Here's one of those "any suggestions while I travel through ...?" kind of posts.

Over May 10-19, I plan to catch a flight down to Orlando area, where my wife Rebecca is visiting son Paul, then we will drive our car back to our home near Richmond, VA.  First we will camp a few days at Jekyl Island, GA, but have no set plans after that (so far).  Any rockhound suggestions or opportunities as we travel through/near your areas?   Since I'm flying down there and we didn't think ahead, we will have no tools except what we can scrounge, borrow or buy.  (I figure if the opportunities are right, we may break down and buy one more shovel, pick, hand sledge etc. to add to our collection.)  Considering our tools situation, creek picking might be good.

Would be especially cool to tag along to one of your "home turf" sites.  (Even if I wasn't a nice guy, I live too far away to sneak back and clean out your mother lode.) Take us to one of your spots, and I will gladly owe you a trip to the Mica Mine Farm in central Virginia should you be up that way later. (There's always moonstone in the creek, and I have yet to locate and explore all of the old mica mine locations on the property.)

If you come through central NC you can come to my rockshop and I'll take you out to a sweet spot and I have plenty of tools.

Bad news. Rebecca had hoped that rest and relaxation in Florida might delay back problems, but she has steadily worsened. We have been doing things accessible by scooter, with minimal walking and standing. She will be seeing the surgeon when we return to Virginia. This will be her third surgery.  It will be a rough couple of months, then in all likelihood she will once again outpace me!  We are staying at Jekyll Island (hotel vs planned camping) on our way back, but then will likely drive straight through. Hope to see our Rockhound friends on another opportunity. My offer to take one or two 'hounds to the Mica Mine Farm still stands, calendar permitting, should you venture north.