Wednesday last week was my first chance this year to visit my old dig site on the Afon Wen. When I left it in October, needing to carry out extensive repairs to my campervan, it was a fairly modest excavation, with a nice outflow channel and a dam which held back inflow from normal spate conditions.
On the techncial side the nugget line had been covered as expected by collapse of the mid-river gravel bank, which will require a couple of days dedicated scooping out.
However, on the bigger picture the local lads who had been digging about 150 yards above me had excavated a deepish trench all the way down to my site, banking up a steep dam along the entire gap, quite a magnificent sight in one way.
Acccording to my local friends some dopeheads (they leave beer bottles and mess around) excavated a large hole into the bank, but apparently didn't get much.
I have routine hosptial appointments for a curable condition until 8th February, then I will be free to return to the scene.
Problem is the authorities have contacted me to ask if I have been involved in digging the 150 yard trench, which has admittedly divided the river down the middle in parts.
I can of course prove that I haven't been there for the past three months, but this isn't the point.
The authorities have admitted that goldpanning has been a tradition for many years, possibly centuries, so it should be a protected cultural activity under the National Parks Act.
We shall see whether they will commence preliminary prosecution proceedings.
My local friends have been playing cat and mouse with the local police, who take photos and note vehicle details etc.
My prediction is that the authorities will eventually get fed up and leave us alone. But I wish they would clamp down instead on the dopeheads who scatter their rubbish and are probably driving under the influence of all sorts.
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« Last Edit: January 28, 2018, 06:31:06 pm by Waulespan »
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