Here is a question for you. What is the best thing you have ever found along a road? I mean something you found that you couldn't return because there was no evidence of the owner. I have probably driven about 200,000 miles in my motorhomes. In all that time I have found a screw driver, a wrench, a ball of rope, and even a $10 bill. I've found some junky stuff, too, but I didn't keep it. I have probably found some other valuable things, but for the life of me, in my advancing age I cannot remember what they were. But I don't think I ever found anything better than what I mentioned above.
What about you? Have you ever found something really great? If you have, please leave a comment and let me know what you found.
I once found a Craftsman handle for a socket set. The ratchet was broken but I knew Craftsman tools have a lifetime guarentee to I took it Sears and traded it for a new one which I use often.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I don't remember all that I have found. Wrenches and screwdrivers are common, a hammer, and, over time, over $80 outside my non-mobile home. Once saw a full-sized back pack weed sprayer that I left, hoping the owner would re-trace his steps and find.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side, I once left a 10 inch crescent wrench in the motor compartment of my car, and drove the car around for over 6 months before finding it still lying in there.
What a good idea for an article, Roadfinds!
ReplyDeleteWe've found a really big screwdriver, an icepick, lots of change, a pliers and one time, a sixpack of Budweiser. I'm sure there has been more stuff but I CRS.
Through the years, I've found a 2 ton hydraulic jack, a 6 volt lantern, a set of 6 brand new, in the box, 1/2 drive socket extensions, a vent cover for an RV refrigerator which matched my trailer, and several different sizes of hitch balls. Any money I've found has been in parking lots, the biggest bill was $20. I've seen more things by the side of the road I'd have liked to stop for but traffic/safety concerns prevented it.
ReplyDeleteA man who became my husband! A great husband at that.... a keeper! Now 22 years later, even way better than way back then ;))
ReplyDeleteLucy
A southern girl in S. Tx, but got my start in Oregon and S. Dakota.
While driving our horse trailer near our horse camp in Jamestown, TN we saw four bales of freshly cut hay in the middle of the highway. The bales were about 100 yards apart. We loaded them up thereby making the road safer and our horses happier!
ReplyDeleteRansom
I found a big box of good china
ReplyDeleteonce.
My daughter and I were traveling from Fl to NC about 15 years ago and found $100.00. We went into the store and told them that we had found something(didn't say what) so if anyone claimed to have lost something to contact me and I would return it if they claimed it. Noone ever called so we had fun spending it. That was probably our most valuable find.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago on a desolate state h'way in NM I saw a large bale of something on the edge of the road, It was cold and windy so I backed up, threw it in the trunk and left it til I returned home at the end of the week. When I examined it closely I found that I had hauled a bale of wood chips around for a week or so. Now I look a little closer at what I pick up. Gary B Conyers , GA
ReplyDeleteWe have found a beach towel, fireplace tongs (our favorite find because we use them all the time for the campfire), and a rug. Makes me wonder what we've left behind!!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I were traveling thru Nebraska on our way to Idaho and stopped at a Mickey D in No. Platte for lunch. As I began walking my dog, I looked down and there was a really neat looking ceramic dog bowl on the sidewalk, apparently left by someone and forgotten. Our little "Lady" has been using it ever since.
ReplyDeleteIn our travels we have found a point end shovel (spade), A pancake turner, a brush for cleaning windows, a log chain, A large bath towel (in really good shape), an ice chest, and a jack knife. Some things were found when we got out of the motorhome and were taking a walk. We have found something on almost every trip we take. We have a 1990 class C Mallard Sprinter. We have been all over the US except Alaska. Thanks Frances
ReplyDeleteNot with the camper, but I have found a masons hammer, asst screwdrivers and wrenches, a FULL toolbox with asst hammers and masonry chisels, a ratcheting bolt cutter, (BIG one!) and $350 cash.
ReplyDeleteLooging chain
ReplyDeleteI once found a real nice cordless drill, almost new and worked great. I ran an ad in the newspaper but no one calloed and clained it, the police said after 30 days it was mine. Other stuff would be about what you found
ReplyDeleteI found a total of $45 in the brush next to a truck stop and a good bike in the bushes at a highway pull off.
