Sunset comes early in South Australia the first week of September. It was only 5:30 p.m. and the sun was already well down in the trees on the horizon.

The last two days had been spent searching for the elusive CD 154 AGEE with very limited success. A few had been found but virtually all were damaged. The search consisted of scratching around the base of poles and in the surrounding brush along an old telegraph line. A line upgrade thirty or more years ago had resulted in the few CD 154 AGEEs in use being replaced and tossed to the ground. 

Today was going to be different, I thought, as I got up this morning. Two extensive and exhausting searches in different areas had proved otherwise though. It was now late afternoon and I was driving toward a distant caravan park when I decided to give it one last try.

Results improved almost immediately with three virtually mint AGEEs being found in the next hour. The setting sun reminded me it was time to quit but I decided to check one more pole, then another. JUST ONE MORE POLE, and that will positively be it, I firmly decided. 

BONANZA! As I searched in vain around the base of the pole, a glitter of glass off in the brush attracted my attention. More glass began to materialize as I waded through the brush. Six, eight, finally nine insulators took shape before me. I recognized a toll, what appeared to be three light green pointy-topped CD 422's and five CD 154's. 

Something attracted me to the CD 422's and as l reached for one, I stopped quickly, catching my breath. FLAT TOPS! The rare CD 420's! A more careful look showed one of the CD 420's to be hopelessly smashed but the other two appeared to be perfect. 

Attention was then focused on the CD 154's and, as I reached for one, I froze as the different color glared up at me. BEAUTIFUL SUN-COLORED AMETHYST. I stumbled to a sitting position in the brush and stared in amazement at the treasures surrounding me. The other four CD 154's were the normal sage and grey varieties. Two showed heavy damage and two appeared perfect, as did the lovely S.C.A. one. 

The impact of my find at this one pole overwhelmed me and I sat for minutes just staring at the "jewels" without touching them. Finally, in what was now very dim light, I arose and left them exactly as I had found them, to be photographed in good light in the morning. 

Finding my first CD 420's and CD 154 AGEE in s.c.a. really got the adrenalin flowing and I floated the mile back to the campervan. Driving on toward the caravan park, three questions began to pry at me. Would I be able to sleep any tonight? Would morning ever arrive? And finally, what would tomorrow hold in store for me?