Richard Browne, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 8 of 18

Lost and Found Ring Cahoon Hollow Beach National Seashore Wellfleet, Massachusetts

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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If you leave 3 guys alone on the beach to have fun in the sun on Cape Cod…What can go wrong?

Sharks for one, sunburn for two and the dreaded lost wedding band for number three. Surely the three physically fit men should be able to find a very special wedding band in a bit of sand. But from the time of loss to the setting of the sun, it proved to be too big a task for them. It was now time for a woman to take charge.

Allissa, Brenton’s wife, reach out to a local detecting group in my home state of Connecticut. She was given good information; get in touch a group called TheRingFinders.com. Within a half an hour after receiving an E-mail I had a game plan set into motion. Being the loss occurred on Federal Property and it is illegal to detect there, special permission would be required from the proper authority. But with Corvid-19 closures in force it seemed to be impossible. No one was answering phone calls or E-mails. A call to the local police did yield a number to call at the National Park Service Headquarters.

Brenton requested permission to let “Ring Finders” utilize metal detectors during a specific time and for the specific lost ring. It took almost 24 hours of searching to obtain the permission. Brenton did not give up and was responsible for our search to happen legally during the next daytime low-tide. On the beach two Ring Finders, myself and Luke, were ready and with all the given information and our gear. It did not take long, maybe 5 minutes and the search was over, Brenton had his ring back on his finger.

It was great to see the three guys go from doubtful of to being amazed of how two guys would come out, look for a lost ring, find and return it within such a short time. Then it came to light, Brenton’s lucky number is 33. This return for me was number 233! It is our hobby that brings unique people that we would otherwise not have met into our life and proves good thing can come from an adverse situation. We love what we do.

Several people deserve big Thank You including Allissa for contacting TheRingFinders.com, all 3 guys for marking the area of loss, the two Ring Finders and especially the Supervisory Ranger for granting permission to conduct the search on Federal Property. OH, I forgot special Thank You goes to Benton for making this story happen. He accomplished the near impossible.

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Bass River Cape Cod, Massachusetts Wharf: wedding band lost, found and returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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After a day at yachting Steve could not resist playing with a few quahog clams while wading back ashore. Unfortunately the cool water helped his ring slip from its normal resting place of many years. Hours of hand sifting and eyeballing the river’s bottom for the ring did not coax it back out of the water.

Steve wanted nothing to do with a replacement ring. With a tip from a friend Steve found my number at TheRingFinders.com, called and left a message. I had been out and missed his call. As my luck is Steve was busy getting a haircut – yes the barber was open for his second day. With his neat looking head of hair Steve returned my call without listening to my message. Forty-five minutes later we were heading down the path to the boathouse and beyond to the wharf.

Steve borrowed a pair of water-shoes to wade out into the river and show me just where his ring should be. I started to search a bit closer to the wharf than I was told. But then again I always start to the outside of the Box. My third swing and I had a great signal. My first, second and third scoop were empty. But the signal was still there although it had moved from the center of my first digs. Fourth scoop and as much as I liked the sound of the signal I would not have been surprised to see a pull tab in my scoop. But not this time the only object was this large beautiful wedding band.

Steve removed the ring from the scoop, put it back on his finger. There to stay. A bit choked up, Steve was still able to thank me. Smiles and Thank You were my reward. I love this hobby of mine. If I did not know better I think I can see a bit of a tear in the photo. I’d have to guess it was Steve’s wife who shed the tear of joy. I forgot to take pictures at the river’s edge. Steve had not. I had to ask him to take a photo or two for me. Don’t you just love the amazing picture of the ring? There is not another one that could have replace such a sentimental piece of love and togetherness. All in the name of love.

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RingFinder not foiled by a Stud Earring in Wequassets’ sandy beach. Harwich, MA Lost & Found

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Cristin was strolling along Wequassets’ sandy beach when her daughter brushed a diamond stud earring from its adoring place in Cristin’s ear. Hours of searching did not locate the sparkling jewel from its resting place.

