My Best Year Ever!! CAPTN_SE's '07 Totals!!!

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year to All!!

Today is a bittersweet day with now many fond memories of last year still fresh in my mind.  2007 was a year I will never forget.  It surpassed all my previous years of md'ing combined.  I met and have detected with many knowledgable and enthusiastic md'ers in '07.  I consider all of them my good friends.   I have also helped many here on Tnet with their Explorer detectors, giving them hints/pointers and intial setup advise; more than a hundred questions from newbies and experienced hunters.  I really did feel like a "CAPTAIN". 

All of these finds you will see would not have been possible if I had worked a 40-50 hr. week like I have been doing in the past 15 years.  '07 was unique.  In mid '06 through the beginning of '07, I came down with chronic fatigue syndrome and stayed on medical leave/disability for the duration of that time.   My disabling chronic fatigue was caused by a wheat/gluten intolerance (celiac) which hampered my body's ability to absorb key nutrients/minerals in my food.  Being fatigue was a definite understatement.  I could barely walk up 5 stairs to my kitchen in Dec. '06.  It was very depressing and frightening.  Before this all happened, I was an avid runner(30-40Km/wk) and backpacker.  Under a strict diet, I also needed to get outside and keep my body moving, which my doctor said would benefit me more than being immobile all day.  I decided to try detecting again, after taking a near 15 year hiatus from a hobby I thoroughly enjoyed back in my teens.   I brushed off the dust from my Whites 6000 Di Pro and started swinging my coil at a local park.  At first, I couldn't even detect for 15 minutes. Each time I bent down to recover my find left me completely exhausted,and my muscles twitching profusely.  While at home, I found Tnet and a local CA detecting forum on the Net.  Everyone's finds inspired me to continue to go out and detect a little each day, no matter how bad I felt.  Within weeks, 15 minute detecting days increased to 30 minute days.  Within months, I was able to detect for a few hours, and feeling much better than I had in a while.  My finds weren't that great in the beginning(I managed a few silver coins), but it was just my increased stamina that I looked forward to each and every day I got out detecting.  After meeting up with some avid md'ers in my area early in Jan. '07, I decided that I wanted to take my hobby to the next level.  With their advice, I traded my old detector in for a Minelab SE.  The machine was so different than my older detector.  I wasn't sure I made the right decision, but didn't give up.  In short time, I was starting to get the hang of the machine, while my body was healing in the process.  It didn't take me long to find my first silver coin.  I struck silver on my second hunt with my SE.  I was ecstatic.  Looking back on some of my first posts with my SE, I see I was finding 1 to 2 silver coins for each hunt.   As the months went by, and my knowledge of my machine and my stamina started to increase, my old coin finds were equally rising.  Soon, I could detect over a half a day, and was starting to find 3 to 4 silver coins each hunt.  This inspired me to continue, creating an obsession to hunt whenever I was able to.   My silver fix grew, and my finds started to get even better.  My 3-4 silver days started to increase to 5-6, followed by a few 8-12 silver days.  Almost everyone on the detecting forums started to wonder who I was, and a few began questioning whether I was actually finding my coins.  After meeting with about 7-8 other md'ers in my area, it didn't take long for them to see I was an honest person who was leeching the ground of old coinage at a better than average rate.     I had such a great time with everyone I've hunted with in '07.  The comeraderie/friendships/competitiveness was priceless!  I even got to travel to Iowa/Nebraska with a couple of my best buddies and had a wonderful week hunting there. Over 90% of my finds in '07 came from a total of 55 parks within a 60 mile radius of my home.  That's a lot of turf!!  Today, I'm about 80% back to my old self in terms of my stamina, which I consider my greatest achievement in '07.  I'm very glad I found Tnet and my local forum (Kinzli) in '07.  I've made many lasting friendships, while also making a few green with envy.  Thanks to all for helping to inspire me, and for making '07 my best detecting year of my life.

Happy New Year,
CAPTN SE
Dan

more pics..

Mercs Vs. Rosies...
My Halfs
My Quarters

Great totals and great pictures, glad we actually get to see what you look like.
Make 2008 and even greater year.
I always look forward to your post.
Thanks for sharing!
Rob

PS.  Forgot to mention I am glad you are on the road to good health and hope everything goes well for you from hear on out.

more...

"3001 Wheat Odyssey"...And some of my lucky charms...

