skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 20, 2023 13:09:36 GMT -5
Any others here that are going to Keokuk for the annual geode fest? Last night I was getting all my tools and a small mountain of buckets together so Im ready to head out Thursday evening. I was curious if anyone else is planning to head out that way too. It looks like it may rain all weekend for the fest so it will be a wet and muddy extravaganza of geode digging. Its my second year going to the fest (although Ive been hounding and digging geodes in that area for a lot longer). If anyone in the area is on the fence about going or hasnt heard of it, its well worth the trip. Its about a 4hr drive for me to get there and Id still go even if it was farther! keokukiowatourism.org/event-calendar/geode-fest/And just because...here are some pics of geodes we found there last year
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aGates
has rocks in the head
Building a silver studio
Member since January 2021
Posts: 517
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Post by aGates on Sept 20, 2023 14:08:45 GMT -5
Coool
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 20, 2023 20:16:00 GMT -5
No! sad face! Please post some pics in the geode thread so I can live vicariously!
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 20, 2023 20:22:38 GMT -5
No! sad face! Please post some pics in the geode thread so I can live vicariously! I'll dig up a few extra geodes in your name. Some of the dig sites you're practically tripping over them once you start looking. I'm gonna head over to your geode thread and drop a pic of a cool trancas geode I polished earlier this week too.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,741
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Post by Mark K on Sept 20, 2023 20:47:57 GMT -5
5 hours away for me. Didn't know about it in time and while I could go, it would be a clown fest trying to get ready by the time I go to bed tonight.
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squarepetals
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 10
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Post by squarepetals on Sept 21, 2023 2:19:29 GMT -5
Yes! I was a first-timer last year and it was so much fun! And the amish baked goods were a definite plus. I may have enjoyed more than one hand pie that weekend. Any specific sites you plan to hunt at? Railroad Creek is on my list
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 21, 2023 8:27:53 GMT -5
5 hours away for me. Didn't know about it in time and while I could go, it would be a clown fest trying to get ready by the time I go to bed tonight. Theres still time! You could always show up Friday and dig on Saturday and Sunday.
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 21, 2023 8:35:51 GMT -5
Yes! I was a first-timer last year and it was so much fun! And the amish baked goods were a definite plus. I may have enjoyed more than one hand pie that weekend. Any specific sites you plan to hunt at? Railroad Creek is on my list Railroad Creek is my first pick for Friday. Last year the owner was awesome and had came out with a mini excavator and dug up a bunch before the fest so the digging was easy. The only issue I had there was how slick the ground was when we were trying to get out. I had to get a rolling start to make it through the mud and the owners dog likes to chase cars and bite at their tires. I kept having to stop and reverse because the dog would run at my truck and I didnt want to run their dog over I was out at Vickers earlier this year too and Johnny brought the excavator out to loosen up some of the ground for a scout troop that was coming. We ended up hanging out and teaching the scouts about the different minerals in the geodes and cracking a bunch open for them too. The digging at Vickers is definitely a bit tougher ground too. So I will probably skip that location for the fest this year. The plan is Railroad, Reynards, Rods...and then Im not sure. If the digging is good at Railroad I may stay there all day on Friday.
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Sept 21, 2023 9:06:19 GMT -5
If I liked geodes more…
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squarepetals
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 10
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Post by squarepetals on Sept 21, 2023 12:05:00 GMT -5
Yes! I was a first-timer last year and it was so much fun! And the amish baked goods were a definite plus. I may have enjoyed more than one hand pie that weekend. Any specific sites you plan to hunt at? Railroad Creek is on my list Railroad Creek is my first pick for Friday. Last year the owner was awesome and had came out with a mini excavator and dug up a bunch before the fest so the digging was easy. The only issue I had there was how slick the ground was when we were trying to get out. I had to get a rolling start to make it through the mud and the owners dog likes to chase cars and bite at their tires. I kept having to stop and reverse because the dog would run at my truck and I didnt want to run their dog over I was out at Vickers earlier this year too and Johnny brought the excavator out to loosen up some of the ground for a scout troop that was coming. We ended up hanging out and teaching the scouts about the different minerals in the geodes and cracking a bunch open for them too. The digging at Vickers is definitely a bit tougher ground too. So I will probably skip that location for the fest this year. The plan is Railroad, Reynards, Rods...and then Im not sure. If the digging is good at Railroad I may stay there all day on Friday. I had to navigate a mud trap as well. The joys of driving a small car into a field while it’s raining. I’m going try for the Railroad Creek site Friday morning and maybe one of the Amish sites in the afternoon. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to connect! Joanna
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 21, 2023 13:01:59 GMT -5
squarepetals Ill be at railroad on Friday morning too. If you see a black Ram truck with a canvas topper thats mine. Not sure how youd recognize me while digging though, Im just some guy with a goatee that will be muddy, there will probably be a few that fit that description. We are staying at the Quality Inn thats right by the WalMart and will probably be cracking geodes in the parking lot at night too. So you can find us there. When the caravan rolls into the dig site if you find me while Im grabbing buckets and tools out the back, feel free to stop by and say hello. Ill be there with my girlfriend and some of her family is coming with too. Youll be able to recognize them because theyre talkers...they dont stop and will talk to anyone even if the other person isnt talking . So, if some random guy is walking around chatting everyone up and rambling on, thats my girlfriends uncle Greg, dont worry, hes harmless lol.
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wargrafix
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,020
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Post by wargrafix on Sept 21, 2023 14:02:49 GMT -5
enjoy it for me!
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squarepetals
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2023
Posts: 10
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Post by squarepetals on Sept 21, 2023 20:26:31 GMT -5
skrapyard I’ll keep an eye out for you and the chatty family. I’ll be the strawberry blonde driving a blue vw jetta. Not sure if you stopped by tonight’s orientation but there’s a new site this year - Woodies. The prices per bucket are significantly higher but according to the event’s host, you can find museum quality geodes and this weekend’s prices are lower than if you scheduled a private dig. Here are the posted prices per 5 gallon bucket: Friday $125, Saturday $100, Sunday $75. Hope to see you in the morning!
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 21, 2023 20:34:59 GMT -5
Ooooo man, I'm already getting jealous and I haven't even seen the awesome pics of y'all's geodes (yup I just dropped 2 apostrophes in y'all - y'all).
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 21, 2023 22:58:32 GMT -5
dillonf I'll be sure to post some pics of the dig sites and the geode finds throughout the weekend here. I forsee some good luck! We already had the hotel come through on my special request for a pic of David Hasselhoff drunkenly eating a cheeseburger (I always make strange requests for a laugh)
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 21, 2023 23:02:57 GMT -5
squarepetals Sounds good. I'll keep my eyes open for you tomorrow. I can crack some geodes for ya with the pipe cutter too. Sounds interesting about the new dig site. Definitely pricey $$$ Maybe I'll hit that one up on Sunday.
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wargrafix
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,020
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Post by wargrafix on Sept 22, 2023 4:52:57 GMT -5
What's funny, is that people normally go to the popular tourist sites when they visit the states, but I find going to these things much much more fun and interesting
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 22, 2023 5:11:05 GMT -5
dillonf I'll be sure to post some pics of the dig sites and the geode finds throughout the weekend here. I forsee some good luck! We already had the hotel come through on my special request for a pic of David Hasselhoff drunkenly eating a cheeseburger (I always make strange requests for a laugh) That is AWESOME!!
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skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
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Post by skrapyard on Sept 22, 2023 12:54:11 GMT -5
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 22, 2023 20:28:58 GMT -5
Nice!
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