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Post by Tonyterner on Feb 22, 2008 11:08:22 GMT -5
Michaeljohn, just once you need to carry your camera up there with you. They only weigh a pound or two. Common throw us a bone. LOL Your trip sounded like a great time, thanks for sharing it.
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Post by Michael John on Feb 22, 2008 14:54:51 GMT -5
A novel? There would be no plot. LOL I just share my experiences here because my situation is a bit different than "typical" rockhounding. Maybe what some would consider "extreme". Although my somewhat twisted version of mineral collecting is mostly just a lot of hard work, it has it's occasional exciting moments, which are probably the reasons I keep doing it. Another positive benefit for me is the involvement of the kids. My Son, Zak, is 17. My girlfriend's Son, James, is 17. My girlfriend's Daughter, Whitney, is 12. The only one in the house who has never been to the mine (and probably never will) is my girlfriend, Eileen. Yes, the LITTLE GIRL has been up there once! The adventures to the mine have given the kids and I quality time together, and have created memories which will undoubtedly be some of the best of their lifetimes, and unforgettable. The experiences were undoubtedly the hardest "work" that the kids have ever done, and it's taught them that even the hardest work can be fun. Zak is undoubtedly the most enthusiastic. Every trip with him is a great ADVENTURE. Together, we always seem to bring out the adventuring spirit in each other. If anyone should right a novel about all of this, it should be him. His perspective would be far more interesting than mine, plus he's a great writer. LOL James is 6' 4" and 200+ pounds. One day, when He, Zak, and I went up there, he didn't feel like mining, so he filled his pack AND a duffle bag, took it all to the truck, then CAME BACK, and filled them AGAIN. In total, he carried down over 150 POUNDS that day! When he got home, he took a shower, ate, and went out partying for the evening! Whitney has been my little rockhounding buddy since I first "got the bug", before I even found the Chrysocolla. Hearing about all of our adventures, and seeing the Chrysocolla all the time, she made-up her mind that she was going up there. I wasn't too keen on the idea, but finally decided to let her give it a shot. She whined a little on the way up, but once she saw the Chrysocolla she "caught the fever". She had a blast! The trip back down, she was like a different kid. She was laughing and having fun like I'd never seen her have before. Not to mention the fact that she carried down about 20 pounds of Chrysocolla which she had mined! Oddly enough, although she had a great time, she hasn't asked me to go back up there since then.
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Post by Titania on Feb 22, 2008 17:21:11 GMT -5
I love reading about your adventures, michaeljohn. I think it's so cool that the mine has really served as a bonding tool for your family. If nothing else, that's worth every little bit of blood, sweat and tears.
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 23, 2008 19:53:19 GMT -5
The family value blows the rock value out of the water. Plot or no plot, I love reading your stories.
Thanks heaps,
mike
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bouldergal
freely admits to licking rocks
Glacier Meadow
Member since July 2007
Posts: 783
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Post by bouldergal on Feb 23, 2008 20:53:50 GMT -5
Well Capt. Bob....that makes two of us that hate Florida. If the economy improves and houses start selling again here, color me gone!!!!!! It's gonna be NM, AZ, CO, or OR for me!
Michael John, I sure admire your tenacity and envy your location. Count me in for a FRB when you start dragging it down!
Susan2
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Zethus
starting to shine!
Member since February 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by Zethus on Feb 25, 2008 20:22:34 GMT -5
I must say I enjoyed your story, and hope that one day I will be able to have the same bonding with my children when they get older:) THX Zethus
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