ReplyDeleteI was somewhere in "the west" and stopped alongside the highway to photograph a wild horse in the middle of nothing. It came so close to me. The experience was so surreal.
ReplyDeleteWhile on the ground, I noticed some aluminum cans sticking out of the sand. No other garbage, just lots and lots of aluminum cans.
I didn't like seeing this trash all over my beautiful landscape and picked them up. It took a while, but it felt good to stop on my vacation, spend a little time outside in the desolate west along this highway with nobody else but the horse and fill two big bags of aluminum cans that I planned to take to a recycling center.
A few days later I found a city that was collecting recyclables for charity. Perfect.
Aluminum is the worst thing not to recycle because it takes many times more electricity (from fossil or nuclear of course) to make virgin aluminum than it does to melt and recycle existing aluminum - more than making glass, plastic or paper.
But plastic is made from oil, our kids are dying in wars fought in oil rich lands, we import 60% of our oil and even when it's cheap, it should be honored by conserving it, recycling it, using it efficiently and looking for clean alternatives for it.
I didn't find any plastic that day along the road, but have seen it many times. Maybe next time I'll pick some up.
We stopped at a resturant a few years ago for lunch. It was raining lightly, and I had to take the dog out before going in. I walked him along side the parking lot all the way to the back, turned around, and something shiny caught my eye. I picked it up, and it was a ring. I thought it was a childs toy, and gave it to my wife upon returning to the motor home. It was a diamond! About one caret! This was in early spring, and we thought it had been dropped in the winter in the snow, and the snow plow pushed it off the parking lot into the gravel.
ReplyDeleteI find things all the time. I'm always on the look out for the little things that people drop or leave behind.
ReplyDeleteWhile taking the dogs for a walk in the desert last winter/spring after most all the snow birds had left I found; a one gallon gas can (no gas in it though), a woman's diamond ring (it appraised at $5,000 at a couple of jewelers), a cell phone that had been run over by a ATV (no longer worked) a set of Keys (appeared to be car/truck, house, pad lock etc. keys) also what appeared to be 3 brand new nail clippers.
Last but not least, half of a 45 gal. garbage bag of trash that I picked up that people had tossed along the side of the road and in areas where they camped.
This was all in one day in one single dog walking trip.
Start going around and picking up and cleaning up the area you are in and you will be surprised at what you will find.
Peace and quiet! Great views of the country and the mountains with tops of snow. I once found a roadblock, where the wait was two hours long. This was on the "Million Dollar highway" in Colorado (between Ouray and Durango). The construction crew was widening the road, so we had to wait while they blasted part of the mountain off. :) :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting ques. A couple of things come to mind. An indian designed blanket. Wife still uses it as a lap warmer. Speaking of the wife, I found her walking along a road.
ReplyDeleteNasfan
Back in 2003 while towing our trailer across the desert in AZ a pickup truck about 1/4 mile ahead of us tossed something out. When we arrived at the spot, here it was a little puppy approximately 2 months old all dirty with red sandstone dust. We stopped and gave it water, what were we going to do? There are no SPCAs out here in the desert. We were on out way to Lake Powell 6 hours away. Well we happen to be dog lovers having 2 rather large dobermans one of which was a certified therapy dog (Jaz Desert Storm) both travel with us where ever we go. Well back to the story, I put a blanket on my better half's lap and off to Lake Powell we go. The little guy jumped in the lake and swam like a beaver out to Lin where she cleaned him up, he was pure white. We ended up going to a vet 4 days later in Moab, UT to have him checked out. Vet informed us that this was a rare Yellow Copper Lab that is part Coyote. He had green eyes and a pink nose. He had to met two critera, get along with our dobes and ride good. Well, he is still with us and is now 5 years old. His name is now Canyon. Wilson C. Clarke Palm Harbor, FL
ReplyDeleteHi, Chuck! I haven't found anything remarkable yet, but I have a request. Please fill in the Alternate Text space on your photos telling us where they were taken. I can right click on the photo and the info box will come up, but so far the Alternate Text space says "Blank." I really like the photo you used on this page and would like to know where it was taken. Gotta be in the West, I know. Happy scavenging! Jaycee
ReplyDeleteI've found two things worth mention: One is a straight-shaft commercial grade line trimmer! It had obviously fallen off a landscaping vehicle. It was a little scuffed-up but otherwise unhurt. I'm still using it!
