Richard Browne, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 12 of 21

Wedding Charm Sails Away from Wedding Bouquet: Barnstable, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Karoline’s day was going perfectly, family, friends, food, beverages, weather, entertainment, you name it it was all perfect, well almost. It seems a bit of wind had untied the knotted string holding a family heirloom, a gold sailboat, close to the bouquet. The sailboat ran aground mooring itself in the soft sand which was soon to be covered by water of the incoming tide.

Many eyes searched and fingers sifted the sand to no avail. As a last resort I was called. My search lasted a bit over two hours covering both the area on the beach and yard also to no avail. About ready to call it a day Karoline’s sister came running and said we have a neighbor’s pictures, some 135 of them, and one shows the sailboat at the feet of the bride and groom. The entourage was on the way to the beach.

Trying to match the photo up with the landscape was no easy task. After the third area was isolated, and I searched it, an area only about 3 inches from one of my previous search marks, the commandeered sailboat was scooped from the fluffy sand. Now I had the fortune to return it to its rightful mooring. One can talk about a million in one, finding the sailboat in the one picture was one of those winning odds.

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Double Ring Return at West Dennis Beach: Dennis, MA – PART 2 OF 2

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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While looking for a lost platinum wedding band I had been told about another lost ring. The first ring was found in about 20 minutes. Now the pre-teen’s father and mother were standing on the beach hoping to “see the Ring”. That was not likely to happen. After a short conversation I started searching for the ring high on the beach face working to the water’s edge. Not finding the ring where I thought it would be, I right away started searching perpendicular to the water and on the second pass the second platinum ring of the hour was in my scoop.

I rinsed off the sand from my scoop and the ring and then let the owner remove his ring from my scoop. Total time from starting to search for one lost ring I ended up finding and returning two rings in less than 40 minutes. What a thrill, for me and both of the men needless to say their wife’s thrill when I gave the sentimental rings back to their husband.

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Double Ring Return at West Dennis Beach: Dennis, MA – PART 1 OF 2

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Dave had called, left a message and sent an e-mail alerting me to his lost ring at a local beach about 22 hours past. It was near Lifeguard chair 2. I was ready and headed out for what I hope to be a quick search, recovery and return. Aha, the dreaded seaweed had invaded my area of search. That seaweed really slowed my search speed down but not my results.

Just after I started searching two pairs of two pre-teenagers asked if I was looking for the lost ring. I said “yes” and was told that I was in the wrong place. Two of the pre-teens were infatic that I needed to go about 20 yards down the beach and that the ring had been lost today. Well, not the ring I was looking for, the ring I was searching for had been lost was laying on the ocean floor for the second day. Little did I know at the time the ring the two boys were talking about was the pre-teen’s father and he had just lost his ring. You guessed it I now had another ring to search for. I told the pre-teens if they stayed away that I would look for their father’s ring right after finding the one I was currently looking for.

I found the first ring in about 15 minutes, a very nice platinum wedding band. I was off to find the second ring. The ring was reunited with Dave an hour later at my house.

See Double Ring Return at West Dennis Part 2


 

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Engagement Ring Returned to Owner by a Ring Finders Team Effort in Dennisport, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Kate never gave up faith that either Luke or I would find her engagement ring. After four low water tries no sparkle of her ring was to be seen. Lost on the 31st of July it was not until the morning of the 2nd of August that everyone came to an agreement on just where the ring should be and we should be searching. It is unbelievably true that both Luke and I had detected over that area more than once. At early morning light I started to the east and Luke to the west of the point. The depth of water were the ring slipped from Kate’s finger was still up for discussion. Needless to say Luke and I would cover the area very carefully again. Within a minute Luke had a signal, dug and re-dug, nothing more was to be heard or seen of the target. Two steps later he heard another signal, dug and re-dug at the target, again the signal was gone, a good sign that the target was in his scoop. Looking into his scoop he saw nothing, no ring, no piece of junk, just a few shells. Then, with laughter and a smile on his face, he called me over to look into his scoop, I saw nothing. “Look harder” Luke said, I did but still saw nothing. “Look on the scoop’s brace plate” I did and there was Kate’s ring, resting on the plate.

