Recent Challenge Caches

Since my return from deployment I have been watching the placement of Challenge caches near Jackson, TN. At first, I wondered about the high difficulty rating. I reflected on one of my first challenge caches, Special K. Special K required that to log this find, one must have 1,000 finds. I drove within a quarter mile of this cache many times before I could actually log it. With that in mind, I think the difficulty ratings on the recent challenge caches are appropriate.

My recent Challenge cache finds:

Challenge: Complete 6 new 'challenges': While attending the recent cache event in Paris, I was made aware of 3 challenges that I could complete while in Paris. The "Challenges" are something new in geocaching. Most of the challenges are simple and something like the old locationless caches.

TN---12- 'Souvenir' Challenge: I have over 20 souvenirs, being I have cached 23 states/district and one province in Canada. Now, I await souvenirs for my cache finds in Iraq and Kuwait.

States that border West Tennessee- Challenge: Another easy find for me since I have found caches not only states that border West Tennessee, but all the states that border Tennessee. I have finds in all the former Confederate States. Delaware is the only state south of the Mason-Dixon line I don't have a find.

a 7-Challenge, Challenge: This one took a little bit of work and had to complete a few challenge cache to sign this log.

TN I-40 WB 14-Caches In A Day Challenge: Since my return from deployment, I haven't had many days with large numbers. A trip to Marion, IL managed this one.

Well Rounded MO Cacher (Fizzy Challenge): Grabbed this one on the return trip from Marion, IL. My second Fizzy find. Now I will go after the one in Mississippi.

Going after the challenge caches have been fun. With nearly 7 years of caching experience, the challenges are giving me something to look forward to.

Murray cache run

With some time on our hands, minnie mouse and myself headed to Murray, Ky to grab a few caches. Since my return from deployment, I had not hit Murray. One issue with Murray is that it's not an easy drive from home.

We begun the day with Arboreturn, a really cool location. It's an easy find, afterwards we looked around at the Murray State University facility. A short drive later, we found The 1,000,000th Cache!!!, we chatted with some new cachers while at this spot. Backyard BBQ was the next stop. I figured it would be a commercial style cache and was amused when we arrived.

We swept much of western part of Murray, finding Back to the 80's" series #2 "Hell is for Children". When I find these caches regarding the 1980's music, I attempt to give some of my viewpoint or experience about the group/singer or music. Couldn't give much about this song, since I was not much of a Pat Benatar fan. We also found Rock Solid. Later we visited the Murray State University campus and found Sole Mates, a really cool location, but was annoyed that the coordinates were over 200 feet off.

With the end of the cache day nearing, I agreed with minnie mouse, we would only cache to lunch time. I headed out for I See the Light since it was favorited a number of times. Minnie mouse spotted this hide. We then opted for a difficult cache survivor. This was a return trip to the Clarks River Recreational area, a great place for caches. I was concerned about this cache since it was listed with a 4-star terrain and would have a 9-year in tow. I scouted the initial trail and decided to go after this cache. It earned the 4-star rating with very difficult terrain to transverse. Thankfully, the river was down and the hike was uneventful. We found the cache after some searching. A great cache, with so few signatures. Minnie mouse commented, that not all cachers are as tough as she.

We picked up Skip Skipping these Skippers just before lunch and needed this break after survivor. We headed for Pizza Hut for some lunch and grabbed Back to the 80's series #4 "Burning down the House".