I was just sitting around enjoying the Fathers’ Day activities when a call for help rang in on my phone. The tide was on its way in and the bags and car were packed ready for the day’s drive home after what was a beautiful mini-vacation had been. Only one thing was missing, the earring. The last chance to find the earring. It would be up to my skill and my up-to-date technology filled metal detector. Mind you a stud earring is a very small target on a very large beach. In hopes the many variables in detector setting would be ample to locate the missing earring or it would be a sad trip home for Cristin.

A short walk to the isolated section of beach and I was searching like a blood hound. Every so often I stopped dropped the lost earring’s mate which was now safe in a plastic bag and tweaked the detector’s settings for the best possible signal response from the tiny object. About 20 minutes into the search I heard the signal I was waiting to hear. I moved a bit of sand and saw the small sparkle in the sand. A quick pinch and I lifted the small metal setting with diamond still in tack. I then let Cristin listen to the signal difference between her stud earring and my wedding band. She was amazed at the very faint signal of the stud and how I could pick it out from the many similar signals.

The return ensured a happy and enjoyable memories of the family’s first stay at the resort. It also will be part of my many memorable searches and returns I have made over the past 38 year of enjoying my hobby, metal detecting, and helping others.

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Gold Necklace Cape Cod, MA Found in Debris Can and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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I had been called for help to search for a lost item, the location was a so far away and as I had not seen a detecting friend for almost a month due to “social distancing”. I ask Leighton to join in on the search. He agreed so off we went. The search was unsuccessful, but hope was that the ring had gone down the swimming pool’s drain and we would return with more gear and an underwater camera to continue the search. On our way home from the search Leighton received a message from an old friend about his mother’s lost gold necklace. Leighton made a few calls, got a name, address and more information about the chain. We were now on the way to help find Nadine’s chain. The chain had been her father’s and she has worn it as a bracelet since her father’s passing. It had Great Sentimental Value, one lost item that needed to be found and return.

Upon arriving at the address, we had to wait on Nadine’s grand entrance. Never have we been greeted by such a big bucket loader, one that Parker on Gold Rush would be proud to play with in his search for gold. Nadine was in the family’s new “toy”. A toy that I really hoped we would not need to move dirt around while looking for the necklace.

The area to search was small, and we had finished searching it in just a few minutes with no results. A barrel of clippings was nearby and beckoned to be dumped and searched. Now, knowing a chain is a difficult target for any metal detector to respond to, I was listening for any small signal. Two non-productive signal were examined and then one I heard a signal I just could not ignore. I did not visually see the chain, but my handheld pinpionter was surely telling a metal object was there. A push with the pin-pointer to move clippings around…there it was, the glint of gold.

The next happenings were hugs and Thank Yous, disregarding “Social Distancing” were in order. Corvid-19 would not dare to invade moments that just happen when such a sentimental item is found and returned. Photos and more Thank You words followed before Leighton and I were on our way home where we will wait for the next call requesting a metal detectorist’s help.

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Yarmouth, Massachusette Lost, Found and Returned Wedding Band

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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This request for help was received just 2 minutes after the request to help in retrieving a cell phone from a marina. With the phone found and returned I was on my way home when Jeff got back in touch and told me of the wedding band that slipped from his finger while frolicking in the surf with this 5 year old son. A small area in shallow water, only one problem I would not be at the beach until 9PM. Good news was the tide was going out and would be low in about 3 hours. Good enough to start the search as the sea was very calm.

An hour went by with many pull tabs, bottle caps and bits of aluminum foil retrieved but no ring or even a coin. Another half hour and Jeff had to return home and get ready to leave for home in the morning. I said fine, I will go a bit deeper and work my search pattern back to the shore before going home. I will call when I get out of the water.