Talk about a ring that wanted to hide, Kate’s ring was that ring. It had taken a total of 12 hours detecting before her ring was to be found. During the searches another 5 rings, two religious medals, several fishing weights and lures, coins, pull-tabs, a champagne seal, and many other smaller pieces of metal were retrieved from the sea bed. Upon pulling one ring from the depths I thought I had found the ring. I was unsure of the exact ring style I was searching for, after all how many white gold diamond rings could be lost in such a small area? I took the ring to Kate and she told me it was not hers. It looked like white gold with a diamond on top…turned out to be a silver ring with a clear topaz. As I walked back to the water, even more determined to find Kate’s ring, I was feeling less than wonderful, to say the least. Kate’s ring really took a team effort to find. To Luke and myself it really does not matter, except for bragging rights, who finds a “misplaced” item; it only matters that the owner gets their item returned to them. And that is what we do and did. Best of all was the sincere emotions, appreciation and gratitude shown by Kate and her fiance.

At Luke’s request I am made this post as he has been very busy scuba diving for other lost rings, working and taking care of personal concerns. Please be sure to visit Luke Berube’s blog page here at: TheRingFinders.com/Luke.Berube/ for more of his return blogs.

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Lost / Found / Returned Wedding Band Turns Bad Vacation GREAT! in Dennisport, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 22, 2019

Not knowing how a splendid Nantucket Island vacation was to come to a memorable end Dave and his wife boarded the Hi-speed ferry headed to Hyannis. It seems the weather was bad and many of the passengers were not sea worthy or had not taken their Dramamine to combat motion sickness, heck it is only a short hour ride how bad could it be? It turned out to be one of the longest hours of the vacation. More long hours were still ahead of them that they had not imagined.

Check-in and the accommodations at one of the Cape’s renowned B&Bs promised better times were on the horizon. But that is where they stayed, on the horizon for the next 20 hours, beyond the murky water in the seaweed filled swimming area. Trying their darnedest to make the best of the rough waters and accompanying seaweed, into the high surf they went. Unfortunately that is where Dave’s wedding band decided to spend the night under the watchful eyes of King Neptune and Davey Jones.

A late night E-mail was answered at 2am with a promises I would be ready to search the area at 10:30am or before. Time flies fast when you are having fun and I showed up two hours early. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the dark expanse of seaweed. It looked like it was covering the area that Dave’s wife had marked on a map for the area to search. The best I could do was search the edges of the mass as it was moved by the tide, it was just too thick to swing my detector through. What to do…search outside of the seaweed – for three hours while the tide moved the seaweed away is just what I did.

It was time for Dave and his wife to head home trying to beat the mass exodus from the Cape that happens during the summer months. Three times I was told they were leaving. But, so I was told later, my searching was just too mesmerizing for them to leave. On the third notification I told Dave, not to worry, I would mail the ring to him. However, should I find it within another 15-30 minutes I would call him so he could turn around, come back and pick the ring up before leaving the Cape. He left and in five minutes the ring was in my scoop. I ran to get my cell phone while sunbathers cheered me on. Well, to cut this short, Dave and his wife were still watching from inside the breakfast room. Pictures, hugs and thanks took some time, hopefully not so much as to slow the return trip home caused by heavy vacation traffic. I am sure they would not mind a travel delay after what they had been through and the outcome of my search and the return of Dave’s ring.