ReplyDeleteThe other was a 24' RIGID brand aluminum pipe wrench.
After our cat had to be put down at
ReplyDeleteage 16, we were not going to ever
get another one. To much pain for us in our older years. On a resent chapter Good Sam camp out, up walks a starved,shaggy cat and jumped upon my lap, since the camp grounds were closing for the season, My wife and
I had to keep him, bottom line, we
found a good loving cat to help fill our later years.
We were leaving a campground in the middle of no where, when we saw a 2.5 gal propane tank on the side of the road it was in fine shape. Got back in the motor home and turned the curve and there was the holder with wheels. There wasn't anyway of finding what rig it came off of. We have found screw drivers, money and to many things to list. It's amazing how many shoes and pillows there are along the road.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading your RV site, thanks for all the information.
Did not find, but left behind close to $50 in cleaning supplies (chamois, tire shine, wheel cleaner/shine, brushes, etc)when I pulled out of a large car/RV wash that was broken after I put the money in. YES - everything was gone by the time I went back.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember finding anything except when my car quit working. I found a bunch of pennies. I also have to say it is nice to see the face of the person who writes this newsletter.
ReplyDeleteI want to ask if your RV is new or used. Also what is the gas mileage you get with that class A. Thanks for now being able to see you.
Have found enough tools to fill small tool box. Also several boomers. I've watched roads since I was 6 - 8 years old, when my brother found a 1 dollar bill. Also see a lot when it is too dangerous to stop. Missed a nice log chain just yesterday.
ReplyDeleteJames
I know most of the people that find things just happen to see them and pick them up but you should try matel detecting there is no way too list the items that I have found and the fun I have with this thing I don't leave home with it. I turn my money in once a year last year 666.78 dollars.
ReplyDeleteWe don't travel any more, but over the years I've found many things on trips, not necessarily on the road. My favorite find was an arrowhead. My husband was off looking for arrowheads, but I found one on a trail, on a little pile of dirt. It was twisted to turn in the air, had two colors of flint in it and was serrated on the edges. I now wear it in a plastic cover around my neck.
ReplyDeleteThis was the most interesting blog I have ever read. Do more like this!
Hi Chuck,
ReplyDeleteJust a few weeks ago on Oct. 22nd, we were traveling the road in your picture, between Shiprock and Gallup, NM. We had sadly observed about a dozen dead dogs along side the road so when I saw a small white spot barely moving, naturally my husband was "forced" to turn around in heavy traffic and go back. Yes, we scooped up a very sad and emaciated kitten about 5 months old and weighing less than 2 pounds. "Navajo Diamond" came home with us and promptly saw the vet who said other than being starved and dehydrated she was in good health. All she needed was good food and good loving. (Which she's getting plenty of both.) Thank God she did not suffer the same fate as so many dogs had along that highway. As soon as we get her into better health, she will go to a family with children. She is now weighing in at around 4 to 5 #s. God does lead us if we'll just follow.
Over the years, we've found most of the things mentioned, but the most unusual was at our house last December. 4 trays of bread dough (pizza?) were in the ditch by our mail box.
ReplyDeleteWell, we've left BEHIND a portable dog bowl, a racheting cargo strap (both ends), some tools and God knows what else! Guess some of it's caused by traveling f/t with young kids...early onset CRS!!!
ReplyDeleteWe found 'Fred'. We RV in a Class B Roadtrek and do not have a dog or cat. In a Nova Scotia campground in 2006 we took a walk and found a child's plastic dinosaur on the ground. He is now 'Fred' and stands on a Velcro pad on the dashboard, waiting impatiently for the next trip. He is quiet and makes no noise or mess.