Very impressive Capt Se! Just sulking over my Illinois Rose Bowl loss, thought i would cheer myself up by looking at T-NET. Glad i did. What a year you had. Glad to hear your feeling better. Happy New year.
GO ILLINI
Coinman66


PS: Let me take a guess, your a USC fan?

WOW!!  I've been hunting for about 5 solid years now, and can't even come close to those totals!! Way to go buddie! 

I truly hope that you continue to get better and be able to hunt. I wonder if I have chronic fatigue as well. I'm exhausted ALL the time. I'll have to check into it. Happy New Year to you!!

HH,
Moon

WOW and Holy Cr*p! I wish I knew you when I lived outside Riverside. I did some detecting while I was in the Marines. I wish I would have had a water machine then.

Dan,

It has been an awesome year for you. I have always enjoyed your threads to the fullest, bud. But, most of all, I cherish your friendship even more. You have a passion for this hobby like no other and it truly shows in your finds. Not only have you learned to conquer the fatigue, but you have also surpassed the limits of normalcy...you definitely are not the average detectorist.

Like I stated, it has been an honor to befriend you this year, my friend. Of all the lessons you have taught Tnet members this year, the main one I "put into my heart and hold with metal detecting love" is your unuttered motto: Never give up!

Thank you for the laughs this year as well.

Keep swinging with the fever, my friend! 2008 will treat you well!

Bone Dry Detecting...Kirk

     

Dan,
All I can say is, I didn't know all those old coins existed in Cali parks, and I wish I was into MDing when I lived out there. 
Good God Man, what a great year for you!!! You could fund a LOT of new equipment with that haul.
3001 Wheaties is amazing. I think I have about 80 at best. 
Looking forward to seeing you finds in 08'.  You're post have been most enjoyable.  ;)
Congrats Dan,
Doug

Amazing ! Truly AMAZING 

Congrats on the GREAT YEAR !!!

I have always enjoyed reading your post...

GOOD LUCK IN 08

Don't tell Disability your better or your hunting hours will be diminished 

We wouldn't want that....

Happy New Year  Dan   

                                       DPSB

Dan you obviously had a great year and hopefully a full return to health...will you be working in 08?  I find plenty of time to hunt and I work full time.  But I do work midnights, which allows me to hunt a few hours each morning when I feel like it.  Also I notice you have tons of silver, in fact a ton...  great work on the silver.  How many gold pieces did you find?  Maybe this is an area other Explorer users could help you with....  I see a few guys pulling a ton of gold with Explorers and talked to one this summer in person.  Are you intentionally running with your discrimination high...I think if this is the case...dropping it and recovering even a few gold pieces more would be worth it...Well hopefully your health comes around to 100%....  Keep up the great finds...    

Good work there, Captn.  Your story is very inspiring.  Congrats on conquering your illness and on all your great finds.  Keep it going.
                                                                       Bob

Capt,
   What a great story and a great hoard of coins and jewelry. So glad you made it back to health as well as you have and hope you come around full swing in 2008.
   Thanks for sharing this with us and the photos. You are an inspiration to us all. Continued Blessings and Success... Highwater

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year to All!!

Today is a bittersweet day with now many fond memories of last year still fresh in my mind.  2007 was a year I will never forget.  It surpassed all my previous years of md'ing combined.  I met and have detected with many knowledgable and enthusiastic md'ers in '07.  I consider all of them my good friends.   I have also helped many here on Tnet with their Explorer detectors, giving them hints/pointers and intial setup advise; more than a hundred questions from newbies and experienced hunters.  I really did feel like a "CAPTAIN". 

