The "Memorable moments of 2007" thread not only prompted me to recall some of my most memorable fossil collecting moments, but also reflect back on some really dumb moments as well, and not just limited to 2007.  Here's just a few in no particular order...

(1)  "Chesapeake Beach fireworks"...

A few years ago I called my buddy and told him to meet me down at the beach for some fossil collecting.  I was mid July so it stayed light out until 8:30 at night.  The DC area was getting a wicked looking storm blowing through the area, but the local weather guys showed the radar/doppler track of the storm to be tracking to our south in the Virginia area.  Winds were blowing in such a way that I was positive would result in a really low tide and great collecting that evening.  My buddy was quite nervous about the possiblility of the storm (thunder, lightening, 50+ mph wind gusts, and more lightening) turning in our direction while we were along the cliffs at the beach.  I assured him that I saw the weather reports and said there was no way, that the storm would come close, but still be a bit to the north of us.  So, we met down to the beach around 7:30 pm, hoping to get about an hour or so of colelcting before dark hit.  Well, when we got there, folks that had spent the day along the beach swimming, collecting, etc. were scrambling back to their cars to leave in a hurry.  By now the storm clouds were gathering, but I reassured my buddy that the storm would track to the north, and that we should hurry down to the cliffs before it got too dark.  It got windier by the second.  By the time we made it down along the cliffs, the storm clouds rolled in and the sky turned black in just minutes.  The winds became so strong, that we had to cover our faces from being sand blasted.  I tried not to act scared by laughing a little, but it wasn't working.  By now we were almost a mile from our cars, the winds were getting even worse, and then the rain and lightening started in the distance.  It was getting closer and closer by the minute.  We were at a point in which we didn't know if it was safer to keep going and seek shelter at a house another few hundred yards up the beach, or to turn around and face the storm and try to get out of there and make it to our cars.  We decided to head for our cars, which meant facing the storm head on.  The rain was whipping sideways.  We tried not to get too close to the cliffs in fear of falling rocks, trees, etc., but it meant we could run faster.  Everytime a lightening bolt hit the water out in the distance, the adrenlaine flowed and jolted us even that much faster.  We eventually made it to the main beach where we could run up into the woods hoping it was safer to be there rather than out in the open along the beach.  It was quite dark by now and we had to feel our way through wet brush and thorn bushes everywhere.  We eventually made it back to the main path and back to our cars.  We drove up the road where we stopped at the local McDonald's.  The best I could do was apologize for screwing up royally on my weather prediction and bought my buddy a burger & fries.

(2)  Ice fishing ?...

I believe I fall into the category of hard-core collector.  I'm originally from upstate NY so cold weather doesn't bother me.  That being said, I go fossil collecting all year round here in Maryland.  We tend to not have harsh Winters, and so rarely do the waters along the Chesapeake bay, Potomac River, etc. freeze over.  However, at times it does get cold long enough to freeze the shallow water along the beaches, right where you normally look for teeth and other fossils.  Well, a few years ago we had a spell of cold weather in Jan that froze everything.  I got through the first two weeks of Jan by sorting some of my finds from the previous several months and putting them away.  Then, I got through another week or so by going through some left over Lee Creek spoil pile material.  Then the end of Jan came and I was really itching to go collecting somewhere, anywhere, for anything.  So, I packed up my waders and shovel, pick, and screen.  I hit the beach and immediately saw the ice pile up along the shoreline and beach.  I about killed myself trying to walk over the ice to get to an area of beach were maybe there wasn't any ice.  That's like going to Antartica and hoping to find dry land, no such thing.  Anyway, I was desperate and needed a tooth fix.  I searched the shoreline and eventually found an area where I could poke a hole in the ice along the shorline.  I used my pick and shovel to dig a hole about four foot square.  Ahhh...I saw some gravels underneath and started to scoop them out with my shovel, just a little bit at a time.  It was only about 15 degrees F that morning, so as I pulled the material out of the water and placed it in my screen, the water and material started to freeze and stick to my screen.  My fingers were so freaking cold I had to put my gloves back on, but they were so cold, I couldn't feel anything through the gloves enough to pick up any little teeth in my screen.  I did this for about an hour until I found a few nice tiny teeth like a few sharpnose and carcharhinus.  I got my fix, and packed up and left.  When I got back to my car to change into my sneakers, I couldn't feel my toes.  I decided to leave my sneakers off and ride home with the heater on full blast pointed down at my feet.  Halfway home I started to feel my toes and feet again but I had this shiver the whole time.  When I got home I decided to jump into the tub to submerge myself in hot water to warm up all at once.  Oh my God this turned out to not be a good idea.  All I can say is that it felt like someone was sticking me with a million needles all over my body. 

(3)  heat stroke anyone?

Ok, not only does the cold supposedly not bother me, but the extremely hot summer's here don't bother me either.  Again, a few years ago I decided to hit my favorite spot along Calvert Cliffs.  It was mid summer July day.  I hit the beach around 2:00 pm in the afternoon (hottest part of the day).  The temp was around 100 degrees F, not counting the humidity which they said made it really feel like 105 F or so.  Anyhow, I was desperate for some collecting.  Since I'm a sissy when it comes to getting stung by those freaking jellyfish (sea nettles), I always wear my rubber hip waders, even in the sweltering heat.  So, off I went down to the beach in my waders, tank top, ball-cap, screen and shovel (note:  no mention of a water bottle here).  The walk from the parking lot to the cliffs is about a half-mile.  Before I hit that point I think I lost a pint of sweat and probably couldn't tell you my phone number I was getting so dizzy.  I pressed on thinking for some dumb reason things would get better somwhow if I walked fast, further, etc.  I stopped every 50 feet or so to catch my breath and dip my hands into the water to cool off, but the shallow water was actually hot - no relief!  I presswed on and walked further, trying to get to a recent new fall hoping to do some sifting.  Well, I eventually made it to that pile.  When I got there I had to sit down and catch my breath, but it wasn't working.  THe harder I breathed, the less it seemd to work.  I was sweating so bad I had to take my glasses off because I had nothing to dry them off with any more.  Everything I had or was wearing was soaking wet.  After 15 minutes or so I actually tried to sift some dirt.  All of a sudden I couldn't find my glasses and thought for sure they fell off my sweaty face into the muddy water under my screen where I was sifting.  I sat down in the water to search around for them and try to cool off, but the water was too muddy and warm for either.  I paid $200 for these glasses so I wasn't giving up easily.  After 15 minutes or so I gave up.  I was still having some difficulty breathing and was dizzy, and my eyesight was feeling wierd.  I finally decided that this was a bad idea.  I had brought two water bottles, but left them in my car in my hurry to scamper down to the beach.  I was so stinkin' thirsty, that had I bumped into someone with a spare water bottle, I would have giventhem $50 bucks for it.  I finally decided to pack it up and leave.  That's when I looked down on a clay boulder next to my screen and saw my glasses.  I thanked God for finding them, but to be honest, I had absolutley no recollection of putting them there, that's how dazed I was.  It took me forever to make it back to my car.  I actually became scared that I might have or suffer a heat stroke.  I tried to get closer to other folks along the beach in case I needed their help.  Once I made it back to the main beach I felt a little less nervous because I was in the home stretch.  I eventually made it back to my car.  The whole time though walking to my car I kept dreaming of how nice a cold drink was going to feel, about how much Pepsi I was going to gulp down at the gas station up the street, and how good the air conditioning in my car would feel.  Well, I made it abck to my car, turn on the a.c., drank my two bottles of now "hot" bottled water, and drove as fast as I could up the street to the gas station.  I bought the biggest cup of Pepsi they sold.  I continued to sweat all the way home.  I felt horrible the rest of the day and it took a day to recover.  I learned my lesson.

I have a few more stories like these, but I don't want to give anyone the impression that I do dumb or desperate things to go collecting.

Daryl.

Thanks for posting something here Tom.  After seeing there were 72 views of this thread, I was starting to think I was the only one who has done some not so smart things.  Thanks for bailing me out.  It was good seeing you and Tony (Holt) at today's MGS meeting in your spiffy new BRF T-shirts.  The shirts look great on the computer, but even better in person. 

