Mudslide on the Bluffside


This Story was actually written about a month and a half ago…

I got a break in the action finally to get all the latest activities at the bluffs.

I tried to get out there as much as I could all throughout the major rains. I've only been digging this spot for a few years, but this was the most dramatic reconfiguration due to rains to date. I'm usually very in-tune with the whole half mile stretch that runs along under Ocean Ave., but the rains gave a whole new makeover to the area. A lot of my familiar landmarks and washes have been completely removed. There was one huge set of bushes jutting out from one 11' x 15' section about 7' up that totally slid down to the sidewalk. I stopped and chipped at this particular area several times when passing by. On my first run ever through here I found a broken Owl Drug bottle and some shards. I would always look for newly exposed glass each time I passed after. The spot did produce a broken lipped Bromo-seltzer several weeks back.

As the rains tore on, I even made trips in my rain suit to catch things coming to light in the moment. Thank the Creator for my rain suit! There were a few monster flood puddles that just happened to get run through at 40-50 mph sending 8 foot waterwalls at me. I spun away just in time for one that nailed me head to toe with brown water. What Fun!!!
My first few keepers were unembossed clear medicines, a dog tag with the name Jared Butts, and a fine little corroded women's ring.
I made my way along the sidewalk through the fresh mud and slurry ending up at one of the very first pockets I found here. This pocket produced the broken Hostetter's Bitter. There was some new erosion, so I figured I'd climb on up and have at it. More new shards and things were coming out and Bang!! I catch the outline of a possible Pickle bottle. I slowed digging and sure enough, my first intact Pickle! I'ts unembossed with a star pattern on the base. I can "dig" it!!
I attempted this spot a couple more times to no avail, so I moved along.
My favorite score was a couple flasks side by side in a freshly fallen mudslide. One was purple and the other was in a circular slug plate:

JOS. MELCZER & Co.
WHOLESALE WINE & LIQUOR MERCHANTS
LOS ANGELES, CAL.

I had found an intact Bromo at this spot a couple years ago, so all this points to a new pocket. The area is steep but doable. I'm just waiting for all to really dry out to adequately chip some footholds.
I was really fighting time when I found these two as well. The city had sent out the clean up crew with a back-hoe and a dump truck to shred all the new dirt off the sidewalk. The crew was still about 50 yards up from me, but it makes me wonder what they scooped up.
Anyway, as it's been going, I'm sure this place will spit out bottles for years to come!

My last trip produced a couple big milks. One had moist, orange pyro-glaze that came off on my fingers. I left them both there to further dry out, and for any other hunters that may really be into them.

I'm Virginia bound in a few so I'll try to get the other side of that house hopefully and some Richmond area stuff.

"I've included a picture of the pocket (with the 3 holes adjoined) that's about 40 feet up a sheer wall that drives me nuts!!
The only way to reach this thing would be with an actual harness to lower myself. SKETCHY!"
 

Til the Next Time!!

Patrick