All of these finds you will see would not have been possible if I had worked a 40-50 hr. week like I have been doing in the past 15 years.  '07 was unique.  In mid '06 through the beginning of '07, I came down with chronic fatigue syndrome and stayed on medical leave/disability for the duration of that time.   My disabling chronic fatigue was caused by a wheat/gluten intolerance (celiac) which hampered my body's ability to absorb key nutrients/minerals in my food.  Being fatigue was a definite understatement.  I could barely walk up 5 stairs to my kitchen in Dec. '06.  It was very depressing and frightening.  Before this all happened, I was an avid runner(30-40Km/wk) and backpacker.  Under a strict diet, I also needed to get outside and keep my body moving, which my doctor said would benefit me more than being immobile all day.  I decided to try detecting again, after taking a near 15 year hiatus from a hobby I thoroughly enjoyed back in my teens.   I brushed off the dust from my Whites 6000 Di Pro and started swinging my coil at a local park.  At first, I couldn't even detect for 15 minutes. Each time I bent down to recover my find left me completely exhausted,and my muscles twitching profusely.  While at home, I found Tnet and a local CA detecting forum on the Net.  Everyone's finds inspired me to continue to go out and detect a little each day, no matter how bad I felt.  Within weeks, 15 minute detecting days increased to 30 minute days.  Within months, I was able to detect for a few hours, and feeling much better than I had in a while.  My finds weren't that great in the beginning(I managed a few silver coins), but it was just my increased stamina that I looked forward to each and every day I got out detecting.  After meeting up with some avid md'ers in my area early in Jan. '07, I decided that I wanted to take my hobby to the next level.  With their advice, I traded my old detector in for a Minelab SE.  The machine was so different than my older detector.  I wasn't sure I made the right decision, but didn't give up.  In short time, I was starting to get the hang of the machine, while my body was healing in the process.  It didn't take me long to find my first silver coin.  I struck silver on my second hunt with my SE.  I was ecstatic.  Looking back on some of my first posts with my SE, I see I was finding 1 to 2 silver coins for each hunt.   As the months went by, and my knowledge of my machine and my stamina started to increase, my old coin finds were equally rising.  Soon, I could detect over a half a day, and was starting to find 3 to 4 silver coins each hunt.  This inspired me to continue, creating an obsession to hunt whenever I was able to.   My silver fix grew, and my finds started to get even better.  My 3-4 silver days started to increase to 5-6, followed by a few 8-12 silver days.  Almost everyone on the detecting forums started to wonder who I was, and a few began questioning whether I was actually finding my coins.  After meeting with about 7-8 other md'ers in my area, it didn't take long for them to see I was an honest person who was leeching the ground of old coinage at a better than average rate.     I had such a great time with everyone I've hunted with in '07.  The comeraderie/friendships/competitiveness was priceless!  I even got to travel to Iowa/Nebraska with a couple of my best buddies and had a wonderful week hunting there. Over 90% of my finds in '07 came from a total of 55 parks within a 60 mile radius of my home.  That's a lot of turf!!  Today, I'm about 80% back to my old self in terms of my stamina, which I consider my greatest achievement in '07.  I'm very glad I found Tnet and my local forum (Kinzli) in '07.  I've made many lasting friendships, while also making a few green with envy.  Thanks to all for helping to inspire me, and for making '07 my best detecting year of my life.

Happy New Year,
CAPTN SE
Dan

Dan
which coil do you use the most I have tried them all except for the kellyco ones and have found that the X-8 sunray works well for me great finds going to be hard to beat  for sure  good luck in 2008 HH RonC

Truly amazing finds Captain SE, may 2008 be just as good to you. Continued Success and good hunting.

Two words:

Great post Cptn SE, you inspired me to post something I always wanted to share with you all. Check it out if you get a chance. Thanks for all you do!!!

Whoa...  that's quite a story and even more incredible year!

Congrats!

What a great post and not just for the coins!!  My first detector was the Whites 6000Di Pro and I thought is was a great detector(for its time).  Congrats on one very impressive year and with all those Parks your silver count can't do anything but go up, up and up!!  3000 wheats may be hard to top tho!!  Continued success for next year and I hope to see even more silver!!

Dan. Great post as always...but more importantly...I'm glad I've gotten to know you...even if it's just through Tnet. I feel like you are a great friend even though we've never met in person. When I state over and over that you really helped me out...there's no bull to it. I truly feel I was starting to get pretty good with my SE...especially with my 6" coil. I then picked up a slight setting change from you...and the 1050 coil tip....and WHOA NELLIE . I then combined what I learned on my own through lots of in field testing...WITH the tips from you...and shared it with my buddies and they have ALL vastly improved there silver finds because of it. Good things happen to good people..and buddy you are "good people"

Dan seeing it all together like that leaves me a little lost for words and I would say ive been with you hunting or by text for well over a hundread of your Silver coin finds and who know how many Wheats, So I just want to thank you for your time in teaching me how to metal detect and being my goal to beat in Silver coins finds on one of our hunts i'll get you this year maybe LOL

A stellar year congrats bud.

