So you want to be a YouTube Star...

Shooting your own video of your Metal detecting exploits can be:
A:  Personally Rewarding
B:  Fun
C:  Fincially Rewarding
D:  All of the Above!

My answer would have to be "D". 

For me, it's the fun of shooting your own videos that I like.  You are 100% in control of content, camera angle, viewpoint, and audio soundtrack.  I am a big supporter of introducing kids into the hobby, and when I shoot my own video footage, I can promote that idea by pointing out the various "kid friendly" aspects of the hobby as the situations and opportunities present themselves while in the field shooting.  If it isn't fun, or if I can't make it fun, then I probably wouldn't shoot my own video.

Is it easy?  HA!  At best, it's a good exercise in trying to nail Jell-O to a wall.  Batteries die, memory cards crash, tripods fall over, and equipment overheats and shuts down.  There are a lot of physical challenges to overcome continuously when shooting your own video.  If your the type of person who doesn't flourish under "adaptive/creative" and ever changing situations, well...  you might not enjoy shooting your own video as much as I do.  And then there's "personality" to be considered too.  If you truly enjoy talking, can maintain a good eye contact with your camera, and can think on your feet and improvise script on the run, then you'll probably be a hit on YouTube AND be giggling like a small child as you "work" at making your own video.  You HAVE to be an extrovert to both enjoy the process and entertain folks while shooting your own video.  If you are an introvert, and shy away from folks, talk very quietly and rarely look people in the eye, I would strongly suggest you to find another creative outlet if you want to write about your own metal detecting experiences, perhaps Blogging might be more up your ally.  And here's another aspect of the "personality" element that you need to resolve before you step out in front of that camera for the first time - Rejection/Criticism and Internet Rudeness.  If people refer to you as "thin skinned" or if someone being critical of, how you look, how you talk, and how you "are" gets under your skin and makes you mad, then please, be a Blogger.  You have to be a fairly "confidant" person who is happy with whom they are, look, talk and act to step in front of that camera and bare it all to the world.

There are at least 1000 different ways to take the step in front of the camera.  Professional video cameras and gear are one route, but let me assure you, it's a VERY expensive route.   Most of us have

a Smartphone these days, and the majority of Smartphones usually have excellent, Hi-Res camera's too.  My best digital camera is a Kodak M1033, which is a 10.3 MP camera that we've had for several years now.  And it does an excellent job too.  But...  My Samsung Galaxy S4 has two cameras, one facing rearward and one facing to the front.  My rear camera is a 13MP digital camera and the front camera is a 1.9MP.  Now, 1.9MP doesn't sound like a very Hi-Res camera, and it's not, but it's more than adequate for YouTube.  My very first digital camera was a Kodak DC4800 3.2MP and I paid right at $899. for it in 2000 and I was simply amazed at just how Hi-Res 3.2MP actually was.  I think I remember reading that 12.5MP was about as close to the actual resolution that the human eye was capable of.  And since most internet applications don't come anywhere close to showing you photos and videos at that high of a resolution, I think you're just wasting money for web use on very Hi-Res cameras.  One of the cool little features of my Galaxy S4 is I can video and use both front AND rear camera simultaneously.  I like to use the better rear camera for whatever I am videoing and then do a small PIP (Picture in a Picture) for the front camera and keep it trained on me while I am narrating. 

So that's basically the heart of my "System", a Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone.  I've been adding equipment over time and now have a SunPack "Selfie Stick", which I have mixed feelings about.

It was on sale at a WallyWorld for $2.99 and I just couldn't resist.  Unfortunately, the remote shutter release does not work.  I'll get another one on my next trip to WallyWorld.  It comes with a nice and sturdy phone adapter/tripod mount and the actual head on end of the stick is very solid once you lock the adjustment screws down.  I've used it on two video shoots now and there have been bot Pro's and Con's.  On the Pro side, it extends, so when trying to get yourself in the picture with a fair amount of background, it's got that covered pretty good.  And it's very useful for getting the camera close to the ground for close ups and low-angle shooting.  It also comes in handy for shooting high-angle shots or for looking in/around places where you and your body won't go but a camera on a stick fits just fine.  Hollow tree holes, tree stumps, etc. are now within reach of many of us amateur videographers. 