Daryl.

With the name obsessed1 how could I not have at least one dumb moment? Once I was asked "What means more fossil hunting or me?". Lets just say I learned quickly what my answer should have been! That was dumb moment #1.

My dumbest moment while collecting happened last January. The air tempature was 20 degrees and the water at the edge of the bay was frozen out about a hundered yards or so. I could see an exposed sand bar several hundered yards out past the ice. I had heard stories of people finding buckets of vertabras and other bones on that bar. As I walked along the frozen shoreline trying to see teeth through the ice I kept wishing I could somehow find a way to get out there. After about a mile I saw a spot I could get through the ice with only a little chopping. A couple minutes of breaking ice with my rake and I was on the bare sand and could start walking back to the end with the fossil deposits. As I walked back I noticed The sandbar was angling away from the shoreline much more than I had thought. About then I saw the first vert and then another and another. Before long my backpack was stuffed so I dumped it out and filled it again. I could tell the tide was coming in now so I quickly sorted through my finds and filled my backpack. I started back in along the edge of the ice but the water seemed to be deeper than when I came out. It was then I realized that the wind had also changed and had blown a huge ice pack out of the nearby cove. I kept going hoping it would get shallower soon. But the water was within a few inches of the top of my waders and one Big wave would fill them with the ice cold water. My only hope was to chop my way to shore which now was at least 400 yards away! I started chopping and an hour later I had finally made it to the shoreline. I met another collector who smumbled something about crazy or something to that effect. Would I go out there again...Sure! But I will keep a closer eye on the ice and the tide.

#1 Estero Bay 

         I had a sweet boat which was a Gheenoe.  It is a boat that is an oversized canoe with a flat back for a motor.  I had not gone out on the backwaters for over 6 months and my boys really wanted to go fishing, so off we went for a QUICK HALF DAY trip.  The boat ramp is about 10 minuets away from our home and a McDonalds is right out from the ramp so I decided not to pack the cooler with food or a ton of drinks.  2 cokes and 4 waters and a can of pringles went out with us.  The weather was really bad and I had not checked it before we went out.  I also forgot to check the boat before we went out.  With backwater white caps beating us up real bad and no caught fish we decided to head in around 11 am.  We had launched at 7:30 am.  Enroute to the river towards the boat ramp the motor strucked something and ripped it off!!!!!  Now, I find myself with no motor going into the wind and fighting a 2 foot drop in tide with only one paddle in the boat.  I marked the spot where I thought the motor ended up and fought the wind and tide for over an hour to the shore line.  I did have my cell phone and called everybody I knew who had a boat but everyone was at work.  I then started to walk the boat up the shore and soon found myself stuck in muck about 2 feet deep.  I then jumped up front and started to paddle the boat up the river.  I struck a branch which had a wasp nest in it and now had to fend off about 100 wasps.  I finally got a buddy to meet up with us and we tied up my small boat up to his much larger boat.  Due to the very low water level he had to stay close the the channel markers and then we herd the noise of my boat getting crunched up against a marker.  We never found the motor and finally got off the water around 6 pm.  Both my sons and I suffered from dehidration for two days with myself and youngest son almost going to the ER.  I did so many things wrong that day, I learned not to take a day out fishing or fossiling with no plan or supplies.  2 weeks later the boat was sold with no motor. 

Every since then when I am fossiling or fishing I have enough food and water to last two days on the water with a small survival kit also, just to play it safe.

#2  Peace River

I went up by myself and found that my favorite spot was now way up on the bank due to the low river conditions.  I was working the waterline just below the honey hole and working very hard.  I thought that I had tied off my kayak real good.  I was just about to break for lunch when I saw my ride floating down the river with my lunch and water in it.  Thankfully it was just a quick swim to get it but I might of been swimming for a while if I had not looked up when I did.

#3 Peace River.

It is very important to learn the difference between a brown water snake and a water moccasin.  It almost cost me a real dangerous bite....

Curt

I never do anything dumb...

I've had questionable lapses in judgement once or twice though!