2 days after our big disappointment, I check my e-mail to see that yet another has gone and found the cache. Unbelievable. I just forwarded the e-mail to my friend, no comments needed...really wanted to see if I would get some type of response. Oh Ya...a response indeed. They are convinced we are going back. And you think I was obsessed! Many e-mails and conversations later...a Saturday "pick-up" was suggested. Well, I work every Saturday...but yes it should still be day light after work. Scientifically, when you run the numbers...blah, blah, blah...it will be ....blah, blah, blah. In other words it IS there!
After "doing my time" at work, and managing to get out on time...we meet up, this time the rendez vous being in the Hobby Lobby parking lot...and not only are we obsessed, we are also paranoid, because we take a different vehicle! I guess we are hoping to out-smart the stake out! LOL The trip out to the cache was quick....the mood was DETERMINED.
No need to park, take the GPS or even shut the vehicle off, we just get out and walk right up to it. AND...it was not there! Had this been my first cache...I swear I would not be into geocaching today as I would be convinced that NOTHING is out there. We searched around for a few more minutes...with every sound someone made was followed by the words...you got it? ... nope ... find it? ... nope ... got it? ... not yet ... find it? ... no ............ and then suddenly I "see " it ... and with that the first good words of the day...."I THINK I got it"
Did you ever want to have one of those great moments where the whole scene is played in slow motion with some really cool music in the background. Music like maybe ... Eye of the Tiger ( wink, wink) well this was the moment. If there were muggles, cops, baby strollers or even a stake out... we didn't see it. But we had the cache. I was snapped back into reality (literally) with what sounded like a photo shoot. If you know me, you know I HATE to have my picture taken ... but, they did go through a lot for this cache with me ... so okay, 1 picture! for all you cachers out there ... go easy on the comments, after all I did just finish a 13 hour shift!
We did end the day with a celebratory dinner. And the chance to write off another DNF. Maybe the obsession came because it was our first time out caching ... maybe because it was a previous DNF ... I know some people say it is in the hunt .... others say it is in the find. Some even get all caught up in the hide ... But for me and GC1MTTZ it is in the name...
Full of burgers and running on caffeine...we go back to the scene. The new strategy ( otherwise known as plan E) parks us in a new location. We get out, GPS's are powered, and we walk right up to the site! We are stoked! We are wrong! It is not there!
Sometimes ( especially when you are trying SO hard to find something) something happens that you lose all sense of everything. This would include sense of direction, sense of worth and common sense. Suddenly our GPS units are a piece of junk, and can't be trusted...so we begin to search EVERYWHERE! I think it was when I was on all fours searching through gravel, when 2 ladies walked by with a stroller, ( true story here) and the 1 lady says to the other..."somebody must have lost something" And in my mind, I am thinking....Yes, we have totally lost our minds. We are two adults, we are not invisible , we are not 8 years old, we are 2 people who will probably be taken away and committed! With that thought...starts the laughter, the " I can't believe this " laughter. Where the tears are coming down the cheeks. The Oh my gosh, my gut hurts laughter , the we are insane laughter!
It was with the turn of my head ( to wipe away the tears) that I first see the cop. We are so far beyond stealth mode that there is no turning back. The cop SUV is circling, and decides to park and watch. He is a short distance off, and had he had a cup of coffee, this would have looked like a stake out. It was when the "other" SUV pulled up and parked a few feet away, that we decided...maybe we should leave.
Not making eye contact with "them". We quietly got up, brushed off the debris and nonchalantly meandered back to the vehicle. My only whispered words..."Dude, you know they are totally running your plates"
The drive home was a little quieter. Actually it did make me think...who would I call to bail us out? Hmm...I wonder if my friend has "friends" or better yet..."friends with connections"
So...another day is done...the cache still not found.
Ahhh...GC1MTTZ one of my DNF's. This cache been used as a conversational tool on several occasions. And then... just recently a friend of mine says, " let's JUST go find it." So, ( it just happens) as I open my mouth to say my typical response, of how I am so busy, I have to get such and such done for a deadline...and all the other excuses I usually come up with...I just say...Ok, let's do it!
