casca, I agree with what you're saying, if a public official walks over to to us. Then in THAT case, you would be doing a dis-service (perpetuating an "up to no good" persona), to start walking away (or hide, or some other such silly act). But when it's just someone watching (as if .... "they're thinking" about what you're doing, or what it entails), then by going out of your way to walk over to them and start chit-chatting, may not turn out the way you're thinking. I know you THINK that a friendly jesture like that will be an "opportunity" to explain what you're doing, how you do it, what you've found and ..... "how you'll leave no holes", etc.. I wish it were that simple. But on the contrary, it can turn out the other way. By going up to "talk about your hobby", can lead to a "connect -the-dots" conversation you didn't want to happen. You know, a situation where ..... he wasn't going to talk to you (didn't feel it compelling enough to walk over your way), yet when you go over to him, he can just as easily say "you can't dig". I don't know about you casca, but that is something that .... if you ask me .... is better left un-charted with NO talk along those lines. I mean, sure, it can go the way you're thinking. But it can also go the other way. So if a person can avoid ANY such communication (ie.: the less visibility the better, the more bored they are watching you, the better), then why not that option?
If I ever see a cop slow down and watch me, or a gardener put down his rake and watch me, ...... no, that's not the time I waltz over (so he's sure to see my digger now when I get close). On the contrary, that's the time when I swing only (no retreivals), or only stop to catch a shallow clad. Odds are, they eventually figure it's innocuous and move on. But yeah, if they come my way, then the "lines" are exactly as you say, and hopefully results are as you say.
