Man Herb,
You had hair back then. Lol. Those trout looked tasty. And oh yes my wife would love those earrings. So far what I've found could be like the baguettes on the side of her solitaire. I did find a couple nice flakes. (Still not big, but still nice none the less).
I'm hoping to finish the rest of my dig and then do the cons before I go out again in two days. I'm taking my two younger ones this time. Hopefully a two day trip. If good, maybe a three day. Lol. Depends what we find. Checking out some other claim spots.
On my way up to visit my mom and visit dr I forgot to take my digging gear. My plan was to go to a spot I found some fingernail sized flakes (pinky nail). But that'll have to be next week. Then there's a spot that I found a bunch of gold dust in my boat anchor. It was full of that stuff and didn't have anything to collect it. Besides it was only a couple hundred back then. Well I had fishing on my mind. Lol.
That'll be another hunt. Maybe next week as well. Depends on what misses gets from this last outing. Come on nugget(s). Just trying to find the right amount of time between jobs for clients. At least I can help make money to pay off to the wife what I bought. Lol. She doesn't complain, because it keeps me happy. Besides it came from my nugget fund. She just doesn't know it.
I hope you're doing good and get the shoulders in top working order. That way I can take her to Disneyland with the kids while you and I stumble the hills. I'd like to hear more of your stories while looking at the scenery. Then I could tell the tales from AZ. Who knows, maybe we could take nuggets back to the others. Then she'd let me travel out of state more often.
The pic of the trout and the creek reminds me of a story....
Back in 1993, a buddy and I went on a quick trip to Panguitch, UT. I had gone there in '84 & in '85 for a summer fishing trip. Discovered a creek west of the lake. I think it's called mammoth creek. I told my buddy to bring both warm and cold gear (it's July 4th weekend). I mentioned to him that last time I was up hear it snowed on me, and I had my warm (summer) clothes only. Being from AZ, he didn't think it was possible.
So after we arrived alongside the creek and set up camp we caught 8 10" trout. Normal size for the AZ trout lakes, but up there 18" was my norm. We wrapped them in butter, lemon slices, pepper and foil and tossed them in the fire. That was some of the best trout. Though its white meat. The lakes trout is pink (tastes even better). So the next day we headed back to the lake unloaded my aluminum boat and started to catch our fish. My dog included. Hers were attached to the stringer. She always liked to show she could contribute. Well anyways, around 1 or 2pm a summer storm comes rolling in. We donned our ponchos on as it starts. First the drizzle. Then a heavier rain. The downpour starts with a little hail, and then you see it. Snow!!!! In the middle of summer! I then said, "I told ya so.", with a smile on my face. Then I noticed he's shivering like crazy. This boy gets cold when it's 75 out, and here we are in possibly 40's temp or less. He learned, not only to listen to others who have been there before and to also "always be prepared". So from then on he was always taking his warm and cold clothes whenever we went camping or fishing.
Get well soon my friend.
Making Camp 
Camp
In Camp 
What the trout are hitting
Trout & Prospecting 
Nice early morning plunge 
Pond dweller
Hard Rock Hand Drill 
Rough Country
But lovely 
Sampling
Coming out 
Higher up looking back
