This Ring was recovered on 12-31-16 for a nice woman who had lost it in her yard almost 2 months ago while cutting grass on about 6 acres of land. I’m not going to go into too much detail about how she lost it but I was able to find the ring in less than a hour and return it to her. I was very happy to help her out and she was very happy to see it returned after a couple months of being lost. It is always a pleasure to help someone out by finding there lost items.
I was tagged in a Facebook post by my fellow motorcycle Chicka Tamara K…that a young lady lost her 10k white gold wedding band at a patio bar close to the port or Orillia, Ontario. Tamara knew of the recent ‘Ring Finder’ recoveries & returns I had posted on my ‘Metal Detecting for Charity’ FB page.
I contacted young Jessica G to get the details. I advised that we would need to obtain permission for the owner/manager of the bar “Studabaker’s” before we go any further. She had trouble getting permission. I suggested going very early on the Holiday Monday before any of the clients show up…so we met and headed over with the waitresses watching in anticipation.
I asked Jessica to look through every slat as the depth below the wooden boards was 1″-2″ which I was scanning with my Excel 2. She spotted her ring and then I devised a Ms. MacGyver move buy inserting a piece of thin metal wire I pulled from the shores of Wasaga Beach the day before. I brought the end in through the ring and up to the deck…then slipped a small brown straw on the open end of the wire back down to the hand in my hand. I slowly raised the wire end up and out of the straw. With both hands on either end of the straw…I pulled Jessica’s 10k white gold ring up and threw the wooden slat!!!
WHAHOOOOOO!! Jessica jumped for joy with some tears in her eyes….and proceeded to give me a squeezie hug!! OMG she was so thankful for retrieving her wedding band. She knew she should no longer wait to have her ring re-sized to fit her finger!!
That was one fun recover & return!! I’ll have to keep some ‘straws’ in my detecting bag of tricks!!
Jessica G also gave a small donation in support of my snowmobile ride for the ‘Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation’. Also, thanks to Studabaker’s in the port of Orillia, Ontario for permission to complete the recovery & return with no bother to customers!!
Received a phone call at work from Ron from Rockwood, Ontario. A fellow “Ring Finders” member and recommended me because I was close proximity to his location. Ron enquired if I was available to help find his Father’s beloved ring he has worn for 30 years.
I arrived at his beautiful home coming through the most amazing tree covered lengthly driveway. Amen for my 4×4 for some rugged terrain! Ron briefed me that he was high up on his ladder cleaning out the pine needles and debris from his eavestrough while throwing down the debris his beloved Father’s massive ring flew off his finger. He searched for some time with no luck in locating it.
I started detecting from the top of the hill down and around the back of the home. On my way back on my 2nd pass….it was glaring at me between some leaves. Sure couldn’t miss that monster ring!! What a beautiful and very unique ring!! Biggest ring I have ever had the pleasure to recover & return. MASSIVE!!
What a nice Chap. As well, Ron gave a generous donation to my February snowmobile ride in support of the “Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation”…financial assistance for men & woman fighting breast cancer!! “PAYING IT FORWARD” R-O-C-K-S!!
The drive in & out under the trees was spectacular…felt regal almost!
I received a phone call while nearing the end of my Summer Vacation week when I received a phone call from Himanshu. He was playing volleyball at the private compound of President’s Choice HQ in Brampton, Ontario. They had weekly volleyball matches. One of his team mates had said “you should take your ring off in case you lose it”…..
He was practicing prior to the match and sure enough…he lost it. I arrived a few hours prior to the start of the first match. Started a grid pattern from the serving line. One half of the court completed…no ring. Lots of clad coins and sharp thin copper wire pieces. Started on the other side of the court…3rd pass and BAAM…there was his 21k Platinum wedding band. Very special to him as it was India gold. We managed to capture the recovery on video!
One happy camper!!!
Himanshu was kind enough to make a donation to my charity “Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation” in which I am sledding in my 9th consecutive year raising donations for men & woman fighting breast cancer!! “PAYING IT FORWARD”…awesome, everyone WINS!!
I was contacted via email by a frantic Trish P of Toronto. Trish was totally overwhelmed and heartbroken because her boyfriend of 16 years finally proposed to her and where married last October!! This definitely pulled at my heart strings and I knew in my heart I could help her and those rings were just waiting for me to find them.
Trish was with her Family and Friends at Wasaga Beach #3. They were playing volleyball in 4 1/2′ to 5′ depth water 175′ from the shoreline when both her wedding ring and engagement ring flew off her finger. They spent the rest of the day searching for hours but could not find them. The next day a friend of her’s guided her to my ‘Metal Detecting for Charity” Facebook page for finding lost rings. I was actually detecting at Wasaga Beach #1 and asked her to head up form Toronto as the sooner I start detecting the area they were lost the better chances I had in finding them. Trish had said she said “I felt it was a needle in a haystack and she didn’t know metal detectors could go in water”. I told her to BREATHE and head on up when she could.
3 hours later I met up will her and her husband Gary (alias Spongebob…little inside joke as I couldn’t remember his name). We walked all the way down to Beach #3 not realize how long it would take. I spent approximately 1 1/2 hours in the water with Trish with no luck. Walking back to shore I got a hit. Unfortunately, it was a men’s wedding ring. My heart sank but I was happy that I had recovered another ring. I told her I was coming back up all weekend dog/house sitting and would not stop searching for it till I found it. Well attempt #2 was in 5′ to 6’ foot waves….CRAZY. I was tossed around and learn just how stubborn I was. Onto the 3rd attempt the following day and again NO LUCK!
