Reno Chris Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 As of this afternoon, I am leaving for a trip to Australia for a month to prospect for gold in the Australian outback. I was invited by Jonathan Porter to join him in the remote Aussie interior. With gold at $1800+ per ounce, how can I say no? For centuries prospectors have traveled around the world in search of those golden nuggets, and I guess its my turn. I've never done anything like that before - other than Hawaii, I've never traveled outside of North America. I'll teaming up for this prospecting adventure with Steve Herschbach from AMDS in Anchorage. He's a great guy and very experienced prospector, but its his first trip to Australia as well. Steve and I will be meeting up in LA for the flight across the pond to Oz. We've got a 16 hour flight from LA to Melbourne, then a short layover and anther 4 hour trip across Australia to Perth. I'll be in transit for maybe 48 hours. I am sure when we arrive we'll be pretty well jet lagged. Once we get our footing, we will head out several hundred miles into the Western Australian Desert. While I am sure the majority of our time will be detecting with the GPX 5000, I also bringing my Gold Bug Pro in case we get into some little ones in milder ground. Hopefully we will find a good amount of the yellow metal - JP has been pretty successful in the past. Will I be able to pay for the trip? Well, we will just have to wait and see. I'm going to have a darn good time no matter what.I'll take some pictures and put them up here when I return at the end of September. Should be pretty interesting.If I am pretty quiet for the next month, you will know the reason why.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlakMagnet Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Chris I am sure that it will be the trip of a lifetime for both you and Steve.You could not have better companions that is for sure.I wish you well and hope all your dreams are realized.Also hoping for the best of health and not too much jet lag!Please give our best to JP and Steve.Bon Voyage!Flak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldies1955 Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 As of this afternoon, I am leaving for a trip to Australia for a month to prospect for gold in the Australian outback. I was invited by Jonathan Porter to join him in the remote Aussie interior. With gold at $1800+ per ounce, how can I say no? For centuries prospectors have traveled around the world in search of those golden nuggets, and I guess its my turn. I've never done anything like that before - other than Hawaii, I've never traveled outside of North America. I'll teaming up for this prospecting adventure with Steve Herschbach from AMDS in Anchorage. He's a great guy and very experienced prospector, but its his first trip to Australia as well. Steve and I will be meeting up in LA for the flight across the pond to Oz. We've got a 16 hour flight from LA to Melbourne, then a short layover and anther 4 hour trip across Australia to Perth. I'll be in transit for maybe 48 hours. I am sure when we arrive we'll be pretty well jet lagged. Once we get our footing, we will head out several hundred miles into the Western Australian Desert. While I am sure the majority of our time will be detecting with the GPX 5000, I also bringing my Gold Bug Pro in case we get into some little ones in milder ground. Hopefully we will find a good amount of the yellow metal - JP has been pretty successful in the past. Will I be able to pay for the trip? Well, we will just have to wait and see. I'm going to have a darn good time no matter what.I'll take some pictures and put them up here when I return at the end of September. Should be pretty interesting.If I am pretty quiet for the next month, you will know the reason why.Chris Good Luck Chris: Boy what an opportunity of a lifetime! Having crossed the pond a few times myself, heres some tips... Usually the first couple of days your running on adrenaline from the excitement. After that you have to force yourself to conform to the new time schedule. Dramamine helps on the airplane ride over. Try going to Denmark in the summer when the sun doenst set but for a few hours. Talk about getting all screwed up. Plus they wanted us to turn jets for sorties....the nerve of them! Have fun and hope you find a lot of stuff...be it memories or gold.Tom H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garybrun Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Have a great trip Chris.Say a big "Good Day" to JP from Gordon and myself.Wish you all the best.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azoverland Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Don't eat too much Vegemite down there....What a great time. Bucket list trip for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim P. Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Good luck to both of you. Say Hi to Steve and G'day to JP for me. Looking forward to hearing the stories and seeing the pictures. Be safe...Jim P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Have a great trip Chris. We will miss you and expect wonderful stories of your adventures on your return. Safe Travels and Big NuggetsclayMinerDigginsSubscribe to the NewDiggins Newsletter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick in Havasu Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Hello Chris. Let me add my well wishe's and hope your trip is both safe, and rewarding in many ways.Patrick..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutch39 Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 If, prior to this trip you have not tried vegemite I suggest strongly you resist the urge--------------had a employee from "down under" that convinced me one day while we were in Zapote Costa Rica that I need to have a sandwich of it-----------never been the same sinceGood luck with the hunting, great place and lots of great gold there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Porter Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 G'day all, am in Perth as we speak organising a few things before I pick the blokes up tomorrow afternoon. Have two motel rooms at the ready for what will no doubt be a couple of heavily jet lagged bleary eyed American prospectors who are in for a life changing experience. Next morning we'll take in a few of the sites and maybe do a little shopping then it's a BBQ at Reed's prospecting for a 'meet and greet', a great chance for Chris and Steve to meet a few local West Australian Aussie prospectors and an opportunity for the Aussies to get Chris to sign there copies of his "Fists Full of Gold" book which has become very popular here in Australia.Sunday we will be getting our gear organised and hitting the camping stores for swags and other camping ancillary equipment then depending on how we go its off into the wide blue yonder to try our luck at hitting our fortunes in the Outback. Wish us luck JPPS Vegemite is a requirement here in OZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azoverland Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 