about was the fact that it was about to rain on our parade, literally.
Tim had been in contact with a friend of his off and all day and was keeping tabs on the weather heading our way. Storms, rain, more storms, and oh yeah more rain. Bummer. Anyway most of us decided that we would pack up in the morning and go to the site and then just go home from there.
But until then we would just enjoy the campsite and everyones company. So again there were those that were sitting around the campfire and others just hanging out. I decided I wasn't spending another night on a rock or pine cone so I moved into the jeep. Of course I ended up having to roll up the window due to all of flaculent quartets and solos being perfomed by the fire, I heard so many gassy emissions that I am surprised we weren't blown into next week. I think they were all trying to see who could fart the loudest, longest, and down right grossest sounding lol. I don't know, maybe they were trying to out do the croaking frogs at the pond. I bet if an areial photo had been taken that night there would be a green cloud over that section of the camp ground. No wonder the mosquitos didn't bother us that night. I'm sure they tried but fell dead in mid air when coming with in 20 yards of the site. You know what though, men can sit and break wind all day and night and nothing is said but laughter and comments like "whooo I ripped that one didin't I". But let a woman fart....and it's front line news in the Enquirer! With that said (and I'm sure there are those who wish I hadn't) come back tomorrow to find out how it all turns out.
Digging Virginia part 1
Well we made our trip down to Virginia to meet up with other Dayton Diggers members that we were going to be relic hunting with. The trip down was a long one filled with more orange barrels and cones than I have seen in my intire life. And believe me...Ohio is not the only state filled with stupid and inconsiderate drivers. Road rage is an understatement in Virginia!...(and I'm referring to myself) But we made it to our destination unscathed and not one ticket (due to my lead foot lida disease! Of course if cars we equipped with ticket printers that automatically shot out a ticket every time a person cursed inside the car...well my Jeep liberty would have filled in no time! Anyway we arrived to the camp ground and were the first of few that got there early.
We found our group camp site and began to get set up. We unpacked the tent, unrolled it and then....stood there scratching our heads. I had only set this tent up two other times and one of those times was in the dark! After looking at the instructions and with the help of a few other Diggers members we managed to get it all set up. Then we were finally able to rest a bit.
It wasn't long until others began to trickle in.
Tim and his little buddy Floyd the Treasure hunting pug set up next to us. And we got the joy of meeting him and Tim. Then Doug from Middletown. Then in came Chris and his family. All the while the kids and I were mingling and watching every one get settled in.
I then got the idea that I would finally dig out the old camp stove and start our dinner.
And so began the battle... me VS. the camp stove. This stove is old mind you so It has no markings left on it for HI or LOW.
I hooked up the propane canister, turned it on, and turned on the burner. I was thinking how simple it is.....then I struck the match (oh yeah this is where AJ comes in...he is standing by the table as I go to light the burner) ....and woooosh!!! Up shoots a big flame...singing the tree branch above me and burning the hairs from Aj's arm. I got burner turned down and we started laughing at it all. Finally after adjusting and relighting the burner several times I finally managed to get our dinner fixed. After filling up on dinner of Italian sausage and Pork and beans, we did a little more mingling and talking to everyone as we waited for Steve Green (the founder of Dayton Diggers) to arrive. By that time Terry and Big Mike had arrived and were setting up camp. Nick and Suzanne had ventured over from their cabins to meet everyone. And Steve finally made it and he brought Mark and Ron. So everyone was there and all anxious to talk about the things they were hoping to find on the hunt the following day.
As Nine O'clock began to roll around we all ventured towards the meeting room where we proceeded to talk about the hunt we were going on the next day. After the meeting we went back to the camp site where some hung around the campfire, some were cooking hotdogs over the flame...me on the other hand, I was tired so I went and changed into my pj's and proceed to go to bed. Boy was that a bad Idea! I spread out my sleeping bag, unzipped it and crawled in oh so ready for a good nights sleep. I layed down and that was it right down on a pine cone. So I got back up moved my sleeping bag crawled bag in and !Ouch! another freakin pine cone....then a rock....then another rock! No matter where I put my sleeping bag I managed to lay on pine cone or rock. (all because I forgot to clear the ground before setting up the tent). I ended up laying my pillows end to end and sleeping on top of them....and I could still feel pine cones and rocks.
The next morning I awoke to the early morning call of nature. So after making my way to the bathrooms I came back to the campsite and began to fix breakfast.
Mind you I am the only one awake at this time. I got my stove all lit (without loosing my eyebrows or arm hair) and my skillet filled with bacon. As the bacon began frying the aroma was starting its creep across the campsite. I could almost see the tendrils as like in the old Scooby Doo cartoons when the aroma of a pizza came his and shaggy's way in the form of a hand beckoning them with a finger motioning them to follow. And one by one zippers on tents made their trademark zzzziiiiiiiiipppppp as heads began poking their heads out and noses where in the air sniffing the Bacon scent. Frying Bacon......the best alarm clock known to man (and woman).