My next investment will be a "Pendulum Mount".  This is one of the most stable platforms for shooting video while moving with a  Smartphone.  It basically is a camera mount that sits on a twin axis pivot point.  There is a "tuneable" counterbalance that you adjust so that the camera/phone sits flat and level no matter what position the handle is in.  It allows you to walk, move, bend, stoop, all while the camera "floats" on this pivot point, held perfectly flat and level by the counterbalance.  eBay is where I will most likely purchase mine soon.  Prices run from $19.99 up to several hundreds of dollars.

There is also another variation of this which uses a dual "fluid dampened" pivot assembly that does the same thing, just with slightly different technology.  These are the more expensive mounts and can easily set you back by $500. or more.

Either style mount will greatly enhance the smoothness of your video shooting, which in return, increases your enjoyment too.

Add on or accessory lens can also go a long way at improving your videos.  Various methods of attaching the lens to the phone means that there is a lens kit out there for everybody regardless of what type of phone and/or case you use.

They usually come in a set of 3 lens, a close up, a telephoto and a wide angle lens.  All 3 lens have their own unique time and place when shooting videos.

Prices run $20 to several hundred for the lens sets with eBay having a better selection than most camera shops.

 There are times when you will simply need a "static" mount.  Just a place where you can set your camera phone down while you shoot a particular angle, like when digging for a recovery.

And there are as many static mounts out there as there are stars in our Galaxy or so it would seem.  Some have bendable "octopus" type legs that you can twist around a tree branch, and others have ver powerful magnets which allow you to quickly and securely attach them to anything iron or steel.  There are clamp mounts,

and window clamp mounts so you can use them on any partially rolled down car window.  It's rare, that I am far from my car when shooting so a window mount or a suction mount will definitely be added soon.

 Suction mounts can be used on glass, smooth metal, laminated, solid core surfaces too to further enhance your angle shooting capabilities.

Like I said, SO many different types and styles of mounts that I'm quite sure you can find one that will help improve the stability of your own video shoots.

One of the neatest things to emerge lately for the solo videopreneur is a little device called "SoloShot".  And it quite simply is a remote robotic head that mounts to your tripod of choice and then you mount your camera platform of choice on top of the SoloShot.  There is also an armband (which can also be clipped on your belt, pocket, clothing) that you wear.  As you move, the sensors in the SoloShot track and follow the armband thereby always keeping you in the video.

So, about all that's left is some video editing software, and unfortunately, I haven't found anything that I particularly care for.  Will you need to edit?  As long as flies like to land on noses, and bees like to land on foreheads, the answer is an enthusiastic, YES.  Some things are simply beyond your control.  Wind blows, tripods fall.  And even the things we do have control over don't always go as planned.  Hiccups, misspoken words, coughs, sneezes, etc., all have a way of rearing their ugly little heads just as soon as the "Record" button is pushed.  With my recent upgrade to Windows 10, I find that I know longer have Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Media Player has virtually no editing capabilities anymore.  So the hunt is on for me, and in the meantime, I'll try to step up my game, make as few mistakes as humanly possible and simply hope for the best!

A lot of people have asked me if I use any type of a pre-written Script.  And the answer is no.  I'm typically a well trained motormouth babbler and can usually talk for hours on end without seemingly having to take a breath sometimes.  And it's not an understatement when I say I like to talk.  My talking and not hunting/digging is my Number 1 complaint that I get about what few videos I have out there at present.  And like I've said, I'll take that into consideration, and try to change my tactics so that the people who invest their time in me, are getting more of what they want.  It's a compromise, and I'm happy to work on it with each new effort.

And my last tip for the budding videographers out there, is, be accessible.  You need to have a "presence" on virtually all forms of Social Media.  It's best to explain by example.  You can follow me. and my Metal Detecting Exploits via:

Facebook:  Tim Suggs - Metal Detecting Mayhem.  PLUS I own/run 150+ Metal Detecting specific Groups on FB, 55K Members Worldwide, Ever Brand, Every State and Every Style of Detecting.

Twitter:  @TimSuggs59 - Tim Suggs Detecting

YouTube:  Tim Suggs Channel 

SnapChat:  TimSuggsDetecting

Pinterest:  Tim Suggs - Metal Detecting Madness

Tumblr:  Tim Suggs Back In Black

Instagram:  timsuggsmetaldetecting

Blogger:  Tim's Metal Detecting Adventures

  

        

In Search of... The PERFECT MD Vehicle.

Over the years that I have been involved in this wonderful hobby, I have been constantly looking for the perfect "Searcher/Hunter" Vehicle.  And I have pretty much looked at them all, in some form or another,  motorcycles, boats, Jeeps, other 4WD vehicles, and so on.  Here's a quick breakdown of the Pro's and Con's of each:

Motorcycle:  Pro's- Light, quick, Economical, Fun, All-Terrain.

