Jim Wren, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 27 of 31

Man’s Palladium Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Mary D. saying that she had posted on CL about her husband Tim’s lost wedding band and had gotten an e-mail from someone referring me, that someone turned out to be my son-in-law. I explained that I was a member of The Ring Finders and an independent metal detectorist that could help find her husband’s lost ring. She said that he had lost it at approximately 1pm (roughly 2 hours before high tide) and somewhere within a 2 block area. This big of an area was going to be a tough search but I agreed to meet them on the beach in about 15 minutes.

When I arrived I met both Mary and Tim and thankfully Tim narrowed the search area down to about a 40ft width and out in the surf about 30-40 ft. I told them what I was going to do in the way of the search and told them they didn’t need to stick around and that I’d call them when I found it. I started a north/south grid search working the wet sand to make sure it wasn’t lost there. I then changed to an east/west grid running from the wet sand out to waist deep water. My sixth line, in thigh deep water, I get a great signal on my White’s PI, take a scoop of sand, shake it out and there’s the ring staring back at me. I called Mary and had her verify the inscription in the ring which was 4/16/16, the date they got married, she identified the inscription and I told her I had the ring in my hand. Ironically their wedding month and day were the same as me and my wife’s. It was also ironic that Tim’s dad and I were both in the Coast Guard together although we didn’t know each other but we had served at a couple of the same duty stations but not at the same time.

When Tim and Mary showed up to get their ring they were both shocked that it was found but extremely happy it was.

Tim and Mary, Thank you for trusting in me to find your lost treasure and best of luck to both of you in all your future endeavors.

Jim

Tim and Mary Devin Tim's Ring

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Sentimental Tri-color 10K Gold Ring Lost in the Intracoastal Waterway – Found and Returned Holden Beach NC.

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Heidi A. on Sunday, August 28th asking if I could possibly help find her toe ring that she lost while swimming with her sister-in-law Jennifer in the Intracoastal Waterway at Holden Beach NC. Heidi went on to say that the ring was specially made from another ring that had been given to her. She also said that she had noticed her toe ring was gone as she was leaving the water and that her foot had sunk up to her ankle in the mud. I got the area it was lost in, checked the tide table and saw I had a small window of opportunity for low tide and started the 45 minute drive.

When I arrived at the spot it was around 10pm and pitch black, on top of that there were broken clam and oyster shells all over the beach and with every step I was getting stuck in the mud. I searched for about an hour and a half from the high tide line to mid tide and called it a night. The next day I arrived a little before low tide and searched for an hour and a half knee deep in mud and my feet were cut up from the shells and still didn’t have any luck.

I decided to pick up a pair of hip waders and give it another try two days later. The hip waders worked great but I still wasn’t finding the ring. I talked to Heidi and she had mentioned that Jennifer was going to be back that weekend. I suggested that Jennifer meet me either Saturday or Sunday to give me a more exact area where the ring was lost.

Jennifer met me on Sunday during low tide, showed me the area she thought it was in but thought Heidi might have lost it in the mud and not the water. I had my White’s PI and decided to start my grid in the right corner and go straight out to knee deep water and work the grid from the shore to the water and back. First target was in the mud and was a fishing weight. I walked out to about upper calf depth and got a second target, as I’m separating the thick mud with my fingers in the scoop I hear the clank of something metal – BINGO!!! I washed the ring off and walked back up to Jennifer, who had stuck around and said “boy these conditions are horrible”. I’m pretty sure Jennifer thought I was all finished until I stuck my closed fist out to her and dropped Heidi’s ring in her hand. I love seeing the expressions on people’s faces when I give them back a lost treasure. Although it wasn’t Heidi, I think Jennifer did a really good job in showing her excitement for Heidi.

I took a picture of the ring and sent it and a text to Heidi saying “Surprise!”. I think it took Heidi less than 10 seconds to call me. She couldn’t believe it.

Unfortunately Heidi had to wait a few days before she got her ring back but she knew for sure it was on its way.

