Post by sheltie on Oct 2, 2012 15:50:05 GMT -5
I was just going through a few old PMs to me earlier this year and realized I'd promised a "trip report" about my summer and I hadn't done it yet.
We ordinarily spend summers (four months) in SW CO to get away from the TX heat and this year was no different. However, I began hounding late last year and have been bitten by the bug.
The first week in June my wife and I joined several other folks from OR, CA and ID near Burns, OR for a weekend of hounding and eating. A great time was had by all, new friends made, and I learned a lot. On the way back, we stopped at Tony's place in ID and spent the better part of a day with him learning more and collecting agates at his "secret" place. I know most of you know him but I can't say enough kinds words about him. What a gem! (no pun intended).
The next three 1/2 months we spent primarily in SW CO with three side trips to the Yellowcat area in Utah. We collected over 1,000 lbs of "stuff" including enough leaverites to start a substantial size rock garden at the RV park we stayed at for the summer. In the end, I wound up shipping 27 large flat rate boxes to myself back in TX. My poor neighbor lugged them from his house to my garage. It was like Christmas when I got home.
Now that we're home, our new slab saw is working about four hours a day, the three tumblers are going full time, and the vibrating lap is getting heavy use. My wife broke the trim saw blade so a new one is on order from the Rock Shed and she'll be back in business. In the meantime she is cabbing. My picture taking skills are virtually non-existant so until I learn how to capture the beauty that is our hobby, I'm afraid you will just have to take my word that we have collected many beautiful rocks.
All this for a hobby that we will not make a penny from, nor expect to. Many thousands into this and I still want more equipment. It has not only bitten me but it is slashing and tearing at my wallet!
Anyway, thanks to all who shared our summer with us and for all of you on this and other forums who have, and continue to, put up with my silly questions. I can only say that I hope someday to be able to meet you and express my gratitude in person. I also hope to gain enough knowlege to be able to help someone new somewhere down the line.
Denny
We ordinarily spend summers (four months) in SW CO to get away from the TX heat and this year was no different. However, I began hounding late last year and have been bitten by the bug.
The first week in June my wife and I joined several other folks from OR, CA and ID near Burns, OR for a weekend of hounding and eating. A great time was had by all, new friends made, and I learned a lot. On the way back, we stopped at Tony's place in ID and spent the better part of a day with him learning more and collecting agates at his "secret" place. I know most of you know him but I can't say enough kinds words about him. What a gem! (no pun intended).
The next three 1/2 months we spent primarily in SW CO with three side trips to the Yellowcat area in Utah. We collected over 1,000 lbs of "stuff" including enough leaverites to start a substantial size rock garden at the RV park we stayed at for the summer. In the end, I wound up shipping 27 large flat rate boxes to myself back in TX. My poor neighbor lugged them from his house to my garage. It was like Christmas when I got home.
Now that we're home, our new slab saw is working about four hours a day, the three tumblers are going full time, and the vibrating lap is getting heavy use. My wife broke the trim saw blade so a new one is on order from the Rock Shed and she'll be back in business. In the meantime she is cabbing. My picture taking skills are virtually non-existant so until I learn how to capture the beauty that is our hobby, I'm afraid you will just have to take my word that we have collected many beautiful rocks.
All this for a hobby that we will not make a penny from, nor expect to. Many thousands into this and I still want more equipment. It has not only bitten me but it is slashing and tearing at my wallet!
Anyway, thanks to all who shared our summer with us and for all of you on this and other forums who have, and continue to, put up with my silly questions. I can only say that I hope someday to be able to meet you and express my gratitude in person. I also hope to gain enough knowlege to be able to help someone new somewhere down the line.
Denny
