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

[MiJo]

hdecker: 80 miles! WOW! How many have you found so far in total? We have done about 90% of the caches within several miles of our house; only a few parking lot micros in NJ to go. We had a couple new ones pop up the past few days so we'll be heading out to do those soon.

Sandy: We upped the Difficulty level to 4 last night. This is a tough one and those who have found it have been leaving remarks like "diabolical", "clever" and "never saw one like this before". There are a few hollow bolts in guard rails around the area but we had not seen one like this, either. It was a great idea by my DW! The difficulty does seem to be keeping people from looking for it, though. Or, it seems that way since no one has it on their watch list. However, the last couple went back 4 times before they got a hint from another cacher and found it and we didn't know they had been looking for it. Maybe more people are looking for it than we realize! Some people have used a lifeline rather than emailing us for a hint.
My new job is with the same company, just a different department. It will be in Research and Development. I don't know the Phd yet but I do know all of the other technicians over there. I just don't know how long my current managers will hold me to help train someone on the job I am leaving. The union has rules but the current "regime" I am laboring for doesn't always follow them. That's one of the reasons I am changing jobs.
Well, off to work! Good caching!

 

[Pin Wizard]

hdecker...Ohhhhh!! Now I got you! LOL...I thought maybe you REALLY live out in the sticks!

Mike...Certainly sounds like a 4 if not a 5!!!! "Diabolical"...that's how ClassicRider has been described around here. I found one of his caches yesterday. Ran into 4 other cachers at a park. We scooted for one that was a DNF for us the day before, then caught up with them after. They had already found ClassicRider's hide. HOLY COW!! In the woods, my GPS had me going all over the place. Finally, one of the other four asked if I wanted a hint. YES!! They said...under a brick. A brick? In the woods? Had I been there on my own, I NEVER would have found this. One of the four was kicking bricks...in the middle of the woods! I started checking them. They were snickering and then said...a "lone" brick. LOL! I don't know how it even caught my eye. I picked it up. It was part of a brick stuck on it's side somewhat in the ground. Under that were leaves and sticks, couldn't even see the cache. But I dug around with a stick a bit...there it was!! This guy is mean for sure. LOL! Talk about thinking outside the box! He's worse than that though. I like hunting with four additional people. Eventually, someone is going to find the cache! Went with them to two other caches. One I had previously found...thanks to calling one of these people as a life line at the time. Then the other one we went to was another DNF for me the previous day. Nice to get those two off the list! After that we all went out for lunch together. Turned out to be a great afternoon. Cachers are terrific people from my experiences with them so far.

Looking forward to a picnic/caching event in a state park in the Richmond area in June!

Hope all is well with everyone! Happy caching!

 

[MiJo]

We did one fairly new one on Saturday that turned out to be a pretty easy micro. It's right on the fence at a local swimming pool, so we don't know how that one will work beginning in a few weeks when the place is swarming with muggles! A little later, we headed down to see if anyone was looking for our micro and, sure enough, we saw a guy wandering around with a GPSr. We acted like a couple muggles for a few minutes and then approached him and told him who we are. He needed a good hint even though he has one hidden that is similar (we haven't done it yet). Ours must be a little tougher than his. Then, on Sunday, another cacher and her young daughter found it, apparently with no hints. Of course, they have over 14,000 finds so they've seen just about everything! They did seem to have a little trouble but found it eventually.
Have to get ready for work. Good caching!

 

[Pin Wizard]

14,000 finds?! She must be caching for years! Someone around here just hit 2,000 and that's a big deal to us. LOL! Too funny that you got to watch someone searching for yours. I'm sure they were thrilled to run into you! The one at the pool will be interesting in the summer. I know I'd be scratching it off my list until the fall.

Happy caching!