Your finds this year are awesome!!!!! It was a pleasure reading your posts and watching the short movies! Hope 2008 will be a special one for you, it couldn't of happened to a better guy! WTG!!!!!! HH

http://www.food4celiacs.com/ShopOnline/index.html
gluten free products  ;)

Dan it's been a great year for you with some major milestones reached . Im truelly honered to have met and hunted with you this year and look forward to our future hunts in 2008 . I've never seen anyone pull as much silver and wheats in one year like you did . And I was witness to many of your milestones this year . Your the Silver King without a doubt and beating that record will be hard for anyone to do . May your reign be a long and prosperous one . You have my vote for the Banner !....

HEY DAN,
              AMAZING, everything, the story the inspiration the finds! Youve had a great and challenging year I can see. Im happy to hear that ur getting better and MDing helped you with that. Mding seems to help many with many different problems! Again so happy, for ur health! We need to get together and hunt it up! Hope to see u in the parks and on the beach!! Congrats on such a great year! Hope you get to 100% this year!

Crackbadger

how many hours to find all that about?

Slow down, you are taking all the good stuff out of the ground
Nice haul
HH

[Why is lemonade made with artificial flavor and dish soap is made with real lemons?]

Fantastic yr. Capt, very nice, good luck in '08 and best wishes for a full recovery.
Glenn

     A fabulous year!

Hey Capt,Truly a banner year for you man!!! I've been reading your posts whenever I catch 'em and you are an inspiration to alot of people,myself included and I'm going on my 27th year in this great hobby!Your silver totals are amazing,and although sceptical at first I have no doubt that you are an honest man and that your dedication to this hobby is unsurpassed!!! I hope '08 keeps you in good health and the silver keeps poppin' for you although with that kind of take I think your gonna have to travel a little more if your gonna keep up those kind of totals for '08 as you must have considerably thinned out the silver in the parks you've been hunting.I take it that 1858 O seated half must be your favorite coin this year as proudly as you've displayed it.It would have been my favorite find this year too if that little gold piece hadn't popped for me! I'll reiterate,turn that discriminator down and dig a little more junk and I'm sure you'll be rewarded with a gold piece too,you are definitely in the right geographic location!!! Congrats on making the banner man,you are definitely deserving!!!!!!!!! Bootstrap

Captain SE,

I expected a haul like yours from the BEACH in CA.  YOU must be a genius at hunting.

Can you share some techniques with us? For example, what kind of parks do you hunt?  You MUST have some tips for us on location within the parks: age of parks, big, small, hunting techniques, detector settings or type whatever...

Glad to hear God Blessed you with improving health. That is your most important find.

SnoreKneesDayton
The snow is here "6" and blowing at 13 degrees.

    The determination you have shown with the items you have found..........Shows us ,if you put your heart into it and over come obstacles.  You can achieve almost anything!  Good luck detecting in 2008

                                                                                                       

Dan, you are truly an amazing metal detecting specimen.  Dude, ever since your first post on tnet, I always knew that you were a "special" addition to this sweet family here.  Through the good times and the bad, you were determined to stay positive, allowing you to surpass any metal detecting or physical obstacles.

I can bet the farm that you will have another outstanding season in 2008.  As always, keep the passion high, and swinging with an extreme fever.

Bone Dry Detecting...KylePA

P.S. Kirk and I are looking forward to more of the "covering ground" technique videos.

Dan that is amazing, not just the finds and MD, but the partial recovery from gluten-sensitive enteropathy.  I have a few friends with the celiac decease, and I believe it's a genetic disease ( the genes for the condition may be transmitted to some family members and not to others.) But even with the strict diet, they are not getting back to a good or better condition as well as you have, that is great!  anyway, being a Doctor my self, that is not my specialty, but the two good friends with the condition told me about http://www.csaceliacs.org/ which they have a good support network there.  Again, super wonderful finds and good control over your  celiac sprue!.


WireBender(marcus)

HOLY SMOKES!!! You sure eat a lot of peanuts. Those finds are awesome!! I am blown away!!! OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Captn ......

Your will, drive, and determination to overcome are truley Amazing !!  To aim,focus and concentrate your mind on recovering the mini treasures and away from chronic fatique syndrome shows courage and human spirit !!

I'm here now 30 minutes thinking what to say and nothing works ! Impossible to grasp overcoming pain unless you've been through it !

