How cool is this place?

Well here I sit at a computer after a lovely family birthday and a few beers, a rum and a burby. Hic.

Rochelles amazing cake

I am back in the idyllic surrounds of Beachlands. My brothers nephew has just had a wonderful gathering for his 4th birthday and I've found out that my Sis-in-law, Rochelle, makes a mean cake. Also for those out this way with hunger pangs, hear this, Mareatai's 'Flying Pizza' takeaways turns out one or several tasty comestibles. I munched away merrily on all manner of flavoured slices. Yum.
Happy Birthday young Will.
So this is my home for Easter and I'm quite happy about it all.
Gareth, along with Dave, a new gold prospecting friend (South Island hardened) are due up over the weekend to do some panning on a secret site we have uncovered. All we need is gold in them thar hills to prove our theory. Well it's really someone else's theory we are putting into action. But fingers crossed.
But that is in a few days time........ back to the now or the recent now.
This afternoon I turned out on to Maraetai Beach for a few hours relaxation therapy which involved detecting. My bout of gout has all but gone and the weather is still the summer that never ends.

The Beautiful Maraetai
Right of the Wharf

Wharf - Left side

I started off in my usual spot by the wharf on a almost deserted beach. It seems, strangely, that most people do work on the week days.
I headed straight down to the water line. Apart from a few rusty bolts and nails I eventually managed my first coin. A crusty $1piece. I did a few sweeps along the edge of the water but seemed to get mostly fugley iron interspersed with nails, nutless bolts and a few hot rocks (that probably were gold filled).
After 30 minutes or so I wended my way up the beach, mainly to dump all the heavy crap I had found, in the rubbish receptacle, crap that was pulling my shorts down, but still swinging I hit two coins in the soft sand on the way there. Figuring I had a several days to return to do the wet stuff I decided to stay dry and build up my already amazing spending reserves while the dry stuff still seemed freshly undetected. I do know a few brother detectors scan the area regularly.
Whilst coin shooting my way along the top end of the beach I met a nice cross section of people, all enjoying their day as I trundled up and down the area by the few shops that are there. The Devonport over 60's club were on their weekly trip in a charter bus and we had some good banter between us.  They ensured me that they would be keen for a mass senior citizen detect if only I could sort them out with detectors. When the shipment arrives from China I might just do that. Luckily to encourage interest I was able to uncover a few coins and they were present when the 'highlight' of the day a paua decorated crucifix with a few sparkling bits of glass fell into my basket. An attractive piece.

Very appropriate as I do get CROSS with
all the bullshit that goes with Easter

When the bus and my new friends left, I switched to the other side of the wharf and a few more coins were uncovered but again I spent a lot of time chatting to more of the locals and holiday makers both. A lady from Perth got very excited every time I stooped to dig and several older couples stopped to have a chat and impart their experiences. One guy was selling detectors in Stoke, England in the early 70's another had found Roman coins in Southern England. I also befriended two very attractive girls, Spanish so they said,  so I blew my opening line of "Buongiorno" as they did not, as it turned out, speak Italian. Win some...lose a lot. Befriended probably too stronger word. Well, I'm sure one of them smiled as least. They looked Italian to me. Pffft.

The days work

So after my three odd hours I garnered $4.00 exactly in spending and a lovely paua crucifix, three tent pegs (of course) and a Ray Ban cloth to display them all on. Plus a strange boat screw, which my brother says "comes in handy" but I expect you need a boat for that to happen. The finds were cool but the mere fact of wandering barefoot through warm sand with a gentle breeze under a sky of perfect blue was the best part. Or maybe the many interactions with people going about their day in the same carefree manner was the highlight. I'm not sure but I do know it was another great day detecting.

See you out there.