Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 1, 2021 18:07:38 GMT -5
Here is my visit to the Colorado River Not much to report here cause I never collected a stone. I went 10 miles north of Yuma and was driving down small dirt farming roads to get access to the river. The river bank was very steep and the water got deep fast. Everything appeared to be fine dirt and no rocks were on top. May have needed a shovel and a sifting screen to find them. From there I went to Gateway Park in town and tried to find some useful stuff there, but it seemed to be exactly the same as the farmland to the North, nothing but fine dirt. It was a Fun Day and very much enjoyed exploring the whole area
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 29, 2021 14:05:07 GMT -5
Will you be showing some of your finds? Oh Yes
you guys will see these rocks all the way through polish I have one out of three packages delivered so far . . .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 29, 2021 12:58:33 GMT -5
As promised, here is the story of my Yuma Arizona rock-hounding adventures over the past week, with pictures. I went with my girlfriend to House sit for her daughter while they went on vacation to Mexico. Was also taking care of their son and 2 dogs. I had visited Yuma a few months ago at Christmas and got a tour of the area. Of course I was looking for rocks cause the town of Quartsite is 90 miles away and I only hear good things about that place. We visited a Suspension Bridge that had been abandoned because the Gila River had been rerouted and the bridge was no longer needed. "The Bridge to No Where" This place promised the best Tumbling Rock. ------- Construction began in mid-1928 and was completed in December 1929. McPhaul Bridge carried traffic on US 95 until 1968, when it was deemed unacceptable for modern, heavier cars. A new dam was built upstream that rerouted the river, along with a new bridge to carry the highway, leaving the old bridge metaphorically and a bit literally high and dry. -------
This return trip was unexpected and I asked the Forum what areas had a good selection of rocks but never got a response, so I decided to go back to the Bridge and scout around for myself. When I was there the first time a large yellow translucent rock was getting a lot of my attention. It was embedded in some other rock and would not move. Didn't have a hammer so got some other large stones to be used as a hammer, but No Success. and it remained there. Upon returning this time with a claw hammer, I was absolutely looking for that rock but it was gone with a hole remaining in it's spot. Was deeply disappointed and wished I had tried to hide it the first time but I didn't know that I would be there again so soon.
Next to the bridge is a large hill about half a mile long and 500 feet tall this was the main target of my search. Went to the the top of a 100 foot part on the end (pictured above) and found rocks all the way to the top. Took another picture of the Bridge while I was up there. Had been looking at the whole area on Google Earth and there were many Washes that were dug deep into the side of the hill and I spent most of my time there. It was the first time that I actually felt like I was rock-hounding, using a hammer and actually finding stuff that I wanted. Here is a Pic looking up into one of these washes.
Was finding Veins of Quartz in about 4 locations, clawed a bunch of that stuff out with a Hammer. Plenty of other colorful rocks to choose from. Here is a Pic looking down out of that last wash.
After finishing with the hill I wanted to look at the Open Desert Floor and try to find some Petrified Wood. Found some gravel roads that were for servicing some Power Lines. Most of it was flat but there were plenty of other smaller hills less than 20 feet high. The whole place was covered totally covered in rocks but they had a soft black material in them, much like Sandstone and Charcoal and not pretty at all.
Was using plastic grocery bags to collect in. I found that they can be about 1/3 full before getting too weak to hold more. Got about 6 bags into the back floorboard of the car. I'm kinda glad that was all the bags I had.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2021 22:19:57 GMT -5
How about some picks to go along with this great trip report! Then we can go along vicariously, LOL! -- Oh Yes -- I have some great pictures, but they are in a camera and I don't have the cable to transfer them to the computer. Was supposed to fly back home to Bama tomorrow, but they are asking us to change flights with a generous offer, so I might not get back till Thursday. Then I plan on doing a detailed write-up with excellent pics to bring you guys along with me.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2021 12:17:22 GMT -5
Goodness ... All of those rocks fit in 3 medium Flat-rate boxes. Used a whole roll of packing tape on those 3. I'm sure it was at least 70 pounds of rocks, total. They have been delivered to the post office.
