Very Sentimental Ring Recovered From a Vermont Pond
7/19/25
In the past few weeks I have had 2 failed searches that are weighing heavily on my mind. They were both lost in ponds where the bottom was 12-18” of pudding-like mud, organic debris and lots of human litter like broken glass, rusty cans, aluminum foil, bottle caps and can pull tabs. I know the owners and families of these rings are frustrated and broken hearted, and I am truly sorry.
Early this week I got a message from friend of a woman who had lost a very sentimental ring while visiting Vermont and swimming in a small pond. Unfortunately, she left for home yesterday, but I arranged to meet her friend at the pond.
So, he showed me the area where she had likely lost it, I put on the wet suit and waded carefully down the steep, slippery clay bottom. I got a couple trashy signals and then, in about 5’ of water, I got a strong, repeating signal that might be a ring. It took over 10 minutes to get it into the scoop, because of the depth, the clay on the bottom and the cloudy water. Finally, I got the target into the scoop, went to shore and there it was! I handed it to her friend and he called her up. I wish I could’ve been with her to see the reaction, but I imagine there was rejoicing and maybe some happy tears! Much thanks to her friend who travelled back to the spot and assisted with the recovery.
I sure hope that this is a sign that I am onto another string of successes!
