City of Canyon Lake Website

On October 15, 2011, John and Mary Bucholzer hosted our latest metal detecting excursion that took us to beautiful Canyon Lake, also known as the Railroad Canyon Reservoir, which was created in 1927 back when the Railroad Canyon Dam was constructed. This reservoir is the result of storm runoff that pours in from the San Jacinto River from the mountains east of Hemet and winds its way through the Perris Valley, ending at Lake Elsinore. It’s the winter rains that has Salt Creek merging with the San Jacinto at Canyon Lake and amounts to approximately 383 acres with 15 miles of shoreline. It is currently owned and operated by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

City of Canyon Lake Website

The famous Santa Fe Railroad bought the California Southern Railroad that was originally built in 1882 and ran along the east side of the river from Perris to Elsinore, joining it with the San Bernardino line. After repeated floods washed out the tracks the line was eventually abandoned leading to the sale of the railroad right-of-way to the Temescal Water Company. This is when they began dam construction for the purpose of storing water and ended up producing the two parcels that comprise most of Canyon Lake today.

Photo credit: Google Earth

Canyon Lake is actually one of only five gated cities that exist in California and is a fully governed city in itself. It began as a master-planned community that was developed in 1968 by the Corona Land Company. The actual city of Canyon Lake wasn’t incorporated until 1990. It has become a recreation community with a population of nearly 11,000 today who enjoy the amenities of the lake stocked with fish, surrounded by stunning homes, a lovely lodge with restaurant and banquet facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 10-acre equestrian center, an 18-hole golf course and country club, plenty of campgrounds, beaches and beautiful parks.

It was at one of these parks where our Temecula Valley Prospectors enjoyed The Second Annual Metal Detecting Hunt. We were directed to Sierra Park with its accompanying beach, which was a site to behold and expansive enough to accommodate our largest showing to date: 52 treasure hunters.

Photo credit: Doug B

Amongst a group of this size we saw a wide variety of experienced metal detectors who were more than happy to show their skill to some of our newbies, thus allowing everyone to enjoy finding the salted treasures in the sands.

It proved to be a day that offered up a wealth of coins including pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, on up to half-dollars and dollar coins. Adding to the mystery were foreign coins and tokens. There were some diligent hunters who even found coins from our last treasure hunt held there. As an added bonus, there were two Grand Prize winners who were awarded $25 gift certificates for finding a casino poker chip.

Photo Credit: Doug B

We were able to have two treasure hunting sessions throughout our day at the park with one on the right side and the other on the left side of the beach. An added benefit of having a group this large armed with metal detectors is the result of having the majority of the scrap metal bits and pieces removed from the shore line. Between fishing line that had attached lures, hooks, some rusted nails and a variety of miscellaneous items, we left an area cleaner and safer than the way we found it.

Photo credit: Doug B

It is always comforting to know that our presence leaves a place safer for future beach goers who likely enjoy running around in the sands sans kicks (without shoes).

Another advantage to such a successful showing at an outing of this size is the pot luck lunch that always serves to provide a bounty of food and refreshment. This time was no less abundant and delicious.

The Temecula Valley Prospectors would like to extend our appreciation and many thanks to Cynthia K. for sponsoring this group on such a fun and fruitful day. Without her qualified support, this memorable event could not have occurred. Thank you, again. We would also like to extend our appreciation and special thanks to Cliff D. for donating two of his Silver Eagle coins that were prize drawings won by John McK and Ken R.

This was a day of great fun and memories and leaves us all anxious for the next outing scheduled for November.

Good Luck! And bring home the Gold & Silver!

At today’s club meeting, the members in attendance (135) had the opportunity to participate in the Club’s Annual Election. Of the many positions held within the club, 6 of them make up the Governing Board for the club and must be filled by open election. Over the last several months, nominations were submitted and we had a real good showing this year of people interested in getting more involved.

The Officers of the Governing Board for the 2011/2012 fiscal year are as follows:

• President: Ken Hannan (reelected for another term)
• Vice President: Gary Lawson
• Secretary: Cathy Heflin
• Treasurer: Tracy Snethen
• Claims Director: Al Bauchner
• Wagon Master: Jack Barber (rereelected for another term)

Thank you to everyone who tossed their hat into the election this year and congratulations to the new members of the Board. We look forward to an exciting year at TVP.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 2010/2011 Board Members. They served the club well over the last year (many for several years) and we thank them for their service.

