12-13-14 Event of a Life Time

As I slow down my caching career, I do intend to stay involved with my attendence to area events.  Right now, I have desire to travel much past 50 miles for an event.

The event did grab my interest, I have gone of my way to grab caches by this cache owner, where most are interesting.  Being it was in an out of the way location I was very suprised with the high turn out.  Since the weather was pleasent, many of the cachers hit the Land Between the Lakes area.  Minnie Mouse and myself didn't leave home until mid-afternoon and went after two nearby caches:  KYGT Kenlake State Resort Park and Moonshine.  At Kenlake state park we visited the lodge and briefly spoke to the staff about geocaching and we may return to the area to try out their archery range once I purchase a crossbow next year.

The event was at a restaurant and like events at those type of locations it's difficult to mingle around.  Since I was not the host, I didn't have the obligation to mingle.  In those types of settings, conversation is normally limited to those sitting nearby.  We were the first arrive and about 15 minutes later, we were joined by shoot25, the explained they were very new to the game and attending their first event.  Next to join us was kat-as-trophy, I had recalled seeing the name on a few logs that were emailed to me.  I had the impression that I was sitting by some very new cachers.  kat-as-trophy reported she is residing between Gleason and McKenzie, which is not far from home.  When I read the logs of the event the following day I was overcome that I was not speaking to a new cacher, but someone with as much or more experience than myself, but wondered about why she asked how to log a trackable.  In years past, I kept track of geocaching profiles but with so many phone cachers running around, the cache a few days and quit, I don't pay much attention.  I researched more of the profile and she has over 4,300 finds.

For the most part of nearly 10 years of caching, I have been the numbers leader in Weakley County.  My only competition was from littleluckyclover from about 7 years ago.  Now I wonder about my semi geo-retirement.....

Duck Season

With possession of the Tennessee Lifetime Sportsman Hunting/Fishing License, I've been duck hunting on two occasions, but by invitation from experienced duck hunters.

I have always been facinated by the stories from peers who were duck hunters and wanted to experience this sport for myself.  Last year I was invited to a private blind between Sharon and Sidonia, TN.  On that day, we saw a few ducks but not able to take any shots.  Prior to the hunt, I did purchase a duck call and after blowing it a couple of times in the blind; other hunters asked that I put the call away and return when I have more experience.

Last weekend was a hunting weekend for me.  Saturday evening I did attempt to get another deer.  But, nothing came around and the hunt was eventful due falling when a gate that I've crossed more than a dozen times fell taking me with it.  I did suffer a strained neck and sprained left wrist.

Following morning, I got up at 3 am in order to meeting a peer duck hunter in Camden, TN at 5 am.  My neck was sore, but I was more concerned for my wrist.  I use a pump shotgun and a painful wrist will make shooting very difficult.

We arrived at the boat put in place, I won't call it a landing.  My partner had to drive his 4X4 truck into the water to unload the boat in the dark.  The others accomplished that duty while I put on my hunting coveralls and chest waders.  We boated into the Tennessee River to the blind that is located on an island.  I did observe the area for possible future geoacaches, but I feel that it would be difficult to maintain since this location is over an hour from home.

We settled into the blind before the sunrise.  I was amazed from the other duck hunters of their experience that they could see the ducks in the pre-dawn light and know the species.  We shot at ducks all morning to after 9 am.  Two of the hunters left for church services and two of us stayed for about 45 minutes later as we attempted to bring in Canada geese.  I ended up going home with one canvas back duck.  Overall, the group shot down about 7 ducks.  I did hit two but I could only take home one canvas back.

After hunting season last year, I hit some area stores for end of season clothing and equipment.  Best purchase was the insulated hunting coveralls for about $60.  At Gander Mtn. in Jackson, I scored on the 5 mm chest waders for just over $100.  The duck hunt last weekend was the first use of the waders I could not complain.  While the waders are difficult to walk in due to being so new; I was able to help load the boat since I could walk in water that was over waist deep.

Trip to Panama City Beach, Florida

We had discussed a trip to Florida the last two years.  Browsing hotel rates, I found making the trip in summer time was very expensive.  I have seen friends of mine in Facebook make the trip in October and found through those people, hotel rates were less expensive, tourist shops with discounts and overall crowds were lower in number.  We timed our trip with minie mouse's fall break.