ReplyDeleteBesides finding many vice grips, pliers, hammers, very large screw drivers and a fair amount of money, the most interesting thing was finding a full case of army C-rations shortly after a military convoy passed through the Yakima Canyon. Our son found it, and the box was intack and strapped. When opened, it had twenty four individual boxed meals of various canned entrees and tinned cookies and biscuits. I know it would not have turned a soldier on, but our kids were delighted.
ReplyDeletequiltedpiper
Very interesting things you find along the road. We were near Canberra and doing the Great Australian Tour. Our Caravan had a flat tyre and we had so spare. Looking for some stones to block the axle of the van, we saw plenty of big ripe blackberries in the area nearby. So we ended up picking them as well and we also found a complete wheel and tyre as well, which fitted our caravan perfectly. So we pulled over at the next rest stop and started making some real fruity conserve. It was a great day for us. Bless the Lord.
ReplyDeleteWe have traveld cross Country 5 times in the past 5 years. We have found a pair of bolt cutters on one trip. A pry bar on another and the most interesting is...A box of yarn. We dropped it off at my Mother-in-laws house in Indiana, she washed it and made slippers for us and other family members.
ReplyDeleteOn my maiden tour in our Coach, I found a blue speckled soup ladle in a campground in Brunswick, PA... it's hanging up as a conversation piece - that was one adventure filled voyage~!~ We've found other stuff, but none that hold such fond memories...
ReplyDeleteI havn't found much, but someone stated they've got a box of china. We have been looking for ours for a long time. It consists of a set of 4 to 6 place settings that have Loons on them- mostly green. We bought them at considerable cost at a drug store in Chester, Ca. around 10 years ago. Does this sound like them?
ReplyDeleteputtin47@comcast.net
We have a motor home and travel a fair bit. Over the years we have found a pop tent in the road, various hand tools and even a few dollars. By far my most interesting find was when I was 17. I was riding my motorcycle late one night in the country. I spotted "something" long the side of the road just outside of town. I turned around and when I got close that something stood up and offered a wobbly hello. I nearly fell off my bike. It was a very drunk and very naked young lady from the "dance" club a few miles away. Seems she was asked to leave and immediately wandered off in her "dance clothes". Problem was she walked away from town and not towards it. She soon got tired and fell asleep at the side of the road. I gave her a ride to the nearest farm house (thank God I knew the family) where she called for a lift. Never saw her again.
ReplyDeletehard to believe but true. Mike
A few years ago my wife & I were traveling South to join a caravan
ReplyDeletetouring Mexico. We camped our last
night before joining up at the St Pk on Galveston Island and upon leaving my wife noticed an odd looking coffee cup on a picnic table at a now vacant campsite. We cleaned it up and took it with us. About 2 months later in Mexico we were having coffee and conversation with friends and my wife came out with this coffee cup. The lady squealed and said she had a set like that. Well nearly a set-they'd lost one awhile back, didn't know where. We put two & two together and found it was theirs! We gladly gave the cup back so now the set is again, complete.
Hope it's not too late to comment! I haven't found too many things, but lots of beautiful scenery, fresh air, sunrises, etc., on quiet backroads. (The photo is on the way from Utah south towards Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation - I've been that way many times!)
ReplyDeleteWe were on our way from Ohio to Disneyworld & pulled over quite late to stay the night in White Springs, FL at a farmer's market (Off I-75 Exit 439, Highway 136 East to White Springs. Truck parking and pull off area.) Upon leaving the next morning, small watermelons lined the exit. We pulled over to pick up a couple and the semi driver behind us did the same as we watched an overloaded pickup truck filled with watermelons pull in - watermelons flying every which way.
ReplyDeleteA buddy and I were returning from a weekend trip when just outside a small town my truck engine started making a strange noise. I pulled off the road and we were trying to find out what the noise was. It was inside the engine and we could see inside the Oil filler cap but not enough. My buddy asked if I had a Flashlight which I did not. I spotted something beside the road about 50 feet away and walked toward it. As I got closer I saw it was one of the large lights that had the big square battery. Yes, it did work and we were able to determine that the timing chain idler was malfunctioning. We still laugh about the "Find" 20 years later. I would say that was the best thing I have ever found.
