In exploring the South Fork and Indian Creeks there are lots of precious stones to be found. Specifically, to many people's surprise.... JADE. Looking for material can be as easy as walking along the creekside or as difficult as spending three days to pull a three-thousand-pound jade bolder from the creek or hiking a mile or so up a mountainside to pack down one-hundred pounds of rhodonite. My wife Nancy enjoys helping and will get into her wetsuit and float the water trying to find some beautiful material. But she prefers  swimming in the water, sitting nearby reading, drinking cold beverages and being ready to help in any way she can.

It takes a certain amount of patience to search for material. But when there is a find, it is so rewarding. Nancy and I usually camp up north for a month or so to mine for jade in the area. However, I have explored several other areas in California and Nevada in pursuit of other precious stones such as agate and opals.

Nancy also has a passion for bike riding. My rock expeditions often bring us to wonderful places to make discoveries and for her to cycle. Or vice versa. We will often go where there is a cycling event she wants to participate in and I will go in search of material.

Then we have our two camp dogs. Happy and Frenchy. We came across Happy while camping one year about twelve years ago. She's been with us ever since. And Frenchy is a little Chihuahua, Happy's side kick.

Enjoy the slide show!