181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 8, 2006 12:56:49 GMT -5
What I learned about taking my husband on a rock road trip? DON'T! Oh yeah...don't take your dog either when temp is above 80. Went to The Dalles, Oregon on monday. It's only about an hour & a half from us up the Gorge. (Columbia River) I would have had lots of beautiful pics to post, if it had just been me.( but it was very hard getting him to pull over spur of the moment for that photo op) Sooo... I ended up with crappy pics of very few things to show for my day.  First area we went to was at the far side of the city. Supposed to be pineapple calcite. This cliff is right in the middle of highway cloverleaf area.  It was just before noon...temp was around 94. I found out right away, that taking someone with me was a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, he didn't b____ at me, he just decided that my way of doing things was ALL wrong. Had I not had company, I could have spent at least and hour pawing through this area. I was prepared too! Had buckets, hammers, gloves, H2o, glasses & camera. So all I got for our troubles was this pic.  The other areas we went to was called "sevenmile" in the hills above the city. Supposed to be petrified bog wood here. There are about 7 different areas, well marked, in less than a mile. All were located in easily accessible gravel pits. Do you think I was able to bring anything home? No.   I didn't even get to do anything more than take these pictures. Everytime we get to this area of The Dalles, we always stop by this place to say hi...  This house is part of the National Historic Registration and was owned by my husbands Grandmother. He spent lots of time here back in the 50's with her. Times were tough in this area back then & she took in boarders to help make ends meet. Last time we were in town, we talked to people now in the house. (it's an insurance office) As my husband was telling some stories about the house, one of the ladies said he was mistaken about a certain area in the actual house...that there was no such place. He was able to show her on the outside of the building exactly where he was talking about and even found a pic hanging in the hallway that showed the same place. Needless to say, she was surprised! So I guess, instead of saying this was a monumental waste of time...I'll say it was more like a scouting expedition. I now know right where these areas are & exactly how to get there. I'm still sorta bummed though! |
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Post by pho on Aug 8, 2006 16:10:26 GMT -5
Don't be bummed out about this....just think of it as a little scouting trip. Now you know where you want to visit...by yourself with a pick, shovel, and bucket.....and no hubby.
Wish I had some areas like that close to me to visit. And...with the cost of gas going up and up I don't think I will be able to go anywhere in the near future. Now that bums me out.
Pho
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 8, 2006 23:05:30 GMT -5
You're right Pho...Next time I'll drive right to these spots & dig to my hearts content!
I also sent an E-mail to Tim who has a website called Orerockon. (I bought his dvd set...that's how I found these places to begin with) I asked him if the bogwood areas are ok to dig on. Anyone out there seen bogwood before? I'm guessing that it's petrified.
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Post by pho on Aug 9, 2006 9:11:44 GMT -5
I guess I am real lucky as my wife also enjoys getting in the dirt and digging.
Pho
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Debbie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2006
Posts: 92
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Post by Debbie on Aug 9, 2006 18:26:03 GMT -5
I hope you get to go to those places soon! What a bummer you didn't get to stop and rock pick. But now you know where the places are and maybe next time it will be cooler so you will make up for this time. Debbie
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StompRocks
spending too much on rocks
Gonna need a bigger tumbler!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 263
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Post by StompRocks on Aug 9, 2006 19:18:38 GMT -5
LOL...you're hubby sounds like my wife. We were at the Oregon coast last month for a few days (Bandon, Port Orford, Nesika Beach, Gold Beach, and ended at Pistol River) but after the first 2 hours of beach combing the wife wouldn't get out of the car. I had to carry all the rocks myself. My pockets were so full my shorts were falling down! ;D
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spacegold
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2006
Posts: 732
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Post by spacegold on Sept 21, 2006 2:26:26 GMT -5
Stomprocks: Pockets? You carry rocks in your pockets? May I suggest a shoulder pouch or bag? If you can pick up more than five pounds in two hours, you are either at the mother lode or keeping a lot of stuff that will yield poorly.
I made a neat tool that eliminates a whole lot of bending over. Taped a plastic spaghetti spoon to the end of a four foot dowel.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Sept 21, 2006 13:18:18 GMT -5
Ahhhh the glory of having an attached spouse!