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Chair, shark and sand could not keep a ring hidden from The Ring Finder of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 22, 2019

The second day of a heat wave drove Karen and her family to the edge of cool waters and onshore breeze coming off the bay. There was no interest reading or heeding the posted sign about wearing shinny jewelry into the waters. On the beach, a protective layer of sunscreen was in order, but had no place in Karen’s shinny jewelry setting. Rings off, suntan lotion on and the day’s enjoyment began. The incoming tide necessitated moving the chairs to dryer ground. However the arms of the beach chair were not strong enough to hold onto Karen’s ring. The folding arms let the ring slip into the sharks realm.

An evening of searching by lanterns and hands could not coach the ring form its sandy resting place. A voice mail on my Ring Finder’s phone was answered and a 7am meeting to use a metal detector to locate the ring was set. As usual everyone had their idea of were the ring was. Here; No over there; Look for the stone! OK now we were narrowing in on “the” location. Wouldn’t you know, but four visitors looking to secure a prime piece of beach for the day had already claimed the area where the search should progress to. With out our asking, the four picked up and mover well beyond our area of search – Thank you guys. Well as things were going you have probably guessed it, no ring was to be found in that search area.

Moving outside the original box by only two feet up popped the shinny jewel encrusted awesome ring. The engagement and wedding band still bonded together. One that had no place in with the sand with its glittering jewels calling the sharks.

NOTE: Only unconfirmed shark sightings have been recorded in the area searched. But it sure made the blog a bit more than just: Ring Lost, Ring Found, Ring Returned posting.

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Nantucket’s sand could not hide a ring for long before it was Found and Returned.

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Rain, thunder, lightening and other commitments started Friday off as a non-detecting day. But for an out of state phone call … A request for help in finding a very sentimental engagement ring which belonged to the caller’s mother had been lost in the ocean. The loss occurred at the base of the Steps Beach, an hour ferry ride away. Having a day to make reservations, pack a detecting bag, complete what I had to do, get a good nights rest, and to think about how the ring I was going to search for was lost. Every ring has a story and this one was no exception.

Jeff had worn his mother’s rings since her passing, I could not let Jeff down. It was Jeff’s youngest son who had unintentionally pulled on the necklace holding the two precious rings which came apart and sent the rings flying. The wedding band was found in seconds, before the moving sand covered it unlike the engagement ring that had disappeared out of sight. Something more than hands sifting the sand was needed. A pool skimmer net was tried next without success in snagging the ring from its sandy resting place be for I arrived.

Jeff’s 9 year old son had a detector but had no luck in using it on the wet sand. With this information I knew I would be able to show and tell about some of my finds and pass some detecting techniques onto a young, budding detectorist.

In just under an hour of searching starting at Google Maps pinned point which was not as accurate as we would have liked. GPS satellite co-ordinates are only good to about a 15 foot radius and the pin showed the ring should be in the water. I started in the water working parallel to the shore, up the face of the beach revealed only a few targets of melted aluminum and pull tabs. Not a single coin or the ring. I then started searching 90 degrees to my previous paths.

While digging a promising target I overheard Jeff talking with another beach goer about how he had lost his wedding band several years ago, rented a detector and found his own ring. “There was hope, the guy detecting (me) has a good chance of finding the lost ring.” He was trying to keep Jeff’s spirits up.

Little did they know the promising target was THE RING and it was in my scoop! Without any fanfare I walked over to the two men, joined in the conversation. Jeff thought I was giving up and it was time to call it a day. I said “almost, not just yet until you look in my scoop” … I’ll let you imagine the emotions from all members of Jeff, his wife and three children.

Time was left to snap a few photos, clean up, grab a wonderful island lunch. I did a bit of show and tell and left a few “treasures” with the young detectorist which he was sharing with his sister. It was then time for the walk to the ferry boarding area and board the ferry that would take me back to the main land. During the hour ride I was sure I would be pondering over the wonderful feeling of how a terrible happening was turn into a great day on one beautiful island with one terrific family. I am pretty sure I will hear of a young detectorist doing fabulous things in the near future.

I do love this hobby.