 

[MiJo]

We managed to get out Saturday and do one cache over in NJ. This was an interesting one, placed in a small tunnel running under some old train tracks. We searched around the tracks before realizing the tunnel was there. Once inside, I needed a flashlight to find it even though the tunnel isn't more than 20 feet long.
Both of our TB's are now up in Oregon but one has been picked up and is supposed to travel to Washington soon. It's funny that they both ended up in Oregon at the same time especially since one was down in Texas for quite a while.
We had a visitor at church yesterday: a geocacher from Canada who is moving down this way for a couple years, apparently for business. For the life of me, I can't remember his geocaching nickname but he has our info and he's going to contact us when he's available to spend some time caching with us. That was a pleasant surprise!
I hope all the moms out there had a lovely Mother's Day. We had a visit from our DGD, which is always nice. Our older DS, her father, had to work and our younger DS was sick so they weren't around. Our DD and her DH stopped by as well as my DW's mother and sister, so we had a full house.
Good caching everyone!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Sounds like you and your wife had a GREAT Mother's Day, Mike! Quiet one here. Just went out caching...which was fine with me! I hope all the lurkers had a good Mother's Day also!!

The cache in the tunnel must have been something! What size was it? If I knew a micro were in there, I probably would have turned around. LOL! (Note to self...ALWAYS carry a flashlight!)

Neat that both your TBs are in Oregon! Too funny that happened. My two are still MIA. But yesterday I sent out a new one. Hopefully, this one will move around longer. I'm crossing my fingers for it.

It's been slow lately! Getting out there late morning or early afternoon on the weekends. Found 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. At least it's no longer taking ALL day to find that number!

I'm looking forward to two events coming up. One in the Richmond area and the other in Virginia Beach. They'll be lots of fun! Hmmmmmmmmm...I know there's a Disney singles board somewhere. I think I need a single geocachers' club. LOL!

Happy caching!

 

[MiJo]

The cache in the tunnel was a small Tupperware container, maybe 4 or 5 inches square. It was wedged into a crevasse toward the ceiling of the tunnel, which was about 4 feet high or so. At the far end of the tunnel, there was a rocky wall with water running down from above. After a heavy rain, it must look like a small waterfall. It was pretty interesting.
We haven't been doing much caching lately although we try to get one or two in on the weekends. We've done quite a few of the local ones (5 miles) and with the price of gas we haven't been venturing too far without a good reason. I do have a couple vacation days coming up so we'll probably do some then.
Have a good week!

 

[Pin Wizard]

The price of gas definitely limits where we go also. Richmond was a far enough trip, and that's a rarity. We headed over a different bridge last weekend to Gloucester. Had a bit of luck there along with a couple DNFs. We seem to miss one cacher's hides all the time. My GPSrs must be way off from theirs. Hmmmmmm. I e-mailed them and asked if I'm in the correct areas, but I haven't heard anything back.

Glad it was a Tupperware container in the tunnel! Intersting hide! So if the tunnel was about 4' high, I guess it wasn't formerly used for train travel. LOL! I was thinking that tracks went through them. Hmmm...maybe for drainage with the water you mentioned?

You have a good week, too! Everyone else here also!!!

Happy caching!

 

[Pin Wizard]

A couple good reminders...

http://www.stellarmag.com/news/2006/05/16/0008

http://www.treadlightly.org/readedu.mv?edu=42A702E80001F48A00000C2900000000

 

[lilallybean]

Dang...didn't think I would ever have time to get back on here. I finished my term last week. Gotta drag just a lil, I got an A in each class! Just one more term to go! I have been lurking and reading all the fun that you all have had. Sounds like some great hunts!
We did go out on Mother's Day to do a few...ended up with 10 finds and a couple DNFs. I bought my lil brother a basic GPS. His answering machine now says something like "Here you are trying to call me and I am out Geocaching. If you want to talk to me you will have to reach me when I am not geocaching. If you really want me to call you back just tell me you want to go geocaching with me!" I think that he MAY be hooked! LOL
I just bought us our second GPS...hope we did good. I got a Magellan Meridian gold. I can't wait to try it out!
We also bought 8 travel bugs a couple days ago and can't wait to get them and set them free! Trying to come up with some fun ideas for those. Our son has a plan to start one with a stuffed wolf and try to get it to the wolf sanctuary in Ely Minnasota.
I want to try and get one to Panama, Panama...where my Mom was from.

