by: Steve Rice

Well I've written many articles before on Metal Detecting but I've always concentrated on the serious side. I thought it was time for a change and to write about some of those funny times.

It was a crisp, sunny September morning and I was going to detect on a new farm I'd recently gained permission to detect on. I'd found

hammered coins on it the week before and tokens and I was hopeful of

more to come. It was a lovely medieval village very close to a church

dating back to saxon times. I invited both my mum and Dad and brother

(all keen detectorists) to come along too.

We set off and travelled for 2 hours and as we were nearing the

village started seeing signs for a major Metal Detecting Rally. I

jokingly said to those with me 'I hope it is not on our farm.

Travelling further down the road my heart stopped. There was dozens of cars and members of a local club walking all over 'my field'. Words cannot describe (and they couldn't be printed either) how I felt. I decided not to stop as I couldn't bear thinking of what might have come off, so I went to the next village to another farm I'd detected on before. To this day I don't know what was found........but life goes on.

There again it can never be as bad as what happened to a mate of mine.

After travelling for 3 hours and searching all day he found a lovely

Henry V111 Hammered Coin and was delighted. He brought it along to our club meeting and subsequently threw it away by accident with his crisp packet..............the pain!!!

I've even done some cartoons showing the fun had whilst metal detecting. If you are a detectorist how many times have you asked a detecting companion to come prepared for a days detecting and he or she comes illequipped. Either it is raining and they come in a T Shirt or it's expected to be in the high 90's and they come in a coat. Add to this that they haven't even brought any sandwiches.........................that is what prompted this cartoon. http://www.treasurehunting.tv/cartoon/cartoon1.bmp