ReplyDeleteI found a complete hamock, $50.00 dollar bill, $20.00 dollar bill, other things alsothat I csn't remember.
ReplyDeletePhilip Landwehr
Years ago I was going down the road and saw a complete tool chest full of tools( you know the kind, red with a large bottom cabinet with drawers and a top chest with drawers all full of tools), it had fallen out of the back of a truck as they went around a corner.I went home, got my husband and we went down and picked it up. For some reason I remembered that a girl I had known when I was a kid was visiting her sister in our small rural town and her husband was a mechanic. I was prompted to call and it was her husband who had lost them. He was a high school shop teacher and he had brought the tools to Utah to work on someones car while he was on vacation. Boy was he glad to get them back. Also, about a moth ago we were going to our place at the lake and we stopped to get groceries and when we went to pull out of the parking lot there was a ziplock bag in the road, got out to move it and it contained two fresh and warm out of the oven homemade banana nut loaves of bread. Not mashed,dented or hurt in any way. That was a treat and yes we did eat it. we called and told the kids we are eating this and if we die you will know why. Nuts huh!
ReplyDeleteIf the $100.00 was in a new money clip It may have been mine. I had just received it as a Christmas present before heading for Florida from Ohio. That was the first and last time I ever used a money clip.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of those finders keepers, loser weeper stories.
Our best finds: an electric outboard motor (no one ever answered ad to claim it), a FULL tackle box (unrelated finds--this was in the middle of nowhere in eastern WA), a full carton of 1000 paper cups (jackpot for the RV!), a wallet with $350.00 cash in it (returned to owner--never even got a thank you either), a complete set of impact sockets (use them all the time), 18-wheeler tire chains (brand new--gave them to a trucking brother). The most interesting thing we've ever "acquired" on the road--the self-loading, 4-point buck that jumped into the pick-up as we passed at 35 mph--got wedged between the box and 5th wheel overhang...
ReplyDeleteWe have found many things, on our last trip we found a license plate from 1972 in New Mexico by the side of the road. We found a wallet in a grocery store dairy case in Nebraska. The most unusual thing we found was a set of dentures that someone left on the table in Cracker Barrel.
ReplyDeleteWe were travelling to a highland games in Ontario and while driving along noticed what I thought was a set of bagpipes in the ditch. After begging my husband to stop (he thought I was seeing things) went to retrieve them. Sure enough that's what it was. When we got to the games I immediately got in touch with a band. Found out it was a piper who was running late, had taken them out and put them in the ditch so they would be safe (so he thought) Did not realize he had forgotten them. We found him ...he was thankful and we got to him play.
ReplyDeleteAt age 70 I'm now living on my own but read your newsletter faithfully. Mostly daydreaming of the years on the road, the good times. This column on found items is a joy! One time as we were traveling back from our winter in Rockport Texas we stopped at a wayside I believe in Arkansas. Our cat Betsy, a wonderful travel cat, liked to take a walk on a leash like dogs do. As I was following her on the path, a truck driver of a semi came over and asked if we would take this 50# ripped bag of cat food he needed to reject as undeliverable. Seems that he had never seen a cat being walked like that before! We were pleased to accept it! Found it was a treat for us three!
ReplyDeleteI found one thing I've never heard of anyone else finding along the road. While traveling west I-70 getting close to St. Louis, we saw something big in the road way ahead. As we approached it appeared to be a box of some sort. When we finally reached it, it turned out to be a coffin and a busted crate. It was a brand new coffin being shipped in a crate, but it had fallen off the truck, the crate had broken open, and the coffin was laying in the road, near the shoulder.
ReplyDeleteWas there anything in it, I wonder
ReplyDeleteA very nice young dog someone either lost or decided they no longer wanted. We put up posters all over the place but nobody responded. He was a great companion for over 13 years and still greatly missed.
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