Raymond and Indy's Birthday Adventure!!!!

[Indianasmith]

This last weekend was my hunting partner's birthday, and I'd been hearing quite a buzz here on Arrowheadology about the ongoing digs at the Starr Adventure Ranch outside Salado, TX. So, as a birthday present, I invited Ray to go to the paydig with me for the weekend, and since, when digging, more is definitely merrier, we invited Roy Capps (AKA Knifehunter) and my good friend Jerry Jones (the history prof, NOT the Cowboys' owner!) to join us. We drove down from my place after school Friday, stopping just north of Waco at the Heitmiller Steak House - if you love T-bones and mushrooms, this place is a MUST STOP! - and spending the night at the oldest hotel in Texas, Salado's historic Stagecoach Inn (Sam Houston slept here!!) I got a sound night's sleep despite the fact that my daughter had carried the gym bag with my toothbrush and all my clean clothes into the house with her books before I left Greenville!!!

The next day we got up at dawn - slightly before, actually; I called Roy and Jerry's room at 6:15, to be greeted with "What time is it?" Followed by "I don't like you!!!" (Wimps!) An infusion of coffee and breakfast biscuits calmed them down, and then we headed out, reaching the gate of the ranch just after 7 AM.



We looked at a "new camp" first, but the flint was all on the surface - test holes found nothing below ground level! So we went over to where folks had dug a good many points the previous few days. The lower camp was pretty well dug out, so I headed across the draw to the "high camp" and dug a bit. The gentleman there already had a nice Pedernales and a Williams base. I dug a bit, then wandered over to see how Jerry and Ray were doing at the head of the draw. There were two other guys digging there, and one of them had found a killer 4" base tang! Then Ray said "Hey, I've got an edge here!" I ran over to see one basal edge of a HUGE blade poking out, and we brushed the dirt away a little at a time, revealing a HUGE, pristine Golondrina! I was shouting with excitement for my friend, and he and Jerry were both laughing out loud and pounding each other on the back - I found out why when I picked the point up to find that it was completely plastic, and had "Lithic Casting Company" imprinted on the back! JERKS!!!!!


Ray and Jerry after their VERY mean practical joke!

Then it was back to digging. I returned to the hilltop camp, and they joined me. I got a couple of preforms, and Ray dug a middle, while Roy went surface hunting and found the base of a nice Marshall. We paused about 11:00 for lunch!


The "top camp" is on the far side of this gully. Youu can barely see it through the trees.


My best find - a 4" Cleburne knife!


Ray and Jerry eating lunch!


Some of Roy's surface found brokes!

We returned after that and dug till about 3:30, and Jerry got one whole Darl and another one with a very slight tip nick. Ray got a nice little Perd with some tip damage and an ear nicked off. Then we went walkies, surface hunting a large area south of the pond and coming out with about three brokes and more flakes than you could possibly imagine! This entire ranch is littered with flint from one end to the other! At the end of the day, owner Craig Hiles showed us some of the points he has picked up over the last year or so:

[Indianasmith]

I also took a pic of this very neat old wagon out in his yard!



In the end, it wasn't my best hunt - I have never had any luck at pay digs - but it was a very good time! We laughed, joked, and kidded each other like 4 junior high kids instead of 4 nearly 50somethings! I was sore the next day, and way behind in my grading, honeydews, and church work - but I hit the classroom today feeling more relaxed than I have in a long time. Thanks to my buds for such a great trip, and happy birthday to Raymond - you old geezer!!!

PS: Payback for that prank is COMING - and you WON'T LIKE IT!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

[mark adams]

LOL , Indy don't be to hard on them. Joe got Dwain Rogers like that 20 years ago and I'm still laughing about that one.
Its been played on a lot of unsuspecting fellow collectors, location and timing is everything when you get your pay back.
Great pictures of the Starr Ranch site and sounds like you guys had a good weekend.

[Ryno]

Sounds like a blast

[ozarkmike]

Happy Birthday ... great story ,, geees 6:15 you guys realy slept in that late ???
Burnin Daylite ..

[drdave514]

Good story and pics. Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure the scope of my broad sense of humor includes planted points. The payback wouldn't be worth it to the perpetrator.

[HeadHuntress]

Lol at OzarkMike...I totally agree...here in Okie land we would have a few in pocket and at least one sulking...haha. Jk
Looks like lots a fun and would really enjoy the chance to hit a Texas paydig site once.

Lisa

[jmaduzia]

Originally Posted by Indianasmith

Then Ray said "Hey, I've got an edge here!" I ran over to see one basal edge of a HUGE blade poking out, and we brushed the dirt away a little at a time, revealing a HUGE, pristine Golondrina! I was shouting with excitement for my friend, and he and Jerry were both laughing out loud and pounding each other on the back - I found out why when I picked the point up to find that it was completely plastic, and had "Lithic Casting Company" imprinted on the back! JERKS!!!!!

How about a shot of the pristine plastic Golondrina!

[kirby]

Looks like a great time guys. I might have to check out this place being that it's not far from me. Happy Birthday.

[Raymond G]

Just FYI folks, the prank WAS payback for years of Lewis being mean... Actually, I kind of dedicated it to all those who have ever hunted with Indy I had a great time with some good people. Thanks Lewis... Raymond