I haven't said much about our detecting companions for the second week. We were joined by five guys from New England and what a week it was. They were all experienced detectorists making their first detecting trip to England. Two joined us and three were at the other house. Clarence and I have never laughed so much or so hard as we did that week. Dinner most nights resembled a vaudeville show with singing and comedy. When we got together at lunch time, in the field, it was the same but with all five guys contributing. We should have known the first day when someone taped a penny to the bottom of one guy's detector. He couldn't figure out why he was getting the same signal all the time. Our thanks to Jim, Joe, Nelson, Mike and Mark for making it a memorable week. We would love to take you up on your invite to hunt in Mass. with you sometime.
It was an uneventful (that's a good thing) flight to San Francisco on Sat. No problems in Customs, even with bringing in our finds from last Fall. We always worry they are going to search all our luggage but that has never happened. I slept through most of the flight to Portland. We picked up our car and pulled into our driveway about 11pm. From the time we were picked up in Colchester Sat morning, we had been traveling for 22 hours that day. We noticed the grass needed cutting, tulips are about to bloom, and there were plenty of tall weeds in the flower beds. With nothing in the house to eat except crackers and a jar of peanut butter, we watched the evening news and collapsed into our own bed.
Back to reality...there are piles of laundry on the floor but I really just need a nap. It will take a few days to get back in the right time zone. England is eight hours later than Portland, which is enough to throw a person off kilter. We still start laughing thinking about the antics of our hunting companions. We have our reservations in for next April for another two week trip. Looks like I will have to wait until then to find my Colchester gold coin.
I am amazed at how many people are interested in things we do. We know we are fortunate to be able to enjoy each new adventure together. It was a pretty good way to spend our 24th wedding anniversary. And to think this all started from a blind date. Who knew??? Thanks for following along. Until next time...
Monday, April 4, 2011
Week Two - Friday
As I predicted, there was no time to write before we left England on Saturday. However, we did have a full day of metal detecting on Friday, our final day for this trip. It was another 8am - 7pm day. Once again, there was no rain but plenty of strong winds. Clarence and I were on "the button field", just across the road from where the Gold Roman was found last week. One of the guys with us found a silver Roman coin, his first, and it was a great way to end his first England hunt. Clarence and I found about a hundred buttons, mostly common four holers, but a few good ones, too. I found another livery button and a military button. Clarence found a vessica seal (for sealing wax) and three interesting tokens from businesses in Colchester and London. He didn't know what they were until we were cleaning up our finds that night. We had no time to research them so that will give us something to do when we pick them up next Spring. Oh come on, you all knew we were going back next year! Next Spring will be another "Barn Hunt" for two weeks in April, 2012.
After cleaning the finds, having a wonderful roast chicken dinner with our hostess, and getting a hot shower, we got to work breaking down four detectors and gear and getting two and a half weeks of dirty laundry packed again. We packed and re-packed to make the 50# limit before giving up at 12:30am. We just decided to pay the extra fee and get some sleep before the alarm went off at 6am. When we got to Heathrow, the airline scale said we were two kg under on one bag and one kg over on the other. I asked the person at the desk if there was any room for grace and she replied " I didn't see anything". Thank you, United Airlines!
This has been a great trip. We're glad we decided to stay for two weeks instead of one. Clarence found his Saxon sceat and I found my silver Roman on the second week, so it was definitely worth the extra effort. Saturday will be a very l-o-n-g plane trip but it will be good to be home again.
After cleaning the finds, having a wonderful roast chicken dinner with our hostess, and getting a hot shower, we got to work breaking down four detectors and gear and getting two and a half weeks of dirty laundry packed again. We packed and re-packed to make the 50# limit before giving up at 12:30am. We just decided to pay the extra fee and get some sleep before the alarm went off at 6am. When we got to Heathrow, the airline scale said we were two kg under on one bag and one kg over on the other. I asked the person at the desk if there was any room for grace and she replied " I didn't see anything". Thank you, United Airlines!
This has been a great trip. We're glad we decided to stay for two weeks instead of one. Clarence found his Saxon sceat and I found my silver Roman on the second week, so it was definitely worth the extra effort. Saturday will be a very l-o-n-g plane trip but it will be good to be home again.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Week Two - Thursday
Today was Clarence's day to shine. Once again, he has found not one, but two, difficult to find Saxon items. He started with a tiny Saxon sceat (coin). A very prized item among detectorists in England. The reason a sceat is so difficult to find is that the signal it gives is so bad that most people wouldn't have bothered to dig it. Clarence said he almost walked away from it then decided to go back and dig it anyway. Now he's really happy he did. Then he came up with a possible Saxon gold gilt hanging pendant. It has been photographed and sent off to the museum for a possible ID. I will post it here when we get an idea of what it might be.
