Anyone going Geocaching this weekend? **NEW CACHERS...POP IN!**

[Pin Wizard]

Happy Anniversary!!

Glad your wife's back is better. I'm sure she'll be happy to be moving around like usual soon if not just now. Have fun caching!! Diners? I MISS diners! NJ and NY have the best ones in my book. What FL called a diner was more like Denny's. LOL! Haven't been to one in VA yet. The only I've seen is the Silver Diner. Will have to try it one day.

Less than 12 minutes to get to work! I'm jealous!!! Much better than my 40-45 minute commute on a good day. An easy hour to 1.25 hours getting home on a Friday night. Why do they all head in my direction on a Friday night? At least now I'm working 7:30-4. It's not quite that bad from what I've seen so far. Glad to FINALLY get those hours again.

On to our Geocaching "meet" today! It will be great to meet these people. Fuddrucker's from 2-5. Hopefully, we'll find a couple caches before then. I was planning on the morning, but I don't think that's going to happen. LOL! Slow moving today. Have a GREAT day, and happy caching!

 

[Pin Wizard]

What a GREAT time!! Lots of fun meeting these people, hearing the stories, seeing the Geocoin collections and pictures of some cache sites out there. LOL! Some of these people are either very creative or very devious! There was a picture of a lady out in the woods holding a shovel. The next picture showed her holding it WITH THE HANDLE OFF and the log inside!!!!! I wouldn't find that one in a million years. LOL! I would be wandering those woods with colorful words coming out of my mouth.

Caught up with a couple cachers at a couple sites prior to the meet. Lots of fun! Darling son found an ammo can and up came someone. At the next one we walked up to someone signing the log there. Then that person followed me to the next cache and we searched together. Nice! LOLOL! I could get used to this! He went in all the bushes, sticks, and twigs. Was actually glad he was at that one. If it were just me and darling son, I may have turned around and forgotten that one only to be irritated by that. There were a lot of personal items around...boots, jacket, bedding, etc. Someone has definitely been living there.

Hit a couple caches after the meet, too. Went back to one we couldn't find last week. It helps to have the owner tell me to not mind the guy in the window of the shop right there...he's in on it! That made it easier. Then I just had to worry about all the muggles. No police cars this trip. This time I walked right up to it, put my hand in one area and felt it, grabbed it and walked to the beach to sign it, all without slowing down! Strange how that happens. Then replacing it I just had to bend down and tie my shoe so I could put it back. LOLOLOL! Learning the tricks. Definitely a wonderful day!

Happy caching!

 

[MiJo]

Hi,
Glad to hear you enjoyed your Geocaching meet yesterday! We really enjoy ours, also. Unfortunately, we will have to miss the breakfast coming up in a few weeks because it's on a Sunday morning and we'll be in church. We'll just have to look forward to the summer picnic and meeting up with people along the way.
Yesterday, we had temps in the 50's so we managed to get out and do one cache called Furnace Highlands. It's by Spruce Run Reservoir in NJ (just outside of Clinton). It took us about 1 1/4 hours to hike up the mountain to the two parts and get back to the car. Of course, we thought the trail made a loop and headed back to the parking area, which it didn't. We ended up trekking an extra mile or so after making the find. It was a great day for it, though. We posted a photo on the cache site if you want to see how we looked after hiking up the trail. We managed pretty well.
Of course, we couldn't find another micro hidden at a rest stop along I-78. We really stink when it comes to finding micros hidden in very public areas. We're OK if they're in the woods, but not in parking lots, etc.
We have a couple caches around here that look like they're in someone's "living room". Sometimes I worry about some of the cachers who are out there alone or with small children when I realize they have gone to these places.
Have fun caching!
Mike

 

[Pin Wizard]

Nice picture! Sounds like you really enjoyed the hike!

Maybe the caches that are in people's living rooms are actually cachers! I know we have a few like that around here. Off the top of my head I can think of six at cachers' homes and one at a priest's church. Don't think I'd be placing any near my home, but some do it.

I have to work from 8-12 tomorrow, so that changes my plans for the day. We'll have to cache closer to home after work. Maybe save VA Beach for Sunday. I'm thinking we'll throw the bikes in the back of the car and hit the parks. One of the caches here requires a key. There are 10 keys hidden in various caches, and I found one last weekend. So we'll be hitting Sandy, Where's the Key? and some others in that park. Possibly hit another park. I really hate the SNAKE favorites! LOL! The owner of Sandy, Where's the Key? tells me they are not aware of any snake dens nearby. Ugh. LOL!