I went out to chest deep water almost to the end of the jetty, beyond where Jeff said he had gone and started searching again. On the third pass closer to the beach another signal rang in my ears and moments later the ring was in my scoop. I rushed back to the car to call Jeff. As my phone did not have Jeff’s phone number stored in it I had to call my wife. She called and left a voicemail with the information on Jeff phone after listening to the “Unavailable” message. Within minutes of the time my wife called me, Jeff was in sight and heading to my car. All I could see was his huge smile and a twinge of disbelief showing in he eyes. When Jeff saw the ring, he thanked me many times and wanted to know what he could do for me. Just a Thank You note is all I asked for. The time really passed quickly and it was now 11PM, time to head home and to bed as I had an early morning meeting to look for another lost ring.

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Osterville, Massachusetts: I-phone lost in water too deep for me.

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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A call from Nabil, Karim’s father (see June 2018 return), for help in retrieving a phone that “went swimming” after a great day of fishing. How could I refuse a walk in water 4 feet deep and a beautiful sunset with the delightful fragrance of flowers in the air? I could not. In 40 minutes I was dawning my wet suit as the tide was coming in and I knew the water was getting too deep for waders. Ready, Set, Go… Down to the dock, onto the boat, door open, ladder down and in I went. OH NO, I could not touch bottom, I lowered my scoop and still could not feel the bottom. What to do now? We would have to wait for a low tide. Or find another solution.

Due to Nabil and my commitments along with the time of low tides it would be 5 days before we could get back together. That just did not seem a good idea so I call another RingFinder, Luke. Luke is a scuba diver and would be my best “tool” for this situation. I called…Luke are you on the road? Yes, RT6. Do you have your scuba gear with you? Yes, what’s up? How about helping retrieve a lost phone that had fallen off the side of a boat that is tied to the pier, in maybe 10 feet of water. Can you come?

Twenty minutes later Luke was suiting up. We walked down to the water one quick splash and 2 minutes later Nabil had his friend’s phone back aboard the boat. What luck it was in a waterproof case. All files should be OK after a day or so in a bowl of uncooked rice. The rice will pull any dampness that might be present, especially from the microphone and speaker areas.

This is the way our small group of Ring Finders and friends love to help each other in mitigating a sad situation.
Thanks Luke!

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Wedding Band Lost 16 Years Ago Found and Returned. Chatham, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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16 years ago a young sea-goer’s wedding band was pulled off his finger while trying to secure a friend’s boat to a buoy. Searching the surrounding seaweed covered area was unsuccessful in locating the ring. It was to remain hidden for the next 16 years.

While detecting, enjoying my hobby, and avoiding the Corvid-19 virus I found a wedding band with the initials of T.L.F. and a date of 1989 inscribed on the inside of the band. As usual, as I have never been able to find the owner of a wedding band with that information, I was about to put the ring into my pouch for safe keeping when I noticed a name on a large mooring buoy about four feet from me. The name began with an “F”. Could there be a connection between the “F” in the ring and the “F” on the buoy? I had to do some web searching when I got home.

I searched Zillow for street names in the area, the town assessor’s online data base, and other personal information locators for a family name beginning with an “F” and contact information. The search first lead me to a disconnected phone number, several distant possibilities, and a Trust Fund name and finally to a Financial Group, its name was Odyssey. The name was exciting enough, I had to contact them. Of course the financial specialist, Kim, could not give me any information, other than she knew the family. Do to the privacy laws Kim could only promise me she would inquire of someone in the family that may be able to help and have them contact me. A call came back from Kim with bad news…no one with the initials of T.L.F. was know to the contacted family members. Well I tried. But…wait…

About an hour later I received another call, this time it was from Trish. Yes…Trish had some information, but the owner’s initials were not T.L.F. as they were not the owner’s initials, they were an abbreviation for True Love Forever. The owner, Brian, was and still is a close friend of Trish. An arrangement was made for the return of a long missing wedding band. The return sequence of leading to a wedding band’s return was a first for me, all thanks to a coincidence, hunch and the internet.