If you would like to get more involved with the club, there is always a need for volunteers, so please let us know how you want to help out.

Nugget Shooting Derby / Treasure Hunt
Sponsored by Gold Nugget Mining Supply

Being held on September 18 & 19, 2010 at the 7th Annual Coyote Melon Festival in Meadview Arizona.

Nugget Shooting Derby

The Nugget Shooting Derby offers prizes of gold nuggets, collectible coins and a bonus prize for the high points winner, but be aware- contestants will work for these prizes! Metal targets, which can be exchanged for prizes, are scattered across 1+ acres of desert and must be located with a metal detector within the time allotted.

Saturday the 18th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
$35 Entry Fee

GRAND PRIZE: MINELAB  X-TERRA 705 METAL DETECTOR, RETAIL VALUE $990!
2ND PLACE: DETECTOR PRO “Nugget Buster” HEADPHONES
3RD PLACE: 1.75 DWT GOLD NUGGET

BONUS TARGETS:

• .7 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• .5 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• .3 DWT GOLD NUGGET

Treasure Hunt

Sunday the 19th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
$25 Entry Fee if registered by 09/15/2010
$30 Entry Fee for all registrations after 09/15/2010

GRAND PRIZE: DETECTOR PRO “BLACK WIDOW” HEADPHONES, RETAIL VALUE $140!
TARGETS:

• .4 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• .4 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• .25 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• .2 DWT GOLD NUGGET
• 1939-S WALKING HALF DOLLAR
• 1918-S WALKING HALF DOLLAR
• 1936-S WALKING HALF DOLLAR
• 1898 BARBER HALF DOLLAR
• 1949-S FRANKLIN HALF DOLLAR
• 1908-D BARBER HALF DOLLAR
• 1922 PEACE DOLLAR
• 1891 MORGAN DOLLAR
• 1880-S MORGAN DOLLAR

For official rules, more information or to enter, call 928-727-3786 or visit http://www.coyotemelonfestival.com

13- Members participated in the August – Finds of the month.

GOLD FINDS WINNERS:

-  MARK W. won a vail with Gold for his find at Alaska

-  JACK H. won a Bicentennial Coin for his finds at Two Quartz.

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

-  JACK B.,  JIM & SUE J.,  JIM & RIE., KARL

TREASURE FINDS WINNERS:

-  RAY & DEB B. won a vial with Gold for their finds in local parks.

-  DUANE S. won a Bicentennial Coin for his find on Beaches in Orange county.

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

-  DIANE McM.,  JACK B.,  FRANK R.

Thanks for sharing your finds with the membership.  Good Luck and Bring Home The Gold!

8- Members participated in the JULY – Finds of the Month.

GOLD FINDS WINNERS:

• Don A. won a vial with gold for his find at Mariposa County.
• Tracy S. won a Bicentennial Coin for his finds at Wickenburg, Arizona.

Other Participants:

• Smith-B. brought in gold found at Gold Mtn.
• Tom C.  brought in gold that he found at Barstow.

TREASURE FINDS WINNERS:

• Lorrie Y. won a vial with gold for his finds in local parks and Dohenny Beach.
•  John B. won a bicentennial Coin for his find at local beaches.

Other Participants: 

•  Ray & Deb B. brought in finds they found a Murrieta Parks.

 Thanks for sharing your finds with the membership. Good luck and bring home the gold!

Doug B.

John Bucholzer will be leading the group on our next metal detecting outing on June 12th right after the club meeting. The outing will be from 12:00 noon to 4 pm at the Rotary Park in Temecula. This is the park right next to the community center where we hold our meeting, so the commute to the outing will be really short

Rotary Park Temecula

John has gotten special permission for us to use the park for the outing and the maintenance staff will be checking up on us to see how our club did after we are finished. This will determine if we can use Temecula parks in the future, so let’s leave it in better shape than when we arrived.

Here are a few guidelines:

• If you dig a hole be sure to fill it in.
• If you are digging in the grass, take care on how the grass is removed so it can be put back (like a divot when out on the golf course).
• If you see some trash, pick it up.
• Be courteous to those who might be using the park.

The park is only about 1 acre in size, so there won’t be a lot of area to explore, but it should be good fun to get out with the group to see what we can find.

