Okay everyone,
I am checking in from Quartzsite, part 1 of the monthly outing. Yesterday, Saturday the 17th was the “Big Seeded Hunt out here and a nice contingent of people from the 3 Associations were present. In total there were 225 hunters here, down from the 300+ of last year, but the weather was perfect in the mid 70’s and just a touch of wind. We had Art & Rosie, Max, Bruce, Adriana, Cam, Frank, Jim, Jack, Laurie, Brian, Don & Linda, and of course yours truly to name a few. On the 4-acre field it appeared around 5,000 targets were seeded and you could hardly take a step without another beep from the machine. Brian ended up with 203 targets, Rosie $37 and a token for a metal detector, silver, and gold win, Frank a gold win, I had a gold win and $21.80 and the list goes on. Most of us went out for the afterhunt and scored some more of the coins, I picked up another 90 targets for $12.10. My final tally was $39, 4 Kennedy half dollars, a Centennial Gold Quarter, and my .54 gram Gold Picker Nugget with a total of 282 targets overall. A good start to the outing. Bruce and I then went over to the RV show for an hour or so in the afternoon. Sunday morning, we again tried our luck at the afterhunt for a couple of hours. I scored an additional $5.10 with 39 targets. Then we were off to the Desert Gardens show to check out some phenomenal rocks and minerals. One booth from Australia had incredible slabs that looked like small ink drawings on paintings. Monday we thoroughly explored the TVP Go for Gold 1 and 2 claims and the Crystal Cavern and Schneider Shafts area. There is also an old arrastre on the side of the farthest west shaft. Wednesday we were joined by Janice Davies at the camp and Thursday we went off to explore some of the Quartzsite Meal Detecting claims. We drove all around the Jumping Jack claim and while Bruce metal detected I walked the area and then did 2 prospect runs in a likely wash and bank. Janice spent the day at the Tyson Wells swap meet. Friday it was off to meet Brian and the SPMA folks and check out their Quartzsite 1 and 2 claims. 25 cars were in the convoy with 30 people in attendance, it was a huge success. Saturday, we went looking for the Oro Fino placers just on the north side of the freeway with more metal detecting, alking the numerous claims and some more prospecting runs. Sunday we all got up and headed for home. There is an amazing amount of things to do over a really large area. Whether metal detecting, rock hounding, exploring, 4 wheeling, shopping or just hanging out, there is plenty to do in Quartzsite around the show events.
Be advised if you are trying to use the Freedom Claim, the roads are pretty messed up within the Freedom, Little Bit, and Smoken areas with multiple washouts and a lot of loose sand piled up. There is still standing water and mud in places around the claims. Jeannie texted me the other day to inform me that Peggy filled in the ruts up the RM 26 hill and that should be better for access. I would still suggest higher clearance 4×4 vehicles, go slow, and be careful to avoid getting stuck. An ATV or ATC is the best bet at this time.

Jerryk