Fall 2009
We migrated southward earlier than planned this fall after viewing all the weather forecasts...the white fluff from the sky mandated a change in our route! We had a delightful time for about three weeks in Mill City, Nevada area with friends John and Peggy. They are among the world's greatest prospectors and continue to teach us a great deal about the hobby.

Now here's a Ken story that is 100% true even though I still am amazed! I've had a Goldbug 2 metal detector for 5 years. Ken decided he too would get a Goldbug so bid for one on EBay. He won! On a Thursday his new "toy" arrives in the mail. Friday we go out to Rye Patch, NV, which is a well-known area for gold nugget shooting. See where he is in the photo below? He walked just 30 feet from our truck!


He took a few swings with the detector and declared, "I found gold!" Now I hunted for over three years before finding even a teeny tiny one! This must be a joke! But...we couldn't believe our ears...the detector was giving that "chirp/chirp" gold sound and then our eyes when he dug out this actual gold nugget!

Here's a photo John took of Ken's first nugget which weighted one gram. Is that ever beginner's luck!


We headed on south to Arizona the last week of October so that we could be present at our dear friend Bill Richards memorial service.

Have you all gone over Hoover Dam? We've been intrigued for many years watching the expansive by-pass project take place. Currently the route includes a back-up of hundreds of vehicles inching across the top of the dam. RV's are always stopped and inspected since 911.




With this major new project that has taken years and millions of dollars, the massive bridges...yes more than one...connect the route as it crosses these great chasms between the rock covered mountains and over the Colorado River.


That's a long way down to the water below! Can you imagine working up there?

Upon arrival in Congress, AZ we are now enjoying connecting with many of our traveling friends. When in Nevada, John and Peggy had given us lessons on dry washing (a process to retrieve gold from the soil and rocks) and we are now the owners of a Pack Washer. It's small enough to easily transport. Here's how the process works.

Ken starts by shoveling material into a classifying pan over a bucket...the classifier has wire netting to eliminate the major rocks and hopefully retain the material that has the potential for bearing gold.


The smaller material that is collected is then scooped into the dry washer, a machine with a blower that disgards the rocks and dirt. Gold, being very heavy as to its specific gravity, is trapped in the machine.


After the drywasher separates the material the best it can, the gold is finally extracted via the traditional panning process.




In reality this is a hobby that gets us out of the motorhome and we get great exercise traipsing all over the place. The greatest value though is we've met many, many great friends that have fun with this recreational hobby too!