Thank you Jennifer for putting me in the right spot which was a tremendous help and a huge time saver.

Thank you Heidi for the very generous reward and the Starbucks gift card (I love Starbucks). Also thank you very much for trusting in me to find your lost treasure.

Jim

Heidi's Gold Toe Ring Heidi

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Man’s Platinum Wedding band Lost in the Ocean – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Got a call from Eleazar A. before 7am on Friday, August 12th asking if I could help find his Platinum wedding band that he lost the day before in knee to waist deep water right around mid-tide. Unfortunately I and Jim Brouwer were on our way to NC to look for another lost ring from 6 days ago. I told Eleazar that I’d call him back when we finished that search and set up a time to meet. We finished up the first search with negative results so we headed back to North Myrtle Beach. I called Eleazar and told him we’d meet him on the beach in about an hour and a half.

Eleazar met Jim and I as we pulled into a parking spot and took us to the area him, his wife Natalie and 2 children had been sitting the day before and explained that he had been playing with the kids and boogie boarding about the mid-tide line and shortly after that he realized his ring had come off. He had made numerous observations on his location when he lost his ring which in the end was a great help. Jim took the water line and worked the incoming tide while I took the dry sand and worked my way down to the mid-tide line. Neither one of us were getting many targets which meant the beach was heavily sanded in. Jim and I made the decision to come back in the evening at low tide and left.

I showed back up about 8:30pm (an hour and twenty minutes before low tide) and started following the tide out in the area that Eleazar gave us with no luck at all. Twenty minutes or so before low tide I decided to expand my grid search south and went into the surf about knee deep. Within 20-30 steps I get a great signal on the Gold quest PI, dig a scoop and Bingo – I heard the heavy Platinum ring rattling around in the scoop and turned my head lamp on to confirm it. I walked back up to the hotel lights and took a picture of the ring and sent it with a text saying “Surprise!!”. I immediately got a text back from Eleazar saying “I’m on my way”. He shows up within seconds with his wife and 2 kids, that he just woke up, and his excitement was priceless. He was sure the ring was gone forever and I was starting to have my doubts as well. Trying to do a grid search in pitch black conditions with medium surf and an abundance of jellyfish is not an ideal way to search for anything let alone a small ring. But nonetheless his ring is back on his finger where it belongs.

Eleazar and Natalie, thank you so much for trusting me to find your precious ring and for the very generous reward. Have a very safe trip back home.

Jim

Eleazar and Natalie Eleazar's Platinum Ring

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14K Man’s Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Amanda J. on Thursday, August 11th asking for help in finding her husband’s gold wedding band. She went on to say they were on a little vacation from Greenville, SC and celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary. I was on my way back from out of town and told her I’d call her when I got close and we could meet on the beach.

I met up with Amanda and John to get the details on exactly what happened and learned John had been tossing a volleyball back and forth with their daughter Presley when he felt his ring come off. They showed me where they had been sitting and where John and Presley had been playing in the shallow water that was now completely under water with the incoming tide. Knowing that I was going to do some water searching and not having my water machine that was back in the shop for repairs, I contacted Jim Brouwer and asked if he had a water machine I could borrow. Once again Jim came through and gladly loaned me one of his many machines. While I had him on the phone I asked him if he wanted to tag along which he gladly accepted. While waiting for Jim I checked around where John and Amanda had been sitting and a little bit of the tide line with my AT Pro just to rule those areas out. Once Jim got there he gave me a quick lesson on his Gold quest PI and then we decided we’d come back in a few hours and work the outgoing tide.

Jim got back to the spot a few minutes before I did and had started working the water line up towards the dry sand. I tuned up my (new) machine, made a few practice runs with Jim’s (old) machine and started working from Jim’s first line seaward. Eight grid lines and 30 minutes later my new water machine gives me a banging signal, one scoop and up comes John’s Gold wedding band. I took a picture of me holding John’s ring and sent it with a text saying BINGO!!! Uh oh Amanda’s not calling me back. I gave her a few minutes and called her, when she answered I ask her if she had seen the text I sent. She checked her texts and I could hear her say “He found it!!!”. They were on their way back to their resort but made a U-turn and arrived back on the beach in about 5 minutes. I could tell by their faces that not only could that not believe the ring had been found but were trying hard to contain their emotions. I LOVE returning people’s special treasures!!!!

