trolling the Thames

This weekend I read an article about people who walk along the River Thames picking up ancient pottery shards, pieces of glass, bits of clay pipes and other oddities they might find.  A few years ago, I was walking along the river with my aunt, her grandsons, and my daughter.  I couldn't believe what I saw - a staircase leading down to the riverbed at low tide - what a gift!  So I ran down those steps as fast as I could, very much to my aunt's horror (the filthy river Thames, she calls it) and stuffed as much pottery, etc. as I could find in my pockets.  I was positively gleeful!  And the next time I was lucky enough to walk along the Thames, I found that spot again.  I ventured  down in the pouring rain (it was actually sleet!) and snow, and poked around with freezing hands until my husband gently pulled me away, essentially turning off the light for this moth, with the lure of a warm lunch at a nearby pub.  So, it was with with mixed feelings that I read that article - my little quiet treasure hunting spot blasted all over the NYT magazine for ever other treasure seeker to find!  Of course, it was never really mine to begin with...but I'm happy to be among the lucky ones to have a bit of treasure from the River Thames.