Blame it on the rain

Rain, as far as the forecast can see.

So now I cannot go out detecting and I must write about some other aspect of the hobby.

Today I want to tell you why I write a blog about metal detecting (I also have a gardening blog but since my dogs won’t let me grow anything is kind of in suspended animation).
To begin I must tell you about the first time I found an Indian Head cent back in 2011. Before that day, all I had ever found were clad and a couple of wheat cents from the 40’s.
Well, I had actually taken the day off to detect all day. I started around six in the morning and by around eleven  I was done. I had found nothing but pulltabs and bottle caps. I was dog tired and ready to give up metal detecting for good.

I decided to end my detecting day by going to a site near downtown and by the Arkansas river where many Native groups had camped through the centuries to trade and where, legend has it, there is some treasure buried nearby by the first French traders to come through here in the 1700’s. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, this was also a very popular swimming hole, where in the 20’s, a couple of municipal swimming pools were built. In the 70’s, the swimming pools were torn down and now, tennis courts sit there in their place. So if I couldn’t find an old coin here, I was never going to find an old coin anywhere.

And so, under an old elm tree, I found my first ever Indian Head cent. I made a video of it and the video is still in YouTube but is best to leave it be because I waxed philosophical about that IH and it is kind of embarrassing. I also found a very old Chinese coin under that elm but somehow that didn’t seem as cool as the IH.

I then got this overwhelming need to find another detectorist and show him or her my IH. I don’t know why. I just had to share this glorious find with someone who may appreciate it. So I drove from park to park until, miles away at another old park, I saw this guy detecting. I slammed on the brakes, found a place to park, and approached the poor guy who saw a 5′ 11”, 280 lb (i am down to 230) Hispanic man, coming at him with a deranged smile on his face. I know this guy well now and I know he packs heat so I am really lucky he didn’t drop me on the spot. As it turned out, he is a really nice person and he was properly impressed by my find.

After this, I began to participate in metal detecting forums and eventually I started this blog.

This is why I write here about my metal detecting sorties. Maybe I can entertain someone or even inform them. But truth be told, the first and main reason I do it is to share what I find with anyone who may care.

Now, let’s hope I get a sunny day this week so I can go dig some holes.

Thank you for stopping by.

Tags: rants