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.