All I can say is AWESOME post and I am more then happy your getting healthier day by day !
A New Year and wishes to you for 100% mobility, Good Health,and GREAT TREASURES !!!

Anything I can do for ya just ask !

D.
P/S ...LOVED the finds !!!!

[I think you and CRACKBADGER should get in a fist fight - winner takes all]

CAPTN_SE



Thats


I think you and CRACKBADGER should get in a fist fight - winner takes all!

Looks like you had a fantastic year. I am happy for you. that was awesome.

Have a Happy 08

Wow!! That's a lot of diggin and finding Dan. So very impressive and inspiring buddy!!

I have visited this thread several times already to drool over your awesome finds and I will be back to look and dream some more.

Congrats on a fantastic 2007!!! Wooowhooo!!!

Best of luck in 2008.

I can't wait for the spring thaw.
We just got about 10-12 inches of snow yesterday. Uggg  
So you get out and find some goodies for me OK!!

Smiles!
BDoo

Great stuff!!! You are clearly the Captain!

Glad you made the comeback.  This year will be even better I am sure.

Jim

Captain SE,

What a fantastic year!!!!!!!!!!!  I want to thank you for helping me out with my machine.  It has been paying dividends.  I started about Nov. 1st and I have 19 silvers before the year was out.  I think I can easily hit 100 in the first year detecting.

Keep your coil in the soil!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,
Jon Dickinson.

Dan,
Absolutely amazing.  You have been an inspiration to me.  Thanks for being so willing to teach us newbies a few things.  I am glad you are recovering physically and getting stronger each day.
I can vouch for Dan's genuine finds as I hit the turf with him this year.  He absolutely schooled me, plucking silver using his SE that my Ace 250 could not find (he would let me scan the spot before he dug and my detector didn't signal anything being there).  
I am very happy for you Dan and hope 08 is a great year for you as well.  Thanks for all you give to the Tnet community.
Turtleman

Great finds and a truly amazing and inspiring story!

Congratulations, and I hope you have a wonderful and safe 2008.

Thanks for sharing!

Lonnie

Dan,

Although we have never met, I always enjoy your posts.  Green with envy???  That's an understatement!  I only wish I could find a fraction of what your digging.  Simply un-freaking-believable!!!  You are an inspiration to us all.

Keep swinging and keep digging buddy, 2008 might even be a better year now that your stamina is back in check.


Kindest Regards,

Greg (C2MU)

Dan,

Great post and an amazing story.  As a rookie MDer, I've followed your posts and was envious of your finds, wishing I had taken up this hobby when I lived in California.  I'm glad your health is returning and detecting was your source of inspiration.  Maybe you should sell the movie rights

  Whoa! What a haul!
That's just an amazing amount of silver Rosies and Mercs!
 That Seated Half is AWESOME!
 Congrats on the killer year!
 Here's to your health  ;), and to even more goodies next year!

 TBK>

[Congrats]

A BIG Congrats to you Dan!!

Amazing finds and a great story. Here I thought you were detecting 8 hours a day 

Even though I'm a generation up from you...YOU...are my inspiration and due to that I really did find my Merc that I so much wanted to find.

We have some additional parallels too (besides both being in Long Beach). I survived a bout of Guillan Barre syndrome in 2006 and it made me weak as a kitten. Through detecting I'm back to about 80% strength also (I just say the slight limp is an old war injury  )

Keep up the great detecting ... we're watching.

Happy and Healthy and Prosperous New Year,  Joe

Dan,
Congrats on your well deserved BANNER!!!!
Awesome finds this year.
Congrats,
Doug

 

that is one super pile of silver  man you have had a great year  congrats on the banner

HH Vrent

Your health is steadily improving and you have some super friends along the way.

I think that's what this hobby is all about.

Blessings to you and yours for this new year.  You're good, I just hope you're not in Arkansas   Hope to see many more posts in the times to come.

aj

Yes! When I saw you up on the banner that made pretty freakin' happy! Congratulations my friend...

It's been great to watch it all happen firsthand, from that first day at Rec. Park when you were swinging the 6000di (you even got a merc or two that day too!), to learning the Explorer ropes (my claim to fame--I actually showed Dan something!) to all our local haunts and hunts, to San Francisco, Iowa, the Barrio and beyond... It's been a great ride to be a part of. You're truly a great hunter, but more importantly a great person who I'm very proud to call my friend. Always calling or texting to let me know what's going on, never secretive about a new location, always willing to share in the fun of the hunt and the friendship over the competition (although there's always good competition!); it's been a fun, fun year.

