Metal Detecting Adventure
Um… misadventure?
Accessing 1800’s location by kayak.
Visions of thrupences, sixpences, antique jewelery fill my mind, quickly coming to my senses I remember how I hate metal detecting.
I’ll be catching a lift with the outgoing tide.
It’s tough going, there is a headwind and it’s wipping the water against me.
Around the next river bend I’m hopeful the wind will be at my back.
Aging body seems to be doing okay, my pace is steady. The day is cool, some cloud cover keeps the sun at bay.
I’ve gone a kilometre and still have the headwind. Finally I reach a windless corner of the river, water is calm. Then I run aground, that’ll teach me for cutting the shortest route through the river bends. I manage to get back into the main river flow.
Now I see a few ladys sitting along side the river; its time to take my shirt off. Only it gets stuck to my sweaty back, and I nealy lose my balance. Manage to get it off in time to look embarassed. I pick up the pace to get the hell out of there.
Pretty sure I’m going faster that 5 knots now, I know because I now have a popped blister!
Suns out!
Keep telling my self that my destination is just around the next corner.
Around the next corner is a kilometre long straight!
My back is furiously itchy, the spot is a mole - probably melanoma.
I would love to stop for a bit, however there is no place to hold. Anytime I pause the kayak begins to be pushed back down the river.
I’m cooled off by a strong headwind, the current is now rapidly lapping at the front of the kayak, is the tide actually coming in? I did mess around for ages, starting out five hours later than planned.
Sun has disappeared, behind a storm cloud.
The waves are at least making the kayak feel lighter.
My arms are pretty stuffed at this point, but progress is being made.
Eventually I see a jetty, it’s time for a rest.
My paddle manages to rescue a sinker, my first find of the day, feels a little like theft, but, oh well.
Close to a bend in the river, my vigour renewed by my rest I gun it.
Suddenly I come to an abrupt halt - grounded again!
Well if the tide is coming in, at least it will help me off.
I come to the realisation that I could probably get out and walk up a large portion of the river. And after making it around this bend, I do for a while.
Paddling again, I’m sure that around this bend I’ll finally be there.
It’s not.
Eventually I get close. There is a beach up ahead. It’s close to my target, so I stop for a rest and detect.
Found a rolled up piece of copper wire just out from my parking spot. A careless scan of the beach gives me no other beeps.
Finally I’m here. That tide is coming in. I find a large chunk of iron scrap, then move up to the peninsular, a few tiny sinkers, fish hook, life is great.
Around the peninsular is my best bet. But I want to move my kayak closer. I carry it up to the point, where I can see it.
Now I’m ready, where did I leave the spade? I see it lying in the sand, nearly overwealmed - the tide has decided to rapidly come up over my beach!
Quickly I scan, finding large pieces of heavily corroded iron junk.
Well time to give up.
It appears I could have driven up and walked back along the foresore to my target location - mudwiggle has probably already detected this place to death.
By the time I head back it’s essentially full tide, no help from the tide. But at least its calm and I won’t be running aground.
Getting the kayak out is easier too, but I manage to slice my knuckle on the spade. Really shouldn’t have taken it as I was only digging in sand and rock pools (didn’t have trowel handy) should’ve taken a large dessert spoon.
I’ll try again in three days once my muscles have all ceased up.
Lead, copper, another suckcessful day detecting!
Will be put forward into a poll for the members to then vote on there preference in turn 1st, 2nd and third prize winners will be decided on.
at the end of comp midnight 28th Feb will go into a poll to be voted on.