So, here I am, in the middle of the week, when my desk is piled high, with "my to do list", with things in the yard that probably need to be... "mowed, mulched or weeded, with all my deadline projects hovering in the background...what am I doing? You got it, I am getting ready to go out geocaching.
The suggestion of lunch had been brought up, and they were convinced they were going to walk right up to this, ( I WAS convinced THEY would walk right up to it) so ... ya, we could do lunch after the find. Why not! Sounds like a plan.
As I was getting ready, I was picturing a nice light lunch outdoors on one of those patio restaurants...you know where all the cool people go...sitting there relaxing, having lunch, acting like they have no cares, no deadlines, no stress. Ya...I can picture this. Ok...enough about lunch, let's just get the cache!
The plan was to meet up, at a mid-point and drive in together. So, it was on the drive-in that I realized I was actually getting nervous ... about a stupid cache! But, all was cool, we discussed "our strategy"...and "what we know for sure"... that is when I finally had to admit...I don't know ANYTHING for sure, when it comes to this cache. Change in strategy... we will approach this cache, like we have never been there before! Good Plan!
We get " to the scene" both GPS units going ... I am having a little deja Vu ...or maybe I should call it flashbacks ... but I know ... my friend is gonna walk right up to it!
Did I mention... I don't know Jack ( with Jack being an expression, of course) we start the search out pretty casual ... then more intense ... then the " you have got to be kidding"...this was JUST found ... it HAS to be here! Hours later, yep I said hours later ... we go back to the vehicle and re-group! Focus people ... Focus! LOL After re-reading the logs, the description, and the logs again ... we realize there are no "hidden" clues in anything we read. Being a little stubborn, we are back ... we are searching ... we (I am sure) are looking like a couple of idiots!
Not wanting to admit defeat..we try the lunch idea. Just to let you know... there are NO patio restaurants, there are NO relaxing people, there will be NO sipping drinks in the sun! Which just goes to show you , how my "mind" always wants the perfect scenario! Haha There are a couple of "slightly intoxicated " people sitting in a dark bar...so that's lunch...hey give us a break...there are only a couple of options!
The relaxing lunch has turned into inhaling burgers. As it turns out, we re-look the original log...and yep, we got a whole new strategy...
Thankfully a cacher sends me an e-0mail to let me know one of my caches needs attention. I like that because, it is not like I routinely drive around and check them out. I get the e-mail on Friday, so with me working the weekend, I decide that I will put it on my "to do" list for Monday. Sounds like a good plan!
The Academy Awards kept me out half the night...and the Awards, is really not my style...unless, of course, I was being nominated for my movie...which is YET to come! Anyways by the time you get to bed, you have been up for almost 24 hours...But, as most of you know...it doesn't matter how much sleep you get, it seems you are up at the same time every day. Thank Goodness I don't need beauty sleep! (At this point, 1st Sgt will say he is ROTFLMAO)
Got through my whole coffee, e-mail, bills, etc routine. Did my work-out, and after going to tan, I decide to swing by and replace the cache. This is when it hits me....I truly am hoping, I don't run into any fellow ge0-cachers!
Normally, this wouldn't be a fear...but, really...here I am, in baggy old sweats, my Punxsutawney Groundhog Day sweatshirt...no make-up, hair is not combed...I have the perfume of a combo...work-out/tanning bronzer going on. No socks, and flip flops. Please do not let anyone be out here!
On the way...out to the cache, which by the way, I DID remember where it was hid...AND how to get there! (LOL) I was thinking back...hmmmm, all the times I was out with 1st Sgt, we never ran into anyone...and when I use to cache with the Potstirrer....we never ran into anyone...been out on my own a few times...and never saw anyone...so I am safe, to think, it will be ok!
The area was pretty deserted...the drive in was MUDDY, and for a second there, I spun a little on the tires, ( no way, would I be able to call someone to get me out...not looking like this) but able to do a little maintenance on the cache, and get out. Whew!