John and Amanda, Happy 31st Anniversary and may you celebrate many many more with the ring on John’s finger. Thank you so much for trusting in me to help find your treasure and for the very generous reward. Have a safe trip home.

Jim

John and Amanda

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Silver Wedding and Engagement Ring set Lost in the Ocean – Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Jodi, who was here on vacation with her family from South Dakota asking if I could help find a Wedding and Engagement ring set that was lost in waist deep water in Myrtle Beach. I told her Myrtle Beach was in Matt Fry’s area and I’d call him and one of us would call her back within 10 minutes. I called Matt who was busy with a work project he has to complete and he told me to go ahead and take the call. I called Jodi back, got the location and was on my way.

I arrived within 20 minutes and met Jodi, her brother, mother, father, and Sister Jenna and her husband Clayton on the beach. I found out that Jenna was the one who had lost her ring set and I could tell she was very upset as today was hers and Clayton’s 3 week anniversary. I got some additional details on the time, area and the depth they were when the rings came off. I started a grid search in knee deep water with my White’s PI, which I’ve been having problems with and had just gotten back from being repaired. About 10 minutes in the water and the PI started acting up again with a very low volume and just one steady tone – not good when I’m looking for someone’s treasure!!! Luckily I had brought my AT Pro just in case and it was a good thing I did. Thinking I’d have to work the water and not having a machine that could I called Jim Brouwer asking if he could help, as always he was on his way. Meantime I told Jenna what was going on and that I’d start at the tide line and work my way out while waiting for Jim to show up. As I got to the water line I moved farther south than the area they told me trying to figure out my starting point for the grid. As I start my grid I take 2 steps and get a good 46-47 on the AT Pro, I’m thinking no way. Took a scoop and dumped it on the ground and could see Jenna’s beautiful ring looking up at me. I’m chuckling as I pick it up and walk out to the surf to wash the sand off. I slipped her ring in my pocket, knowing it’s hers from the original description I got. I called Jim real quick and told him I had found it and then I walked back up the beach to Jenna and I asked her to tell me one more time what her rings look like. She’s getting her phone and trying to find a picture when I jokingly tell her she’s taking too long and does it look like this as I hold her ring up. Clayton was standing beside me and saw it in my hand but didn’t spoil the surprise for Jenna. Jenna looked up and she instantly covered her face with her hands trying to hold back her emotions. The excitement of everybody was unbelievable. There’s just nothing better than returning someone’s treasure!!

Jenna and Clayton thank you so much for the very generous reward and for trusting in me to help you find your beautiful rings. Happy 3 week anniversary and I hope all your future dreams come true.

Jim

Jenna and Clayton Jennas Ring

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14K Gold Mother’s Ring Lost in the Surf, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Two hours from home after a week long vacation I get a phone call from Don H. asking if I could help find his wife Diane’s Mothers ring that she lost around 8pm the night before. The connection wasn’t very good so I told him I’d call him back around 2pm and would be there between 4 and 5pm. During our broken conversation I thought he gave me the name of a resort that it was in North Myrtle Beach, however when we talked at 2 he said the resort was in Myrtle Beach. I got all the details from Don and called Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach) not sure whether he was still out of town or not. During Don’s and my conversation he told me that his wife lost her ring between 9 and 9:20pm not at 8 like he originally said so I needed to leave home within about 20 minutes to catch the tide. When I called Matt he didn’t answer so I assumed he was still out of town and left. I was within 15 minutes of arriving at the resort when Matt called back, saying he was in town but to go ahead and take it.

