RVG Meet & Greet Event, LBL Night Cache Run

I have been wanting to complete the night caches in the LBL for quite some time. I had seen that KTAG (Kentucky-Tennessee Area Geocachers) has had 3 Ghost Chase cache runs with good success. With fall approaching and the fall back with the clock in early November, I chose November 8th to be the date. A good cache run would also help me with the disappointment felt on the evening of November 4th.

Held the RVG Meet & Greet at Martha's Restaurant and I expected 15-20 cachers to be in attendance. Using the Will Attend logs has my guide. I had called Martha's the day before to let them know who many to expect. I arrived about 10 minutes before the event to see a full parking lot. Went inside and staff told me of the long table and one booth for the RVG guests. Well, over 40 cachers from many different parts arrived and I was extremely happy with the turn out. Cachers from Central Kentucky, Indiana, Jackson, TN, several cachers from Memphis, TN and a host of cachers from the local area of Murray, Mayfield, Paducah in Kentucky and from Paris and Hollowrock in Tennessee. Cachers were from many groups to include River Valley Geocachers, Geocachers of West Tennessee and Jackson Area Geocachers. After dinner and door prizes, we headed outside to form up to caravan to the LBL.

Our first cache was By the Eflin Moon, in which a huge mob descended onto the cache. Cache proved to elusive and quick study by pcsenn, the cache was found. Going after this cache was nice in the fading light and being able to see the lake from the hills. Next, on the list was Pass the Troll-Night Cache. This was a fun walk in the woods but the part I remember most was -boatman- losing his dog, we waited around for his dog to return. Some of the cachers took the opportunity to hunt the nearby multi Hurricane Andrew.

After -boatman-'s dog returned the caravan headed towards Midnight Cow Night Cache. Parking was difficult but thankfully, no one parked in the ditch. After this cache, a few cachers took the opportunity to head home. The next cache was Double Barrel, it as short hike and we were off to the next cache Crickhollow-Night Cache. What I remember the most of this cache was the caravan driving past the cache and to turn around again to be heading in the right direction. Bitbrain, driving Tiger130's truck became stuck, JAG members, Dalls and Leprecon Jr jumped out of their car and muscled the truck back onto the road.

Later, we headed over to the most difficult night cache Midnight Maze. Being that I had already found this cache, I took the opportunity to rest and watch the hunt. I could tell the hunt was not going well, turned out that the cache needed maintenance after storm damage and covered some of the reflectors. Bitbrain and Tiger130 returned and noticing Tiger130 was not feeling well and needed to return to her truck, Solarwib, Kodiak62 and myself escorted Tiger130 back to her truck. Tiger130 recovered and everyone headed to the next cache, Flashlight Required. By this time I was beginning to tire and didn't intend to go along. When I told Pcsenn about the micro on the way to the starting point, he didn't have it in his GPS and I went along. Found the micro and we along with a small group to the starting point. By this time, we were no longer hunting the cache in a large, but divided into small groups. While chatting, we passed the starting point by over 500 feet and walked back. I didn't recall the long hike it was for this cache. Turned out to be about a mile of walking all together. I was in the last group to find the cache, heading back to the parking area, a grandfather to one of the cachers met us and was concerned about his grandson and his friend Turns out both boys were some distance behind us but we could see their lights.

At this point, the difficult caches were completed and went after Dead Fulks Night Cache. This was the most remote of all the caches on a one-lane road. Going down the road, I was really concerned we would met groups heading out. We arrived to see a few vehicles at the starting location but much less than starting out the night. I think Flashlight Required took out the energy from some of the cachers and it was getting late. I knew this cache was not very long and had already found it, I stayed back in the parking lot and rested. The group in front of us had turned out their lights in an attempt to play a prank on the last group.

The last cache was A Creepy Place, which was a short hike and quick find. All of us were exhausted by this time and the group was now to about a dozen cachers. It was a fun night and a night that I will remember for a long time.

Stillhouse Hollow Falls

When Stillhouse Hollow Falls cache came out and word of it spread on the forums, I put it on my watchlist as a must do cache. With a trip to Columbia, with the cool and nice weather, I went after the cache. Arrived at the parking location and found the micro cache there and after a short break and study of the map, I went for the stroll. Being from West Tennessee, there are not many caches that require hills and climbs over rocks in my area and this hike was everything I was not used to. Going up hills both going and returning from the cache. About 1/2 way to the cache location, I was wishing I brought along some water and hiking boots.

Arrived at the top of the falls and took some pictures. GPS still pointed that I had some distance to cover. Reviewing the topographical map at the parking lot, I knew that I would not be following the arrow until the last 300 or so feet to the cache. I went onto the valley and on towards the cache. I went past the cache location, which is some distance behind the chimney of an old structure to observe the falls. I took more pictures and thankful I took the time to come after this cache.

Went back to the chimney and did more hill climbing to the cache. Found the cache as the Garmin 60csx beeped. Signed the log and took a break to reflect on this journey.

This is one of the best caches and I thank Monkeybrad for setting up this cache.