Con's- NO Shelter, Weather, Theft, Physical, Temperatures.

ATV/UTV:  Pro's- All Terrain, 4X4, Multi-Person, Cargo.

Con's- Off Road Only, Has to be Towed, Best as a Support Vehicle.

4WD Truck: Pro's- 4WD, All-Terrain, Sleeping Area, Cargo

Con's- NO Standing, 

Class C Motorhome: Pro's- House on Wheels, Storage.

Con's- Large, Cost per Mile, NOT Off Road Friendly.

Van: Pro's- Pretty much the same as a Pickup Truck, still no full height standing room.

So...  Within this hobby, I would easily say the Pickup Truck is by far, the most popular choice.  They can be used as a "good" transport vehicle to get you, possibly a few passengers, and all your associated gear to and from the various hunts/events.  And with just a little creative modification, they can also serve as a pretty darn good "Base Camp" to operate out of whether you are at an Event, or just going solo while scouting for the weekend.  The younger crowd (with better knees than I), have no problem crawling around in the bed of the truck on their knees as they go from hunting to sleeping mode.  Depending on what type of "Camper Shell" you have covering your truck bed, you can comfortably sleep 4, bunkbed style back there, all while being "out of the weather" such as rain and wind.  Personally, I have trouble sleeping in a tent with my wife of 36+ years, so I'm quite sure that sharing an enclosed truck bed with 4 other mouth breathers would not be an option for me.  Most of your "other" camping activities, such as campfire, napping, cooking, eating, etc. could all easily be handled under a canopy, etc. IF the weather and season permitted.  I've camped when it was at freezing temps and I gotta tell ya, crawling out of a wet tent at 3am to take a wiz in yonder bush is not something I wish to experience again in this lifetime!

For all intents and purposes, the trusty ole' pickup is the standard adventurer's vehicle for SO many hobbies that take us out into the "Great Outdoors".  And rightly so.  But for those of us who have made it to the "Over 50" ranks, trying to survive a weekend (or longer) in a pickup truck, is, at best, a painful compromise.  So, I need something else.  Something better, softer, with both full standing headroom and a nice quite, private, place to sit and take care of "Nature".  And having some sort of comfortable, reclining chair would go a LONG way for me personally, and my back pretty much requires it too. 

AND...  If you are a "Urban Jungle Specialist", like me, then the inner city is where you do the majority of your hunting.  And in "the city", pickup trucks are NOT looked at with the same level of admiration and appreciation as in a more rural setting.  In the city, they are very often thought of as a thief's mode of transportation as they are quite commonly used by thieves to toss something that doesn't belong to them into the back and haul boogie.  Another popular mistake about pickups here in the city is they are "bum" housing.  They are also looked upon as "dangerous" and a threat to women and small children as "abduction vehicles" and most people will cross the street  to avoid having to walk right by a lone pickup.  Most of these "beliefs" are far fetched and very unfounded in reality, but it is what it is.  So much so that any "strange" pickup truck that suddenly parks on the street and has people milling about it, and/or coming to and from it, would be watched very cautiously.  And just as soon as "Nosey Miss Johnson" sees you crawl in the back and disappear for a visit to the "portable toilet", she'll be on the phone with the local Police Department, who will indeed show up at the most inopportune time possible.  Yeah, try talking your way out of that one as you explain just exactly why you're in the back of a pickup truck with your pants down around your knees parked next to a City Park or School playground full of kids.  And won't your Wife, Neighbors and Employer be surprised to see the Police dragging you out of the back of your pickup with your pants down around your ankles on the nightly local news at 5Pm?  Don't laugh, I know several folks this exact scenario has happened to!

What I need for MY perfect Detecting Vehicle, would allow me to pretty much pull up to any City Park, empty house lot, etc., hop out and do my detecting and then return to the comforts of home pretty much instantly.  If I got hot, fire up the generator and set the A/C to "Ice Cubes" and let 'er rip!  If I got all sweaty and filthy, hop in the shower, get squeaky clean, hop out and throw on some clean clothes out of the closet!  If I was having such a good time detecting that I missed stopping for lunch, all I'd have to do is look in the refrigerator and make me a nice sandwich or heat up a quick bowl of soup in the microwave and enjoy lunch before my blood sugar falls thru the floor.  If I was going to be hunting with other folks and they couldn't get off early and I now had a 2 hour wait, no problem, fire up the 55" Plasma TV and kick back in the recliner in front of the A/C vent and just chill.  Luckily, my city has excellent Digital TV channels (35+) and since I watch them every day, I am already familiar with their lineup and schedules.  And IF, I just happen to be in a spot with bad signal reception, I can always toss a disc in the BluRay and enjoy that too.  Or I can fire up my laptop thru my portable Hot Spot or thru my phone's portable hot spot and research the place I am about to hunt so I can get to the "sweet spots" before my friends can stumble across them :) .