G'day all, am in Perth as we speak organising a few things before I pick the blokes up tomorrow afternoon. Have two motel rooms at the ready for what will no doubt be a couple of heavily jet lagged bleary eyed American prospectors who are in for a life changing experience. Next morning we'll take in a few of the sites and maybe do a little shopping then it's a BBQ at Reed's prospecting for a 'meet and greet', a great chance for Chris and Steve to meet a few local West Australian Aussie prospectors and an opportunity for the Aussies to get Chris to sign there copies of his "Fists Full of Gold" book which has become very popular here in Australia.Sunday we will be getting our gear organised and hitting the camping stores for swags and other camping ancillary equipment then depending on how we go its off into the wide blue yonder to try our luck at hitting our fortunes in the Outback. Wish us luck JPPS Vegemite is a requirement here in OZ How many greenbacks to get in on the next trip JP, or do you have to write a book to get an invite? For real do you do a guide type service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azblackbird Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Please take plenty of pics. Are you guys just detecting or will you be doing some dry washing also? Wish you luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 How many greenbacks to get in on the next trip JP, or do you have to write a book to get an invite? Hi Jason,I'll guess you haven't read Chris' book Fists Full of Gold. The thing is a masterpiece and the best book ever on prospecting (not just my opinion). If you ever write a book of the quality of Chris' I'm pretty sure JP and half of the Australian prospectors will show up to greet you and show you their best patches. Seriously - get a copy and read it, it will change your whole view on prospecting for gold. Rob can hook you up I'm sure.clayMinerDigginsSubscribe to the NewDiggins Newsletter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landoninlv Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I agree Clay, great book! Chris, Id have a hard time sleeping anticipating that trip. Best of luck to you, cant wait for pics!Landon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echidna Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 PS Vegemite is a requirement here in OZ Jonathan, you make sure they put that vegemite on thick enough the first time they try it. Have a great time and the nuggets will roll in.Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubstake Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Give them plenty of ROO steaks, that will keep them hopping. Grubstake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Have a great time and when you're there, tell JP that Jennifer wants you all to have a Bundy & Coke (or 4 or 5 of them) for me. Jennifer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexb Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Awesome, probably smart to do it in a team, duo or trio, especially with all of you being experienced prospectors and JP specializing in the local lay of the land. The interior eh? That sounds like quite the adventure, even for an Aussie let alone a couple non-Aussies. I'm getting restless in front of the computer just thinking about it, take a little video or two when you have time and the batteries still are running. Best of luck to you all, and may pleasant adventures and gold await. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azoverland Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Hi Jason,I'll guess you haven't read Chris' book Fists Full of Gold. The thing is a masterpiece and the best book ever on prospecting (not just my opinion). If you ever write a book of the quality of Chris' I'm pretty sure JP and half of the Australian prospectors will show up to greet you and show you their best patches. Seriously - get a copy and read it, it will change your whole view on prospecting for gold. Rob can hook you up I'm sure.clayMinerDigginsSubscribe to the NewDiggins NewsletterClay - Don't miss understand, I didn't say "JUST write a book". I do have a copy of Chris' book and read it in it's entirety. It's the most complete book on prospecting I've found and have reread many parts of it. I surely did not mean to belittle his work. The book is worth far more then the sticker price I paid for it. A week in the Land of Oz hunting with a some really pros may be worth alot to some guys too. Now you put guys like JP, Chris and the rest of the fellas on this trip together and I'm sure alot of us would really love to be a fly on the wall around that campsite. But as you said somethings you just can't get with something as common as money........you have to do something more...like write a book..Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Dorado Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 You and Steve have been talking about this for a long time and now it is reality..... have fun on a genuine grand adventure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredm Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 It will be a great adventure for you and Steve...hope everyone find kilos of AU. May the weather be cool, the beer cold, the breeze gentle and the flys dormant!wish i was there toofred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Looking forward to hearing all the stories from your trip. Have a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkirkll Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Enjoy...i am truly trying not to be jealous!!! Have a blessed trip and find a, 'bloody ripper..."paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 The Bible (if you believe that thing) states:Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's (goods), house or fields, nor his male or female slaves, nor his ox or ass, or anything that belongs to him.It says NOTHING about "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's nugget hunting trip to Australia"... you're all safe. Come to think of it, it mentions wife and ass but in separate sentences, can we covet they neighbor's wife's ass then? Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Chris Posted August 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Through the magic of the internet. I am here in Perth in a hotel room getting ready to head out in the next day or two. Tomorrow, Reed's, the local prospecting shop will be holding send off barbeque for us.Will take lots of photos, no dry washing this trip - just detecting. Landon - I have lost sleep over the last several days before we took off. Will treat the vegemite like a dangerous snake and try to avoid it. I've seen plenty of posts about other folks' trips to Australia, Alaska, etc. that I wished I could have been a part of, glad to be a a part of this one. Thanks for all your well wishes, Will post photos as internet service is availableChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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