Buchanan GPAA site, GA. Wow, what a weekend. The club dredged up some of the best Gold seen in the last 3 outings. Every member attending took home a 2/3rds full gallon sized bag of 1/8 screened concentrates. With the size of the pickers found on the last days cleanup, there's most likely a few more to be found. Hopefully we'll see at the next meeting.
For the first time, Club Members made an effort to get holes started prior to the weekend's main event. Club President Jim and local GA member Dennis put the first dredge in on Wednesday and ran a tank dry in the chilly spring water. On Thursday they were joined by Bob. Dennis put in his dredge, and the three did a session, enlarging the main hole Jim started, and creating a secondary hole about 20 feet upstream. By the time that day ended all three were chilled to their bones. Bob did one last dredge session on Friday attempting to get through the hard pack, and widened the hole a bit. At this point the area looked alomst as if it was the end of the outing, not just the beginning.
Pre-weekend excitement, 25 foot tree top section lands in the middle of the camp. Caretaker Brian clearing the mess.
The Main event.
With most members arriving at the site on Friday, Saturdays, dig had a fantastic start. After a brief Do's and Don'ts by Jim and Bob, Tom took to the main hole and first time dredgers Les and George learned the ropes enlarging the second hole. John was looking forward to taking a turn at the nozzle, but chose not to due to an injury to his thumb. He however overcame this and tendered Toms dredge keeping it running smooth. Tom was able to punch through to bedrock in the morning session, something that usually would occur only late Sunday if ever during past events. That first morning cleanup showed the typical specks and small flood gold usually found. But the quantity looked promising.
In the afternoon Tom went right back at it in the main hole, working the bedrock, removing more hard pack getting the area larger and larger. George did a second session working the other hole even larger. The afternoon's cleanup's black mat yet again showed the typical specks and small flood gold. A bit more than in the morning.
I believe thats Tom's foot there.
Dwayne checking the dredge.
Saturday evening the club had a great BBQ. Shane and Dennis BBq'd up some
of the Best Chicken, Ribs, and Venison the clubs ever tasted. Thanks again
to Shane and Dennis for this fine dinner.
Shane tending his super smoker.
Uuuummmmm Chicken....
Dwayne, Jim, Paulette, George and Les
Tommy helping out while John prepares some Garlic Bread.
Tom and Raelynn heading over for dinner.
Sunday. Sunday, Sunday... Tom yet again took to the main hole, working the
section of bedrock ever larger. Bob stepped into the other hole, and attempted
to punch through the hardpack, getting a 1 foot by 2 foot hole down to about the
5 foot level, but never did get through. When the tanks ran dry, both agreed
that it was the last dredging of the outing. The events hard work came to
an end. Cleaning up these last two runs showed the best ever. A small
picker in each, some chunky smaller pieces, and lots of fines all combined to make
a nice streak long streak across the pan.
Dwayne clearing out Toms line
Dyawne and Bob bringing home the concentrates.
Georgia Hardpack...
One of the bags of concentrates.
