Is it a Speck a Fleck Or....

Panning for Gold.

Such words always bring up expectations of nice nuggets suddenly discovered in a pile of dirt, instantly making you a gazillionaire!

The real life version....well....can be somewhat disappointing.

On our first trip to Alaska, my family decided to do a group excursion that included the opportunity to mine for gold at the end of it.

It was a super duper....disappointment.

We panned for gold.

And...
Got two itty-bitty-didn't-quite-look-like-gold-Flecks to take home.
In a plastic baggy.
The flecks were soo tiny,
that I'm pretty sure all of our bags got thrown out because we thought they were empty.

Needless to say...it was a bit of a let down compared to the awesomeness that had happened before.

Well...
This time.
I saw another opportunity to mine for gold.
I was a bit skeptical.
I mean...last time I was in Alaska...panning for gold....
But, the reviews I read online seemed promising.
And my father surprised me the gold panning excursion as a birthday gift. ^^
Soo off to pan for gold I went!

In the rainy mountains.
Waterfalls crashing down all around.
A cold river soaking up my shoes.

I was handed a pan full of dirt.
Shown what to do.
And I set to work.

No.
No gold nuggets found.
But to my surprise.
I could actually tell that I had gold when I reached the bottom of the pan!
It was awesome!

Nice golden flecks. That were more flecks then the specks I'd gotten the first time around.
And not only two flecks.
I got a little over a dozen flecks.
And a handy dandy container to put them in!
I could actually see them!

I could see them!
That was what was important.

Lol that didn't mean that I didn't spend the rest of the cruise, constantly wondering where I'd stuck that little container.
It sure loved to play hide and seek with me.
But it made it safely back to college town.
Where I can totally show it off to people.
And they can see the flecks too!!

Yep. Definitely a much better experience then the first time around.
I'd totally be willing to try it again. As it was Awesome! :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi