Todays bike exploratory trip for new site

[Don in SJ]

Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

I saw on a 1930 aerial map a couple areas that were homesites back then but not now, but they were a good two miles from where I could drive, so I got the mountain bike out and rode there. I have not been on a bike for awhile and loose sand, being out of shape made for not a pleasant trip.
But I did find one of the homesteads, and as soon as I spotted it my heart sank, it was a "party area", meaning lots of modern trash, then to make matters worst, I was finding mason jar lids which meant it was a more modern homestead than what I am used to and the junk readings were so numerous.
I took my time and dug pieces of pipe, hinges, aluminum doo dads, fishing sinkers and quite a few more unknowns and finally got some wheat pennies and a Mercury Dime.
Not exactly my type of hunting and one big difference between homestead from late 1890's to WW2 are, they are junky, whereas the pre Civil War sites are more iron hits and an occasional non ferrous item which usually will be a good target like a button or coin or thimble, but the newer homesteads are trash pits in my opinion........

Hopefully Saturday will be a better day when I get to go out with my son to his mid 1700's site he just found this week.......

Don

 

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[Pocket Treys]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Don..it looks and sounds like you have all your good research in place, it is just a matter of time before you find one not so "trashy" and you really hit paydirt ( yes, pun was intended)

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Hey at least you came out with some silver, I would go back there despite the trash. Get your shooter coil out and get to work mang. Nice findings, and finds ! I sense a cache but that takes some patients. Look for land marks and big trees caches may have been buried. I just have this feeling.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

I found a site about 1/4 mile from me, and went to explore with high hopes only to find it almost completely covered in briars about 5 feet high, and the only open spots were bum camps and druggie hangouts. nothing but beer cans and little plastic bags everywhere. Not to mention the whole area that had been their outdoor toilet for who knows how long. Your spot looks very good to me. I'd definitely give it a shot.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Nice finds Don and you know exercise is a big part of the hunt, LOL! The finds are just a bonus. Nice finds and HH, Mike

 

[JARMAN]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Nice digs Don, even without finds that's a nice place to spend the day.

 

[Silver Fox]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

I saw on a 1930 aerial map a couple areas that were homesites back then but not now, but they were a good two miles from where I could drive, so I got the mountain bike out and rode there. I have not been on a bike for awhile and loose sand, being out of shape made for not a pleasant trip.
But I did find one of the homesteads, and as soon as I spotted it my heart sank, it was a "party area", meaning lots of modern trash, then to make matters worst, I was finding mason jar lids which meant it was a more modern homestead than what I am used to and the junk readings were so numerous.
I took my time and dug pieces of pipe, hinges, aluminum doo dads, fishing sinkers and quite a few more unknowns and finally got some wheat pennies and a Mercury Dime.
Not exactly my type of hunting and one big difference between homestead from late 1890's to WW2 are, they are junky, whereas the pre Civil War sites are more iron hits and an occasional non ferrous item which usually will be a good target like a button or coin or thimble, but the newer homesteads are trash pits in my opinion........

Hopefully Saturday will be a better day when I get to go out with my son to his mid 1700's site he just found this week.......

Don

What some detectorists seem to miss, besides the envisioned goodies, is that in such a location you are not always going to find envisioned goodies. Probably inhabited by not-so-well-off individuals who didn't go around losing money, jewelry, etc., and may not have had that much to begin with. No hidden caches. It was a miracle that you found the "merc."

If you would have had an experience such as mine where I got a large signal on the ground just outside a back door and with my heart about to explode out of my chest at the anticipated "bank" contents, I finally reached a large pot cover and... nothing underneath!

If you had found such a "bank" then there is the possiblity that the contents may have been moved to another location or there were more than one "bank."

You can't always think that out-of-the-way locations with dwellings hold riches. However, if the structure is still standing and you think it will stand browsing around on the inside detecting the floor and walls and especially if you can access the cellar, then give it another try. Otherwise, you're just keeping in shape. As you bicyled to the location your adrenaline must have been giving you a high!

 

[Mirage]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

True, True. At least you got the Merc.

One thing that surprised me was your comment on Mason Jar lids. I guess I really never gave it that much thought.....how far back do they go? 1890's ? If so...still good for Barbers and Seated coins.

Bob

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Thats my only mode of transport. Welcome to my world

 

[wwwtimmcp]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

good we got fellow mountain bikers, I put panniers on my fuji sandblaster to haul my goodies/equipment.
I've never been skunked metal detecting but busted beer bottles and pulltabs get old quick.

 

[Colonial Zoyboy]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Don, good luck at your son's site this week. You are greatly overdue for one of those green disks.

Keep the fever high, man!

Kyle

 

[pegleglooker]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Hey Don,
Nice finds.... sorry about all the trash.... Have you been able to see if there was a outside privy and hunt that spot ?? Or close to the tree's for lost cache / Do you think there was a fence around.. maybe a posthole bank ?? Anyway coool finds bud....

PLL

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Don,
Sorry to hear this place didn't pan out. I know how you feel. I have three old properties I MD at all within a 1/4 mile. Two are plantation houses (late 1700's), and all three have turned up CW relics. One of the plantation properties is so trashy I've given up on it.
I'd be there a lifetime cleaning up that spot. It looked like a fantastic spot, but soon learned whoever lived here in the past were slobs.
The plantation I'm hunting now has turned up some pull tabs, but not too bad. The third property I have hunted for over a year, and it is super clean as far as trash. Maybe 3 or 4 tabs in the whole time I've hunted there.
Congrats on the Merc though Don.
-MM-

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Where there are "doo dads," there are relics and where there are relics, there are coins and where there are coins, there are old coins and where there are old coins, there are coppas. So, keep fighting the fight, Don!

Kirk

 

[Tin Nugget]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Those types of places are the best. You never know what to expect and they really get me pumped up for searching them. They have such potential even if you have to wade through the trash. Hit it hard!

 

[Southern_Boy]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Hi Don:

It seems you are doing the right thing and doing proper research, it will all pay off in the end for you.

 

[Fisher]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

I'd ride a bike a few miles for a nice Merc like that!
Congrats...HH

 

[Ricardo_NY1]

Re: Today's bike exploratory trip for new site

Congrats on the merc.............I would've picked around that garbage if I knew there was a merc in there somewhere. Good hustle in getting out there on your bike!

Ricardo