insert introduction here

[Goldtarget]

Well first of all I want to say thanks for creating such an amazing forum, the help here is second to none, navigating around I see that everyone from the newbie to the old hand has something to gain from being here,! We can't all be experts with so many different localities and methods and the breadth of which here is staggering! Ok so I'm not a complete newbie, for as long as I can remember there's always been talk of prospecting, and the land in which I grew up on is old gold country, so prospecting resonates with me. Between fishing, shooting and camping trips there was spending time with some of the old fellas trying to find a bit of colour. I loved exploring the bush for old mines, and the hunt became even more thrilling once I got my license and trail bikes. I must have ridden and walk 10OS of kms through gold bearing bush. That said I certainly don't claim any expertise, no more than someone who services their car, or changes motors and gearboxes instead of going to the mechanics! I love going out detecting, and the rise of the pi machines hooked me right from the early days, I'm a well known offsider to a few guys lucky enough to not only own a machine but are really great at hitting targets. I still love getting a call asking if I want to go, watching a piece of gold arising from the depths still gets my blood pumping, hearing that thud has not lost its appeal since the first time I heard it. I'm not really a big fan of panning, I prefer the high banker or sluice and again I'm a happy offsider, shovelling while having a laugh and watching the yellow appear in the pan.....its a rare feeling. I guess my interest keeps growing, I like learning more, listening and emulating someone who knows not only what they are doing and why is feeling that keeps me coming back. Lastly I'd wish you all the encouragement in your endeavours and travels, and thank you for allowing me to be here. Regards GT

 

[thesmithy]

Well said and welcome to our world
It's a bug that never makes you sick.
That sore back just seems to fix itself after that first clean out of the morning.
As the sun fades behind the hill...just 20 more shovels should get you really lost on the way out......and you don't care.
On the way home all you think about is 20 more sleeps and you will be back in the creek again.....hell you are 53 years old not 5.

You go to Bunning and only hit the fossicking/crevicing section sorry I meant to say gardening/lawn care section.

You go the the paint section and ask the sales person that you want a stiff brush that will get into a tight crevice........he asks you what type of paint will you be using......you look at him the same way your dog looks at you when you hide his toys.

Hell I'm so sick I know I have the bug
Cheers
TheSmithy

 

[casper]

Well said and welcome to our world
It's a bug that never makes you sick.
That sore back just seems to fix itself after that first clean out of the morning.
As the sun fades behind the hill...just 20 more shovels should get you really lost on the way out......and you don't care.
On the way home all you think about is 20 more sleeps and you will be back in the creek again.....hell you are 53 years old not 5.

You go to Bunning and only hit the fossicking/crevicing section sorry I meant to say gardening/lawn care section.

You go the the paint section and ask the sales person that you want a stiff brush that will get into a tight crevice........he asks you what type of paint will you be using......you look at him the same way your dog looks at you when you hide his toys.

Hell I'm so sick I know I have the bug
Cheers
TheSmithy

Beautiful! or you drive 1 hour across town to visit a commercial kitchen equipment supplier and carefully examine all the skimmers, strainers and sieves........ and a sales person approaches because you are "obviously confused" about the appropriate application for each of these diverse items, you tell him that you have a non standard application and that you want to classify your washdirt and sluice cons ...........he looks at you the same way your dog looks at you when you hide his toys

casper

 

[Beagleboy]

Or you stuff two rolls of chicken wire mash that some one put on a nature strip in to the boot of your luxury German sedan wearing a suite and a tie. Then you drive off thinking what a score and of the bucket sieve and other stuff you will make out of it. Yes, I am sick doc and I need help.
Welcome aboard GT.

 

[Goldtarget]

Haha, great stuff. I can be a wee bit obsessive about all sorts of things, i remember walking into the scrap metal yard for the first time like a little kid in a lolly shop. I spent so much time in there for the first few weeks asking questions and looking at things they literally gave me a job, which was a massive shift from what i was doing before. Honestly i hear these things and know I'm in the right place. Plus i love to tinker, welding grinding, fixing, finishing, and never feeling quite done, and chasing the gold gives you so much opportunity to put those skills and analytical streak to use. I'm pretty sure that's why mechanical means has been ruled out, or there wouldn't be a mulloch heap to be seen. I reckon its in our DNA, when I'm out there in the middle of the bush, blazing hot or freezing cold, i feel the old fellas pick and shovel in hand making their days wage. And there was honour in that. Cheers.