11-07-04

    We started the day probing a large empty lot Steve had permission on. The yard was huge and the ground hard. Nobody found anything. Tired out, we headed for a boarded up place we had probed and found a couple spots. Just our luck, the spots now felt ashy with no discernable clunks. It was to early to randomly knock to find something. We decided to head to the river next. We picked away for awhile. We found a couple BIM bottles, but decided to head for greener pastures. 

Dump Digger Steve at the river

    Our partner Craig was heading to a bottle show in Madison. He told Steve he had one lined up we could go to if nothing paned out. I felt bad digging Craig's permission. Steve told me we would let him in on the pick, I felt better!  We started out with the usual probing strategy, and found all kinds of previously dug pits. But, we did find two they didn't dig. We opened up one. Mostly ash and a few newer bottles. The other one felt worse, so we left it alone. No wonder the other diggers passed on this one!

    It was looking like we may get skunked. Steve had a farmhouse on the edge of town that was getting dozed to make way for a new strip mall. Never having any luck at farms, I was getting a little down.  My doubts were substantiated when we pulled in the yard. It had a huge yard. The pits could be anywhere, and I was already beat from all the probing.

    After an hour, we were ready to leave. Of course Steve pulls one out at the last second and finds a pit in the middle of nowhere! The dig was on. A couple marbles, a doll leg, and Klinkert Brewing applied crowns later, I was starting to give Steve and me the "At least we are digging. Some days we would be happy to dig...." speech when he exclaims, "I think it's cobalt, it sure looks cobalt!" I about crapped when it came out and was embossed: Strong Cobb/Wholesale/Druggists/Cleveland O. It is amazing how one bottle can make the whole day!

Cobb as found

Whole Cobb

Cobb close up

The take

Lightning Jar lid