If you have pictures, or a story you would like to share, please feel free to offer. We'd like to post them for our mutual enjoyment. Of course, you get full photo and author credit, and a chance to reach other collectors, hobbyists, and scientists. We only ask that you check your facts, give credit where it is due, keep it wholesome for our Junior Members watching, and keep on topic regarding rockhounding.

You don't even have to be experienced in making a webpage. We can work together to publish your story. A handwritten short story with a Polaroid will do. If you do fancier, a text document with a digital photo will suit, as well. Sharing is the groundwork from which we can get your story out there.

Our club's webpages can reach any person surfing the net in the world, and even on the International Space Station, if they have a mind to view our website!

We are hoping for a possible tie-in to other informative programs upon which our fellow members might want to collaborate. Contact any officer or board member with your suggestions.

June 19th to June 28th, 2009

by Jill Coleman

Packing was a chore; it always is, since I am the only one to do it. We spent most of yesterday, loading clothes and making meals, so when at the camp site, all we have to do is pop them into the Microwave oven, and presto quick meals. Loading up this morning was fairly simple. We left only 15 min. later then our scheduled departure time.

It is raining at this moment; seems that most times we take a long trip, we take Oregon’s nasty gray skies and rain with us. Estimated travel time will be in the 10 to 12 hour time range, but we are not going to rush. We just want to enjoy this trip with no hassles. I will write more as we go along or if anything interesting happens.

Well! It seems something did happen. We set out to go rock hunting, and we found a really big one, right smack into, our windshield. As we were traveling southbound, someone in a pickup coming north, hurled it at us. We were very lucky that, it did not go through, completely. After that incident, we decided to stop and have lunch, which consisted of Chicken nuggets, peas, sliced peaches, and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. So now relaxed and filled we continued on. After a 12 hr. drive, we finally pulled into McDermitt at 10:45 PM ; being too dark to travel up to the camp on unknown dirt roads, we pulled up behind the SAY WHEN CASINO. In the morning, we went to the camp site, Where we met a group of really nice folk from the Idaho Owwlee Gem and Mineral Club. They were already there, and set up ready to go look for nature’s treasures.

The desert, is much different than I thought, it would be. It is sunny with bright blue skies, and sloping hills. I am amazed how beautiful it is. I am very glad we came here, regardless, if I find anything or not.

Then the desert showed me it’s other side one that I did not even think of. Soon the skies started to look gray and menacing, followed by some very hard rain. It did not rain very long but long enough to soak the brush, and make it difficult for a beginner like me who was on her first ever rock hunt. Who by now you most likely guessed, had no boots or foul weather gear. But I was not to be denied. So around the camp area and brush I trudged, searching for whatever I could find. I had a bit of luck. I found a few pieces of petrified wood, a little bit of obsidian, along with a fist sized rough agate and a small piece of Jasper. A short time later a very nice woman from the Idaho Owyhee Gem and Mineral Club, came back into camp and gave me a nice sized agate. Yes there are still some nice folk left in this world, and Rock-Hounder’s are filled with them. Below is a picture of some of the members of that club They are based out of Caldwell Idaho This is a great group of People and I am very glad to have met them. Later in the day our group started to arrive and again someone came to the rescue of the two newbie’s. We were having a bit of trouble trying to find a spot that would allow us to level our motor home so I could get good night’s sleep. All tenderfoots need to sleep level, it is not in the manual, but I think it should be mandatory. But thanks to a fellow member of our club named Keene Clay our problem was quickly taken care of. He went and dug two trenches so that our front wheels when driven into them leveled our motor home. Once again Greg and I were saved. Thank you very much Keene. Later when the others were all set up, they all just disappeared out looking for rocks. I found out later they thought we were sleeping so they did not ask us to go with them.

