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Finding Gold

My life-changing treasure hunt with nature

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Finding Gold

By: Vincent Thurkettle
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'An uplifting book full of joyful nuggets of wisdom from a true adventurer!'
- Dr Hermione Cockburn OBE, BBC TV Coast presenter and science communicator

'Lyrical, magical, philosophical and inspirational' - James Ogilvie, Chair, Walking Scotland, Woodland Trust Director, Chartered Forester

'This is more than a story of gold. It is a reflection of a way of life.'
- Sanjay Singh , President of the World Goldpanning Association

Vincent's quest is a reminder never to give up on the most improbable dream: that is where you will find true riches.' - Annie Warburton, CEO & Clerk, The Goldsmiths' Company

On Friday I was middle management, employed and office-furnished. On Monday I was nobody, and it felt good. But I was not idle.

I wasn't expecting to get rich, but if anyone had ever told me how hard it is to find gold, would I have listened? I hope not. I wanted to feel alive.

I left the security of daily office attendance in favour of adventure, danger and chance, having decided life is too short. The reality of bills to pay reminded me I must succeed in my gold-panning mission, or my bank account would remain woefully empty, but there has not been a single minute of any day that I wished I was back at my old desk.

My love affair with this enchanting and almost indestructible metal has taken me across the world, where I've rubbed shoulders with many wise and sometimes weary wanderers. From the mountains of Scotland to the rivers of Lapland, the mighty Yukon to sun-baked Australia and the sodden west coast of New Zealand, and finally, diving for treasure on the UK's richest shipwreck - I've never looked back.

This is my story.©2026 Vincent Thurkettle (P)2026 Octopus Publishing Group Limited Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Personal Development Personal Success Adventure Feel-Good
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This was a joy to read: beautifully written, gripping and informative. Also unexpectedly funny like the author’s mum sending him to hide in the woods because, well, you’ll have to read and conclude that for yourself. Or the detailed description of au naturel toileting in Wales - well you wouldn’t want to step in it, would you? Or Tim’s nocturnal puffing and panting. Poor Tim. He’s going to get some shock when he reads this.

Pure gold!

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I got this as I watch Gold Rush on the Discovery Channel. Great to hear the full story from how Vince got started, to finding a huge nugget on a shipwreck. I loved that he left a good job to do this and has never regretted it - inspirational!

Great story well told

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