The end of July and I headed back up to Wasaga for my 4th attempt. Trish and Gary where also coming up to Beach #1 with Friends. I started that morning with a Prayer to the water Gods, Detecting Gods, Guardian Angels for some Faith, Hope and Luck finding Trish’s stunning rings….I had been in the water at 9:30am and around 2:00pm and thought a couple more grid passes and I’m heading back to get some food and water. An incredible low strong tone…I haven’t heard before had my heart pumping. First scoop out…there was Trish’s WEDDING BAND full of beautiful little diamonds!! I freaked…and then decided a circular grid around this location. 3 minutes later BAM!! The same low strong tone. My heart was racing. First scoop….nothing. 2nd scoop …YIPPPEEEE….there was her ENGAGEMENT RING!! I started to cry and gave thanks to the Gods. I was shaking like a leaf.
I raced backed to shore line beaming from ear to ear and the ladies beside me asked “Did you find anything”…I was overjoyed to show them that I found Trish’s ring set. They were amazed. I quickly called…and texted Trish..leaving messages to see where she was at. I had just been notified on the Friday by Chris Turner the I was Officially accepted to “The Ring Finders” and was super stoked. Chris had suggested when recovering a ring…try to surprise the client.
Sure enough I caught up to Trish and 2 girlfriends as I made up that I was taking a break, stretching my legs and getting food and a hot Tim Horton’s coffee. I had already eaten my TimBits and decided to put the rings in the little bag…..my plotting was starting. I asked to walk over to say hi to Gary to stretch my legs….and then proceeded to ask to do a short little live interview. THEY HAD NO IDEA I FOUND BOTH RINGS!! So slowly getting into the interview and then I couldn’t wait any longer to say…”Oh by the way, I have something for you”…Trish’s JAW DROP with the words “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD…ARE YOU KIDDING ME” there in the TimBit bag were both her incredible 1.7 carat matching wedding/engagement ring set. P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S!!! I will never ever forget that moment!! EVER!! not to mention her girlfriends were crying in happiness.
Video of live FB beach interview and the EXCELLENT surprise:
I still watch the video as it has become my most favourite ring recovery & return!! Trish and Gary made an extremely generous donation to the Charity I snowmobile for… “The Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation” helping men & woman with the financial burden fighting breast cancer!! I am very grateful and proud for this opportunity and also meeting such nice people!! ZOOWEEMAMA~~~
I was speaking with a fellow Belfountain Heritage Society member Steve G about my metal detecting hobby. He proceeded to tell me that 2 years prior he was gardening and somehow his 14k platinum wedding band slipped off into the dirt. This wedding band was very special to him as it was matching wedding band to his Wife’s. I immediately offered to drop by with my detector to help in locating it. Date and time was set.
Lovely early summers morning….set up my gear and within 2 minutes BEEP BEEP…the detector went off! Took out my pinpointed and there it was. AMAZING feeling for my very 1st ring recovery!
One very happy wife as they were to celebrate their 14th Wedding Anniversary the following week which made this extra special!!
9/24/16 Recovered: Engagement and Wedding rings set, lost last year in the James River.
SCUBA, 8’ to 10’ deep, 1:31 minutes, Garrett ATpro w/Gray Ghosts
Equipment & river access.
In August, I got an email from Lindsay after she saw my listing in the Ring Finder’s directory. She lost the rings last year when a friend accidentally pulled them off her fingers. She had another detectorist do a search that summer, but he could not complete the recovery.
The access to the river is on private property. With all the variables of work, family, and the schedules of the owners, it was difficult to schedule a day. We finally got to the river on a beautiful Saturday morning. My wife who is a certified divemaster, acted as my safety diver. Lindsay’s husband Brett, met us in a nearby town and we followed him to the property. A pleasant gentleman who is one of the landowners met us at the river.
Brett paddled out from the small dock to where he thought the rings dropped. He gave me every detail he could remember and placed me within 15 feet of where I found the rings. Brett’s memory and ability to find the location was invaluable. Lindsay was tenacious and never gave up hope. I am so glad I could help them recover the rings.
I have been metal detecting above and below the water for many years. This is my first recovery through Ring Finders. Thank you to Chris Turner for creating the directory and getting us together!
Rob
The rings after more than a year in the silt.
Update:
Here are some photos Lindsay just shared. She also added a comment at the end of this post. I love this hobby:)
Rob was having a great day playing golf at Shannon Lake Golf Course, that was until his golf cart lost control. He was able to jump off before the cart drove into the Lake. Checking his personal effects after the incident he noticed his wallet with his waterproof cell phone were missing. The next day the cart was recovered from the lake, however his wallet which was on the dash of the cart was still missing, he gave me a call for assistance with my underwater detector. I met Rob at the site and in my wet suit I entered the 5/6 feet of water, the lake had a brick retaining wall around it making recovery difficult. I was getting a few signals but could not retrieve them from between the rocks. Rob stripped off and joined me in the water, once I got a signal Rob would dive under and scoop underneath my coil. After a few beer cans and even a large battery, Rob came up with a scream, he had the wallet and cell phone. Thanks to Rob we had a successful day.
A week ago, while vacationing on Cape Cod, I received a call from Leslie asking for my help. Her mom, Phyllis, recently lost a gold cross in her backyard when the chain broke and was very upset over the loss. The cross was a gift from her late husband, so it held special meaning to her. As soon as I returned from vacation, I went to search for the item. After approximately two hours of searching the yard and a compost bin, and using two different metal detectors, I located the cross in the lawn. Phyllis is thrilled to have this precious item back with her!