We left for Nashville on a Friday for the airport and were aided in transportation by two Nashville area cachers which saved us over $75 in long term parking.  Our flight was rocky on the way to Florida as the flight detoured around a storm.  We arrived after dark in Panama City Beach and walked around the area of the hotel.

As for caching, I didn't have any set priority other than grab caches in any county I was visiting.  While in Pier Park, I picked up a skirt lifter, 10Ring.  The next day, I walked a 1/2 mile from the hotel on a foggy morning to grab an earthcache RIPS.  It was a nice earthcache but since that access to the beach is privately owned, I would like to see the cache moved to a public access.  Or at least provide coordinates of the nearest public access.

Following day it was raining and we drove around the area.  We traveled to St. Andrew's State Park and found Gator Lake and we did see an alligator at the lake.

Next day, we drove west and using my phone, I found Paddle your "Tuck" off.  We enjoyed seeing some of the country side west of the main tourism areas.

Day of our depature, we drove east and southeast to visit tourist areas that are more the the quiter types and I would find this area more desirable than Panama City Beach.  We did find a Civil War related cache, called Confederate Salt Works and cache at the location where Florida became a state, ORGT:  Constitution Convention Museum State Park.

While in Florida, I colored in the counties of:  Bay, Walton and Gulf.

August Caching

During the month of August, Groundspeak attempts to push caching in different ways.  Seeing the trend over recent years in regard to numbers, with so many highway power trails which are nothing more than a self-maintained keyholder or film canister on a guard rail; Groundspeak attempted to set up a contest for cachers to find different types of caches.

I took up the challenge and new the difficulties.  Being that I have actively cached my region for over 9 years, where would not be much in the likes of the virtual cache for me.  Regardless, I took up the challenge.

As with any challenge, I go after it headfirst.  With my employment, I have many days of annual leave to use and took off on August 1.  I headed to Murray, KY en route to the LBL and grabbed a puzzle cache.  I was easy to solve and my timing was perfect, early morning before the business was open.  Headed to the LBL to go after the different caches.  One type I needed was the Multi-Stage.  I had two on my target list and both resulted in DNF's  they were:  Hematite Doom and Buckner Cemetery.   I would re-group later in the month to find a Multi.  One of the disadvantages of solo caching is the high rate of DNF's.  

Moving on, I found two earthcaches:  Hematite Lake and Center Furnace Quarry, I found information of the cache pages interesting and learned more about the area.  I went onto a nearby area of the LBL where there was a concentration of caches, including Whereigo's.  My experience with those types of caches are very limited and I don't care to use my smartphone for caching, so they were ignored for this trip.  I found a few traditionals, one was an interesting spot that was once a major tourist area of the LBL:  Silo Overlook, I spent time looking at this area and didn't know of this location and its popularity in the 1980's.  

I ended the day with the kayak going after, LBL Fossil Beach.  Despite being hot, it was a nice kayak float on a still lake.  I did have issues with my old flipflops that tore apart on my trip.  

The following day, I made an excuse to visit Clarksville, TN for before school shopping and we stopped at The Old Customs House.  This was a nice museum to visit and encourage others to visit.  I clearned all virtuals to over 100 miles from home. 

The Multi-Stage type cache would be  most difficult but I had an easy find on  roadside with: Its all in the NUMBERS.

Pcsenn contacted me and he needed a whereigo for the August caching and went traveled to Waverly and found, Geocaching Trivia.  This was my first whereigo that I completed using my own device, a smartphone.  To our horror, we arrived at final coordinates to find the cache MIA.  I sent a message to the cache owner using the smartphone and he emailed back his phone number.  We called and obtained permission to repair this hide.

I would complete the August Challenge at a cache event in Jackson, TN

Changing hobbies

My caching has slowed down greatly.  At current rate, I am doubful I will have 300 finds this year, thus my slowest caching year since 2010.

I retired with 25 years of military services and draw disabilty from the VA.  Due to the disabilty from wartime service, I learned I could obtain the Lifetime Tennessee Sportsman License for $10.  Normally, for my age group the cost is just over $1,600.  For last two years, I only have to purchase the Type 94 Doe permit and Federal Duck stamp.