Needless to say just about everyone ventured over to our campsite for a bite or two of bacon. Which was why I brought it. Chuck came over with the nectar of the gods COFFEE!!!! and I gladly excepted his offer of a cup. Brandon brought over home made snicker doodles (one of my favs) that his girlfriend sent with him. Everyone ate and yakked and then began getting geared up for the day of relic hunting.
After getting our morning under way we all mounted up with Manny in the lead to take us to the dig site. (Steve and Ron left earlier to get set up) So began our convoy to the dig site. We followed Manny for what seemed like forever until he finally pulled into a drive way.....and then he stopped and we were told he has missed a turn and so we all turned around and back we went for another time that once more seemed like forever until he turned into another drive way. At this point I was thinking yeah finally. And Aj and Lacey were getting all hyped up. And then I saw it....it was once again the wrong driveway and all of a sudden...BLAM we hit the biggest speed bump I have ever seen! This thing was big enough to have its own zip code! You guessed it we were lost. Poor Manny was not going to live this down that was for sure. He had lead us down the driveway to a gravel pit. All these workers looking at us like "who are these fools"? Finally Ben found the road with his Garmin and lead us to it and we were finally turning into the right driveway.
After getting our briefing as to where the property lines were, and the warning to make sure we had sprayed down with bug spray because of the threat of ticks...off we went to relic hunt for civil war artifacts.
My first target tone turned out to be nothing, then again nothing, finally I emerged in the clearing where the old home once sat. Everywhere I looked there was hunter orange Diggers T-shirts....seemed as though everyone had the same idea. There was room enough for everyone to hunt.
We hunted most of the day. The kids and I found a few things. I found an old chain, a brass funnel type pieces, some old square head nails, barbed wire fence, a few old bottles and some other odds and ends. Lacey found a piece of a two man saw, some bottles and odds and ends. Aj poor Aj hadn't found nothing but some old cans and fence pieces. But overall we had a blast.
There were some good finds throughout the group that were Civil War related, some 2 ring bullets, a few buttons, some buckles, and horse shoes. Manny found A colt hand gun.
Later that night back at the camp.....Lacey and I had decided to get our showers in. I came out of the shower and knocked on lacey's shower door to see if she was about done and she flung the door open and screeched "I have a tick on me!!!! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!!!! eeewwwww gross!. I looked at it and found it to have dug in to her skin. So we went back to camp and told Manny and Brandon of her predicament and they proceeded to work on her to get the tick out in tact which they did. They cleaned up the bite and she and I went and sat by the campfire to relax. Then Manny came over and proceeded to instruct me on what to look for around the tick bite, and if I were to find it still bleeding or find red rings around it to get her to a doctor ASAP. All the while Lacey was sitting there listening and her eyes where getting wider and her face was that of fear.....Manny looked at her and said "I'm not trying to freak you out or anything"...to late she was freaking. Anyway in case you all are worried..Lacey is just fine no red rings or fever of any kind.
So that about wraps up the first day's hunt. Come back tomorrow to find out how the the kids and I fared on day two of Digging Virginia.
We found our group camp site and began to get set up. We unpacked the tent, unrolled it and then....stood there scratching our heads. I had only set this tent up two other times and one of those times was in the dark! After looking at the instructions and with the help of a few other Diggers members we managed to get it all set up. Then we were finally able to rest a bit.
It wasn't long until others began to trickle in.
Tim and his little buddy Floyd the Treasure hunting pug set up next to us. And we got the joy of meeting him and Tim. Then Doug from Middletown. Then in came Chris and his family. All the while the kids and I were mingling and watching every one get settled in.
I then got the idea that I would finally dig out the old camp stove and start our dinner.
And so began the battle... me VS. the camp stove. This stove is old mind you so It has no markings left on it for HI or LOW.
I hooked up the propane canister, turned it on, and turned on the burner. I was thinking how simple it is.....then I struck the match (oh yeah this is where AJ comes in...he is standing by the table as I go to light the burner) ....and woooosh!!! Up shoots a big flame...singing the tree branch above me and burning the hairs from Aj's arm. I got burner turned down and we started laughing at it all. Finally after adjusting and relighting the burner several times I finally managed to get our dinner fixed. After filling up on dinner of Italian sausage and Pork and beans, we did a little more mingling and talking to everyone as we waited for Steve Green (the founder of Dayton Diggers) to arrive. By that time Terry and Big Mike had arrived and were setting up camp. Nick and Suzanne had ventured over from their cabins to meet everyone. And Steve finally made it and he brought Mark and Ron. So everyone was there and all anxious to talk about the things they were hoping to find on the hunt the following day.
As Nine O'clock began to roll around we all ventured towards the meeting room where we proceeded to talk about the hunt we were going on the next day. After the meeting we went back to the camp site where some hung around the campfire, some were cooking hotdogs over the flame...me on the other hand, I was tired so I went and changed into my pj's and proceed to go to bed. Boy was that a bad Idea! I spread out my sleeping bag, unzipped it and crawled in oh so ready for a good nights sleep. I layed down and that was it right down on a pine cone. So I got back up moved my sleeping bag crawled bag in and !Ouch! another freakin pine cone....then a rock....then another rock! No matter where I put my sleeping bag I managed to lay on pine cone or rock. (all because I forgot to clear the ground before setting up the tent). I ended up laying my pillows end to end and sleeping on top of them....and I could still feel pine cones and rocks.