It has been nice reading about all the interesting hunts you all have been on. I look forward to hearing more! Happy Hunting!

 

[MiJo]

Sandy: Yes, the tunnel is a small tunnel under the tracks that is used to drain water from a hillside down into the river. The tracks haven't been used in years, from the looks of them, and there is a small parking area nearby.
I checked out your two links: thanks for them! I've heard around here that there are sometimes differences of 30 or 40 feet between some Magellan and Garmin GPSr's. Also, if you are having a problem, stand still for a minute or two and let your unit zero in. That helps us sometimes.

lilallybean: Congrats on the A's! And, that story about your brother's answering maching message is a good one!
Maybe we'll find one of your TB's one day. I believe there is a wolf sanctuary in NJ not too far from here but we haven't been to it yet.

Good caching everyone!

 

[Pin Wizard]

lilallybean...CONGRATULATIONS on the grades!

Congrats on the 10 finds. And your brother sounds too funny! I'd say he's addicted!!!

Good ideas on the TBs! I have a couple more here. I can't decide what to send out there. Our smilie scratching his chin is gone, so I guess I have to use the guy stirring the pot. Let's see...my dad was from PA, mom was from TX. Hmmm... What would I attach to those? Coal since dad was from the coal mining region? Mom? Toughie. She grew up on a farm. Food, not animals.

Mike...I'll have to be more patient waiting for the GPS to settle down. I guess that's better than the usual circles it has me running.

Looks gorgeous out there today! Think we'll head to VA Beach. I know there's things going on at the boardwalk also. Should be a fun day!

Happy caching!

 

[Pin Wizard]

We had a good one this past weekend! The name of the cache is "The Forbidden Forest." Apparently, it is!!

Got down to 100 some odd feet to go. Heard shots. Figures! Ran into the same problem at another cache a while back...which we haven't been back to yet. We could see people. Darling son was certain they were paintballers, I wouldn't know the difference between a paint ball gun and a bee-bee (sp.?) gun if they were both in front of me. Yes, my GPS was pointing me in their direction!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaay off!! Finally, after pacing the same area a number of times, my GPS headed in the right direction. That took a good amount of time in itself. I finally spotted the cache, and darling son retrieved it since he was right on top of it...literally!

So we were on our way out of the "forest" and got to a stream to cross. I was down on the low part near the water, and as I crossed over and then looked up to get on the other side, I found two police officers watching us and saying we must have been on a nature hike! My first thought was that we must have been on private property without knowing it. Uh...with a GPS hanging around my neck, a poking stick in one hand, and my paper in the other, I figured I better spill the beans on this one. Told the officers we were Geocaching. They didn't seem too interested in that, but asked if we saw or heard paintballers in there. Sure did! So we helped them as much as we could and left. While we were searching for the cache, a bunch of middle school aged looking kids came up behind us and were commenting amoung themselves about the shots they heard. They ran back out a short time later and must have mentioned it to their parents...who must have contacted the police. It made for a memorable cache any way!

Happy caching!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Oh! Anyone know of an EFFECTIVE lotion, etc. to keep the ticks away? I haven't been having luck with what I'm using. On Sunday we were in the woods. Found two ticks that day. After two more showers, found a third tick and got rid of that one. At the same time I found a fourth. Holy cow was that thing tiny!!! Ended up at the Urgent Care Center yesterday with a doc removing it with a magnifying glass over the table. It was just in a place I couldn't reach well, and a stubborn little bugger. So I told myself that I'm sworn off caches in the woods for the summer, but I can't do it! That would be major withdrawal! Oh, yes! They also gave me a Tetanus shot!!!! So much for only metal. Actually read up on it on the CDC web site. Any opening in the skin is an "in" for Tetanus.