Caching goals for 2008

With the anticipation of being on active duty in 2009, I set some geocaching career goals at the beginning of the 2008 caching year.

1) With the huge influx of micros, I sacrificed numbers and went after regular size caches with more determination. I wanted to find a career total of 500 regular size caches and that goal was met.

2) Finding caches by 500 different hiders. That goal was recently reached.

3) Obtaining the Platinum Earthcache Award. That was accomplished this summer with a trip to Michigan and Canada.

4) Adding counties to the Tennessee County Challenge. While completing the challenge will be very difficult, I did manage to add one county this year, that being Sumner. With no future trips to the Knoxville or Chattanooga area on the horizon, I don't figure this goal will be any closer.

5) Finding a cache using a boat or kayak. That was done this year using an inflatable kayak.

6) Logging 2,000 finds. That goal should be reached in November or December.

Caching in Jackson, TN

Being that my job places me on the road so often, it's hard to ignore the caches in the Jackson area. My job constantly takes me to Henderson, Memphis and Somerville, TN, one to four times a month. On the way to those places, I will go to or pass through Jackson.

When I begun caching in February 2005, I noticed Jackson has some caches. Nothing like amount today. My first find was Waters of Renewal. I chose it to be my first caching in Jackson since I knew exactly what it was referencing to and where to park. However, my first attempt was a DNF since I had no idea what a bison tube looked like. I found it the next trip on March 7, 2005. Since that find, I have found a cache in Madison County for 43 consecutive months.

Even prior to caching, I knew Jackson for the most part, the main roads (Highland, 45-By Pass, Airways, Carriage House and etc). I knew the shopping areas like Van Drive (Sam's) and Old Hickory Mall. However, I didn't know about the extensive park system and the two Civil War battlefields. Thanks for geocaching I think I have seen every park in Madison County and in some cases, multiple visits to the same park.

Prior to 2005, it was common for me to kill time at Sam's, EZ Paintball, Books a Million, Best Buy and Lowe's. Since, it's been more for caching.

Hurricane Relief

Being a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard, I have twice been called up to active duty for hurricane relief duty in Louisiana. In 2005, my company, the 1174th was called to active duty with a mission to haul fuel after Hurricane Katrina. We were based in New Orleans. Driving to the base of operations and from the base I could witness the devastation caused by the high winds and flooding. We were assigned to haul fuel, but after arriving at the base, civilian truck drivers were performing the mission. We stayed about a week with some members of the company working security for search and rescue missions and guard duty at the base.

This year, my unit the 1171st Transportation Company was called up to active duty to conduct relief missions for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Being that the 1171st is a medium truck company with flatbeds we were involved in several missions all over the state of Louisiana. Trucks delivered supplies to New Orleans, in and around Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Overall, the military response was better organized than it was in 2005 in response to Katrina. But we were not happy to live a day and half at the infamous "Chicken Coops" near the Alexandria airport.

Our stay in Alexandria was almost two weeks and the accommodations were better with air conditioned barracks, but with we were in tight quarters. While in Alexandria, my first cousin Kathryn and her husband Jody travelled to Alexandria to visit me.

Herb Parsons Lake

For quite some time I have wanted to complete the caches around the Herb Parsons Lake which is located east of Memphis. My job takes me to Somerville at least once a month, but attempting to work these caches on a lunch break is impractical.

On August 2, I decided to attend the Searchingforit nails 1K and we get to celebrate, I took some time to find a few of the caches despite the 100 degree temperature on that day. I hit four caches, the first was most difficult Follow the Leader followed by easier caches Foggy Bottom, Bullfrog Landing and last was Armageddon. Even though I did the easy caches that day, the experience gained that day would pay off later. During the first visit I took pictures of the first stage of Herbie #1 to do the math at home and plot out my course for the August 29th trip.

Returned to Herb Parsons Lake on August 29 with Hoot Owl, Pcsenn and Chimps8mybaby, at least one of the remaining caches would require teamwork to complete. Pcsenn and Chimps8mybaby completed the 4 caches that I found on August 2 in quick fashion. Then we headed around the lake and found Go All the Way Around , MaximusWilliam's Second (Third Published), Blackjack, Pan's Labyrinth, Herbie #1, Lure U N, this is where we ran into a snake on the trail. We went on to complete, MaximusWilliam's First Hide, Let's Go Fishing and end the day with Panda-MOAN-ium.

Panda-MOAN-ium proved to be the most difficult and it didn't help that all of us were fatigued after more than 5 miles around the lake. The cache required teamwork to climb trees and Hoot Owl amazed us with his knot tying skills. This was in impressive hide and I would have never completed it alone. Thanks for all those involved yesterday to make this happen.

At the Corner, another forgotten cache?

While browsing the caches in the Jackson area, I looked around to see who had been caching after me and to my surprise I see that At the Corner had not been found since I found it on May 25, 2007! This cache is made possible by one of the best cachers in West Tennessee Canoe Guy and this cache should be found more often. The experience offers good scenery and physical challenge.