Here's looking forward to 2008! I think there's still plenty left... Time to get out there and swinging again!

Truly inspiring story, and thanks for sharing a bit of that personal life with us. Truly, the hobby and your friends played a key role in you getting back to health.

Congrats on a GREAT year!

Way to go Captain!!! You Da Man!! 

May '08 Be Just As Great....

HH, Hank

Hello Captain ! Congrats on a great year.I hope your health & finds continue to improve in 2008 !

Great job in 07 Dan. Good to see that you are feeling better.

I have one question... After being out of the MD'ing scene for so long. How did you manage to jump back into it and find all these great spots with silver? I can tell ya that I spend hours upon hours researching old camps and whatnot, and while I do very good for the time I get to detect, it seems that I could do more. My silver totals for the year are somehwere around 50 out of my keeper total for the year being around 80. Not to mention all of the buttons and relics. Again... All great finds but dam, the silver seems to jump up and surrender to you. C'mon man, what's your secret??? 

Makes me want to fly out to Cali to see how you do it. Maybe I should I trade in my DFX? lol

Jeff

Agreed. Those are some amazing finds, especially from CA as that state isn't terribly old. In Ohio, I hit almost 40 silvers for the year and get out on a regular basis. What are your secrets if you feel up to sharing? You should write a book (laughing)!!!

This hobby is not only great for recreation but for you is sounded like the best therapy you could have...Just what the Doctor ordered.Unbelievable find's this year Dan.....Truly incredible and an inspiration for everyone who want's to go out and find mass quantitie's of silver including me.I might even try the "SE SHUFFLE" a time or two.Thank's for sharing and Best Of Luck in 08'...

He kinda reminds me of the guy on Everyone Loves Raymond!!!!!

KFB

AWESOME

Congratulations and may your 2008 surpass 2007.

Awesome year Dan.  I can't even come up with any more adjectives to describe it.  Just awesome.  Keep at it in 2008 buddy!

Rob

Incredible....Just incredible!  Keep up the great work, and hoping your health improves during 2008!  ;)

All i can say is AWESOME    goodluck for 2008 Captn  ;) great pics to !

just 3 words

inspiring, thank you ...

vp
Bone Dry Detecting

Dan,

Your post is just so inspirational.  You had a very impressive year...congrats!  May '08 be just as great!

 ;) RR

BANNER!!!!!!!!!!!

       Congrats Dan, You better step it up for 08, u know I am!

Crackbadger

WOW grats thats a lot of great coins and silver of coarse .
Grats

thanks for shareing
jim

Dan...what a great story!  Your finds are amazing.   

I'm glad you're feeling better! 

Wow, I'm speechless!

That's a terrific haul.

HH

sparkymaster

Beautiful...

What are you going to do with your finds?

Healthier, wealthier and wiser, it was a very good year. Now that your THE competition you have to outdo yourself, best of luck.

INCREDIBLE!!! How many hours do you think you put in last year finding all those goodies, or how many days a week do you average Swingin' the SE?

Thanks, your post is an inspiration.

KirkTN

can you say, to good to be true

What can I say. Amazing, incredible, unbeleivable. That is the most impressive collection of coins I've ever seen man I am so jealous.. And to think it all came from the ground. It would have taken me years to collect all those from a coin shop or something..

Gotta Hand it to you, Congrats!!!

Congrats on all the finds. You had an incredible year both detecting and personally. I know exactly the problems associated with celiacs. My neice was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes and celiacs when she was 3. She is 6 now. The diabetes was bad enough but the celiac completely changed my families eating habits.
Good luck with everything and keep the digs going.

PS...If you have any questions regarding celiacs you can pm me and I can get you in touch with my brother. He and his wife have done alot of research into the disease and might be able to help answer some questions.

Great finds.   
Hope you are feeling better.

  & 

Dan, you had an outstanding metal detecting year in 2007.  For doing such a fantastic job you are now promoted to MAJOR-SE as of June  4, 2008. Keep the faith, swing slow and low.  Best wishes on your health. GH, Don

WoW! Its amazing to see your finds from 07'. No wonder you are soo good at metal detecting! Keep on detecting!!! 