I arrived in the parking lot and Don showed up shortly afterwards to show me the exact area. Don also explained that they were down from Minnesota for the Myrtle Beach annual cheerleading competition with one of their daughters and they all needed to be at the convention center. I worked it out with Don that I’d surprise Diane and that when I found her ring, I’d text him with a picture and then deliver it the convention center.  When I walked out on the beach it was packed with tourist and needless to say I had an audience watching me search. About 4 gridlines and calf deep in the water I got a strong 46-47 on my AT Pro along with a few other junk tones. Luckily I got the ring in the first scoop, dumped it out on the sand and immediately saw the gold. I texted Don with a picture and he immediately replied with a 100% it’s hers!! I’m not sure what Don told Diane to get her out front away from her cheerleaders but she didn’t look happy when I introduced myself. I think he told her I bumped their car in the parking lot. But I told Diane that Don had told me that she had lost her Mothers ring and if she could describe it that it would help me know what I was looking for. As she finished with her description, I held up her ring and said “Does it look something like this?” Her expression was priceless, there were a few tears of joy and the hugs were strong and sincere. She had to make a quick exit to get back to the girls but she was one happy lady!!! It just doesn’t get any better than this.

Don and Diane, thank you for trusting in me to help find your lost treasure and thank you for the very generous reward. Have a safe trip home!!!

Jim

Diane Howard Diane's Mother's ring

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14K White Gold Engagement Ring Lost in the Surf, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I received an e-mail shortly before 10pm on Thursday, July 21st from Zanita W. requesting help finding an Engagement Ring that had slipped off her finger in the water about 4 hours earlier. Zanita was here with her family on vacation from Indiana and was leaving on Saturday. I noticed in the e-mail that she also included Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach). I contacted Zanita and got a few more details that included the name and location of the resort they were staying at. This resort was in Matt’s area so I called him to make sure he saw the e-mail. When he answered his phone I told him the situation but unfortunately he was stuck in Atlanta on his 3rd delayed flight out west and wasn’t available. I’m still on vacation and 800 miles away so I tried contacting Jim Brouwer, a friend who was filling in for me while I was gone. He didn’t answer so I sent him both a text and an e-mail with all the details knowing that he was probably asleep and was going to wake up very early to catch the low tide somewhere. I’m asleep and hear my text alert go off at 1:45am from Jim saying he’s on it. At 3:39am I get another text alert from Jim saying “I found it”. I called Jim and asked him to send me a picture so I could forward it to Zanita saying it was found. That morning I called Zanita around 8:30am, waking her up, with the good news. She couldn’t have been happier. I gave her Jim’s number and they arranged to meet later that morning.

Zanita, Thank you for trusting in The Ring Finders to help find your lost treasure!!!

Again, thanks Jim for backing me up. Zanita couldn’t have been happier!!!!

Jim

Zanita's engagement ring Zanita Whitley

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2 Rings Lost in the Wet Sand, Found and Returned Sunset Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Brett A. a little before 3pm on Thursday, July 21st saying he lost 2 rings in the wet sand and asked if I could help. Unfortunately I was 800 miles away on vacation but I had pre-arranged with a good friend, Jim Brouwer to respond in my absence. I got Brett’s number and location and called Jim, who immediately responded and was on scene within an hour. Jim called me back in about an hour and a half saying that Brett put him right on the spot and within 3 gridlines Jim had the first ring and a couple of swipes later had the second ring. He said Brett made the comment that he was glad he was wearing sunglasses and then Brett immediately called his wife with the good news.

Great job Jim B. (pictured on the right). Thanks for filling in for me and putting a smile on someone’s face!!!

