Here it is, New Years Eve. We were never able to get to the claim to assess the damage (if any), and now it's snow season. Depending on Mother Nature, we won't see the claim until at least April. I'm still holding onto the thought that the fire just crowned over the claim which would have spared our equipment, but preparing for the worse case scenario that everything was lost. So far this winter season, we've had some decent snowfall and it's still early in the season.
This off season, I have some modifications planned for the sluice. I upgraded it last year from 1 1/2" to 2'. This year I'm adding 3/8" punch plate to cover the top two riffles. This should provide a nugget trap and keep the larger gravels from dislodging the gold beneath. I'm also adding longer legs so I can fit a five gallon bucket under the tail end of the box for clean outs.
This past month has been a tough one for me. I've been fighting a serious infection and am now on my third round of antibiotics. I'm hoping this round will get me back to some sort of normal (if there is such a thing this past year).
Now for something I never do: A New Years Resolution. I resolve to get my old bones in better shape after a year of lockdown and sitting on my duff through most of it. I'll eat better and be more active. I'll start out just walking around the park, then as the weather begins to improve, I'll start on the community garden. I'll be tilling in two more beds and hopefully get it planted earlier than last year. I'll also have my gold panning gig next year and hope the income from that will pay for any equipment that may have been lost from the fire.
I find the need to put 2020 in the past and look to better things in the coming year and hope that everybody can do the same.