The next morning I awoke to the early morning call of nature. So after making my way to the bathrooms I came back to the campsite and began to fix breakfast.
Mind you I am the only one awake at this time. I got my stove all lit (without loosing my eyebrows or arm hair) and my skillet filled with bacon. As the bacon began frying the aroma was starting its creep across the campsite. I could almost see the tendrils as like in the old Scooby Doo cartoons when the aroma of a pizza came his and shaggy's way in the form of a hand beckoning them with a finger motioning them to follow. And one by one zippers on tents made their trademark zzzziiiiiiiiipppppp as heads began poking their heads out and noses where in the air sniffing the Bacon scent. Frying Bacon......the best alarm clock known to man (and woman).
Needless to say just about everyone ventured over to our campsite for a bite or two of bacon. Which was why I brought it. Chuck came over with the nectar of the gods COFFEE!!!! and I gladly excepted his offer of a cup. Brandon brought over home made snicker doodles (one of my favs) that his girlfriend sent with him. Everyone ate and yakked and then began getting geared up for the day of relic hunting.
After getting our morning under way we all mounted up with Manny in the lead to take us to the dig site. (Steve and Ron left earlier to get set up) So began our convoy to the dig site. We followed Manny for what seemed like forever until he finally pulled into a drive way.....and then he stopped and we were told he has missed a turn and so we all turned around and back we went for another time that once more seemed like forever until he turned into another drive way. At this point I was thinking yeah finally. And Aj and Lacey were getting all hyped up. And then I saw it....it was once again the wrong driveway and all of a sudden...BLAM we hit the biggest speed bump I have ever seen! This thing was big enough to have its own zip code! You guessed it we were lost. Poor Manny was not going to live this down that was for sure. He had lead us down the driveway to a gravel pit. All these workers looking at us like "who are these fools"? Finally Ben found the road with his Garmin and lead us to it and we were finally turning into the right driveway.
After getting our briefing as to where the property lines were, and the warning to make sure we had sprayed down with bug spray because of the threat of ticks...off we went to relic hunt for civil war artifacts.
My first target tone turned out to be nothing, then again nothing, finally I emerged in the clearing where the old home once sat. Everywhere I looked there was hunter orange Diggers T-shirts....seemed as though everyone had the same idea. There was room enough for everyone to hunt.
We hunted most of the day. The kids and I found a few things. I found an old chain, a brass funnel type pieces, some old square head nails, barbed wire fence, a few old bottles and some other odds and ends. Lacey found a piece of a two man saw, some bottles and odds and ends. Aj poor Aj hadn't found nothing but some old cans and fence pieces. But overall we had a blast.
There were some good finds throughout the group that were Civil War related, some 2 ring bullets, a few buttons, some buckles, and horse shoes. Manny found A colt hand gun.
Later that night back at the camp.....Lacey and I had decided to get our showers in. I came out of the shower and knocked on lacey's shower door to see if she was about done and she flung the door open and screeched "I have a tick on me!!!! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!!!! eeewwwww gross!. I looked at it and found it to have dug in to her skin. So we went back to camp and told Manny and Brandon of her predicament and they proceeded to work on her to get the tick out in tact which they did. They cleaned up the bite and she and I went and sat by the campfire to relax. Then Manny came over and proceeded to instruct me on what to look for around the tick bite, and if I were to find it still bleeding or find red rings around it to get her to a doctor ASAP. All the while Lacey was sitting there listening and her eyes where getting wider and her face was that of fear.....Manny looked at her and said "I'm not trying to freak you out or anything"...to late she was freaking. Anyway in case you all are worried..Lacey is just fine no red rings or fever of any kind.
So that about wraps up the first day's hunt. Come back tomorrow to find out how the the kids and I fared on day two of Digging Virginia.
Monday, April 19, 2010
What's In it for me?...one might ask.
Although I am new to the hobby of metal detecting I can still see the benefits of getting involved in this hobby. It is'nt just about digging in the dirt and finding coins or jewelry or whatever else might turn up in a dirt plug. It is also about gaining knowledge in history and learning to research. It is finding out what was, back in the day.
To learn that the open field you are gazing at was at one time a triving operatable farm or small housing community or an old school house from which you can almost hear the hustle and bustle of children or a horse and plow or just people going about their daily lives.
I have yet to find a coin or anything else older than the 60's ....1960 that is. So i have yet to feel the thrill of turning up a plug and having a coin from the old times staring back at me as so many others in this hobby have experienced. But just knowing that one day I will find a piece of the history that I have been spending so much time in, is what makes it all worth it!
To learn that the open field you are gazing at was at one time a triving operatable farm or small housing community or an old school house from which you can almost hear the hustle and bustle of children or a horse and plow or just people going about their daily lives.
I have yet to find a coin or anything else older than the 60's ....1960 that is. So i have yet to feel the thrill of turning up a plug and having a coin from the old times staring back at me as so many others in this hobby have experienced. But just knowing that one day I will find a piece of the history that I have been spending so much time in, is what makes it all worth it!
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