Better run. Darling son wants to hit Wal-Mart this evening. Have fun this weekend!

P.S. We had gorgeous weather today! It was 72 degrees in Chesapeake at 4:00!! I wonder what the high was for the day.

 

[lilallybean]

Oh my...I just had to share a find with you all. This is how my first find for the weekend went:
February 3 by JonesCrew (33 found)
We found it...but almost didn't find our way back out. Now this brings back memories. Hawn State park and Ihave a lil history, back in 8th grade I was lost in the area just before you get to the park (the A frame house when you turn off the highway). I just don't make many trips to the park because it was a very bad experience...two girls lost in the woods from 7:30 AM to late at night. Silly me, I thought "I am a big girl now, I can do this cache with the kids no problem" Yeah right! Not sure if it was my nerves, the GPS, or what...but we got lost heading back to the car. I felt sooo stupid. I called OnStar, had them honking the horn...no help, we couldn't hear it. Called hubby and told him to head to the park we were lost. THe we finally came across a trail and a sign pointing to the parking lot. I will NOT make another trip to the park without a grown up to hold my hand!
Anyway we did find the cache...Took-light/ring, Left-2 golf balls and 3 orange stones. (Also coming home with some bruises, a cut on my finger, wet feet, and tad more humble) It was worth it anyway since we get to add the find to our list.
JonesCrew


Oh well....going out again tomorrow.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Ooooooooooooooo...sorry you got lost!!! But your story is funny to read! I know the feeling...was on the way to a panic attack myself once. I will have to find out how to use the breadcrumb thing on the GPS. Also, last weekend at the meet, one person told me to mark my car as a way point!!! I'll definitely have to start doing that. Only problem is I can't get it to show coordinates as I'm walking. This is on an e-trex I recently bought. Hmmm. Just can't find that screen anywhere. Will be caching with both GPSrs so I can use the one that does show those numbers at the car. I know, operator error here!

Yes, I have a few scars from caching myself. LOL!

Have fun today!! Happy caching!

 

[lilallybean]

Just got back from finding 6. Took us about 4 hours. COLD day, but had fun, and HEY...we didn't get lost today!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Congrats!! Hope you had a lot of FUN in the process! And CONGRATS on not getting lost!

I had to work this morning and got out at one. By the time I got home, we had lunch, etc., it was 3ish when we got to a park. It was a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG walk. Just had enough day light to find two caches. Tried going for the third but turned around to start heading back. Daylight decreases quickly, especially with the clouds here all day. We'll have to get out earlier tomorrow.

Happy caching!!

 

[lilallybean]

Congrats to you too! Sounds like you had some fun. We went back to grab another this morning after Church. Now I HAVE to make myself sit down and get some homework done for class Tuesday night. Oh well...they will be there later.

 

[MiJo]

We haven't had the opportunity to get out since Saturday a week ago. My dear M-I-L had some health issues last Sunday and ended up in the hospital
'til Thursday. She is now staying with us until my S-I-L gets home from vacation. On top of that, our D-I-L is headed for the hospital Wednesday evening to have our first grandchild!

Sandee: you have to mark your car in the parking lot and then, after finding the cache, do a go to for your car. The GPSr should then take you back to your car, just as if it were a cache. You should learn to use the breadcrumb feature of your GPSr, if it has one, as that can save a lot of headaches.

Anyway, as former Search and Rescue volunteers, my DW and I know how easy it is for someone to lose their way in the woods. We went out on numerous searches over our 8+ years in SAR. There are a few important things to remember:
1) Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
2) Always carry a weatherproof whistle, such as a "Storm".
3) Carry an emergency poncho or space blanket to help keep you warm and dry. You want to avoid hypothermia at all costs.
4) If you do realize you are lost, DO NOT PANIC! This can make matters worse.
5) Stay put! Hug a tree and wait for help to arrive. Don't risk injury or worse by walking around in the woods, especially at night.
I have written a document about this for our local Geocacher's Web site but haven't published it yet. I hope this info helps.
Take care, stay safe and have fun caching!
Mike of Team SAR-Dogs

 

[hdecker]

We were 6/7 this weekend. Found the smallest micro we have ever seen, but our dnf was supposedly smaller. Someone had the brilliant idea to waterproof and camoflage a tylenol capsule and hide it in a grove of cedar trees - sorry - it was 30 degrees out there today and after 45 minutes on this one we gave up. The small micro my dd found (she is our micro hunter) was half of a small bullet casing about 3/8 in in size attached to a tiny magnet. Considering the location it was in, we are amazed she found it cause we never would have. Hope you all had a great caching day!

