Why is this hobby so captivating?

I can’t understand for the life of me why I love this hobby so much.
And what I mean by that is; why in the hell do I drive into the middle of nowhere to dig up a tonne of rubbish in the company of 8 million flies and return home swearing I won’t do it again, only to dream of the noise of my detector 2 weeks later.
I am not retired (No Offense to those that are),I don't drive a beat up Landcruiser, I hate sleeping in swags, the only camping I do is near water (that I can surf and scuba in) and I don't even really care about the value of my finds (Although nothing good yet, that might change when the big one comes).
Maybe it’s really down to the feeling of finding something that nobody else has, and a hobby that has so many rewards combined, for many different people from so many walks of life. Well whatever it is, I’m hooked.

Its the hunter gatherer thing going off in our Neanderthal heads, plus the prospect of striking it rich.

I usually go hunting relics, the fuel usually costs $60 each trip to the Golden Triangle somewhere, if Im lucky Ill find a coin worth 20c....

For me its the thought that every time I go out into the bush, maybe, just maybe, today might be the day that I stumble across a big one.
Its the freedom of spending time out in the bush. Answering to no one. It only takes a few days of not going out before the urge takes over again.
How lucky are we to live in such a magnificent place that allows us to walk around picking money up from the ground. I know alot of people just don't understand what it is about prospecting, that keeps us out there hour after hour. But it gets in your blood And it only takes a few days visiting our family and mates down South before we are itching to get out bush again. The solution was to buy an E-Trac haha and hit the parks, beaches, and old homesteads. So we get our fix in a slightly different way, but just as satisfying.
Cheers and good luck with your searching,
Shell

I find its a lot of good things.....like a walking meditation when I can get all the chatter out of the brain box and concentrating on all the grounds noises. Getting lost in the bush and finding my way back to the car with my trusty Bushnell GPS. Owning my own place surrounded by the bush and some old gold country. Not having to spend 60 bux in juice to get there. (Sorry Brickie) Spending quality time on the ground without the long drive home after a hard day digging holes. Being able to sneak out for a couple of hours at any time and having a snoop around looking for old reefs. Looking out my front window at crown land and solid bush. Thinking about finding yella colour and not mattering whether you do or not. I could go on and on (as he sits here typing with 4 day old balooned ankle from bull ant sting.....dontcha luv the bush!) Its all about the experience and its a great experience trekking around in the footsteps of the old timers. The experience of being mentored by old time prospectors who have the experience to pass on to relative newbies like myself. Yep....its got me hooked as well Gold Diver.

Good luck to you matey and I hope you keep on enjoying the freedom to enjoy this wonderful experience.

Mal

Time involved for me is a 6 hour return drive minimum.
Total gold found in about 20 days is 4 grams.
Camping fees , food etc.
Total expenses approx, $4500
Total finds approx $250
Time away from the rat race... Priceless....
And going again this weekend for 3 days.....

Maka, almost sounds like a warning to noobies like myself.
Same travel time as I also live in Brisbane (Northside). Can't say I spent nearly
As much as you have. Atleast not yet...

Drove down to Thanes on Saturday and only spent around 4 hours of fossicking but 6 hours
Of driving...Enjoyed every minute of it though...

Got home only to find out that I forgot to park the other car (a Merc)
In the garage. So while I was away enoying myself, my other car was being pounded
By hail stones!!!

But guess what? I'm still going back this weekend to find more bullets!
Maybe if I tell myself I'm hunting for bullets, I might just find some colour

yeah... i must admit when im out there getting a sore back and digging more bullets i still get a little smile on my dial, just knowing your out in some wonderful bushland...... and thinking you left the grass uncut and no fuel for the mower and a angry wife that carnt get to you.

For me its the luv of the bush and the thrill of the chase i dont think there is any better feeling than geting out there and digging up some nuggets.You have your good days and your bad days,but i guess that will happen with any hobby, but there isnt to many hobbies that allow you to walk around digging up $50 notes.Nothing better than sitting around the fire with some mates after a day out and a couple of quiet beers trying to work out where the gold could be or where its going.I guess i am hooked on the entire lifestyle that seems to come with it,utes packed batterys are charged time to get.Cheers au79

To me it is the freedom of the bush, the challenge of the hunt, not knowing what you may find with that next signal, not having to report to any bosses now (except the wife). But the biggest bonus of this great hobby is the like minded FRIENDS that you make on the way. Finding gold is just the cream on top of the cake.

Wombat

I think that ultimately for most people it is the thrill of the chase and the hope to one day find the "big" one. Humans have a propensity to gamble and to become addicted to behaviours/substances. Greed is obviously another important motivator. An example of the "winning the big one" is evidenced by the queues of senile, elderly morons lining up to buy scratchies.

I hate the idea of all those little nuggys sitting out there so lonely when they could be in my safe.

Panther wrote:I hate the idea of all those little nuggys sitting out there so lonely when they could be in my safe.

A great example of greed in motion. LOL...

Byteman wrote:

Panther wrote:I hate the idea of all those little nuggys sitting out there so lonely when they could be in my safe.

A great example of greed in motion. LOL...

THIS is Greed lol

I'm into it because____ no that's not it
I love it because____ nah not it either
I'm into it for the natural beau______nope that's not it I know
I'm into it for frikken 6 G's!

Wish I could take a 1 hour drive max up the road, that won't happen.
do I enjoy long drives to get to where the country is, sure do.
do I enjoy camping in the scrub, yep
do I enjoy doing silly walks waving the wand, blood oath I do
do I enjoy sitting around the fire at night talking about anything that comes into ya head, yes I do
do I enjoy finding rubbish, not really
do I enjoy hitting myself in the head with the pick tryin to wave the flies off me, NO, it hurts
do I like GOLD, geez that's a dumb question
What more can I say, it's a brilliant game and even better if ya have a good result

it keeps me - walking, thinking, breathing fresh air
and the boy in me - alive.
Best of all is the happy factor and the certainty that
retirement is never going to be dull.
Hoping to sneak out again tomorrow
bedrock

simply put ---it gives me an adrellalin rush --i live in hope.. without being smart, we r lucky up here. 20 minutes and u r detecting and everyone I meet out in the bush seem to get the same buzz.
The country up here is relatively clean..u have a 50/50 chance of hitting gold..my magnet takes care of any steel--if the target fires again then it will be a lead bullet or color..oh what a feeling.
regards
Oneday69

Gday

When I am in the bush life is simple and uncomplicated, my days are ruled by the rising and setting of the sun, most of the time I dont know what the day and time is and dont much care either way.

I spend my days wandering the bush, seeing things that you can only see out here, the peace and quiet, no traffic, no neighbor dogs barking, no neighbor kids screeching, and sometimes I even get some gold.

Life is good when you ping a 17.1 grammer between someone elses chain marks like I did yesterday.

Priceless

cheers

stayyerAU

Yep Stayerau and you are in the right place you lucky sod!
Cheers

The relaxation of mentally zoning out when your detecting is relaxing.

Well it is for me.

What great responses , and what a great advertisement for the sport.
Cheers
Mark