It is going to be in the mid 80′s on Saturday, so don’t forget to bring a hat, some water to drink, and be sure to put your detector in the car

5 Members participated in the MAY Finds of the Month.

GOLD FINDS WINNERS:

• Jim & Sue Jeffrey won a vial with gold for their find a East Fork & Dale District.
• Lorrie Young won a Bicentennial Coin for his find of a nugget from Arizona.
• Jack Hamilton brought in Gold using his home made drywasher.

May 2010 - Gold Finds

TREASURE FINDS WINNERS:

• Chuck Whitaker won a vial with gold for his find behind Lake Skinner.
• Lorrie Young won a Bicentennial Coin for his find of coins in Parks and old cans from the TVP Claim.

May 2010 - Treasure Finds

DISPLAY:

No displays this month… if you have something you would like to share, please bring it to the meeting. We’d love to see it!

Thanks for sharing your finds with the membership. Good luck and bring home the gold!

Doug Balhorn

7 Members participated in the APRIL Finds of the Month.

GOLD FINDS WINNERS:

• Jim & Sue Jeffrey Won a vial with Gold for their find at Two Quartz & Dome Rock, AZ.
• Tom Clark Won a Bicentennial Coin for his find in the Desert
• Diane McNamara Brought in her find from Dale Mining Area
• Tracy Snethen Brought in his find from the GPAA Crystal Area
• Frank Ramirez Brought in his find from Dale Mining Area

April 2010 Gold

April 2010 Gold

April 2010 Gold

TREASURE FINDS WINNERS:

• Diane McNamara Won a vial with Gold for her find in Desert/Beach
• Lorrie Young Won a Bicentennial Coin for his find in Parks

April 2010 Treasure

DISPLAY:

Diane McNamara Brought in a large quantity of Garnets she found at the Horse Thief Area

Thanks for sharing your finds with the membership. Good luck and bring home the gold!

Doug Balhorn

8 Members participated in the March Finds of the Month.
GOLD FINDS WINNERS:

• Doug Balhorn won a vial with Gold for his find at the Club Trip to East Fork.
• Jack Hamilton won a Bicentennial Coin for his finds at the First Chance GPAA Claim and Lake Elsinore area Gold.

Gold Finds March 2010

TREASURE FINDS WINNERS:

• Arnold Shields won a vial with Gold for his finds in the hills of Hemet.
• Ray and Debbie Bratton won a Bicentennial Coin for their finds in local parks and old lots.

Treasure Finds March 2010

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

• Jim Jeffrey brought in Gold found at East Fork.
• Susan Balhorn brought in a large collection of coins and jewelry found at parks in Temecula and Beaches.
• Peter Anest brought in Quartz, Phospherous he found in Murrieta.

DISPLAYS:

• Tracy Snethen brought in a neat display of Gypsum he found in Utah and Arizona.
• Jim and Sue Jeffrey brought in a very extensive collection of miners lamps, western spurs, crushers, and helmets.

Miner's Lamps Display

Gypsum Display

Thanks for sharing your collection with the membership.

Doug

We had a great turn out for Finds of the Month at the January Meeting with 8 participants who brought in finds they collected during the month of December.

Gold Find Winners were: Jim & Sue Jeffrey who displayed Gold found in several locations including the area the Club is going to in Jan 2010.
Gold Runner up was: Arnold Shields who displayed a picker nugget and hot rocks from the Cool Gardie Area and Fine Flakes from the last Bautista Club Outing.

December Gold Finds

Treasure Finds Winner was: Tracy Snethen who displayed Tourmaline Gem Stones he found.
Treasure Runner up was: Ray Bratton who displayed coins, jewelry, toy cars, and rings that he found at local parks and Tot lots.

Treasure Finds

More Treasure Finds

Also Displayed:
Judy displayed items she found around the Golden Gate Bridge while visiting the area.
Jack Kerber displayed Coins that he found at Jalama Beach.
Frank Ramirez displayed an animal skull found at our last Club outing to Bautista.
Peter Anest displayed local specimens of Gem Stones and rocks found in Murrieta.

Interesting Items Found

Congratulations to our winners!

Good luck to all TVP Members and bring Home the Gold! — Doug Balhorn

Members are encouraged to bring in their Finds of the Month to each club meeting no matter how big or small. They can be any metal items found with a Metal Detector and any Gold, Silver, or other precious metal found prospecting. The qualifying factor is that it has to be found and not purchased (i.e. bag of gold concentrate).