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Permission a must on private beach. Ready, Set, Find, & Return Ring in Falmouth, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 2019

Ah, but don’t you just love all of our electronic gadgets? Cell phones, computers, e-mail, texting, the information available on the internet, yes these sure can help when help is needed. Communications for help in finding a lost wedding band started via e-mail through TheRingFinders website and was followed by phone conversations. Phone call area coverage was not as perfect as we expect it to be which cause a bit of delay. Well, when it all came together, I was heading out for a search.

Only one problem stood in my way…permission to detect the private resort property. Having been to the resort before I know I did not want to search the area without permission. New personnel this year were not quite sure about granting me access. After getting in contact with the “office”, I was in. Let the search begin.

The wind was very brisk and as such the waves were about 3 feet high and the blowing sand felt like I was in a sand blaster. I had dressed accordingly and with a marked up Google picture from Scott of the area where the ring had been lost I headed to the smaller “High Probability” area. Oh, no…all the beach lounge chairs had been pulled up and stacked close to the dunes covering the majority of the marked area. Anyway I had to get to searching. First I detected as close to the chairs as I could while watching the waves inching their way up the slope of the beach. No targets there so it was now that I had to venture as far into the water I dare go or wait until the next day and calmer water. It was not long, about 10 minutes, and there it was the shining wedding band in my scoop. It did not take long to get back to the comfort of the car. On the way out I stopped at the reception desk and thanked the “team” for granting me access and ensured them I was successful in finding the ring and would be returning it to Scott.

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South Yarmouth, MA Crab Walk and a Lost Wedding Band – Found and Returned.

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 2019

Between 4th of July’s burgers the telephone rang and I was IT for a game of telephone tag. Yes, I was not IT…the one to find Scott’s lost wedding band. Calm, cool and in a great sense of mind for letting his wedding band slip off his finger at the water’s edge while enjoying the Fourths celebration and doing the Crab Walk. I was told his wife was even in great spirits despite the loss. It could not have been the loss, but the party going on.

It only took 25 minutes to get ready and show up at the town beach. But it took an hour to find the correct target. Scott thought I had given up as I left the water. I had told him not to worry about my digging and putting objects into my pouch. What he was to look for was me leaving the water carrying my scoop level with my waist. Well I left the water and he followed from about 30 feet away. His comment was “Is it time to give up?” My answer “Not until you look in my scoop!” It was hard for him to initially believe I had found the ring, but there it was. Another successful search, find and return. Number 216, but who’s counting. Happy 4th of July!

Hi Rick! Thanks again for your help finding my ring, we’re still in amazement that you were able to locate it. Brief write up and photo for your website below. Again, thanks so much!

My wedding ring slipped off my finger while swimming in South Yarmouth on the afternoon of July 3rd. I found Rick via TheRingFinders.com and sent him an email the morning of July 4th. I figured as a long shot maybe Rick could come out over the next couple of days before we left the Cape. Well not only did Rick reply to my email but he immediately jumped into action and said he could help me right away, and on a holiday no less! Within hours he was in the water searching for it and in no time was able to locate my ring! My wife Kristine and I are so grateful for your help Rick! You’re a life saver!

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Stand-in Wedding Ring(s) – what a story! Sandwich, MA Lost / Found Ring

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 2019

Well, it was a typical 4th of July weekend. The first call for help came with a story about the ring tagging along. The easiest way to tell this is to copy the Thank You note for finding and returning James’ claddagh ring.

Rick,

My father bought me this ring 10 years ago. My grandfather had just passed away and had given his ring to my brother, the oldest boy in the family. So, my father took me when getting that one sized to get one of my own.
A few weeks ago, at my brother’s wedding, nobody remembered the wedding bands, not me, my brother, sister-in-law, planner, nobody. So when the priest asked for the rings, I turned my back to the crowd and slipped off my ring and my brother did the same. They used these to bless their marriage. I was devastated to lose mine. I cannot thank you enough.

James

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