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.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, October 3, 2014
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.
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.
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)