How about Gold prospectors in the Australian outback with metal detectors in a big 4wd with all the supplies, gear for camping, rifles, off road motor bike on trailer, digging gear, ... satelite phone, radios, ....and all the dangers with snakes, crocodiles, heat, insects, getting lost, old Mines, breakdowns, Aboriginals, Rugged terrain, soft desert bogging sands, other prospectors, giant Wedge-tailed Eagles, large Lizards, Emus, Kangeroos, Dingos, Roo shooters, Cattle Stations, Wild horses called Brumbies, wild Camels, ... Mining Camps, People going Troppo (mad), Wet seasons, droughts, Twisters, Floods, Wild fires, ...?, Remote desert towns, ....Booze, ...crime, ...mining claims, ... finding gold nuggets or pegging out big ore claims! Lithium, Iron ore, Nickel, Copper, Alumina, ....old tailings...Claim jumpers .... Skills suggested :Chemist/Geologist/ Mechanic/ Driver/First aid/ Prospectors/Technician/...Cook/ ...Permits/ Legalese/.. The goal is to find gold or other precious metals or big Ore deposits to be pegged and claimed by Satelite phone/ internet.
Terry sounds like that story could go on forever. But let's give it a crack. I am an old (60) but wiser these days, weather beaten prospector named "rabbit" Folley. Rabbits like digging and some wag from Cloncurry gave me that nickname 30 yr ago and it sort of stuck. Struck it rich too once or twice over the years but drunk away most of the profits or gave it away to three ex missus for alimony. Robbing women...
Agreed Craig, Let's just use them as suggestions and backdrop, How about each of us pick from those ideas taking turns introducing the new paragraph, or scene. Or start a new issue? I have a few slowly bubbling up. Says Horri having a quiet Beer with Rabbit Foley: "Rabbit Foley, 60 is not too old nowadays. You still have a decade of fossicking in you, another beer? My shout. Anyway, things are getting a bit quiet for me work wise right now and I reckon that the weather is just perfect for fossicking as we head into winter. Fancy a collaborative effort West to Yarloo way? We work more efficiently metal detecting together as you know, a third would be even better. How's the new GPS in your truck going? ...
Yeh I traded in my old mule for the truck a few years back for obvious reasons. GPS? Dont have it. You mentioned Yarloo. I recall digging for opals there .. ooh 20 years back now. Spent three months found one or two small stones.. plenty to keep me in liquor and mule food for a while till the next town. Not sure about joining with anyone as I have always prospected alone. But I can be persuaded.. the old codger said rubbing his thumb across his fingers, indicating a money handout.
Well Rabbit, will you take your truck too? I'll give you a GPS, my old one. What about your metal detector, is it still the old Rodgers Mk II? There's much better nowadays. I take tourists out to the fields sometimes and get them camping and metal detecting with the set of 4 Jiiaroos I have. They're fine midrange modern gear, a nice price at about $1200 each with a simple display. Long lasting battery charge too. I have 3 big Vehicle batteries and 2 generators that charge the detectors, ...and all the fric#ing batteries. Still, one must admit there're needed out there. I'll give you a detector like mine if you come join me for at least a month. I've just bought 3 of the latest Wombat mk IV models, which cost me $5k each. Tax deductible at least for most of my work. Finding Gold nuggets is not taxable, but taking out tourists is. I have a Wombat IV here outside in my 4WD. I'll give you it plus $15k upfront and 20% of any profit we make if you promise me at least July. I have a gut feeling about a remote area with no claims near it. Use the $15 k Rabbit to gear up if you're in. How's your old dog Snorkler? I got a scuffy little morgrel Snake dog I call Biff. He's alert and very quick. I carry an extensive First aid box with anti venom in the Beer fridge. You've got a sixth sense for prospecting Rabbit, I'd really like your opinion on this area I've got my eye on. There's safety in numbers and say $700 per 10 hour day, on top of the Wombat IV detector, a 20% share of profits and $15k up front?