In essence, I need a vehicle that will give me a controlled climate so I can keep from overheating in the Summer or hearing my Man Marbles rattling around in the Winter.  I'll be 60 on my next Birthday and at that age, being able to stay in my own "temperate zone" means the difference between hunting, or not hunting.  I need a vehicle where I can both store, and fix a meal, whether it's a simple can of soup heated on the gas stove or a frozen pizza zapped back to life in the microwave.  Also at around age 60, you too will probably be taking a diuretic like I am and having a cool, comfortable place to pee, often, and without having to wait, can actually make or break an outing.  Having a nice comfortable recliner to kick back in is the fastest "cure" for my lower back pain.  And having a safe place where I could possibly just doze off while my back relaxes would be wonderful too.  Sounds to me that a Class C Motorhome would cover all of those needs, and more.

Let's look a little more in-depth at the Motorhome options.  There are Class A motorhomes, those are the much larger, think bus, chassis'.  And while they may be the "King of the Open Road", due to their sheer size and dimensions, they would be a nightmare to try to navigate around in tight city streets, and off road, well...  you'd be leaving chunks and pieces of your beloved house on wheels strewn all thru the woods and trails, so Class A is a big ole' fat, NO! 

What about the Class B motorhomes?  Well, yes, there is a Class B, but they are actually the smallest of the 3 motorhome classes.  Most often they are built on a stock or slightly modified Van chassis and body.  Think of a full sized Ford Van, with a small kitchenette area, a small "hassock style" portable toilet that slides in and out of a cabinet for use and more than likely, sleeping on your dining table that converts into a "bed".  Depending on which Class B brand you go with, you may or may not have to stoop over anytime you are inside as headroom is usually only slightly better than a stock cargo van.  For my needs, and wants, the Class B is just a little too small for comfort to me, so that's a also a NO.

The Class C motorhome is just the right size for me!  Unless I can find a Manufacturer to sponsor me in a new motorhome, then a used ride is going to be the best option for me.  Luckily, they are plentiful, cheap and usually have lower miles than any used car I have ever purchased.  They come in all shapes, sizes and floorplans.  18', 20', 21', 22', 24', up to around 35' max.  Anything in the 20' to 30' range would work for my needs being both more economical on fuel and easier to maneuver around city streets too.  You can buy 1980 - 2000 year models with under 50K miles all day long for under $10K dollars.  Many of these will be in the "fixer upper" category but if you're handy with tools and enjoy working on things, they are usually well within the capabilities of most D.I.Y'ers.  THIS option is most likely where I will wind up, I always loved the look of the mid 1980's Ford F-350 Class C Motorhomes and I know which end of a screwdriver to use, and I would actually enjoy the upgrades and repairs too.

For those of you that were around in the 1970's, you may remember the next option I have been exploring to base a "city only" hunter rig upon.  The VW Westfalia Camper Vans!  Produced since the 1960's, they went thru many, many changes over the years.  Starting out with the typical 40hp air cooled VW engine, they were drastically underpowered and under geared for much above 60mph on flat ground.  Then they added horsepower, and there were several diesel models, and then the water cooled motors took over.  There were "Westfalia" campers, 4X4 "Syncro" Campers, Types 1/2/3/4 and maybe even more!  I wouldn't care to make a trip in one of these, but for putting around in a city where I know each road like the back of my hand, then yeah, something like this might just fill the gap betwixt Jeep and Motorhome! 

There was even a "pickup truck" version too.  I think it originally had some military uses intended with a canvas cover over the back and then it sort of morphed into the perfect "service vehicle" for various businesses over time. 

By far, the "Westfalia" camper van was my personal favorite, but there were more than a handful of different designs and intended uses.  There was a "Hightop" version that was like what you'd get if VW was Wendy's and you "Biggie Sized" your van order.  They saw they were about as aerodynamic as a house and the wind could blow them all over the road with the slightest breeze.