So, with nice weather approaching, and my new found knowledge on "mudding"...I am thinking I should be out soon. So, to all my peeps, don't give up on me yet!
See you on the trails...I will make a point to have my make-up on! :)
This all started back in November....The Black Friday Team. Seester and Potential fell for geocaching that day, and it has been in their system ever since. Potential got Seester a Garmin for Christmas....I got Potential, The Idiot's Guide, and Potential got me wine! The circle is complete!!
With Potential being in TN, some Deer thing, Seester and I ( at work one day) made plans for a geocaching blow out! ( Ya....we work together ) We had a plan and it all took place yesterday. I was loaded down with a variety of print offs, and I swing by to get her...right on time. Already this plan is going smooth. She is dressed in trekking boots, with a designer giraffe purse and a thick cammo coat...which I think is...oh ya...an old one from 1st SGT!! Hmmm...well that is good, maybe all his knowledge will ooze through the seams! LOL
The plan, and you know how the plans NEVER go as directed, is to head out, pick up a few quick stop and grabs, with us eventually landing at a watering hole, for a late lunch and drinks. And actually, this part was a go. The caches were quick...it was the muddin' that slowed us down!!
With just a few caches left, we pull into an "off road" cache. There actually were tire tracks ahead of us, and the snow wasn't really deep....I think it was the frozen snow , and then the mud that was the kicker! Decided not to drive in all the way, but did go as far as the first slope, and parked in a decent area, going to walk the remaining distance. The cache was quick. It was when we went to leave, the whole "3-point-turn-about" that nailed us. Our first thought was to go up the slope, which we thought was feasible ... but the turning round ... was the kick!! There was NO TURNING... we just slid down the rest of the slope ... sideways! After several attempts, back and forth, turn the wheels this way... no try back way... no to the right, well...try the left...we saw mud flying! We are literally out in the middle of no where! I was trying to think of the words, when I had to call my father-in-law to pull us out! ( Seeing he had to do that already once for me...out at the farm) I wanted to go to plan B! We both got out of the car, and surveyed the situation. Hey, we are " college degreed" ... we can figure something out! Armed with rugs, and garbage bags...we do, the almost impossible. I love the part when Seester says..."is this a front wheel drive?" No Seester, right now it is a "NO WHEEL DRIVE"
Once we got it moving, we didn't stop, Seester drove it completely around the whole area, and I trekked back up to the entrance. Had to stop for a photo shoot! Seester got a picture of me LMAO...and in the background you can see the muddy rugs! We kinda wanted pics of the ruts...but nah, didn't want them bad enough to walk down to the crime scene!
We were off to the next cache, flying down the asphalt, getting "mud off the tires" ! LOL The tread on the tires, may be a little worn but, See ... we don't need no truck!
Even with the "mud delay" we were at the watering hole....what? Before they opened!?! What....? Ok, headed off for another cache... really not close by, but close enough to waste some time! At this cache...we decided to park at the entrance and hoof it in...see we are smarter already!
Ended the day at the watering hole , got a great picture of seester in her "designer outfit" and had Gretchen Wilson in mind, as we sat...and got .... "BUD - WISER"!! ( I know, that was bad pun....)
It was a good geocaching day. The Pot-stirrer lined up a pathless woods series, 9 total. We were on a time constraint, arrived at the Park at 10 am... and left the park at 1:34. We got 6 out of 9 and probably would have done all 9 if time prevailed.
Really my first time out in any depth of snow, and even though I thought I was properly outfitted, I can see there was room for improvement. Definitely should have put on the cammo bibs! I know they are ugly, not like anyone else was out there, but it would have kept the jeans dry! And when the jeans are dry...the long johns are dry....then the socks stay dry...etc ... etc.
The pot-stirrer HAD a plan.... AND a map AND re-assured me, that these caches were just off the trails. OK sounds good...until #2 We are surrounded by a blanket of deep white snow. There are no paths ( hence the name) but there are no trails either! The plan was to work counter-clock wise on her map. Hmmmm....we certainly got distracted from that plan by the 2nd cache. But, that was cool...we were not out doing the Amazing Race, we were just having fun, and turns out we incorporated a huge exercise program with it!
