The joys of grandparenthood

[Newt]

The youngest of my offspring is in his mid-30s and I haven't had a youngster around other than for a day or a weekend visit. I had totally forgotten how active the little blessed events can be.

 

We have taken a 12 y/o grandson Isaac for the summer and whew!!!! Great kid but busy and bouncy and excited and ......

 

We are spending the summer on the grounds of a gold mine with plenty of room for him to roam and to give our lab/beagle mix pup of about 2 years a better summer than he'd have with just us old folks. Next week, I plan to find out of the lad enjoys fishing since we are only 3-4 miles from a largish lake and not much further from several others but meanwhile, he is keeping busy with important tasks.

Guarding possible gold bearing rocks in front of the campground store

Walking recon for a combat patrol of some sort

Making sure the people panning for gold are safe from claim jumpers

[Snatcher]

Aye Newt,love my grandbairns to bits and am really pleased when they are brought around (aged 6 and 7) Being so active and full of energy/always on the go they tend to tire me out after a full day of looking after them !!! The hugs/kisses/funny moments more than make up

 

Great photos Newt and enjoy the summer. Give Jan a hug from me

 

John

 

ps trying to work out how long ago that boat charter from Amble was when we all met up ?? Was it 1996???

[Newt]

1996 + 10

[Snatcher]

1996 + 10

 

Just seeing if you would spot the deliberate mistake Newt

 

John

[Zigs]

Looks very organised, do the young ones have a chance of finding real gold ?

 

I only ask as we have fake gold hunts for kids over here, involving deliberatly placed iron pyrites (fools gold) It keeps the kids interested and they get a plastic medal if they find enough

[Newt]

The troughs are simply to provide water for using the pans. That's about the only organisation involved.

 

The quartz you buy is yours and yes, there is available gold in most of it. The finder can keep it or the store will purchase it.

 

Youngsters have a more difficult time since panning can be tedious and needs to be done carefully but they certainly do find colour. It is rare for someone to put in a day and not leave with a gram or 5 of shiny and fairly pure gold flake plus some black sand that contains more pieces that were too small to notice.

 

People who have a sluce (theirs or a rental from the store) can go to the creek and buy a scoop load or two to process using the running water in creek or High Bank using water from pumps.

[Newt]

Ziggy - I found this article that includes results and comments from an 11 & a 12 y/o about panning at the Cotton Patch site and others.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/2009...d-economy_N.htm

[Zigs]

Cheers Newt, interesting that the mercury is still in the rivers, can't be good for the fish or anyone that eats em.

 

Used to find bits of gold when i lived in the welsh mountains, only thin flakes on quartz though.

[Newt]

The fishing was fun. Some bites, all missed, but next time. Lots of rain the two preceeding days and there was lots of current which slowed things down.

 

This area is just downstream from a big dam and while we were after smallish fish, there is always the chance a 30 lb catfish will decide a worm looks like a good snack. In that case and with light tackle in moving water, it would probably be a matter of how quickly you could tighten down and let the fish break the weaker hook length and shed the #4 hook.

 

 

[Chris Goddard]

Is that the same water we blanked on Newt?? STUPENDOUS scenery though eh?