We've been back about a week now from our NT trip. Great adventure despite a few technical issues (trailer batteries, windscreen, tyre not to mention rain stopping us doing the Oodnadatta and the Finke- Alice Springs tracks).
We stayed on a property near Alice Springs for 11 nights. The property owner and the larger property next door as well as the EL Holder gave us permission to detect where ever we wanted. The first day was speculative as we went back to areas we had driven through that looked good and was suggested to us by a gem tour bloke. Our mate got a 9.6g as the day drew to a close and we thought - "you beauty - we are on to it.". All 4 of us (only 3 detectors though) looked forward to thoroughly detecting the area. Zilch, nada nil. Another 1 piece patch. In the middle of nowhere in particular but other detectorists had been there - signs, all be they old, were there.
Our next gold did not appear until day 9. We got 4 bits for a total weight of 2.3g. Unfortunately we could not get to the primary area I had identified as the track in was gone. We had run into the station owner even further out in the middle of nowhere and encouragingly he knew where I wanted to go and told me how to get there but discouragingly he said the track was pretty hard. With only 1 vehicle I decided not to take the risk. Oh well. Next time, with another vehicle to help with any recovery, we'll go in.
On the way back home we did a bit of noodling at Coober Pedy. Only a couple of hours but good fun. Got some nice bits that are probably worthless but shine great in water.
My wife and I left our travelling companions at Mildura and stopped off in Inglewood. It's green! Last time I was there it was a dust bowl. Anyway with one day of rain we only had 3 detecting days and I got a nice isolated bit at Wedderburn 4.8g. And again, that was it.
The pic below shows my finds - 3 from the NT for 2g and the rounded bit of 4.8g is from Wedderburn.
We stayed on a property near Alice Springs for 11 nights. The property owner and the larger property next door as well as the EL Holder gave us permission to detect where ever we wanted. The first day was speculative as we went back to areas we had driven through that looked good and was suggested to us by a gem tour bloke. Our mate got a 9.6g as the day drew to a close and we thought - "you beauty - we are on to it.". All 4 of us (only 3 detectors though) looked forward to thoroughly detecting the area. Zilch, nada nil. Another 1 piece patch. In the middle of nowhere in particular but other detectorists had been there - signs, all be they old, were there.
Our next gold did not appear until day 9. We got 4 bits for a total weight of 2.3g. Unfortunately we could not get to the primary area I had identified as the track in was gone. We had run into the station owner even further out in the middle of nowhere and encouragingly he knew where I wanted to go and told me how to get there but discouragingly he said the track was pretty hard. With only 1 vehicle I decided not to take the risk. Oh well. Next time, with another vehicle to help with any recovery, we'll go in.
On the way back home we did a bit of noodling at Coober Pedy. Only a couple of hours but good fun. Got some nice bits that are probably worthless but shine great in water.
My wife and I left our travelling companions at Mildura and stopped off in Inglewood. It's green! Last time I was there it was a dust bowl. Anyway with one day of rain we only had 3 detecting days and I got a nice isolated bit at Wedderburn 4.8g. And again, that was it.
The pic below shows my finds - 3 from the NT for 2g and the rounded bit of 4.8g is from Wedderburn.