With that, I re-newed my interest in hunting; I can't seem to find the patience to fish.  Long prior to geocaching, I've been a gun owner and last 4 years have increased my collection to include a Panther Arms AR-15.  When my daughter was taking the Tennessee Hunter Safety Course, I learned that any centerfire rifle can be used for deer.  So for the past two years I've used the .223 caliber AR-15 for deer, harvesting 3 deer with the pictured rifle.  I did harvest one deer last year with a 30-30 lever action.

I have not re-newed my efforts with small game, but am preparing to hunt coyotes this spring.  Last year I did go duck hunting once and wild turkey a few times.  As my geocaching career slows down even more next year, I will increase my hunting efforts.

Cache run with Pharmd93

Phamd93 gave me a call and wanted to go on a cache run.  With our work and other demands, our schedules don't lalways work out, but have seen that Sunday afternoons work for a cache run.  However, the concern for Sunday afternoon caching is that it's difficult to go more than 40 miles from home.  On this cache run, we went towards Fulton and Clinton, Kentucky.

Most in the area are micros by Comet Clover, a cacher that I have had the honor to visit at many events.  There was some overlap on our cache run, where I would find something Phamd93 had completed and vise versa.

We did visit Let's Go to the County Fair, which is a clever hide using a fake electrical box.  This types of hides continue to give me a hard time.  While I was in the Navy, I worked on electrical equipment and its harzards.  Some cachers tend to avoid these typeos of hides.

Continued our drive and ended up at Columbus State Park, a Civil War fort, where Pharmd93 found the earthcaches.  One of my favorites in the Columbus area was Columbus Triangle.

Hickery Dickery Dock

In years past, Madison County in Tennessee would provide about 25% of my total finds.  It's normal for this cacher to pass through that county on business trips to Memphis, Somerville and Pinson.  The geo-face of that county has changed over recent years with many of the old crew giving up the game for one reason or another.  One cachers, lookingUPward, a transplant from another state has saturated much of Madison County and some surrounding areas.  This saturation has frustrated this cacher since in years past, would attempt to clear out areas.  LookingUPward basically places a cache, receives a few finds, archives and then sets up a new cache, typically the same container.  Rarely does he obtain permission which has led to some problems between cachers and local community. Thankfully, at this time, law enforcement has not intervened.

With the high saturation, I found found that attempting to filter between something worth going after and geo-trash is frustrating.  Just going through the site at Project GC, I discovered I was missing out on some great caches.  Using that website and observing the favorite points of caches, I have set up a personal bookmark to track and eventually find those Madison County caches worth finding.


Hickery Dickery Dock has many favorite points, however, very few finds.  I paid particular attention to the location and noticed it's behind the Home Depot store, maybe that was the reason for the name?  I will use aerial photographs to see the best approach and instead of driving to the back of the store, I went on foot, which paid off.  Made the find very quickly and went about my business, making no attempt to disquise what I was doing so if asked, I had nothing to hide.  Cache owner did a great job in set up of the cache and feel he did obtain permission for the hide.

This One for Uncle Billy

Last couple of years, policy has changed where I am employed and don't have the freedom to venture out.  Trips over 136 miles from home or office now require using the department car or a rental car.  With that in mind, I am very picky of what caches I may go after; completely avoiding those that are way off the my main route or would give my muggle interference.

On a trip to Nashville, I went after This One for Uncle Billy.  It was located in the area that would visit and the high number of favorites grabbed my attention.  I was not disappointed when I arrived and being a cemetery, muggle interference was not a factor.  I made the find and this was not the usual cemetery find in that the container was on the grave stone itself.

Day Four: Upper Mid-West

With cachestalker94 enrolled into school, I had a free day.  I used this day for the long and exhausting trip to the Dakotas.  During this four day trip, I would visit for the first time:  Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota, caching all these states and also caching Wisconsin.  I had been to the Dairy state in the 1980's while in the US Navy.

The trip took me through more interesting areas and quickly realized why Minnesota was the land of 10,000 lakes.  It was an enjoyable trip and was very tired when I returned to the hotel.  Including in the trip was a lot of rain, and returned with my shoes soaked.

