Treasure hunting and working at a regular job poses problems. Time is ever the enemy due to distance and details of the search. My routine consisted of packing the Chev Monday morning after work, grabbing an hour long nap and driving east on the southern Crowsnest route. Once underway I ran through my checklist to decide if what I’d forgotten this time was important enough to return or not. Often the omission wasn’t realized until arrival at the campsite like the time my perfected coffee bar had no matches. No coffee brought out the irritability of a sixty-two year old man with an obsession. But in the forest no one suffered my tirade except the lingering Angus bovines. Maybe that latent hostility reached back to the days of my agricultural career.
My lack of a successful conclusion to date had not dampen my enthusiasm as much as my spouses. I understand her perspective yet have made solid progress on a reasonable budget. As hobbies or past times go, this one is relatively affordable with a serious potential for a significant payout. The quest has diminished greatly from the general area around Little Fish Lake to the area where the old wagon trail meandered downhill to a certain unnamed creek. Matt followed the trail closest to a watery hiding spot. I stood near the willows where I am certain he raised his Winchester to demand the off loading of the gold shipment. I followed the overgrown wagon trail the half kilometer or so down to the creek. But there difficulties arise. One hundred and seventeen years of spring flooding greatly altered the stream course and deposited huge volumes of rock and debris where the stagecoach crossed the creek and continued its journey to Bridesville and Midway.
The possibility exists that my excellent TDI Pro will not reach the depth needed for detection. I am disappointed that a second anniversary passed without conclusion and August escapes my grasp similarly. The chemical symbol for gold would have sounded better in this month. But I accept my reality and wonder how best I can move this forward to the outcome I seek. Our incredible electronics in this modern age hold promise. Can I move forward before another snowy winter raises more difficulties to be overcome?
With luck and diligence, perhaps.