On the other hand, today was a bust for me. All I had to show for my efforts was a complete crotal bell, a small bronze lever handle, greenies and a modern Elizabeth II penny. Of course, we both have a pouch full of the usual stuff...bits of lead, tons of buttons, loom weights, shotgun shells and 50 caliber WWII shell casings.
It was so windy today that it was easy to get knocked off your feet. The wind was so loud that it was sometimes difficult to hear in your headphones. Tomorrow is our last day and we are revisiting the 15th Century church ruin site. I found a hammered silver coin there last time so I'm hoping for more of the same.
Tomorrow will be a busy day as we will get in from the field at 7:30, have dinner, clean our finds and prepare to turn them in for export papers and then get all our stuff packed. We were just barely under the weight limit for checked bags on the way over. I hope we can get in a couple of hours sleep before the van comes to take us to Heathrow in London at 7:30am. I will try to get an entry done tomorrow night but no promises.
It is now 10:30pm and everyone else has already gone to bed. Good Night!
On the other hand, today was a bust for me. All I had to show for my efforts was a complete crotal bell, a small bronze lever handle, greenies and a modern Elizabeth II penny. Of course, we both have a pouch full of the usual stuff...bits of lead, tons of buttons, loom weights, shotgun shells and 50 caliber WWII shell casings.
It was so windy today that it was easy to get knocked off your feet. The wind was so loud that it was sometimes difficult to hear in your headphones. Tomorrow is our last day and we are revisiting the 15th Century church ruin site. I found a hammered silver coin there last time so I'm hoping for more of the same.
Tomorrow will be a busy day as we will get in from the field at 7:30, have dinner, clean our finds and prepare to turn them in for export papers and then get all our stuff packed. We were just barely under the weight limit for checked bags on the way over. I hope we can get in a couple of hours sleep before the van comes to take us to Heathrow in London at 7:30am. I will try to get an entry done tomorrow night but no promises.
It is now 10:30pm and everyone else has already gone to bed. Good Night!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Week Two - Wednesday
Today I had to admit that I just couldn't keep up with all the guys. I actually took the day off today. After Clarence and the other guys left at 8am, I caught up on my email and then went back to bed with intentions of a short nap and then reading my book for a while. Lorna called upstairs at 3pm to see if I wanted a sandwich. I never did get more than a few pages read all day. I feel much better and will be back at it in the morning for our last two days.
The guys got back about 7:30 tonight and covered in mud. Looks like I picked a good day to stay home. The finds were few and all three have already gone up to bed or shower. It's just 9:45 and some people actually think we come over here and spend the evenings in the pub. Hah! Who has that much energy?
Clarence did find a really nice British Artillary button, an interesting mount and a pile of greenies. It's amazing what comes out of those blobs of mud at the end of the day. Sometimes, when you are out in the field, you just can't get enough of the clay goo off to even tell what you have. You only know it is something metal and throw it all in your finds pouch. Often it is a tiny piece of scrap lead but sometimes you find a nice button or coin in the muck.
We have only two days left to find a gold coin. I wish I had thought to get a pedometer when we started this adventure. I know we have walked miles and miles and miles in the last two weeks. On Saturday, we will be on a plane for the USA and back to reality. Check back tomorrow for the next installment.
The guys got back about 7:30 tonight and covered in mud. Looks like I picked a good day to stay home. The finds were few and all three have already gone up to bed or shower. It's just 9:45 and some people actually think we come over here and spend the evenings in the pub. Hah! Who has that much energy?
Clarence did find a really nice British Artillary button, an interesting mount and a pile of greenies. It's amazing what comes out of those blobs of mud at the end of the day. Sometimes, when you are out in the field, you just can't get enough of the clay goo off to even tell what you have. You only know it is something metal and throw it all in your finds pouch. Often it is a tiny piece of scrap lead but sometimes you find a nice button or coin in the muck.
We have only two days left to find a gold coin. I wish I had thought to get a pedometer when we started this adventure. I know we have walked miles and miles and miles in the last two weeks. On Saturday, we will be on a plane for the USA and back to reality. Check back tomorrow for the next installment.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Week Two - Tuesday
This posting will be short and sweet tonight. It's 10pm and I am just beat. I have decided to stay in tomorrow, read my book, take a nap or two and stay off my feet. This was our 11th day straight of 10 & 11 hour days and this over 60 body is screaming for mercy. Clarence is still going out with the younger guys tomorrow as he just can't stand the idea of missing out on a day of detecting.
Today, the farmer and his little blue tractor were fertilizing fields, usually the ones we were in. We would move to another field and he would follow. We started going to the field he had just finished and that worked out better. The tractor guys always smile and wave but I'm sure they are muttering things under their breath.
Clarence did pretty well today with a 1676 Charles II three pence. He also found a thimble, greenies, a buckle and a brooch with some gold guilding. I found maily buttons, a modern token, greenies and a 1948 half sovereign(copper).
I will still write tomorrow about Clarence's day of detecting so check back tomorrow. I am falling asleep as Isit here so it's time to call it a night. Check in for more tomorrow..........
