New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Well, that's about it for my fossicking.... this time round. Will head back up to winter in the north, and plan to come back down south in spring. At this stage am looking to spend the whole summer down south next time, so should have plenty of time to get down the west Coast.

Spent a good few weeks on the Wakamarina river. Thanks to a local chap Donald, soon found a few flakes. Xterra Steve and then Blenheim Steve inspired me to do some sniping/ crevassing... I found about the same amount sniping [which I never really got the hang of] as I did sluicing..... less pieces sniping though a better size.

All up, I reckon a got near a 1/4 ounce for my efforts... not bad for a newbie on holiday eh... would pay for the deisel... not that I'm selling it but..lol. In the future, wouldn't mind adding to my arsenal with a decent detector. Variety being the spice of life and all that.

Having invested in gold before, I tended to think in terms of ounces. After fossicking for a bit, I've learnt to appreciate and respect the humble gram..... it may not seem a lot, but when you're "off the grid" with next to no outgoings/ expenses etc, it soon adds up. It's all relative.

Edited by user Wednesday, 16 March 2011 10:35:04 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

WELL DONE Roman,what a bagfull,i wouldnt mind just a teeny weeny bit of that just to look at and feel it.
Cant wait till november, good luck every one .
Mem

Hi JW, pretty much staying off grid.... stuff this economy...lol. Will be getting into another hobby of mine; rammed earth architecture. The plan is to stay at a sister's near Raglan, who has a garden art cafe, for a bit and try to make some sculptures/ birdbaths/ pedastals out of the stuff. Will be interesting to see how it goes, and whether anyone might be interested in buying them. Might pick up a bit of work here and there if it suits me, before heading south again as soon as she warms up.

Edited by user Thursday, 17 March 2011 7:17:54 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Cheers... probably looks more than it actually is. Digital cameras, like water, have the habit of magnifying things. lol

Yep, about 7, 8% cement. The trick is to find the right kind of sub-soil..... not too clayey, not to sandy... just right.

Heard the apple season is just about in full swing in the Hawkes Bay, so will head up there for a few weeks before getting over to Raglan. Feel like some Royal Galas... yum... and will pay for some deisel.lol

Edited by user Saturday, 19 March 2011 4:39:33 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Starflash, I'm in my early 40s.... value my leisure, and just want to work when I want to work [and don't we all know looking for gold is work], with the idea of covering my outgoings by keeping them to a bare minimum [not that I'll sell any gold... will keep that for a rainy day]. Something of an extended working holiday kind of thing...lol. Definitely keen to catch up with you in Coromandel as will be there visiting family for a week or so. Will be good to talk to you about detectors also!

The van is purring along. It's 4WD which allowed me to get right up into some gnarly DOC roads. In the process of getting a "self-contained certificate" for it, so I can park at no charge at various spots around the countryside. I'd been doing that anyway, but got moved on for the first time last night [in Hastings}. $25 at the motorcamp.... ouch!

Edited by user Monday, 21 March 2011 5:48:29 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified