Great post and story, this is what metal detecting is all about. Next year when I am in California again I want to our families old ranch (bought in the 10's) and detect a few places on it. Have never detected in the USA yet, so it will be the experience of a lifetime for me. I lived on our grain ranch from 0 to 10 years until my Dad got accidentally killed on his ham radio gear, so anything I could find would be great for me. After he died we had to move to town so my Mom could work, needed the money. I still know where the outside toilets were, and the filled in cellars so maybe I might find something. In one dump on a nearby hill they trashed a model T Ford that I know about, and much more. But that would take too much time to dig out, not even thinking about the rattlesnakes and black widows living in there!