My wife has less appreciation for rockhounding than I do, that's understandable and reasonable. It is not her hobby, it's mine.
So we talk ahead of time and decide that she will do some shopping or sightseeing in some local town while I go off for an hour or two.
Then it's is time to drop her off, we're in Cody Wyoming. It's a great little town with lots of colorful local stores and interesting places. As we part we kiss and she says, "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you".
And now I'm thinking , "Wow what do I say now? I don't want to say that I don't want her to be with me, that would be a major mistake and really hurt her feelings. No, I don't want her to be hurt like that. Oh shit, I thought we settled this. Why is she asking me this? Hmmmmm. If I say go shopping like we agreed, Is she going to think I'm really saying I dont want her to go with me? How can I answer her? If I don't answer her, She's liable to get pissed off because I'm ignoring her so I better say something and quick, otherwise she might get the wrong idea. Oh shit, how do I handle this? maybe I'll just bounce it right back to her and say, Honey, it's up to you...if you'd rather go shopping I'll just go by myself...no, you've tried that in the past and that approach is the same as telling her you don't want her to go with you...alright, tell her you want her to come and see if she has any hesitation , in which case, you say but if you'd rather shop go ahead, I'll only be gone an hour or two at the most...
So she says Ok and gets in the car like everything is OK....two years later we have a fight about something and she starts bringing up the past including having to go collect rocks with me when she told me she didn't want to go and really wanted to just go shopping in town. ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH
csroc
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StompRocks
spending too much on rocks
Gonna need a bigger tumbler!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 263
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Post by StompRocks on Sept 22, 2006 11:40:45 GMT -5
Spacegold: I hadn't planned on picking up rocks. This was the trip that got me started rockhounding. But...the shorts I was wearing have eight pockets and they are very large pockets. Cover the front, sides, and rear! ;D Here's some of what I was picking up that day.  I did spend most of the time hunched over and my back was killing me but I found it hard to stop looking.  |
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spacegold
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2006
Posts: 732
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Post by spacegold on Sept 22, 2006 22:46:07 GMT -5
Nice haul, Stomp! Give that tool I mentioned a try. Your back and hips will love you. It makes a joy of collecting.
Spacegold
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Post by rhodescabbin on Sept 30, 2006 10:31:17 GMT -5
Hi Liz,
I have dug in The Dalles many many times. I always called that area in the first picture (Calcite Corner) I'll tell ya a good way to get the thumb sized pineappleas is to scour along the ditch where the rock is always sluffing off. Many hounds pay no mind and just get a pick and a bar and look for vugs, which is good too as I have seen some unreal plates come out of that corner. Itsa great spot.
Thanks for sharing the pictures it felt good to see that spot again.-Dale Rhode
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Sept 30, 2006 12:17:07 GMT -5
Ya know Dale...I had a feeling there'd be some good stuff in all that debris, but the ole' Ball & Chain just wasn't being very cooperative! Thank you for the heads up, I appreciate it.
By the way, just where are you in Oregon?
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Sept 30, 2006 14:18:07 GMT -5
Hey, it could be worse, your hubby could be a rock hound too. Then you have a whole NEW set of problems to deal with. Neither of us have any self discipline so the truck is always loaded to the max. We can't be trusted to make appointments on time, unless they are very, very important because neither of us can seem to stop digging for rocks, show and tell time turns into days, and the worst thing is when it comes to a beautiful rock that just happens to resurface in our rock pile, he is sure it was his and I'm sure it was mine, or for the piles still waiting to be picked up off of the driveway, I'm sure they are his and he is sure they are mine.
Either way, its a vicious circle, my husband and I are so out of control when it comes to rocks.
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StompRocks
spending too much on rocks
Gonna need a bigger tumbler!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 263
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Post by StompRocks on Sept 30, 2006 18:28:54 GMT -5
LOL...that's funny Jamie. I was thinking about how great it must be to have a spouse involved in the same crazy hobby but now I can see the other little problems that pop up with that. But...I think you're much better off than those that have spouses that can't or don't want to understand the obsession.  Liz: I have a feeling Dale is from the eastern side. Maybe around LaGrande or Burns? -Dennis |
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