Jim

Brett and Jim Brett's Gold and Titanium rings

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10K White Gold and Rose Engagement Ring Lost in the Sand – Found Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On July 6th I had a missed call from an out of area number while I was cleaning up from looking for a previous lost engagement ring that I’d been looking for. I called back and talked to Pat who stated she had been behind one of the Dune’s hotels in North Myrtle Beach on July 3rd with her fiancé and had lost her engagement ring. She went on to say that she wasn’t sure what her fiancé wanted to do as far as whether he’d want me to look for it or file an insurance claim. We talked about my cost for finding it, which I told her I work on a reward basis, etc. I could tell she definitely wanted “her” ring back and although a replacement would be great it wouldn’t be her ring. While talking to her I had another call from an out of area number which I’d call back shortly. Continuing to talk with Pat I told her that she can always replace the ring but not the memories that go along with it. I also assured her that given the right information I’m confident that I could find it since she told me she had not gotten into the water and the ring was in the dry sand. She gave me a few more details, one being that they sat very close to a life guard chair, and then we ended the call with her saying that she wanted to talk with her fiancé and she’d call me the next day with a decision.

I noticed the missed caller left me a message so I listened to that and then called back. The second caller stated his name was Branden and that he and his fiancé were in Myrtle Beach behind the Dunes Village resort on July 3rd when she lost her engagement ring. This sounded too familiar so I asked him his fiancé’s name which he said was Pat. I started laughing saying I was on the phone with Pat when he called. He wanted to know what Pat had said and I told him she was leaving it up to him on the decision. I went on telling him the same thing I told Pat about not being able to replace the memories of her ring and I felt she really wanted her ring back and not a replacement. It almost sounded like a sales pitch but that wasn’t my intent. We went on discussing my price and other details about the location of the ring. I finally asked him what he wanted to do and he replied he wanted me to find it. Two details he gave me was that 1-they had sat next to a life guard chair and 2-they were in the dry sand and directly in front of a group of rental chairs that were chained and locked together at the top of the beach. He also gave me the address of the resort which turned out to be in Myrtle Beach and was TRF member Matt Fry’s area. I told Branden that either Matt or I would call him back. We ended the call with me telling Branden to call Pat and let her know what was going on. It was around 9pm by now but I called Matt and gave him the details asking if he wanted to take it, he told me to go ahead since I had gotten the call. I texted both Branden and Pat saying I was on my way to look for it.

I got to the beach at 9:30pm and as I walked out on the boardwalk to the sand I noticed there was a life guard chair with a row of rental chairs directly behind it right in front of me. I remembered Pat had said when they crossed the boardwalk they went to their right and down the beach. I went ahead and checked out a 15X30 ft square where I was with no luck. Looking to the right down the beach, the next life guard chair was about a quarter of a mile south so off I went. As I was walking I’m also swinging the detector getting all kinds of junk targets. I also noticed another 5 chair rental spots along the way. I ended up doing an east/west grid from each chair rental to the high tide line. Finally on my 4th chair rental spot, third grid line and about half way up from the high tide line I got a banging 59/60 on my AT Pro. Two scoops and I had Pat’s beautiful engagement ring in my scoop. It was 11:30pm but I was sure that both Branden and Pat would be real excited when I texted them a picture of the ring even if I was waking them up. Branden was working and immediately texted me back not believing I found it. Pat called me as I was driving back home and she couldn’t believe it either. Originally they were planning on making the 4 hour drive back to Myrtle Beach to pick it up but those plans changed the next day so I got it in the mail.

I got a text on July 9th from Pat saying she had the ring back and on the 10th she sent me some fantastic pictures. As you can see Pat and Branden are one happy couple!!!

Pat and Branden, thank you for trusting in me to help find your lost treasure. Best of Luck to both of you on all your future endeavors. And Pat, don’t forget to save this memory to share with your grandchildren.

Jim

Pat n Branden 2 Pat5 Pat's Ring 2

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14K Woman’s Wedding Band and Engagement Ring Lost in the Ocean – Wedding Band Found North Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a text message about 9:30pm on July 4th stating they had lost their wedding band/engagement set in the ocean earlier that day and to please call when I had the chance. I immediately called back and talked with Lyndsey who said her and her husband Joshua have been married for just two weeks and they were on their honeymoon and it’s now officially a disaster. She gave me the hotel name and the address and I was on my way. With it being the 4th of July I knew the beach was going to be packed with both locals and tourist watching the firework displays and parking was going to be a big problem. Surprisingly I think I found the only remaining spot on the whole beach in one of the hotel parking lots and snatched it up hoping my car would still be there when I was done.