And there was a version that had no "upstairs" bed but had a center "hat" section that raised up while you were camped so you could stand while cooking and washing dishes.  No matter what your needs, wants or desires, they made one of these for you sometime between 1960 and 1990.

As more and more of these iconic vehicles meet the crusher, their prices grow yearly based upon how many they speculate are still out there.  So if you're interested in these at all, GET ONE!  And the sooner, the better!

This is gonna be a great month for several folks...

Giving away a metal detector on our Twitter page -
https://twitter.com/whitesdetector/status/734768117793075200

Teknetics Metal Detectors New Contest...

Teknetics has a new contest for a free T2...

Hey Teknetics Metal Detectors fans! Are you on Instagram? If so, check out our contest at https://www.instagram.com/teknetics_detectors/ for your chance to win a Teknetics T2 Green metal detector.

Doo Doo Day 2016 - Post Doo Doo!

Doo Doo Day 2016 has come, squatted, and gone!  I had plans on hitting the park yesterday evening as they were shutting things down with my new Garrett ACE 400 to see how well it would do in a "park/surface find" environment.  BUT...  I had a better offer!  Like babysitting my two youngest Grandkids, Maggie Harper and Arlo Suggs.  THAT was an EASY choice for me!  Made it home a little after midnight and caught up on Episodes 8 & 9 while we were babysitting.  Too late to be poking around in a park in this city, fer sure!  In the morning would suffice quite nicely as what I saw in the park as we were headed out about 7pm indicated they were in no hurry whatsoever to finish it up on Saturday.

5:30am Sunday Morning - The Day After Doo Doo!  Woke up and hit the road running!  Grabbed my new Garrett ACE 400 and tossed it in the front seat of our little Alabama Mountain Goat (Subaru Outback AWD) and headed around the block.  It's still pretty to just sit and watch the sun come up, even in an inner city municipal park with the lingering aroma of dog poop gently wafting thru the air with every cool breeze...

Now I can make this a long post, or a short post, it just depends on how my fingertips are feeling in about 10 minutes.  I was able to park "in" the park at the one and only Handicap spot (YES, I do have a placard and YES it IS registered to me Thank You very much...) so I was right there within feet of where my quest for treasure and fame would begin this morning.  I geared up with my usual "SWAG WARRIOR" ensemble, Minelab Digging Gloves, Minelab Digging Pouch, Bounty Hunter T-Shirt, Whites TRX Pinpointer and Garrett EDGE Digger in a XRT Holsters Kydex drop leg combo sheath, my Craftsman extendable mechanics magnet, Fisher Camo hat, with my trusty Samsung Galaxy S4 running Tect O Trak detecting App.  Like I said...  Swag Ho!  Much more than Swag, it all works, and it's all SERIOUS detecting gear!

City Workers got there about 6:30am and started with the last of the clean up.  I made friends and showed them the trash, nails and tent spikes I had already picked up so they wouldn't tear up the turf tires on their buggies and mowers, and that put a smile on their faces.  Never hurts to show them you care and respect them and the park at every opportunity you get!

I had scoped out some landmarks yesterday so I could accurately relocate the vendors tent line today so that was where I hit first.  Backed the ACE 400 down all the way to the first notch on the sensitivity scale so it would go as shallow as possible.  Those ACE Series machines are real beasts and the ACE 400 is no different as it was indicating solid targets at 6 inches deep with the sensitivity turned all the way down.  Since I was looking for recently dropped surface finds, I ignored anything beyond 2 inches.  I snagged a few pennies here and there that were on or near the surface, but it was mostly the usual trash and junk that fools most machines and operators.  I was VERY impressed with the "Iron Audio" feature that I would turn on before I dug each target.  After a few rusted bottle caps, I was able to detect the pattern for ID'ing the rusty bottle caps from the actual coins.  And it worked amazingly well.  If I swung a target with the Iron Audio feature turned on and didn't hear the "grunt", then I knew it was going to be an actual coin, or an aluminum screwtop.  And since this isn't the ACE 400 "Park Review", let me just say that all in all, I was VERY pleased with Garrett's latest and greatest addition to the ACE Series and that it would make an excellent park machine by my standards.