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KUUIPO – Hawaiian for – “My Sweetheart” Ring Lost/Found at: Craigville, MA and returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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From Hawaii, 20 years ago, to August of 2018, just after a Cape Cod fishing trip and an afternoon splash in the surf, the Kuuipo ring having been to many places and seeing numerous memorable occasions it decided to take a rest in King Neptune’s domain. From being purchased as a promissory ring in Hawaii to beneath the waters of a popular beach the ring stayed hidden and resting for over a year until I brought it back into the sunshine. Thinking that the uniqueness of the ring would draw some attention if posted on social media, I made a posting. As luck would have it, Luke, another RingFinder, had been contacted and searched for the ring to no avail over the past year. The news of the ring being found spread swiftly and Luke picked up on the finding and called with the owner’s information. I then made contact with Brina and made arrangements for the ring’s return.

A couple of days later the ring was reunited with Brina who passed on the story of the ring and why it was no longer a complete circle. It had been cut off a finger several years ago but not by choice.

Although a lost object may not be initially found, there is always hope that someday it will be found and through our network of friends and the RingFinders the owner will receive the sentimental item back. Luke and I have done this in the past and look forward to our next return.

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Two Rings Lost, Two Rings found and Returned… Provincetown, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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Twenty years apart, different rings, same happy smile. August 30th saw the morning sun rise in a clear blue sky beckoning Teri to come out for a quick morning swim at high tide. A bit of weight loss and the cool water caused Teri’s wedding band to slip from her finger in water over 6 feet deep. A search for help ensued leading to a several phone calls for help in locating the wedding band. One lead to Luke a member of TheRingFinders. However, due to work requirements, Luke could not make leave work early enough to be able to search the bay area at the far end of the Cape in time to do a proper search at low tide. Five hours after the ring’s loss the low tide was on its way and I was heading for the end of the Cape. The ring’s resting place was now high and dry, well not quite dry. At least waders were not needed for the search in the warmth of the summer sun.

Searching the beach’s slope only yielded a couple one coin and a few odd bits of scrap metal. As an answer to a request for me to search higher on the slope I did but with no signal from the missing ring. Time to go to the damper section of the bay’s tidal area. On the second pass the second signal was the ring. The ring was once again heading back to its proper pace on Teri’s finger. To say the least Teri was sporting a big smile and neighbors having said a prayer to St. Anthony joined in on the joyous sounds.

This return was a bit special as my wife was there to watch me “do my thing”. After pictures were taken and a few stories passed between Teri, her husband, her family members and myself I left with a feeling of satisfaction of a requests fulfilled. On the way home my wife and I stopped for a traditional Cape Cod “Lobstha Roll” over-filled with only claw meat. Now everyone could go home with a smile on their face. Now, this is how every lost ring story should end…with big smiles on everyone’s face.

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Heirloom Australian Gold Ring Returned: West Dennis, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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It was August 23 and the summer day was just too wonderful not to go swimming while vacationing on Cape Cod. Even in the 74 degree waters the combination of suntan lotion, hot sun and cooler water caused a very sentimental wedding band to slip from Kevin’s ring finger. The ring was to rest beneath the salt water of the Cape overnight.

The next morning due to prior commitments Luke had to leave the search area without finding the misplaced ring. Luke call me and asked if I would help, sure and I was on my way. Searching the primary area and not finding the ring I moved to an area outside “the box”. Not too far, only about 20 feet, five minutes, the ring of gold was in my ears. A quick scoop and the ring was no longer misplaced, it was on its way back to the owner.

I called Luke. He in turn called Kevin’s wife to tell her the ring had been found and that I would be calling to arrange the physical return. Within the hour Jane and Kevin were at my home relaying the story behind the ring. The ring had been reworked form Jane’s great-grandmother’s gold. A ring that could never be replaced and of unmatched sentimental value. Kevin relayed to me that his finger felt so bare he had purchased a Claddagh on the day his ring was lost and that it will be worn while swimming in the future.

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