 

[lilallybean]

Yikes...where were these at? Not sure we are ready for anything that extreme!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Congrats to you too! Sounds like you had some fun. We went back to grab another this morning after Church. Now I HAVE to make myself sit down and get some homework done for class Tuesday night. Oh well...they will be there later.

Good luck with the homework!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thanks for all the info, Mike! Will have to mark the car from now on when we're at the parks. Small parks, okay. The larger ones are tougher. That may work better than the bread crumbs considering some of my paths!! They're not always straight or direct.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Congrats on the finds, hdecker! The micros can be tough. Can't imagine something like the DNF you had!

Mike...hope all the health issues of family members resolve quickly and well!!

 

[MiJo]

We had a few interesting events occur in our area the past several days.
We went for an FTF on Saturday at a new 3-part cache in a very nice Nature Preserve near West Portal, NJ. Of course, by the time we got to the final cache at 10:10 AM, Tyson, the FTF Master, had already been there. Seems he found it in the dark. He arrived at 4:00 AM, couldn't find the trail, so he bushwhacked for the whole thing! This cache took us over an hour in broad daylight, following paths.
Saturday night it began snowing and by mid-morning Sunday our area had anywhere from 8-12 inches of snow. At times Sunday morning, we had near blizzard conditions due to wind and heavy snow. Wouldn't you know it: a new cache popped up late Saturday night. The FTF Master got up bright and early, drove to the parking area, put on snowshoes, and trekked the 1/2 mile each way for the FTF! You really have to love the man! He's quite a character and avid FTFer.
Anyway, yesterday morning, a new TB Hotel popped up at a park and ride along I-78. Tyson wasn't first but second. Sort of. When he got there, he noticed the area of the cache had been very well trampled. He checked a little while and found nothing. Finally, a highway employee walked up to him and told him he had just missed all of the excitement. Someone reported a locked ammo can in the area and police and fire department personnel were called in to check it out. Apparently, they removed it. I can't wait to check today's newspapers! I've read about these things on the geocaching forums but never thought it would happen around here. This one was only 10 minutes from our house.
Well, my DW and I are scheduled to become grandparents for the first time later today. The baby's name is Erin Elizabeth and we can't wait 'til she's old enough to take to WDW!
I guess that's it for now. Take care everyone and good caching!
Mike

 

[lilallybean]

My goodness MiJo...that sounds like a busy week! I would love to hear what happens with the Cache that the police got ahold of. Ya just never know...gotta watch out for those muggles-wonder if the owner had been seen placing the ammo box. Let us know what happens with it, or give us the name of the cache. I have to work this weekend and have two research papers due so I will be stuck working. Hope you all have fun this wekend, can't wait to hear your stories.

 

[MiJo]

Geocaching Story

And, here is the link to the cache:
Christmas City Travel Bug Hotel

If we get more info, I'll keep you posted. I'm sure this will be the topic of conversation at our upcoming LVGC breakfast. Unfortunately, my DW and I cannot make it.
Mike

PS The birth of our granddaughter has now been postponed until Friday or Saturday.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow, Mike!!! First, congratulations on the soon to be grandchild. Erin Elizabeth...what a beautiful name! I bet you and your wife can't wait to see her.

LOVE those FTF stories! Keep them coming. The FTF Master is too much. I can think of the FTFers here. Always the same three, but one in particular sticks out in mind. He's out there at all hours, too. Even 4 a.m. I think we need a moon at that hour. The DIS needs a moon!

Oh, that bug hotel is too much! Would have liked to see that going on. Seriously though, don't these people put a label on the ammo can? Perhaps it's checked out any way. A couple weeks ago a friend of mine who is SF in the Army asked if I'm still Geocaching. Absolutely!! That's how I get through my weekends! It's my weekend career!!!! He said they have something there about Geocachers. This was right after the incident in the papers about a cache being under a bridge a few weeks ago. I told him that's probably what it stemmed from. So I guess we're on the watch list.

After work yesterday I HAD to go find just one cache...for my birthday. It beats a birthday party!!!

Will check those links after work today. Everyone have a GREAT day! Happy caching!!

 

[lilallybean]

Happy belated Birthday Sandy. Hope you had a good one!