Sunday (Fathers Day) I heard a knocking on the door it was Jan who came over to roust me out of my warm bed at 8 AM, so that I could go with them to search for buried treasure. Thank you Jan, this person is not used to getting up at such an unheard of time in the morning. The day was great. We went to the xxxxxxxxxxxx looking for agates. Everyone broke off and picked a spot to dig or wander and pick up some floaters. Jan and I paired up and started to dig as the hole grew deeper we found a rock that was very determined to stay where it lay but we were just as determined to get it out. Together we fought it for an hour before it finally parted with some of itself. When Jan cracked part of it open we were very surprised to see that it had a little cave of crystal like substance in it. A bit later Erick came over and told us of an area on the other side of the hill that had an abundance of good quality rocks right on the surface, so we up and left that stubborn rock where it lay and started to walk over the hill. As we went I got really lucky and saw an object that looked different when I picked it up Jan told me that it was petrified wood. What a surprise; Jill actually found something on her own. I must admit something although it is a bit embarrassing. I was barely able to get up and down those hills. If not for the kindness of Keene and Roy and others who helped me carry my load I most likely would have just sat down and waited for someone to let me know when it was time to go. The other members had a great time many found what they were seeking. Later in the day we went back to camp where I called it quits for the day, while the others had lunch and went out again, to continue the hunt.

Being a rookie I cannot at this time say just what was found. I will have to wait and give Tim or Keene a call when we all get home. Sunday came early and fast as once again I struggled to get up at the ungodly hour of 8 am. That day was the hardest day for me, so I will just tell of the others. Everyone seemed to find what they were looking for. Each different place we went to had an agate of a different color; there was purple, green, rainbow, and a rock that is mined for its mercury content. I cannot remember what it is called but it had a red stripe going through it, I think they called it Cinnibon or something like that.

But the real story that I have to comment on involved Tim Fisher and Keene Clay. We all have heard the saying “ Man against nature” Well that day I really witnessed what that meant There was a concave or pit that had some really large pieces that both wanted to get and it seemed as if hours had gone by and still that darn rock refused to part with any part of itself. The group all stood around and began to give the favored odds to Nature but still these two determined men kept at it. Just when I thought they were going to call it quits, Keene struck a fatal blow to that nasty rock and POP out came a large piece of Agate. Then another one was pried loose by Keene. Now I can’t be sure of what I am about to type but I think I saw Tim look over at Keene and then looked back at the nasty boulder that he had been pounding on as if to say, your mine you blanket blank. Sure enough within a few more killing blows to it, out came a large piece of the stubborn agate. That was truly a man against nature match, and this time man won. Thanks guy’s thank you for showing me what I do not ever want to get involved with. LOL. As for me I was just glad to get back to the camp. When Roy said he was going back for a bit I jumped at the chance. But all during the time that time and Keene fought that beastly rock Linda was out roaming all over those hills for floaters. I think she was very successful in her endeavors, as for Greg, her husband he will have to fill in his quota as I did not ask him what he had found.

The other Greg in our group and his father Erik always seem to have a big pile stacked up beside their camper every night I was there. That same day after everyone came back for the day, the ever ready battery named Jan Mellon went right back out to the fields with Roy. They did not get back till just about dark. You rock girl! Now! I have to tell you of something that happened at camp while we were all out. My husband Greg as some of you know is in a wheel chair, but once again there was a struggle with man and the elements. When we first came to camp we were not quite sure of where to go so we went past the camp for about a mile, and when we had to turn around and in doing so Greg backed up just a little too much and bumped our muffler and while going back to the correct camp site the darn thing came off.

Well while everyone was out having fun, he decided he was going to fix the muffler himself. While attempting to get the wheel chair out of the motor home it got away from him, and he had to crawl on the ground to retrieve it. After reaching it, he had to get up and into it, and wheel over the rough ground, to the back of our home, got out of it crawled under the back, and proceeded to fix the muffler. He then came back to the side door, and into the motor home.

I must tell you, I live with this man, and I know what he goes through every day; so to do what he did, is remarkable.

Tues.June 23rd, was my 59th Birthday, and we had icecream and cake; Cool!!!.
Greg

The Next day we went to Crater Lake.... Cool !!! again....

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