Simply amazing amount of stuff!
CurbdiggerCarl

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year to All!!

Today is a bittersweet day with now many fond memories of last year still fresh in my mind.  2007 was a year I will never forget.  It surpassed all my previous years of md'ing combined.  I met and have detected with many knowledgable and enthusiastic md'ers in '07.  I consider all of them my good friends.   I have also helped many here on Tnet with their Explorer detectors, giving them hints/pointers and intial setup advise; more than a hundred questions from newbies and experienced hunters.  I really did feel like a "CAPTAIN". 

All of these finds you will see would not have been possible if I had worked a 40-50 hr. week like I have been doing in the past 15 years.  '07 was unique.  In mid '06 through the beginning of '07, I came down with chronic fatigue syndrome and stayed on medical leave/disability for the duration of that time.   My disabling chronic fatigue was caused by a wheat/gluten intolerance (celiac) which hampered my body's ability to absorb key nutrients/minerals in my food.  Being fatigue was a definite understatement.  I could barely walk up 5 stairs to my kitchen in Dec. '06.  It was very depressing and frightening.  Before this all happened, I was an avid runner(30-40Km/wk) and backpacker.  Under a strict diet, I also needed to get outside and keep my body moving, which my doctor said would benefit me more than being immobile all day.  I decided to try detecting again, after taking a near 15 year hiatus from a hobby I thoroughly enjoyed back in my teens.   I brushed off the dust from my Whites 6000 Di Pro and started swinging my coil at a local park.  At first, I couldn't even detect for 15 minutes. Each time I bent down to recover my find left me completely exhausted,and my muscles twitching profusely.  While at home, I found Tnet and a local CA detecting forum on the Net.  Everyone's finds inspired me to continue to go out and detect a little each day, no matter how bad I felt.  Within weeks, 15 minute detecting days increased to 30 minute days.  Within months, I was able to detect for a few hours, and feeling much better than I had in a while.  My finds weren't that great in the beginning(I managed a few silver coins), but it was just my increased stamina that I looked forward to each and every day I got out detecting.  After meeting up with some avid md'ers in my area early in Jan. '07, I decided that I wanted to take my hobby to the next level.  With their advice, I traded my old detector in for a Minelab SE.  The machine was so different than my older detector.  I wasn't sure I made the right decision, but didn't give up.  In short time, I was starting to get the hang of the machine, while my body was healing in the process.  It didn't take me long to find my first silver coin.  I struck silver on my second hunt with my SE.  I was ecstatic.  Looking back on some of my first posts with my SE, I see I was finding 1 to 2 silver coins for each hunt.   As the months went by, and my knowledge of my machine and my stamina started to increase, my old coin finds were equally rising.  Soon, I could detect over a half a day, and was starting to find 3 to 4 silver coins each hunt.  This inspired me to continue, creating an obsession to hunt whenever I was able to.   My silver fix grew, and my finds started to get even better.  My 3-4 silver days started to increase to 5-6, followed by a few 8-12 silver days.  Almost everyone on the detecting forums started to wonder who I was, and a few began questioning whether I was actually finding my coins.  After meeting with about 7-8 other md'ers in my area, it didn't take long for them to see I was an honest person who was leeching the ground of old coinage at a better than average rate.     I had such a great time with everyone I've hunted with in '07.  The comeraderie/friendships/competitiveness was priceless!  I even got to travel to Iowa/Nebraska with a couple of my best buddies and had a wonderful week hunting there. Over 90% of my finds in '07 came from a total of 55 parks within a 60 mile radius of my home.  That's a lot of turf!!  Today, I'm about 80% back to my old self in terms of my stamina, which I consider my greatest achievement in '07.  I'm very glad I found Tnet and my local forum (Kinzli) in '07.  I've made many lasting friendships, while also making a few green with envy.  Thanks to all for helping to inspire me, and for making '07 my best detecting year of my life.

Happy New Year,
CAPTN SE
Dan

wow look at all those silvers!

Sorry Dan I missed this back in time. I was going through some of the Banner finds and found this. Your finds, expertise are truly amazing. You are a true dedicated, professional hunter to the word. Hope you will recover soon and be able to go at it again.Ron

I must be getting old .... BUT I sure enjoyed re-visiting that Banner post!! 

Best wishes and I hope you are recovering and we see you out there rescuing more coins and goodies out of the ground.

Joe