deep find

[reynard]

g,day fellow prospectors. mrs reynard (or the vixen) depending how brave i feel, spent the last four days at smythsdale 30km from ballarat. two days detecting and apart from the march flies that are ferocious we had a great time. on saturday afternoon i was working a nice looking area about eighty meters above a well worked creek between two side runs of diggings. there was heaps of junk about and i was nearly ready to give up on the area when i got a real screamer and thought more junk. but after doing minelab golds training day i said no i have to make sure, so after digging down about eighteen inches i struck a layer of rock and man was it packed in tight. it took a while but i managed to prise out couple. the 4500 with a 15" evo was screaming but something was wrong as i felt it was man made as the rocks seemed different. by this time i was knackered so a quick call to mrs reynard and she brought me in the bigger pick and her 4500 with a 14x9 n.f. much better to pinpoint with.well with the bigger pick i got through the rocks and at about two and a half feet found a miners pick head and what remained of a shovel head i was not disappointed as i had expected something along these lines. i took the pick and after putting back the rocks and after filling in the hole we headed out. it was on the way out i started to think why would anybody go to so much trouble to bury a pick and shovel, it must have been well over one hundred years ago, bury them yes but a layer of rocks as well mmmm.i do not know how big the rock layer is as i only dug where the signal was. i would be interested to hear some of your ideas.i know what i think is there what about you.

 

[Chewy]

Did you get the shovel out and check the hole again? Some old timer might have buried their stash under it. Or I wonder if it might be a grave.

 

[LC76]

Sounds like a grave....I would return the pick

 

[Dignit]

Yeah, the poor buggy is lost in his after life.
I'll haunt anyone who takes the pick out of my grave after I'm gone. Ha ha

 

[reynard]

yes boys thats what i thought as well it looks like on my next trip i will have to reopen the hole and return the poor old buggers pick

 

[limpalot]

Could put two shovels there, he can take his pick.

 

[HarryHoudini]

Sounds like a grave. Putting a little cross of stones may stop it being disturbed again.

 

[reynard]

thanks harry, yes i will put something on it to mark it. it would be great to establish the history of him but the chances off that are slim. but gee i love our history i will have talk with him when i give him back his pick.

 

[reynard]

hi chewy don't worry i checked it out zero that was before i realized what it was

 

[reynard]

ha ha limpalot i like it

 

[Minelab Gold]

Hi Reynard,

I seen this post a few days back, very interesting indeed. How good of condition is the pick maybe you can trade mine for his and when you go back just have a talk with him and explain to him to look after mine as I will put his to very good use.

Be good to hear back on your findings if or when you visit that area again for more inspection.

We actually found a hole the other day with about 12 bullets fired into the same area, while digging there were bones. Im guessing someone laid a fair few rounds into an animal, was hoping that there wasnt a necklace, ring or a watch in close proximity.

Its just amazing what we find in our travels.

Cheers M.G

 

[reynard]

nah the pick has got to go back i,m sorry mate i will make you one if you like but i don't think it will find as much gold as stubby

 

[Minelab Gold]

Thats fine Reynard,

Hope it gets to rest back with his owner again. Bjay mentioned to retire mine, too much work to bring back and the time it would take I am better of retiring it and buying a new one. Man Cave trophy

All the best

 

[aussiefarmer]

Check it is a grave could be a hidden reef with the prospectors kit hidden waitng for his return that never happened, but my gut says burial.

 

[reynard]

that was my original thought a.f. but after thinking about it i am quite sure it is a grave, the only way to be certain would be to dig him up and i am not going to do that. no the next trip i will replace his pick and place a marker on the spot. i think he would be chuffed to know of all this interest in him after all this time.

 

[scottlucky]

interesting find
maybe the local historical society may have an interest?

cheers

 

[reynard]

well fellow prospectors you will be pleased to know that last week i went back and returned the old blokes pick, i reopened the grave
and put it all back as i first found it. I also made him a headstone, so none of you blokes make the same mistake as i did.
So if you are out in the bush having a swing and come across him dip ya lid and say g'day

 

[Mackka]

Well done mate. The Aussie in all of us thank you for paying respects to him.
Kind regards
Mackka :Y:

 

[RM Outback]

Great story and a top effort returning the old man's pick :Y: well done reynard.

 

[Filthgrinder]

That's awesome so nice of you!