I met Lyndsey and Josh on the beach and we walked down to the water where she showed me about where she lost it while playing catch, as she put it, “with a stupid little yellow ball they bought”. Lyndsey said she was in water up to her thighs when she felt the ring fall off after catching the ball. She showed me a picture of her beautiful ring that was a two piece set where the engagement ring sits inside the wedding band. I was faced with a little bit of a dilemma because the tide was still high and my go to machine for water hunting is my White’s PI which is in the shop for repairs, and my back up machine is an AT Pro which can’t get wet much above the coil. The AT PRO is a great machine in the wet and dry sand but not so much in the water especially with heavy surf conditions. I was making the best of it but getting a lot of false target hits and not making any progress. After about 30 mins I got out of the water and moved back to the wet sand and started another grid search following the tide out. After 3 hours of searching I came up empty and called it a night at 1am. After staying up most of the night trying to figure out a better game plan for finding her ring at the next low tide I sent her an e-mail asking for a little help. Looking at the tide tables for the 4th and 5th, I asked her if she would go into the water at 10:55 that morning and walk out to waist deep water and then mark off the number of steps to a stationary item on the beach, which happened to be the beach access sign. She gladly compiled which ultimately got us in the right spot. Around 10am I got a call from Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach) saying he’d received a text from a girl who had lost her ring in North Myrtle Beach and passing it off to me. After comparing the text messages we realized both came from Lyndsey who was trying to cover all her bases to get some help. Talking with Matt I told him about my PI and he offered up his Minelab CTX 3030 which I quickly accepted.

The temperature for the day was going to be above 100 degrees and looking at the area that needed to be searched I talked to Jim Brouwer to see if he would be willing to help thinking we could cover twice the area in half the time getting us out of the heat quicker, things don’t always work out as planned!!!  As always, he was raring to go, GOD bless him!!! We met on the beach at 1pm and I marked off the 105 steps (baby steps for me) that Lyndsey had done earlier. This put us 10 feet from the life guard chair that was sitting in the middle of our search area. Jim and I grid searched in all 4 directions for a good 3 hours with very few targets and no ring. Finally Jim moved closer to the life guard chair and bam. I heard him holler at me and as soon as I looked over at him I immediately recognized his expression. I walked over and he dropped the ring in my hand – oh oh, he only had the wedding band and not the engagement ring which had fallen out at some point. We figured the engagement ring had to be within inches of the wedding band so we expanded his 5 inch round, 3 inch deep hole into a 3-4 foot round by 2 foot deep hole. Nothing!! We did another 10X10 ft grid search around the hole that included moving the life guard stand with the life guard’s permission, then expanded it to 20X20 and still nothing. We rechecked all the low, water filled (runnels) holes close and still nothing. We know the engagement ring is there somewhere but after another hour we came up blank. We figured the engagement ring separated from the wedding band and settled in the sand while the wedding band rolled around and then settled. So now it’s just a matter of finding where the engagement ring settled. I’m hoping there’s a part 2 to this story real soon and plan on going out this afternoon with my AT Pro and see if I can come up with it.

After finding the wedding band I took a picture and sent it to Lyndsey and got a response of “oh my gosh!!!!” We met up later and although we hadn’t found the engagement ring she was still extremely happy saying the wedding band signifies the married and is what it’s all about.

Lyndsey and Josh, I’ll continue to search for that engagement ring and hopefully come up with it soon. Thank you both so much for trusting in me to help find your treasure and for the very generous reward.

Matt, thanks for the use of the 3030, it looks like a great machine in the right hands. For me though, it was like buying a new car – I know how to drive but it has too many bells and whistles which with time and practice I’m sure I could learn.

Jim, what can I say buddy – Thank you again for your help!!!!

Lyndsey and Josh  Lyndsey's wedding band

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Jim

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