I'm officially an "ex" dredger

[golden optimist]

Russ just left with my life's collection of dredging "stuff" That makes me an "ex" dredger. Well, maybe "retired" is better. It was a great run with a lot of great memories. We even found the Lightening Creek Sculpture from DEF #1 and the dredge shark. I should have taken some pictures but I just wanted to get it done. I kept a few pans and 1 dredge mask I'm giving to Dave. It's funny but I still have a bunch of stuff left. Most of it will go to the dump.

Leonard

[tcfifer]

Very sad day, indeed !!



TC

[golden optimist]

It was great but time goes on. I've began pursuing hobbies that are less physical.

Leonard

[Hoser John]

sorry to hear you quit what was so near and dear to your soul-take care and lots of luck to Russ John

[russau]

Well NOT to be ignorant about it in anyway BUT Im very happy with it! it was great to see / talk with Leonard again .It was a long drive for my wife and I !912 mile and 13 hours one way! But we got home last night at 12;30 AM and my wife will probly sleep until noon at least.After unloading the truck and trailer Ill probly spend a LOT of time in the hot tub with maybe something cold to gargle on! Im a very happy camper today! Thank you Leonard! PLUS , your not a ex or a retired dredger , you've move to a life long partner or maybe a dredge tender Plus I went to see bugg and bought 2 of his new Hooka regulators and hoses that are already setup for hooka diveing. Thanks Brian (bugg)

[dickb]

Hi Russ:

Sounds like you had a great trip. That makes up for the sore butt sitting in the drivers seat for all those miles. Glad you safe and sound and I'm sure it was great to visit with GO and Bugg.
Now to plan for some hard fun yet this year. You can do that while you sit in that warm water with some nice cool liquid to warm your insides.

And to GO. You never retire from being a dredger, you just become a tired dredger. Now more time for the ham set and video editor program. Remember all those projects you want to do?
Go for it.

Dickb

[Matt Mattson]

Russ just left with my life's collection of dredging "stuff" That makes me an "ex" dredger. Well, maybe "retired" is better. It was a great run with a lot of great memories. We even found the Lightening Creek Sculpture from DEF #1 and the dredge shark. I should have taken some pictures but I just wanted to get it done. I kept a few pans and 1 dredge mask I'm giving to Dave. It's funny but I still have a bunch of stuff left. Most of it will go to the dump.

Leonard

As we've talked about before - I totally understand. I don't like it anymore than you do though. Time is marching on for all of us.

[russau]

That's right Matt! Im just hopeing that I have a little more left in me. Itll probly be next year before I have all my stuff together and get out UNLESS I use one of the 2 inch dredges I now have. I bought a new 2.5 Honda with a P90 Keene pump from mark Keene just awhile back and plan on putting it on the 2 inch Keene dredge I got from Leonard. My shop is full again! Im just now finishing up a 5 inch jet of my design and some help from Dave Franks prints. Hope itll work on this idea I have and a 5 inch subbie.

[libertydave]

I found that you can still operate a smaller dredge...well, kind of...but I just gave up the diving part, mostly for age/health reasons.

Two years ago I retired, sold my mining supply business, and I also sold just about all of my dredging equipment. Now I only have a 2" Keene 'MAXX' high-banker with a custom recovery system...and I use a 2" Hydro-Force nozzle for my "dry land dredging" adventures. We have a claim with a lot of above-stream bench gravels that contain fine gold and that is where I have been working.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I do not get the gold I once found thirty years ago in CA or OR but you can't dredge there (legally) anymore, anyway. So I have been having my dredging kicks in a much more sedate way. A day or two outing up in the Cascades on a local stream. Still effective and moderate exercise but with much less effort and I usually bring along a buddy to help with moving the gear. At the end of the day I still find a little gold and also enjoy the beauty of the wilderness.

Liberty Dave

[russau]

Dave I may be at that point BUT until I get out there and start doing it I wont know for myself! I had my right knee replaced in January of this year and when I started feeling better/more confident my left knee started acting up and ive now got a appointment to see my Orthopedic Dr. ....this is the second time this year it has done so. and now its feeling better again! I guess it was seeing Leonard and being out it Colorado again????? Next week Ill see the Dr. and now is the time to do it if really needed so Ill be up-2-it next Spring in time for dredgeing. P.S. I thought you moved to Texas?