JIM MCCULLOCH

Rob, here is a short one. And totally true, to boot. One day I had accumulated about a dozen pieces of trash when I got the next signal amidst some small rocks. As I was picking up one of the rocks a small scorpion emerged from under that rock. I had nearly touched it with my fingertips. I have a "live and let live" attitude, so I let it scurry away. The recovered target was a decent specimen of the Most Happy Yellow Metal. Maybe 20 pieces of trash later I got another signal, as digging it ANOTHER scorpion was encountered, who also escaped unmolested. That target, too, was of a gratifyingly yellow color. Later that day as I was digging perhaps my 50th target, yep, you guessed it, scorpion number three, AND nugget number three. Three nuggets, three scorpions. Scorpion gold. HH Jim

Book has been sold

Book has been sold. Thanks LJ

I have a mint condition copy of Larry Sallee's "Zip Zip The Advanced Course" for sale. Please see the Classified section.

I have a rare MINT CONDITION copy of Larry Sallee's "Zip Zip The Advanced Course" for sale. AUTOGRAHED. The only flaws are 5 very tiny scratches on the cover, and it came that way from the printer. Otherwise, perfect. Price: $100.00 postpaid. If interested email me at [email protected]

Late one afternoon I came home to find a watermelon-sixed mass of bees in my Palo Verde tree. Next day they took up residence under my ground-level deck. If I got with about 20 feet one or more would slam me in the face or chest. But if I stayed farther away they wouldn't bother. Early one morning as I left the house hundreds were already flying around, and when they saw me they chased me, en masse, to my truck, a couple of them getting their "jabs" in before I escaped. Boy, were they angry. SOMETHING had really angered them. When I got home that evening they had gone to bed under the decking. So, I tip-toed to the opening. Lying there at the opening of the hive was a king snake dead and bloating. Hundreds of sting marks, but no dead bees. Hearing me walk on "their" decking caused them to buzz loudly. In the end we had to call in a bee guy, who declared it was an Africanized hive. We had to remove the decking because the wax and honey had impregnated it.

Thanks Robbie. Might we see you at the Mesa Show? HH Jim

The first GPAA Gold Show of the 2015 season will be held at the Pomona Fairplex Feb. 7 & 8. Members of this Forum are invited to drop by my booth and introduce themselves. HH Jim

Jim, the cool trick that "Dutch John" played on me was awesomely clever. He handed me a nice specimen of auriferous quartz, and asked if I could guess where it came from. I suggested [location A]. No, it wasn't from there. says he. Then I suggested [location B]. Nope, not there either. {Location C] was also a no. Dutch gave me a grin, and then said "thanks for giving me three new locations to hunt!" (actually he probably already knew of them}. Proof that I didn't view my old friends actions as being out of line was seen by the fact that soon afterwards I gifted him with a rare old saloon token issued by his grandfather. Golden memories. By the way, if you seen Dutch John tell him that Hawkeye and I will be at our booth at the GPAA Gold Show at Pomona Feb. 7-8. HH Jim

Another story about T-Bone. One morning we were rattling down the road in his truck, the road paralleling an auriferous wash. I spotted a stone dyke intersecting the wash, causing the wash to divert around it. It was about 4 feet wide, maybe ten feet long (into the wash) flat-topped, with a rough surface, I said "Stop the truck, Terry, Dibs on the rock outcropping." Terry smiled and said "Y'all are too late, Gee Umm, I already got me 4 ounces of nuggets offen' that spot." Golden memories. Maybe one day I'll reveal the cool trick Dutch John played on me at a GPAA Gold Show. HH Jim

Bob, Terry was short of funds, and I sold him a high-end set of headphones with the understanding that he would pay me when he could. He never did. No big deal, friendship is worth far more than money. In fact, good friends are worth more than gold. I'm sure you'll agree. HH Jim

As the saying goes "Pygmies, on the shoulders of giants, see farther then the giants themselves." Regrettably it is indeed true that many of the true pioneers of electronic prospecting and treasure hunting in general have passed away. Dutch, may I add to that list such names as Ken Doe and George Mrzkowski? HH Jim

Right you are, Largo. In a trashy site most of us ignore ear-bashers. Reminds me of a story Woody Woodworth told me. Detecting at a spot he had personally dry washed in the Depression, he got a ear-basher signal. Old rusty can. The another ear-basher. Again, an old rusty can. Seven old rusty cans in a row. Eighth ear-basher? A 3.5 ounce nugget. Woo hoo. HH Jim

Chuck, I see that you live in San Antonio. Were you aware that the GPAA is having their last Gold Show of the year in Oklahoma City October 11 and 12? Although a long drive for you, it should be a good Show. If you make it, drop by my booth and identify yourself. BTW I forgot to mention my age. I will hit 62 tomorrow. HH Jim

You might say that I became a TH'er "before birth." Back in 1951 my parents-to-be, along with Mel Fisher and others of subsequent TH'ing fame, founded So. Cal's. first scuba diving club, the Sea Angels. They salvaged several California wrecks, and then Mel andsome of the others went to Florida and later Atocha fame. My dad went MIA late in '63, so I went to live with my maternal grandfather, who had been a prospector in AZ in the late 20's and early 1930's. He got me into panning, and in '81 my wife and I moved to the YV area, at which point I took up electronic prospecting. Early mentors where Jimmy Sierra, Jim Straight, Woody Woodworth, Ken Doe, Bob Grant, George Mrzkowski, Pieter Hydelaar, and others. As Chris mentions, it has been a "magnificent quest." HH Jim