Esther called me and asked for help finding her future sister-in-law Gerry’s engagement ring. Reason #2 again! Yup, ring put into beach chair pocket, chair folded up later when they left, and no ring by the time they got to the car. I get the particulars and find out it’s been two days since the loss. That’s an eternity on the blanket line at a popular beach, but, always worth a try. I met Esther at the beach and she directs me to the search area. Since she wasn’t with them when this all happened, I could only get a general idea of where it might be. Esther’s Brother-in-law and future husband of Gerry was on his way to help narrow the search area since he was there at the time of loss. I searched a bit in the mean time, but, only came up with a few coins. That was a good sign however, telling me that it was unlikely anyone else had detected that area lately. The beach groomer hadn’t been through there either, another thing in our favor. Hollis arrived and pointed out the area he believed they had been, and Oh, there were actually 5 rings that were lost! 1 white gold, and 4 silver, so, I’ll be digging just about all signals.
Naturally, there were other people camped right in that spot today! I started searching an open spot next to it while Esther and Hollis went to get permission to hunt under the people’s tent and around their camp. The people were nice enough to allow that, but, no ring came to light. I went back and continued to grid the open area while they tried to figure out where the next likely spot would be. After many passes and getting about 100 feet away from where the rings should be, I was just about to stop and move to search their path back to the car, and the trash cans where they stopped on the way, when I get another good « dime » signal. I scoop and sweep over the hole. Still a signal, so, I dump the sand and take another scoop. Hmmm, two rings in the scoop that look like the silver rings described by Hollis as being the other rings Gerry had lost. I called him over and he confirmed that those were two of them. I swept the hole again, but, nothing. Swept the sand I dumped out on my first scoop, and I get another signal. Yup silver ring number 3. Another sweep and silver #4. To heck with silver! Where’s the gold! Next scoop is where! A beautiful engagement ring comes to light. My first 5 ring recovery! Hollis and Esther are amazed and very happy to see those rings again, and Gerry was too when she was contacted with the good news. A pleasure to meet you, good luck on your future marriage Hollis and Gerry, and thank you for the reward.