Ok I'm in if you fix me up with a new detector as mine has seen better days. Yes I'll take my old bus. She is one of the earlier Range Rover models I picked up second hand in Murwillumbah after my old girl Mable kicked the bucket. She carried my stuff for 10yr and never gave me any trouble. Unlike human females. This rubbish about mules being stubborn.. phtt. Snorter.. my blue heeler. He's as old as me.. my best mate now Mable has gone.
Blue Healers are brilliant dogs Rabbit. Tough, healthy and very smart. Long lived too I hear. Great Cattle dogs as well. My Heinz variety little mongrel Biff is mostly Terrier I reckon. He's a great snake dog with great senses and lightening fast reflexes. He likes going up front.
Hello, lads. My name is Sadie Smith. I’d like to join your expedition if I may. I am a geologist in search of unusual rocks. I have my own transportation and supplies. I am strong and can do my share of the work. I can cook over a campfire; nothing fancy; mostly beans and whatever meat is available. Y’all kill it and I’ll cook it.
Welcome to the expedition Sadie. Showing a bit of leg there. Old "rabbit" has always been a leg man. Me and Horrie have been sorting out our supplies. Plenty of tinned tucker, noodles, flour, powdered milk, eggs for hamper, rolled oats and 20 kilos of fresh water. Have added several prospecting necessities. Rabbit took a piece of paper from his pocket and read out loud. Magnifier/eye loupe, sand separators, electronic scales, gold bottles and snifters, hand pumps, crevicing tools, concentrate cleaners and half dozen of the latest gold panning kits. Some of these items may seem old hat to the modern prospector.. but I have always sworn by them.
'Welcome from me too Sadie Smith. Horace Littleproud or Horrie at your service, and tips his hat and offers Sadie his card. 'I'm a qualified Cadastral and Mining Surveyor who loves a bit of Prospecting too during quite times. I live in the small mining township of Yalgoo 115km west of here from this town of Mount Magnet. My home office isn't as big as my shed. Are you new here? Maybe from Geraldton on the coast 520 km west of here. I go there to surf in the hot summer months. Too hot to work. I have a jet ski too I tow there. I peg out land and mining claims, and do all the documents and create maps for clients, often far afield too for other Geologists. I drove the 115km to talk to Rabbit here to join me on a prospecting adventure trip. Surveying with all the high tech gear nowadays it's very easy and quick. I don't even need a Chainman assistant like in the old days. Just me and my dog Biff usually. Another Loner like Rabbit. I even have some underground mine contracts too. At least they're still cool during summer. Sping, it's tourists with sightseeig, Desert Flowers and amateur Prospecting with average metal detectors. I have a top shelf Wombat II and lead them to the the little bits of gold about. Even damper and Billy tea. Anyway, see this remote area here on the map of the Yalgoo gold fields, I have a feeling about it. No big mines and seems little prospecting has been done there except for maybe a century ago. It's a very rugged area with dangerous snakes and old abandoned mining shafts hidden by bushes and thin rusted old tin, covered with dirt. Often done deliberetly to hide them from scroungers long ago. One can fall into those old shafts with dire consequences. I carry a 15m long rope ladder for them and I've trained Biff a bit to bark at them if he finds one. He reckons he's boss that way. Rabbit has the nose for prospecting and I beliebe knows all the land about from Goldsworthy to Norseman to Kalgoorlie to Geralton and up all around the Pilbara. Pity you can't metal detect Diamonds in the Kimberleys. So I have offered him $15k Cash to kit out, a brand new Wombat II metal detector worth $5k and a 20% share of any profits. Would that be acceptable for you Sadie? A trained real Geologist would really help. A minimun of one month, July. Happy to negotiate. I studied only one unit of basic Geology whilst at Curtain University 20 years ago.So saying I saw a lot of quartz about the area in question, went up on foot with Biff and looked around for 3 days shooting 3 snakes, and found a track on the way down. Drivable, I tested it. I bet Rabbit knows it, don't you Rabbit? Your old mule could go anywhere. Sorry to yabber on so, but I haven't spoke to anyone but Biff for 4 months. Drinks again, my shout, what's your poison Sadie?
I'll have a nice cold one of these, Horrie. Shall we all meet at Colonel Richie's place to prepare for our expedition? You remember him from another story, don't you? Seemed to be a nice enough bloke.