Thanks!!

 

[lilallybean]

Sounds like a real adventure! I think I would have ran for the hills if I heard shots!
I am not sure about a lotion for the ticks...we just use the DEET spray. Happy hunting!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thanks for your experience with DEET!

You would think I would have headed for the hills. In the cache description, it did mention that people have been seen playing paint ball in the area. Had that not been in the description, I sure would have turned right around.

 

[MiJo]

Hi Everyone!
Sandy, that was quite an adventure you had with the shots and the cops and all. Our sons play paintball and I think their guns make more of a POP type sound than a BANG, if that makes sense. And, I agree with the DEET for ticks. We never used anything in SAR but I did tuck my pants into my boots and we usually wore long sleeves. On one search at the Jersey shore, we actually taped our sleeves to our gloves at our wrists due to chiggers in the area. We fared well but the dogs ended up covered with little ticks. Our team VET gave them a shot of something. I don't remember what it was though.
We managed an FTF on a micro on Wednesday! That was our 15th FTF. It was a pretty clever one attached to a clothing and shoe drop box in a parking lot. The same guy has another new one out that is 6 parts that I might try for after work today. We are also planning to attack another multi tomorrow that hasn't been claimed yet.
Good caching!
Mike

 

[lilallybean]

Great job on the FTF! We have only one so far. We are in a rural area and there just are not that many placed here. This past weekend we did try out our new GPS and I loved it!!! Just takes a while to get used to programing it and figuring out everything. Now for our big news! DH and I may be adding a member to our crew! He has a second cousin (13 year old girl) who is in a situation that just isn't good. The girl's Dad (DH's cousin) passed away almost 10 years ago. The mom just isn't taking care of her right. SOOOO...we may be adopting her. I know this would be a huge adjustment for all of us, but we can do it. We took her out hunting with us last week and she loved it! She was so excited doing something as a 'family'. She got to hold the GPS and do the actual finding. I have to say that of all the folks we have taken with us THIS was the best reaction. She was so excited and has talked nonstop about it.
To top it all off, DH says if we are able to adopt her then we will 'HAVE' to go to WDW so she can expierence that with the family too!!!
So please all keeps us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this process.
Happy hunting on this long weekend!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Mike...Yes, it was a POP rather than a bang. Now I'll know the difference when I hear it! Thanks!

Congrats on another FTF! And good luck with the multi. I've done a few multis, not many at all. There was one I've been working on. The guy says that if you have to search every single set of coordinates he gives, you will have made 13 stops. We got through a few stops, but I finally cleared them all out of my GPS. LOL! Too much trouble for one little smilie!

I will have to look and make sure I get something with DEET. Not sure if what I currently have has it in there or not. But it is a lotion specific for ticks. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

lilallybean...Congratulations on the hopeful adoption! I'll keep you all in prayers that all goes well. So good to hear that your 2nd cousin enjoys Geocaching!

We'll see where we end up tomorrow. I put a bunch of coordinates in the GPS this afternoon. Hmmmm...South or West? LOL!

Happy caching!

 

[hdecker]

Thank goodness for Holiday weekends - we got to cache! Spent the long weekend camping in Branson Mo and managed to hit 8 yesterday between enjoying the sights. We found some pretty cool ones. We got an FTF on one of them - who would figure that being 75 miles away from home. We were able to grab a geocoin and a TB in two others, DH found a new trout fishing spot, we walked about 7 miles total and we saw some pretty cool containers too. It felt so good to be back out there.
I can sympathize with Pin Wizard - Tickzilla's were out in force this weekend - now, of course, they are never on me but DH and DD's seem to get covered and these aren't little ticks - you could put leashs on these buggers and take them for a walk - makes for easy finding though.
Now that we've been back out it's got us going again so I guess I better get busy downloading.
Happy caching