I get home on Wednesday afternoon Rocks will arrive on Thursday thru Saturday Today I will visit Roxaboxen Park interestingly dedicated to rocks
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 25, 2021 16:40:40 GMT -5
Might work if you add some sand, but still slower than Silicon Carbide grit. Probably won't work at all past Stage 1 . The shot will grind down to nothing really fast.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 24, 2021 21:27:55 GMT -5
Imagine being a rock. Just chilling for millions of years, then one day suddenly it's like, "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH" with nonstop tumbling. Then you're stationary again wondering what the hell just happened. And you're rounded and shiny now. Damn goofy humans. And think about the rocks that sat there for a billion years, some guy comes along and only selects the Good Rocks ... and then they don't get picked . . . Stupid Humans
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 24, 2021 16:47:03 GMT -5
Got a new Laptop Computer today, what a relief I have been using my cell phone to play on the internet and and it only has a 4 inch screen. Anyway ... I have been taking a pile of pictures on a Camera and don't have a way to transfer them, so the pictures will have to wait till after Wednesday when I get back home. Now have everything needed to send 4 flat-rate boxes of rocks back Any that don't fit may have to be returned back to the wild so they can Be Free . . .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2021 15:01:28 GMT -5
Today I went to the Colorado River to rockhound some, but the area I was at was just dirt and no bank to speak of. Went to a park on the river and the same muddy bank with deep water. So , no rocks from the river thru Yuma . Did find the Post Office and got 3 medium flat-rate boxes to send rocks back in. I may have too many and will need to leave some behind.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 22, 2021 22:24:22 GMT -5
Been in Yuma for 3 days now Today I spent 3 hours hounding at the Bridge To Nowhere Had some great finds, too much, gonna need plenty of boxes if I'm going to send it all back. Never saw any Petrified Wood though.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 18, 2021 20:46:42 GMT -5
I have decided that I will be rockhounding around the Tiny Chapel and the Bridge To Nowhere, North on Route 95 about 10 miles North of Yuma. If I come up short there I'll go further North on Route 95 looking for nice rocks laying on the ground. It all will depend on the amount of time I have available.
I will arrive on Tuesday in the afternoon and will be staying a week.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 18, 2021 10:48:53 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 18, 2021 6:28:41 GMT -5
Silicon Carbide ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 14, 2021 11:29:46 GMT -5
fernwood and Wooferhound - I took the liberty of editing out Tim's phone number from your posts for his protection. Thanks Mom
We are talking about it in Private Messages . . .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 14, 2021 9:23:14 GMT -5
My trip to Yuma AZ is in a week and I will find the time to look for some rocks. I would really like to find some Petrified wood. The plan is to drive about Halfway to Quartsite and get off of the main road and try and find some bare desert to look around on. Searching on the internet seems to show Pet Wood just about anywhere you can look out there. It is also suggested to look around any mines that can be found. Anyone have any other suggestions for places to find some special rocks ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 13, 2021 11:59:36 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 13, 2021 11:42:58 GMT -5
Was presented with a new challenge at the Opera House. A couple years ago we were given a complete stage lighting set up. I was the only volunteer who had ever used stage lighting. When the items were donated, I went through everything to see what was there. All of the control units were in new condition, in boxes with packing materials. There are: 4 adjustable PAR light trees with gel frames. Similar to this. 4 DMX controller boxes. 1 Eurolight master control board. 6 DMX connection cords. About 50 assorted gels. Yesterday our President and I decided to make sure that everything worked. He knows nothing about stage lighting, so I was trying to explain what everything did. Good news is that all works, for the most part. One of the PAR lights was missing and another was burnt out. A few bolts/nuts were missing. We decided on tentative locations for two of the trees. Need to determine how to connect the DMX boxes to the trees. Now I need to read the manuals to determine how to set specific functions for the lights. Has anyone here used this type of lighting set up? Everything is from the early 2000's. I know all about DMX Lighting and all the tricks Is there anything specific that you need to know or do you need to speak to me on the phone
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 13, 2021 5:39:53 GMT -5
Thanks guys for the Birthday Wishes Ended up working all day building a stage for Blackberry Smoke Planning a night at a local brewery tomorrow night
Age 64
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 8, 2021 10:05:48 GMT -5
Thanks for showing these! I'm not real experienced, and it gives me inspiration! Well , I'm just interpreting the rocks as they present themselves to me. Please don't consider my pictures as "The Way" they should look.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 8, 2021 10:00:57 GMT -5
I've never heard of using Silicon Carbide SiC pebbles for polishing. Does it work well? Thanks. I use the large SiC Pebbles in my Stage 1 tumbles, then it is best to remove them before going on any further. That chunk accidentally traveled all the way through the tumbling process without being noticed.
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