A Pleasant Morning in the sun

From here t'wharf 'n'Back.

Up and at 'em early doors. Had breakfast at the beach before kicking off at about 8.30am.  The day had dawned fine and it was shirt off time and people were already swimming and diving off the wharf. I started down the beach a little more than normal and followed the dry sand to the wharf then walked back on the wet following the tide out.  I did this circuit twice covering the couple of hundred meters in about an hour and fifteen each sweep.

First trawl.

The first walk bought in 90 cents and also my first tent peg for a while. A square plastic lined lid for a small square container and a bic lighter part wrapped the first trawl.





The second wander finds consisted of a fish hook, lot's of fugly iron bolts, nails etc, a drill ratchet and a miniature Harmonica. A few more tent pegs and $1.10 spending.

Detector Art - 'Catching Sounds'.
Second Trawl.

The miniature harmonica, after cleaning the sand out could still make a tune, so I sat busking for a while. Which was going well until the local policeman dispersed the crowd.
It was time for lunch and while munching some very over priced hot chips I let my creative side burst forth and I held a 'Detector Art' exhibition.
It didn't draw the same crowds as the busking so I shut the gallery and headed on to the only park I have not yet searched in this neck of the woods.
The Omana Reserve Park park. It is a very attractive park and one can see it is well looked after. The views from the hill it sits on are very pleasant so I sat enjoying that view while I imbibed a very over priced bottle of Rochdale cider to wash down those gold plated chips.

A Nice Colourful Park

The View  towards Waiheke Island.

Omana Park park was quite a busy park with lot's of children enjoying the facilities. I waited a while and the couple of families that were in my way sauntered off to take advantage of the public BBQ and though the park had emptied somewhat, the smell of steaks sizzling away was quite distracting. The park was not a full of treasures as I expected but a few finds surfaced in the time I was there. A knife, stainless,  a few coins, and the usual nuts, nails and staples found in parks all over the world. 

Omana Park, Park  Liftings

It was nearly 1pm and time to call it a day and get back to Nellie, my best friend, at the moment, who will be wanting to take a walk herself.

Another incredible Days Haul

The day had flown and although not that much to show off once again the mere fact of being in such a beautiful place is ample compensation.

To sum up, $3.30 spending, a harmonica, 3 x tent pegs, a fish hook, a drill ratchet and a knife all recovered in four hours. Who needs a day job?

Good fun.

See you out there.

ANZAC Day & Back to Beachlands.

It is ANZAC day in New Zealand time to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the wars in far off lands. Lest we forget. A time to appreciate how lucky we all are to live in peaceful times. Well, peaceful on this side of the world at least.

Being a public holiday my Brother and his family have taken off on another camping sojourn and I have arrived in Beachlands to once again look after Nellie the dog and their considerable estate for the long weekend.

I headed off from home after lunch with a breezy but reasonably fine day presented to me. First stop was not a hunt. I sought permission to detect a piece of land that was once a race track now a paddock for cows. The finish line judges boxes and some other small buildings are still standing though, sadly, in disrepair. As luck would have it the owner was digging a hole and we had a long chat. The upshot was that I got a verbal okay for a few of us to check it out but will email him for official conformation.  It has not been used since 1976 but was in commission for twenty years before that. I have been trying to find a layout of the track, where spectators stood, parking, equalizator booths etc but so far with little luck. I will have to do more research. Maybe track down a few locals.

Chuffed with the permission I had achieved I carried on.

Te Pai a Very Small Park. 

The first detecting stop was a small park at the side of Ti Pai netball courts. It was only a 15 minute search and three bent nails and a screw driver shank were the only targets found. I think this park is fairly new so I didn't expect too much. So extremely happy with my rusty screwdriver shank. Fits a drill I think. Over the moon. Celebrated with a McDonalds breakfast. Nice at the time. Onward....

Entrance to the Bowl

Park With the Mostest.

Then it was all motorway till the next stop in Manukau 30 km's away. I chanced my arm by entering the Manukau Sports Bowl home of several sports. I was rewarded with a nice bark park which held a few finds and a lot of paper and plastic rubbish. My first target within a couple of steps was a $2 coin an inch down which was very promising. Then a few twenty's, a couple of washers, a ball bearing, a end of a blind rack, a very strange shaped piece that might have been part of some scales, a jean button and two sparkly eye finds. As well as a brooch centre or maybe an earring with the stud missing. I scored a total $4.20 in spending, thanks to all concerned.

Manukau Nick Nack's

Manukau finds & Trash

Silver? Tin! Diamond? Glass!

Next up I saw the Rongomai Sports Club and ventured into the grounds. Alas no park but a very white sandy softball diamond.

Home of the Manukau Nailer's

I had a quick scout and the ground was teeming with targets. The ground, even after a lot of rain, is still very hard a few inches down. After six nails in a row I whimped out and moved on.

Driving towards Whitford, I saw a playground that looked huge across a valley of very elite housing, it was eventually located behind the Mission Heights Junior College. I took a while longer to find the entrance and then after setting up the gear wandered into the park and was floored by a rubber floored playground. That was that.

Whitford, I Ain't Going Back

Whitford playground was the next and another dry area. Three bent nails. The weed mat was a huge problem with the staples applied far too liberally for my liking. After fifteen minutes I was out of there. 

I was thinking to give my favourite beach a quick swing but the clement weather had enticed quite a few to the beach and it was too packed for my liking. I did though have a quick look at the small park there and came up with 5 bottle tops and thirty cents.

That was enough and I finally arrived at my destination where Nellie was surprised and happy to see me. I was glad to be there.

It's been a long day but one other thing I did detect was a box of beers on special from the Mill.

Boy does that taste nice.

Give us a hand?

Still wondering what function this piece on the right 

served. Some sort of indicator?

The total spending reclaimed was $4.50 and combined with a mixture of simple but pleasing finds.

As you might have noticed I got a new camera too. 

See you out there.