The most interesting caches:

Little Tribute to a big ball of twine, was near one of the largest hills I've seen in this state and made the find in the rain.

Ortonville Region, there was a cluster of caches at this location, most were Earthcaches.

Greenwood Cemetery, first find in South Dakota, coordinates were off but I did make the find.

Coteau des Prairies, a rest area earthcache with a great view.

Day Three: Upper Mid-West

Day three was enrollment day for Cachestalker94 at the University of Minnesota.  We set out that morning to find Target for last minute shopping and a visit to Minnehaha Falls.  Since this park was near a train station, I wanted cachestalker94 to see a park that she could visit while in school for the next 6 weeks.  That trip was successful in that she would return to the park during one of the weekends.

We returned to the hotel and gathered her items and then the trip to the campus.  I helped cachestalker94 get settled into the dorm and she met some of her classmates that would be with her at that campus and later in Iceland.

Day Two: Upper Mid-West

Sunday was a free day, cachestalker94 had to be enrolled in school the following day.  Choices were, a trip to Iowa about 2 hours away or a much longer trip to western part of Minnesota with a swing through South and North Dakota.  Since our arrival, cachestaker94 was not feeling well.  We arrived in the area just as the spring pollen was in full swing and her sinuses were paying the price.  Also, we are both fans of Rock n Roll; so we headed to Clear Lake, Iowa to see the crash site of Buddy Holly.

We got up early and headed south picking up an easy virtual along the way.  We stayed on the Interstate, observing the view of flat grasslands and many power producing windmills.  We crossed the border at a rest area and took down the information for Top of Iowa Earthcache.  This was my first time in Iowa.  We looked at the grasslands and noticed the constant wind, which would explain the use of windmills in this area.  

Continued south to Clear Lake, Iowa and hit the first of two virtuals, The Day the Music Died.  There are many muggle tourists at this location and one was helpful in taking photos of us.  This was the location where Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Booper last performed.  We looked around the town and headed in the north direction to Holly Shrine.  On the way, the driver of a car in front of us appeared to be very confused.  We pulled up and they were looking for the crashsite as well.  I told them to follow me since I had my Nuvi routing to the parking location.  The crash location is about 3/10s of a mile from the parking location and that would throw off any autorouting GPS.  Arrived at the parking location and we couldn't find the mico hidden there, I would later read coordinates are off by 60 feet......another phone cacher???  It was a very windy day and we hiked to the crash site, had photos taken by muggle tourist once again.  It's a very somber location and not much has changed to the area since the plane crash.  

We return much the same way we arrived along the Interstate, finding rest area caches.  I noticed that Minnesota rest areas have some hiking trails, which I throught was really cool.  We came back to the city area and chose to eat an Indian Casino buffet.  

Day One: Upper Mid-West

About Christmas time of 2013, my daughter Kailee mentioned an Iclandic Studies Class at the University of Minnesota and expressed an interest in attending the class.  Plans were made along with dicussions of how to pay for the class.  When she was accepted into the summer course, plans shifted of how to travel to the area.  First plans were to drive from Dresden. TN to Minneapolis, MN a 14-hour drive and what to do on the way, while there and return trip.  In the final weeks of preparation, it was decided to fly since there would only be two of us and that would be less expensive than driving.
Since my daughter, cachestalker94, is not has interested in geocaching as she was when much younger, I selected caches that would not be hard terrain and be interesting.  This trip would also give us new states to add to your geocaching profiles.

We flew from Nashville on the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend which the airports in Nashville and Chicago were very busy.  While in Chicago, we endured a 2-hour flight delay and we would arrive in Minneapolis and at the hotel after 11 pm and we were exhausted.

To save on costs of a rental car, we waited for the next full day before obtaining the car and we took the public transporation train from the hotel to the airport and picked up the car.  This also gave Kailee experience with public transportation system.  We signed for the car and off we went to the city.

Went went after a virtual The Holy Grail? in a nice area of town and unique watertower.  Then we picked up Mr. Little Guy's House which had a nice view of one of the lakes in the area.  We did have an encounter with a not-so-nice muggle and went on our way.  We visited the university, walked around the campus and nearby community.  With that done, we went after caches in Wisconsin, beginning with Stone Teepee at Birkammoo's and later a nice earthcache, The Scenic St. Croix.  We would return to Minnesota and pick up Indian Mounds Park Overlook.  We returned to the hotel, rested a bit and took the trail to the Mall of America to end the day.