The hat came off, before I even left the truck! Hate hats! And seeing I had a hoodie back up, I was good. Of course, Good would not be the correct word here, seeing the only pic taken of me...was not good! All I needed was a shopping cart, and we would have a poster for homeless bag ladies! DELETE! DELETE DELETE! Whew...won't be seeing that sucker on the internet!
First 2 caches went smooth, Pot-stirrer pulled out a (?) bicycle horn and was blowing that when she found cache #2. Turns out the wizard has a whistle in that bag too. If we were in the Land of Oz, I guess she would say I was the scarecrow, but she definitely would be the Tin Man. Together we would make Dorothy ( lost) and all we needed was to have Toto! ( uh, no thanks!)It was after cache number 3 of the day, that things starting going down hill...and I mean literally. And once you go downhill....the next stretch is uphill! Great butt exercises! It was the sound of ice cracking....that brought to our attention that we were on some body of water. Doesn't even matter how deep it was ( thankfully, we did not find out) but it was just the idea. First thought...even though our combined body weight is not much....we should probably be spread out a little ! Second thought...we are definitely off "the trail" We passed over this cracking area...uh...several times, which also tells me we were going in circles at some point! Good thing I got the waterproof boots!
There may have been no paths, the trails and the water were completely hidden... but we did manage to find the sticker bushes! Those little suckers never die. And I really shouldn't call them little....I have been officially "stuck" everywhere! Even brought one home...got the tweezers and pulled that little trinket out this morning!
The "nice" thing about a hint, or perhaps trying to gather info from some other log... is...well... there WAS no nice thing about it! The dude from Michigan, looks like he did the same as us...came in the hard way from the road. Well, after reading that, decided we must be somewhere near this cache. Oh ya, we were, but just Like Michigan dude...we were on the wrong side! We made so many trips back to GZ on that one. Pot-stirrer kept saying, it was only a terrain of 1.5 ... so her thoughts that we were in too far. And seeing she likes to be right....she was right! On the other note....in the snow, nothing is a terrain of 1.5!
It WAS a good day. The jeans were wet up to the knees, and wet jeans are a real....( you know)Was able to post field notes from the I-phone....cool....downloaded some photos when I got home. If anyone is headed out there soon. Some advice... DON'T ... follow our footsteps! And if you see the "third" bench, or any benches at all, or even some brick building...let us know. We never came across any of that! And remember, the thorn bushes are hungry...and the "body of water" has already been cracked!!
Well, I am getting ready. Actually going to go geocaching today. The pot-stirrer has picked the location, set the time, and has all the details. I just need to show up! I think the dress code is what is throwing me off. We are actually in a heat wave....30 degrees...and will probably be in my own little heat wave when I get into the car!
I have an assortment of clothing for this type of thing. But I am thinking the cammo zipped bibs, may not be needed, and I really think the 10 pound neon orange 1 piece, whatever that is, is probably not warranted. However, If I want to do snow angels...I need to be wearing something a little heavier!
I think I got the boots down now....I actually have 3 pairs, the black runway ones...a medium, no heel black, to keep your toes warm...and The ones I am wearing, which are like some official, gonna get serious, out in the snow trekking boots. With the thick ( knee-high) socks...and the hot pink/aqua fuzzy footies...I am thinking I should be ready!
Jeans today, are made too thin...so I had to hunt up some long johns! That I discovered has a hole in them...Thanks Dogs! Now that is a sight! Nothing is worse than getting a cold butt. Let's complete the outfit with long underwear top, shirt, hoodie. All this is before the coat!
I really don't want to go with the cammo coat, it is heavier, but I think we are only going a small ways off the trail. So, my regular coat ( ski coat....what?...No, I don't ski...but the coat was cute) a scarf for my neck, a HAT ( there goes my hair) and I guess the gloves will be the problem. Not sure what I am doing for that!
Well, I am off...one small bathroom break, before I hit the cold. I will keep you posted.
My biggest fear: If I fall down, I may not be able to get up!!!
