jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2012 12:42:25 GMT -5
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Post by gingerkid on Dec 30, 2012 15:59:41 GMT -5
Very nice pics, James, and thank you for sharing them with us. Imagine it was a bit chilly out on the water?
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bhiatt
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by bhiatt on Dec 30, 2012 16:08:06 GMT -5
pretty cool looking scenery. thanks for sharing the photos.
I was thinking about going down to the Mississippi River near St Louis. The water is at record low and come Monday they are supose to be shutting down the shipping barges because its so low. There might be a lot of people of out work due to the low water. There is a long sandbar down there near the Chain of Rocks Canal that people go out searching for rocks and artifacts. I live only like 10 minutes away from it. Last week there was an old mine sweeper ship found out there and also the bottom of a 200+ft historic steamboat.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2012 17:58:34 GMT -5
I stayed moving Jan.Reducing the coral to tumbling size is a lot of work,too.This is closer to your south Georgia-the Withlacoochee River.It has a lot of coral.I took pics of the banks so it could be seen as found.I have honey holes here and there.Tiny pockets in some cases.The helmet is to protect from splintering coral.It was cold on the 27th at this river. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157632388970472/
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2012 18:50:46 GMT -5
I hope that you will try out the river bhiatt.I have a problem w/exploring too much.If you are 10 minutes away then yoiu have no excuse.And post pics.
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bhiatt
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Post by bhiatt on Dec 30, 2012 19:37:55 GMT -5
The place im talking about is a pretty popular spot. Its just north of St Louis, pretty much right by interstate 270. Its a neat place. People also go fishing down there for catfish and sit there all day long. I dont have a camera yet. Soon though. We got like 4 inches of snow friday but its already melting. I know that there are quite a bit of local rockhounds that go out there. Usually on warm days there is always folks down there fishing and walking around. I myself like to explore, walking the river bank. Its cool just being down there. This time of year the eagles go there because of the way the chain of rocks canal is designed, the current is fast and the fish are more on the top of the water and make it a easier for the eagles to get them. Theres an old bridge that crosses the Mississippi and every year eagle enthusiasts set up a heat tent and bunch of people come out to watch the eagles. Its pretty cool. Very cold but cool. Its always windy and being above the water makes it even worse. Where I live I see hawks flying around everyday, but those eagles are something else.
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Post by gingerkid on Dec 31, 2012 9:29:47 GMT -5
Enjoyed your pics, James! Is that a welding helmet you're wearing for protection? How do you verify what you found is coral? Have you been on the Flint to see if there was anything out there? Hi, bhiatt, please let us know and post pics if you go out to the river today! Good luck and be safe!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 10:16:32 GMT -5
Well Ms Jan,most of those rocks you see in the banks are coral-like 98 percent!One area may be not so silicified,others very glassy.All the coral has a snake like grainy cover that looks just like coral.There is no question.I found one stuck in the bank as big as a washing machine.When breaking the coral down i wear protection as it cuts quick.The coral is found in rivers crossing or within 20-30 miles of I-75 from Valdosta to Tampa.But it is all around Tampa like a 50 mile radius.The flint has coral but it is less attractive.It has pretty cherts and flints though. Next time you go south i can give you directions to the Valdosta coral.That way you could go there and see for yourself. Happy New Year to you guys
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Post by gingerkid on Dec 31, 2012 10:26:31 GMT -5
Happy New Year, and thank you, James!! May want to wait until it warms up again. Do y'all take the kayaks out on the river, and what about gators? Does the outside of the coral look similar to snakeskin agate? :blush: There's the Ochlockonee River that I wondered if you've been searching around it, too?
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itsandbits
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Post by itsandbits on Dec 31, 2012 10:41:02 GMT -5
nice finds but after looking at the pics I'd like to see a picture;s of your shallow water outboard setup with details if possible:<)) of steering and such. Looks kind of like some of the adaptations I've seen on some of the big rivers in other parts of the world.
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bhiatt
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Post by bhiatt on Dec 31, 2012 13:13:45 GMT -5
Enjoyed your pics, James! Is that a welding helmet you're wearing for protection? How do you verify what you found is coral? Have you been on the Flint to see if there was anything out there? Hi, bhiatt, please let us know and post pics if you go out to the river today! Good luck and be safe! not trying to hijack jamesp's thread but.... Dont know when Ill make it out there now. Hopefully soon. Its blizzard like conditions out there right now and going to get another 4 inches of snow today throughout the night. Down by the river right now its probably around 0 degrees and windy. Ill post about my trip when i get to go out there. Gives me more time to get a camera.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 13:46:09 GMT -5
It was 31 one morning bhiatt and i was cold.Zero-nooo way!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 14:03:36 GMT -5
The boat is a Go Devil.Look up Go Devil and you will see all kinds.I had the biggest w/35 HP.It was too heavy at 1000 pounds.Now i have a 5.5 HP (92 pounds) and a 14 foot Walmart boat(100 pounds).Ths allows me to get out and pull the rig up shoals.I often go where no one goes.It was bought used for $900.It's maiden voyage was 12 26 to 12 30.It was very effective.Saturday it went 2.5 hours upstream dragging bottom ocasionally,then 3 hours back.Loaded with 300 pounds of rock on the return trip was tricky because of the sharp chert will cut the boat easily.Engine ran over 6 hours total.And another 8-10 hours the 3 days before.Here are some pics of big boat and little boat. Attachments:
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2012 19:59:58 GMT -5
we need to go duck hunting in that bad@ss boat!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 21:27:41 GMT -5
This is bad one Shotgunman.Goes over 10 inch stumps at full speed.Military grade welded hull. 35 HP and over 1000 pounds. Just too heavy for these small coral creeks. Attachments:
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 0:09:47 GMT -5
But ready to be filled with a few gunners and a few limits of ducks! Barbecue anybody??
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 1, 2013 10:40:52 GMT -5
You ain't right Shotgunman
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 18:37:00 GMT -5
You ain't right Shotgunman Seems right to me! lol I love that overhead of the huge male gator with a whitetail in it's mouth! That is not a small deer either.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 2, 2013 18:43:40 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 18:54:46 GMT -5
Thanks for that link. I had no clue where Lake George was and had failed to look.
In 2006 I was in Daytona for a big trade show. A couple of buddies went too. Their first trip to Florida and the goal was to see a wild gator. Now how hard is that. We took them out to the bot launch on the Daytona side of Lake George. There was a giant male cruising the shoreline and female sitting on a log 50 yards from the ramp. We hiked the forest looking for snakes and lizards and whatever's. I found a small pond under the trees off the shore of the lake. I made a plan. You see, while my friends had fulfilled their goal of a wild gator, I knew these backwaters under trees is where the babies stay until big enough to avoid being eaten by the adults.
We came back after the banquet and I peeled off my shoes and disappeared into the treeline. I turned on my headlight and what did I spy? A baby gator! I waded in, slowly but surely. Took me just a few minutes and the baby was inches from my legs. The water just over knee deep. I leaned in keeping the bright headlamp closer to him than my hand. I was able to grab that little guy before he knew what was going on. Then he started squeeking. That is when I beat a hasty path back to the truck. My buddies were flash-lighting the trees for ratsnakes and whatever's. They did not even know where I was! That is until I presented them with their own baby gator to hold! We took a ton of pictures and I put him back, none the worse for wear! I have field collected three species of crocodilian. The Lake George American Alligator was the best. I got to share it with two friends and give them a dream come true!
Lake George Rocks!
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