Cliffs of Dover

With the day off from work for Good Friday, I went for a new cache, Cliffs of Dover.  Knowing the area, I considered bringing my kayak.  After the long and hard hike, using a kayak would have been much less difficult.

With a winter that would not go away, the weather was nice for a hard hike and spring foliage was not an issue as were insects.  I had researched the topographical maps to find an easy way and avoid the constant hill climbing but that was not to be; so more or less, I did a beeline approach.

The hike was hard and difficult but enjoyable and with some nice views.

Not only have I been the first to find; I am the only to find.  This is a great cache and should be found more often.  However, the geocaching game could be re-named, game of guardrails since many cachers prefer highway powertrails, which along with smartphones is destroying this game.

Greenway trail, Paducah, Kentucky

As with most non-weekend holidays, I attempt to conduct a cache run.  On a cold and wet President's Day, I loaded up my bike and headed to Paducah, Kentucky on a newly constructed greenway.  The trail is near the Civil War Fort Anderson that protected communications for the Union and was attacked by Gen. Forrest in 1864.

Thankfully, it was not too cold or wet.  Snow from previous snowfall was still around, but no on the trail.  The trail is flat for the most part.  I did have to go downhill for one cache and ride up the hill to return to the paved trail.

Caches found:

The Greenway Trail- At Fort Anderson

The Greenway Trail- What a View!!!

Float Your Boat- Paducah

The Greenway Trail- Blue Hummer View

Concentrated run in Jackson, TN 1/30/2014

In the last couple of years geocaching in Jackson, TN has changed with most caches being placed by lookingUPward.  Overall, the current way of geo-business in Jackson is no longer satisfying by this cacher.  This is part of the reason why this cacher is considing geo-retirement in the coming months.

My occupation takes me on the road to the point that I average about 30,000 business miles a year.  Current work policies recommend using a rental car or state car (which is an unmarked leased car) for distances over 136 miles.  Since I don't concern myself for numbers; I try to focus more on interesting caches or small clusters of caches.  Being that I have cached for neary 10 years, it is very doubtful that I will run across an interesting location in Jackson, TN.  Prior to going on active duty in late 2009, I had made a find in the Jackson area for 50 Consecutive months.

On a cold January day, I went after some caches in a park just west of Jackson.  Being it was cold, I had the park to myself.  Typically, I try to park in the midde of a cluster of caches and make a circle around the park.  That day, I picked up a few, one being my favorite at a fire station.

MCFD #5, I have had the honor of meeting this cacher whom is a full time firefighter.

No where to go

Walk in the park

Pope Park

What's the Score???

Day Four, trip back home

All of us were very tired after two hard days of caching and hiking.  I had decided to do some light caching on the way home due to the condition of my knees.  Twin Falls would be my favorite of that day and then made a bee-line towards home.

Day Two, the big hike

The first full day of hiking would take us for a 10 mile hike at Virgin Falls.  It was the second time this group visited the falls.  Their first trip was very difficult due to wintery conditions.  The hike going in worked well for me; I was able to keep up.  However on the return trip, my knees were in much pain despite the constant use of Advil.

The area was one of the most scenic of my geocaching career and my favorites were:

Virgin Falls Earthcache

Virgin Falls Cache

Big Laural Falls Earthcache

I hobbled back to the vehicles and returned to the cabin at Rock Island State Park.  It took everything I had to climb the stairs to the cabin.

As for dinner, chili was on the menu.  Being that this cacher has resumed big game hunting and had bagged two deer this season,  I had several pounds of ground venison and provided for the feast.

Day Three

Day Three of the cachepedition, began with a nice breakfast and fellowship with other cachers at Rock Island State Park.  I awoke with my knees sore but felt I could carry on with the mission.

