This Father's Day weekend, I attended the Detect MI, 5th Annual Hunt in Athens, MI. Camping out on Friday night allowed me to meet fellow detectorists and try my hand at panning for gold, even though I didn't find any. The event featured nearly 200 attendees, a token hunt on Friday, and a potluck lunch followed by the main event on Saturday.
The highlight of my weekend was finding a token that won me a Civil War-era powder flask and a hand-carved "Hobo Dime." Other notable discoveries included Indian head pennies, wheat pennies, silver Roosevelt dimes, a Guam silver proof quarter, an old clock key, a custom-made silver pop tab, a buffalo nickel, and several V nickels. Watching a horseshoe match on Friday night, where my camp mates beat the champs, added to the fun and camaraderie of the event.
Overall, the Detect MI event was incredibly enjoyable, and I'm already looking forward to future hunts. The sense of community, the thrill of the hunt, and the joy of discovery made it a memorable experience. If you ever get the chance to attend a metal detecting event, I highly recommend it—who knows what treasures you might uncover? Happy hunting!