Forget the “Wind beneath your wings” – What really matters is the stuff beneath your feet

The Good Book says:  Who having ten silver coins, if they lose one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until it is found? — Luke 15:8

[Ken Gray] Many years ago we had a Yellow Lab named Cleo. As with all our dogs we often went to the beach together. She swam; we waded; a good time was had by all . . . except one day, when I noticed my wedding ring had disappeared. It was loose — I had lost weight; it was, as I mentioned, many years ago — I was obviously upset. So what to do?

I wish I had known at the time about the Okanagan Treasure Hunters Club. From their website (and from a neighbour who is an active member) I learn this:

“We are the Okanagan Treasure Hunters Club (formerly the Penticton Metal Detectors Club), a group of people with one thing in common . . . our love of treasure hunting, especially metal detecting. Our club’s mission as a not-for-profit society is to promote fun, fellowship, and public awareness, along with donating funds to our community and assisting with finding lost items.”

What a great service, and for these folks, so much fun. Fortunately for me all those years ago, we returned to the beach and found the place where Cleo had been digging. I had placed my hand in the sandy water when it fell off. Finding that place once more, there it was. No need for the local detectorists, though they were active at the time.

Most of the items they now find are rings — No mobile phones, no metal rimmed glasses, a few coins of little value. Just lots and lots of rings, most returned to thankful owners, some who take the time to express their appreciation. One page of the site contains interesting “lost and found” stories. For instance:

Gold Ring Found

I went down to Sun-Oka early to get in some steps. Not much to find (20 cents) then a park employee came and told me a woman had lost her gold and diamond ring days earlier. The owner was visiting from Australia and the ring had been her mother’s. So I gridded the area and was about to finish when I decided to walk right along the water and there it was!!!!!! Joyous moment.

Grandmother’s Rings Return

Tacia called me on The Ringfinders web site in distress that she had lost her Grandmother’s Wedding ring and Engagement ring, after telling me the story about how she lost them in her backyard, I assured her that I would find them. The wedding ring and engagement ring were worn by her Grandmother all her life until she passed away at 98 years old. They both were given to Tacia as an heirloom so she was stressed out that she could not find them in the grass, but my assurance made her feel better. Once at her home, it took me less than five minutes to find them both, it made her Mother’s Day.

Hearing Restored

Shelby posted on the OTHC website that she had lost her hearing aid on the Beach in Kelowna. I checked the website before leaving for work in the am, it was on my way so I stopped at the Beach. By 6:30 I had the hearing aid, and delivered it to Shelby the next day. She was happy that I had saved her a lot of money.

Detector Finds Nothing and They Are Happy

I received a phone call to assist looking for Gold Krugerrands. I attended their property with high hopes; a gold coin is the top of my bucket list. Their property was isolated on the top of a hill in Glenmore. They showed me the garden, and a flower bed around the house where they suspected the coins were. The story was that a Mother in-law who had suffered with Dementia just passed away. She always mentioned that her husband, who predeceased her, had buried some Gold Krugerrands in their garden. They want to sell their family estate, and are concerned about the Krugerrand’s. I spent almost 2 hours searching the property, and got very few signals. Eventually, feeling defeated, I told them that there are no gold Krugerrand’s in their garden area. They both smiled and were delighted; I was surprised with their response. They told me that they had found some Krugerrands in a safety deposit box, so they suspected that there may be more, that were buried in the yard. Now they know for sure that there is none in the garden, they can sell the property with confidence.

So if you have seen the BBC show, The Detectorists you have a sense of what this hobby can provide. Better still, Why not attend a local meeting and hunt for treasure, right here in the Okanagan. Thanks detectorists for your contribution to life here in our little town and throughout the Okanagan.

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