Selection of caches of the day were selected and generally were short hikes.  The most notable cache was Piney Falls Bridge.  I had been to this location a few years prior but unable to find.  Made the find with the large group.  I did find that hiking downhill was very painful on my knees and that would burden me the rest of the day.  Towards the way back to Rock Island State Park we stopped for an extended stay at Sunset Rock a nice earthcache with a great view.  There is a cache on top of the massive rock, but for legal and medical reasons, I opted not to go after this cache.  There were signs on the rock not permitting climbing or repelling of this rock and with my knees in bad shape, it was better I did not attempt.  We stopped in Sparta and I mind the find with the webcam cache.  It's only me second webcam find, they are more difficult and with smartphones, it was easier today.

We retreated back to the cabins for more rest and fellowship.

Day one

Updating this blog will be more difficult since my home laptop died and using a shared computer.  Also difficult to update this blog from the work computer since the  browser does not work well with Google applications.  Generally, I have been averaging about 2 posts a month, this year posts number will drop due to the inconveniences.

I rejoined the annual cachepedition led by bitbrain, Tiger130 and GeoYakr this year.  This year the group settled on caching in and around the Sparta, Tennessee area.  First day we were mostly on my own.  Being that I am traveling from Dresden, I would meet with everyone at the Rock Island State Park. 

I set my sights on working on the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Challenge and found Area 51- Boxwell.  After searching around, I finally located the container, all I had to do was look up.  Being that I made the trip in the cold and sleet, the lock holding the container was very difficult to open but I managed and logged the find.  I will continue to work on other parts of this challenge in time.  Later, I went after LAGUARDO due to the age of the cache.  As I made my way to the cache location, I discovered I was on private property.  Cache has been here for over 10 years and property owner has never noticed.  Continued to make my way to Rock Island and then worked on a Highway 56 cache series.  Series was easy, about 3 containers were missing.  Unlike the Hwy 79 series between Clarksville and Dover, there were not many trucks on this highway.  Towards the end of the series, I was getting noticed by some Tennessee State Troopers, thankfully I was about done.  They didn't stop me, I assume they know what I am doing and about geocaching.  However, I still rather not deal with LEO when on the geo-trail.

I was first to arrive at the Rock Island State Park cabin.  Since I am a state employee, I obtained one of the cabins at half price, so in the end cost per person was about $40 for 3 nights.  I had to wait for some time for others to arrive.  I went after 2 caches in the park and had a DNF to show for it.  Later when GeoYakr arrived, we found one near the cabins in the dark.  That evening, we settled into the cabin for fellowship and Chicken Fajitas.

End of the year caching

gael75 sent me an email if I were interested in hiking the Shawnee National Forest.  Knowing that I had a Vigin Falls hike upcoming, I felt it was a good idea to make the trip, to make some attempt to get into shape.  I forwared the email to pcsenn and make arrangements for the cache run.

We met in Fulton, KY and headed towards Paducah to cross the Ohio River.  We stopped at a new rest area cache and a few minutes later met with gael75.  Went went into the forest were we had a local guide.  We learned much about the Shawnee National Forest and how it was settled by the homestead acts.

Caches of interest:

Lou Dean's Lookout, a very scenic overlook.

Late Night Talk, cache is located near a rock that looks like Jay Leno.  Area is popular with rock climbers.

Zealot for Bluffs, rough hiking area, very scenic area.

Mission Failure

Caches that require going up trees or up heights have never been my style.  Cache owner of Vertical Madness and Purple Heart wanted me to attempt his caches.  Made the plans and brought two people with me.  I did observe that since my retirement from the National Guard, I am out of shape and too heavy for this type of caching.  Generally speaking, I have not completed many hiking type caches in the past few months.  Currently, I have my doubts that I will try to go after these two vertical caches again.

I did have enjoyment watching others complete the mission and did grab two caches, Purple Heart Gotcha?? and a rest area cache, Taking a Break.

There have been other distractions of late.  Since I have over 30% VA disabilty from wartime service, I am eligble for the Tennessee Sportsmans License (Lifetime) for $10.  Usually the prices for my age group is around $1,800.  I have utilized the license and with purchase of the Type 167 doe permit, I have bagged two female deer this season.  First one, using an AR-15 and dropping the deer with one shot from 160 yards.  Bear in mind, I don't have telescopic sights on my rifle.  I have also enjoyed going on my first ever duck hunt.  This spring, I look forward to frog gigging and turkey season.