Visiting the city parks after an event can have some very nice rewards if you're quick, have a keen eye and aren't afraid to pick stuff up that's been left behind by the various vendors, exhibitors, etc.  At events past, I got a complete set of side and rear sun/wind curtains for a 12x12 EZ-UP canopy, a 50' Master Lock Security Cable, a Mr. Coffee Coffee Maker, and the list goes on and on.  Today's "Bonus Booty" was a nice 50' Extreme Heavy Duty 120vac custom made extension cord.  This thing is a BEAR and weighs like 30 pounds.  Made out of like 3 Gauge 3 conductor wire with 120vac plugs on both ends.  I could easily change the plugs for 240vac and have a sweet extension cord for my welder!

Here's a few pictures of the morning, we've got kids coming over today so I gotta do a little cleaning before they get here.  Get off the couch, grab your detector and hit a local park for a little "Urban Jungle" hunting, it'll do you good!

  

Doo Doo Day 2016 - Birmingham, AL.

Once a year, the animal lovers in our fair city come together to show their support for the local animal shelters and services throughout the Greater Birmingham Metro Area.  The correct, and official name of the event is "Do Dah Days" but if you've ever seen what it looks like after everybody and their Shitzu has been there, it's quite easy to see why I affectionately refer to it as "Doo Doo Days".  The odor of dog shit actually lingers in the bowl shaped park near my house for days after the event.  In the beginning, this event took place only in Caldwell Park.  But over the years, it has grown to include all 3 of the parks in the "Highland Parks" neighborhood, Caldwell, Rhodes and Rushton Parks.  And they have recently added a walking parade from one park to the next and finally ending at Caldwell Park.

Here's the bad:  I live very close to Caldwell Park, close enough that I could hit it with a rock from my backyard.  I live in an old, two story, 1900's era Southside Home that has been divided into two separate units, Joy and I live in the lower half of the house and currently, the upstairs in empty.  We have NO driveway so the only parking that is available to us is street parking.  And that presents a problem.  Because you see, we're now trapped in our home for the day and restricted to walking only because if we move our car from in front of our house, it will quickly be taken by the 1000's and 1000's of fools driving around for hours on end looking for a parking place, ANY parking place they can stuff their cars into.  And when we attempted to return home later today, not only is our parking place now "taken", but so is EVERY parking place within 4 square blocks of our house.  And I gotta tell you, after I lug in groceries from 4 blocks away, I'm pissed enough to take a baseball bat to whatever car is unfortunate enough to be parked in my parking place!  And it's not any better for our neighbors with driveways as these mindless fools will happily park across your driveway unless your sitting where you can see them as they are doing it and walk out there with a baseball bat to "discuss" it with them.  So, living near a city park is not always a "good" thing.

But here's the good:  As a metal detectorist, this event will draw in excess of 50,000 two-legged bodies and twice as many four-legged bodies into these three parks and along the sidewalks that stretch between the 3 Highland Parks.  And you know what that means!  RINGS - EARRINGS - BRACELETES - NECKLACES - LOCKETS - PENDANTS - GOLD - SILVER - DIAMONDS - PLATINUM!  Not to mention various dog tags and such too.  As much "bad" as I can find to say about this miserable little city I live in, I will say that they do a hell of a job cleaning up these 3 parks after this annual event.  Unless you are out there swinging your detector as they are breaking everything down, it will all be chopped, sliced and sucked clean by the time the sun comes peaking over the top of Vulcan's butt on Sunday morning.  It actually looks like they use a giant vacuum cleaner to suck up every last cut blade of grass and piece of paper.  So, I will sit captive, but patiently at the house today and wait until the event ends at 5pm and then I'll be on those parks like white on rice!

To scope out the "lay of the land", Joy and I usually walk over to the park and find us a nice shady place to sit and people watch and to enjoy the beautiful dogs that wander by.  I'll look for the areas that are "holding" the people, see where the picnic blankets have been arranged, watch for the popular kiddie "play zones" and such just so I can hit these places first when the whistle blows at 5pm.  If you come to Doo Doo Days today, I hope I see you, Joy, Elliot and I should be hanging out on the brick wall right in front of the Virginia Samford Theater at the back of Caldwell Park, look for the PINK, as we'll both have our Hot Pink Fisher and Teknetics Metal Detectors hats on!  Don't forget the sunscreen too, and bring me a hotdog, please!

http://www.dodahday.org/

PIG - The Most Unusual Dog (Short Spine Syndrome)

You'll see it all at Doo Doo Days!

Plenty of "Drops"!

5PM... Here I come!

RIDE - RIDE - RIDE!

Six Days and I climb back on the Triumph!  Already insured, 2016 tag and registration on Wednesday, then...RIDE!