PS: Yesterday's silver Roman is a denarius of Tiberius, 25-30AD. Not too shabby!
Today, the farmer and his little blue tractor were fertilizing fields, usually the ones we were in. We would move to another field and he would follow. We started going to the field he had just finished and that worked out better. The tractor guys always smile and wave but I'm sure they are muttering things under their breath.
Clarence did pretty well today with a 1676 Charles II three pence. He also found a thimble, greenies, a buckle and a brooch with some gold guilding. I found maily buttons, a modern token, greenies and a 1948 half sovereign(copper).
I will still write tomorrow about Clarence's day of detecting so check back tomorrow. I am falling asleep as Isit here so it's time to call it a night. Check in for more tomorrow..........
PS: Yesterday's silver Roman is a denarius of Tiberius, 25-30AD. Not too shabby!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Week Two - Monday
WOOHOO!!!! ROMAN SILVER!!!!!! I (Mary) found it about 4pm today while moving out of one field and into another. It was in the same field where I had found the silver cufflink a few days ago. It was hiding in a big clump of wet clay. When I looked at it, I knew it was something good but didn't know what it was. It certainly looked like a Roman with the profile bust and Roman numerals (big clue) but it was just in too good of shape to be a bronze Roman. I never even thought about it being a silver Roman. As Clarence and I were leaving the field and walking back to the 7pm pick up spot, we met up with Nicholas, the land owner. We showed him the coin and he said, "That's just cracking!".
We had been playing tag with the farm workers as they were out with the tractors rolling the fields while we were detecting. We were just sure to keep one eye on them and to stay a couple of rows away from them. Getting caught by one of those big spiked rollers would put a damper on the day. I'm sure they just love having us in the field while they try to work but they are always very nice to us. As for other finds today, Clarence found a whole crotal bell, a spoon handle, greenies and a watch winder. I found some other stuff but it doesn't really matter after the silver Roman. I should have an ID on the Roman in the next 24 hours and will share it as soon as I know. It will be photographed and sent off the Dr. Mark Lehman, our Roman coin expert who gives us great insight into our Roman finds.
It was a good day....
We had been playing tag with the farm workers as they were out with the tractors rolling the fields while we were detecting. We were just sure to keep one eye on them and to stay a couple of rows away from them. Getting caught by one of those big spiked rollers would put a damper on the day. I'm sure they just love having us in the field while they try to work but they are always very nice to us. As for other finds today, Clarence found a whole crotal bell, a spoon handle, greenies and a watch winder. I found some other stuff but it doesn't really matter after the silver Roman. I should have an ID on the Roman in the next 24 hours and will share it as soon as I know. It will be photographed and sent off the Dr. Mark Lehman, our Roman coin expert who gives us great insight into our Roman finds.
It was a good day....
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Week Two - Sunday
I'm beat! We have fivc new guys who joined us yesterday for thier first England detecting trip. They are young and fit and want to spend all the daylight hours out in the field. They're killing me! We are now hunting 11 hours a day and come in at 7pm. I can understand how some of us "older" hunters take naps out in the field. That would only give me time to stiffen up and would just make it worse. I just keep moving and am bound and determined to keep up with these young guys. I must be out of my mind!
No great finds today for either of us but we still got some nice stuff. I had an interesting old (really, really old) key, a lead bale seal and a small Roman coin. Clarence had several neat buttons including a 20th Regiment button, a lead seal, greenies and a Cartwheel (HUGE greenie only made one year).
We are lucking out on weather, so far. The wind is often cold and my face is really wind burned now. The sun was out most of the day today and it looks like no rain until late Wednesday. We spent the afternoon in a HUGE field (maybe 500 acres?), that was planted in wheat. The wheat looks like wide blades of grass and is about 6" tall, so it looks like a huge lawn area. I just enjoyed walking through the field of wheat and the peace and quiet of a Sunday afternoon.
Tomorrow we are retuning to the area I found the silver cufflink and one of the Chicago guys got a Celtic gold a couple of days ago. Wish us luck!
No great finds today for either of us but we still got some nice stuff. I had an interesting old (really, really old) key, a lead bale seal and a small Roman coin. Clarence had several neat buttons including a 20th Regiment button, a lead seal, greenies and a Cartwheel (HUGE greenie only made one year).
We are lucking out on weather, so far. The wind is often cold and my face is really wind burned now. The sun was out most of the day today and it looks like no rain until late Wednesday. We spent the afternoon in a HUGE field (maybe 500 acres?), that was planted in wheat. The wheat looks like wide blades of grass and is about 6" tall, so it looks like a huge lawn area. I just enjoyed walking through the field of wheat and the peace and quiet of a Sunday afternoon.
Tomorrow we are retuning to the area I found the silver cufflink and one of the Chicago guys got a Celtic gold a couple of days ago. Wish us luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
