I had yesterday off, so I headed downtown to a fairly small park with a wading pool in the center. It is surrounded with grassy hills, trees and park benches. I hunt this location only once a year, as it is an experience all on its own. There are soooooo many people around gawking at you while you detect. Many can't help but approach you and ask the darnedest question.
The first inquiry was from a business man who thought I was playing croquet, with my detector as the mallet. After I clarified what exactly I was doing, he sincerely asked if anyone had ever suggested I was crazy, to which I admitted yes. He proceeded to give me a good firm handshake, said he was very glad me meet a fine fellow such as myself and asked if I wanted to search for a lost ring at one of his golf courses.
The second hilarious interruption came from an elderly lady, perhaps in her sixties. She wanted to know if I had any luck, then told me she too once found a ring once in her life, of course without using a metal detector. Then, she said she was a nature lover, a kind of tree hugger type, and proved it by taking her last puff from a cigarette, then stated she always makes sure she steps on her cigarette on the sidewalk (which she did) before tossing it in the grass, so as to not hurt the grass. Bless her heart.
The third person didn't beat around the bush. He was straightforward and asked where he could buy a metal detector like mine...or should I say "MINE". I told him mine wasn't for sale, and he walked away disappointed, as he figured winter was going to start next week and he wouldn't have one for the rest of this week.
There were many others, but these stood out in my memory. A great experience it was! I ended up hunting two other parks and these are my totals below.
The first inquiry was from a business man who thought I was playing croquet, with my detector as the mallet. After I clarified what exactly I was doing, he sincerely asked if anyone had ever suggested I was crazy, to which I admitted yes. He proceeded to give me a good firm handshake, said he was very glad me meet a fine fellow such as myself and asked if I wanted to search for a lost ring at one of his golf courses.
The second hilarious interruption came from an elderly lady, perhaps in her sixties. She wanted to know if I had any luck, then told me she too once found a ring once in her life, of course without using a metal detector. Then, she said she was a nature lover, a kind of tree hugger type, and proved it by taking her last puff from a cigarette, then stated she always makes sure she steps on her cigarette on the sidewalk (which she did) before tossing it in the grass, so as to not hurt the grass. Bless her heart.
The third person didn't beat around the bush. He was straightforward and asked where he could buy a metal detector like mine...or should I say "MINE". I told him mine wasn't for sale, and he walked away disappointed, as he figured winter was going to start next week and he wouldn't have one for the rest of this week.
There were many others, but these stood out in my memory. A great experience it was! I ended up hunting two other parks and these are my totals below.
Yeah, there's some characters out there.
Happy Hunting!
