well i did it , and now i am sick about it

[Flintstone]

In 1993, i fell and broke my back, but have been trying to keep going. Last week i had to sell my 3" dredge, i just could not move it around anymore by myself. Today i bough a 2" back packer. When i look in the back of my van i get sick thinking how small this is, and how long it will be before i cant get this one around. I thank my life is about over.Is there dredging in Heaven or Hell? If i get where i cant do it anymore i will post some good spots where you can get 1/4 to 1/2 oz day. Thanks for your time, Dean

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

At about 52 now, I'm beggining to notice the effects of age. Have metal detected since 1982 but now am having to wear reading glasses so I can see better the things I'm digging for, especially with my Gold Master V/SAT that hits on much more tiny targets. How small what I'm now dealing with to what you are but know as I get older, it will likely get worse. It frustrates me that I was once able to see close up the micro gold in my pans, hand sluice, or Blue Bowl and now have to use reading glasses to clearly see and to suction it up.

Enjoy that back pack dredge like there is no tomorrow. Wish I had one but just have not been able to get myself into a position of being able to buy one yet and I'm in an area I could wear one out.

 

[Digger Bob]

You think that's bad? I had to take apart a pair of reading glasses and glue the lenses to the inside of my face mask so I could see to do some simple sniping. On land it's not so bad, but how do you see under water?

Digger Bob

 

[Grubstake]

Bob, you could have gone to a welding supply store, they have lens, that are square and flat to glue into welding gogles, for around $8.00 a pair, like buying drugstore glasses. Grubstake

 

[Aussie MXT]

Just this past year I've been noticing my body aging for the first time ever I'm slowing down and getting aches and pains. I never thought about it before but yeah I'm getting older just like everyone else. Luckily, when my body won't let me detect any more I've got a couple of books I've started that I'm gonna finish writing one day. I'm leaving it till then. If I get there.

My commiserations Flintstone I hope you will be able to get gold for a few more years yet. Perhaps you need a name change lol.

Dicko..

 

[Flintstone]

Hi MXT, I do use a different name sometime ( Flintstone ) or Fredflint. I live in the rock ages.

 

[jessemxt]

Hey flinstone what area of the us do you live in?

 

[Flintstone]

Hi jessmxt, I live in Kentucky now, did live in Ohio. But i go to Arizona most of the time to gold prospect. We have gold here, but it is fine,if you know where to look you can hit a hot spot and do good. If my back holds up i will do better than 5 or 51/2 oz this year. Well now i don,t know i had to go to a 2'' dredge, so that will make a defiance. But just to be able to get out is grate,if i can just get enough to pay gas and food i will e happy. You guys be careful out there, maybe you will see a old man with a tinker toy don,t make fun of me. Good luck Flintstone

 

[aushunter]

Well fellas,
Don't complain about the size of your dredge and that lugging it around is a problem.
Here in Australia our dredging is banned. I loved that Hobby sooo much, I envy you fellas so much just being able to go about your business. Nothing like it and I hope that there is a dredging heaven somewhere.
Digger Bod, you can get prescription Diving Lenes made up, my wifey needs them and she is pretty happy with them.
1/4oz to 1/2oz a day, I would move bush if I could aqquire that much AU.
Anyway Fella's Cheers and Happy Dredging.
Brad.............

 

[David]

Flintstone(Dean), for your bad back, look at (Bob) Dahlke's lightweight 2.5" Poly dredge(total Weight 50 lbs). He just started designing Ploy dredges back in 1991 when I was at his shop then.

A 2.5" has much more production than a 2" back packer. 2" dredge==up to 2 cubic yards per hour. 2.5" dredge==up to 5 cubic yards per hour. Dahlke's 2.5" dredge is lighter than the regular 2" dredge I looked at, and much lighter than other 2.5" dredges.

http://www dot dahlkedredge dot com/25midjet.htm

Also Tesoro Vaquero is the lightest weight detector on the market for gold prospecting. You will need to add an extra DD coil for it as well.

But hipmount units take the weight off too.

Finally if you haven't already done it, make a proper committment to Jesus (the) Christ (non-denominationally) to make sure you get into heaven. He is The Key, there is no other.

 

[Flintstone]

Thanks David, I have the back packer now, if it gets to be to much i will try the other. I just hope it don,t get so bad that i will have to stop prospecting.Thanks Dean