Terminal Fracture

[brachiomyback]

Work brought me back to the Greenville area so I was able get a couple short trips in at the Green Mill Run (GMR) late last week. I made it to the creek late one evening and decided to try some new territory south of the Green Spring Park area. I met a couple who had a unique system of "extracting" teeth from the creek. The wife sat on a chair by the edge of a gravel island and the husband would stand in the creek and shovel water / gravel up on the edge of the bank and she would pick the teeth out after the water subsided from the bank. This was definitely a two person system and judging by their haul (about a half of a quart Ziplock full) appeared to be rather a productive / efficient way to collect teeth, no screens needed. I found a gravel island / area further down and decided to set up shop. In the limited amount of daylight left, I managed to find some meager finds before heading to a local hotel.

The next morning I got up bright and early after debating if I should take advantage of the few opportunities to sleep in. With a couple cups of coffee in me, I was off to the Run. I got geared up and after a good twenty minute walk along the park's walkway and through the creek I started my quest for fossils. I found a nice gravel island and started my dig. After my third shovel load… the unimaginable happened…. "CRACK". For an instant I though it was my lower back. But soon realized my fossil hunting friend just had a terminal fracture and died in my hands.

There are a lot of sentimental memories with this shovel for it used to be my Grandfather's and later came into my father's possession after my grandfather's passing. My dad ended up giving it to me some time back. You know that a spade shovel has had some use when it starts to morph into a flat edge shovel. Oh the stories that shovel could tell. How many potatoes, peanuts, beets and carrots he has dug up for my grandpa. All the gardening / landscaping projects he has completed for my dad and I. Well, I retired his gardening days and utilized him mainly for slinging gravel at the GMR for the past two years.

I almost lost him on one of my first trips there. I (stupidly) tried to put in by the 10th Street Bridge after an area rain storm not realizing how dangerously high the water levels got. As I put my shovel in to test the depth, the rushing water grabbed the blade and took it from my hands. I watched in horror as it disappeared into the murky brown depths. About three months later, to my surprise, I found him in the creek close to where I lost him. I believe my Grandfather was looking out for me in heaven. At the time I tried to put in there, I noted that the water level went up to the top exposed roots of this large sycamore tree. The depth of the water to the bottom from this point was well over six feet. It still makes me sick today thinking what would have happened if I went in the creek there and if my feet got tangled up in the roots.

My fossil hunting friend was there for my first ever fossil shark tooth found at the Run, the first crow, the first goblin, the first tiger, the first mako, the first snaggletooth, the first sawfish, the first pycnodont, the first cookie, the numerous belemnites and who could ever forget when he scooped out the 2.5 inch great white…his proudest moment. As I sobbed holding my new short Bo Staff, I soon realized it would be very unlikely that I would encounter any Green Mill Run ninjas to put my shidokan skills to test. So I picked up the Ingersoll No. 2 blade, packed up and headed back to my car.

After the 20 minute walk I came up onto some park staff who directed me to the nearest shovel outlet. I arrived at Walmart only to find they were out of spade shovels. Can anything else go wrong I thought? The employee directed me to the Home Depot and I finally located a shovel worth replacement. I went through the self check out and the dang thing wouldn't scan. The "assistant" tried to help and even tried to punch in the UPC code. She ended up having to go back to the shovel display to get some additional code number. After an apology for the wait in addition to 10% off for my inconvenience, I was back to the Run and re-geared for battle.

After another 20 minute déjà vu walk I was back in the creek to screen out the usual suspects with only a couple of great whites found. The GWs were "decent" finds if you don't factor in the typical worn roots and smaller size. I also found a decent tiger, some fat Devil Toenails (Gryphaea convexa) and some coinage (quarter and four pennies).

Then to my amazement I flopped a Meg in the basket. This has to be a saddest looking Meg to most of you, especially when you admire the gorgeous 1.8% of the enamel left on it. The root was, for the most part, complete in addition to the general "shape" of the tooth. I am now the proud owner of my largest found Meg, just shy over 3". Yeah, part of the 3" plus Meg club. My daughters were later impressed with my find, which put an additional smile on my face. These teeth always look bigger in my youngest daughter's hand. In addition, there was also a nice fat lower GW in the same screen that would have put icing on the find if only it didn't have the feeding tip damage. With that I made it back to the hotel for a quick shower before my noon checkout.

I plan on fixing my old fossil hunting friend, but will keep a back up "buddy" in the car next time.

..... enjoy

Brad

[Ron E.]

Your grandfather would probably want you to go down to Lowe's and get a new handle!

Edited September 8, 2009 by Ron E.

[Xiphactinus]

Ron's right! Don't let a busted handle take your trusted hunting buddy out of play. Get a new handle for that bad boy!

[Auspex]

I ran a full-service hardware store from '68-'83, and over that span re-handled hundreds of "old friends". It's a snap, once you get the old wood out; give it a go!

(The Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA, has George Washington's original gavel; now the handle has been replaced three times, and the head once, but it's still George Washington's original gavel...)

[Ron E.]

(The Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA, has George Washington's original gavel; now the handle has been replaced three times, and the head once, but it's still George Washington's original gavel...)

That's a seriously cool factoid, A!

[JohnJ]

Brad, a good story, well told. Get #2 repaired.

[Traviscounty]

Nice story. Nice finds.

I would suggest going with a fiberglass or synthetic material for your shovel handle. Hate to see you lose it next time.

[jax]

I agree with the new handle. This happened to me, but with my first ever rock hammer....she was fiber glass, and snapped like a twig. I have upgraded to a metal one now, and it takes abuse like a champ!

Cool teeth!

Edited September 8, 2009 by jax

[brachiomyback]

Say hello to my little friend..... scar-blade

Couldn't part with the old handle (too cool of wood patina to it) so with a hatchet / sandpaper I formed a new handle.

Probably will pass this shovel to my oldest daughter to use with me at the Run (will be a good size for her now).

I also am "digging" the new shovel I purchased with the "synthetic" handle because it has a "foot" ridge for more support in addition to keeping the gravel in the shovel better (less scooping / more efficient).

[jeepinthemud]

I am sorry to hear about the shovel!

Although I dont have any 'old friends' yet, I can certainly imagining the horror upon hearing a crack, than seeing your most-used tool not come up when you lift the handle. I use my rock hammer like that, and although it is still in great condition, I have had hammer's (normal) whose heads can come off...

That is a nice find, certainly! That is a great meg, despite the fact that its a little worn down.

That is also a good reminder for me to always keep a backup if needed... Haha. I normally have back-up everything else, but I suppose I didnt think of tools.... Oops!

If you get a synthetic handle, see if there is anyway to get your name/phone number engraved in it... that way if anyone finds it (with a heart, anyway) they might call and return it... -shrugs-

I know if I found something with a name and number, I would try to call, at least....

edit: And thats a nifty new shovel. I do like the foot stomp things...

And it looks like you did a good job on Old Friend!

Edited September 10, 2009 by jeepinthemud