10/20 Beach Activity?

While riding up the lift hill on the Magnum on Sunday afternoon at about 1:30, I could see quite a few people on the beach just past Soak City toward the Breakers. They were spaced out in grid-like fashion. There must have been close to 100 people, maybe more. They looked like they had metal detectors and were sweeping the beach. We were going to go over to investigate, but we bumped into my niece from Colorado, spent some time with her and then forgot to go over to the beach. Does anyone know what was going on? Thanks.

When I was leaving the park on Saturday, I passed a older couple with metal detectors headed toward the beach. Perhaps some type of metal detector club having an outing?

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

*** This post was edited by Gemini 10/21/2002 12:39:15 PM ***

Not a bad idea to go searching on that beach with a metal detector. Think of all of the years that beach has been used. I once found one of those plastic change holders that had over $20 inside it. Lucky me.

Yeah I saw them all out there... it had to have been some kind of metal detector gathering or something. I was in the WT line so I was really confused seeing this whole crowd of people wandering the beach, and then I saw that each had a metal detector in their hands! Kind of interesting... but I'm sure they found a lot.

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"Meh."
Wicked twists: 10
Danger: Hgih Voltage!

Yes, I saw this and spoke with a couple of members of the group. I don't have the details, but it was an annual convention of a metal detector owners club. Later in the day (i.e. around 1:00), they held a contest with substantial cash prizes for those who found the most items in the sand. It was my understanding (perhaps incorrect) that they had "stocked" the beach with items for them to find.

It was a strange site as, immediately before the contest began, they were all standing in a huge circle with their detectors raised over their heads. It looked as if they were praying to the metal detector god!

But all seemed to be having a good time. We were in TGI Friday's when the contest ended, so I don't know anything about the winning party.