buckyd's Geoblog

Feb 27, 2005

Mauled

By: Mohetka Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Not sure what the issue was, but TFTC.

Up There Somewhere

By: Ruprex and his girl Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Ya know, I was just following the arrow as far as I could on the trail. Turns out that was a reasonable thing to do. Thanks!

Got the Hotts for Olives

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 4.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

Seeing it was one thing, getting it -- intact -- was another. I don't think we did a very good job of the latter, but we tried to be responsible about it. There were two guys standing at the back of the park in the rain, seemingly doing and saying nothing. Just staring out at the rest of the park. it was strange, very strange. TFTC!

Treehouse Hill

By: DougK Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Managed to hit this cache before the rains came today. Going to the top of this hill really gave me a view of how developed this area has gotten since the last time I was in the area (about 20 years ago). I can't believe that they've taken some of the parkland away to make McMansions. Guess you can't stop progress... TFTC.

Here's the Benchmark

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

Spotted it after WalruZ read me the hint. Other than that, we'da been skunked [i] and [/i] drenched. It was very fulfilling to find it and get back into the car, as WalruZ seemed to think *I* should be the one to carry the leopard-print umbrella... TFTC!

Quicksilver Sig Item Trading Post

By: Team Nazgul Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

The start of a nice little hike through part of Quiksilver, since the Mission Peak hike seemed a little chancey at the time we had to make a yay or nay decision... We disturbed a family of deer that were lounging nearby, and I felt just a little guilty that we cut their nap short. But only a little bit. Took Kealia's CA geocoin to move on, wished I had remembered to pack my swag bag in my Camelbak so that I could leave one of my first digitalfish bracelets. I'll have to get it here next time I'm in the park. Thanks!

Assume Nothing #7: WoW's 45th Birthday Micro-Multi

By: workerofwood Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Not chosen

We were going to do a huge hike today at Mission Peak, to grab Trifecta primarily, but at 6am it was still raining and it seemed like there was no way we could get back down (and intact) in time for the event. So, after several phone calls around over the next two hours, it turned out that we were going to Quiksilver to pick a few up here and there. I didn't have a pocket query, so I was at the mercy of the high-number folks that can do that sort of thing quickly, and they seemed to have this one sitting smack in the middle of what they'd planned to do. Whatever, I was game as long as I got a little hiking in. Little did I know that I was in for a hike traipsing all over Quiksilver to nab 44 microcaches (well, actually, 43 with #38 missing) and an ammobox. Whew. I don't know how many hours we were there, but at least we grabbed a few caches we happened by. It was definitely an adventure. Happy Birthday WoW!

BADGES Dinner #6 (South Bay)

By: BADGES Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

boomerang bug drop.

BADGES Dinner #6 (South Bay)

By: BADGES Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

Always an adventure at BADGES, this time we got to watch an adventure on TV too! It was almost like an ad to get South Bay caching-types to venture up to my 'hood in the City... Thanks also for the well-wishes (and jokes) for WalruZ and I while we start a grand adventure of our own. Ain't cachin' and cachers great?!

Alien Mother Ship

By: Chuckles Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Those aliens are going to have a headache tomorrow... Thanks for the secret entrance into the area and another rainy day smiley!

BADGES Power!

By: workerofwood Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

WalruZ and I managed not to be late -- actually early -- for the event, and got the nod from bthomas to go find a cache "over there". Who are we to argue?!? ...and off we went... Thanks WoW!

Leslie's Favorite Trail Cache #1

By: ProTechCC Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

I rather liked the trail, with the gentle slopes and the curves around the hillsides. Of course, switchbacks make it all the more gentle. It was just odd that we seemed to hike the requisite half mile, and the distance still seemed to be .5mi from the cache... WalruZ likes to say that in his next life he'd like to be a crow. This was a really great example of that sentiment. We didn't go off trail enough to worry about the foliage to the sides of us, but I did note quite a bit of the nasty evil weed. You'd really have to want to jump around in it to get much exposure doing this cache, though. Thanks for the nice walk!

Walk Like a Duck

By: workerofwood Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Oh yeah, totally almost busted. I saw the ranger zoom by and s/he must have noticed us walking towards an area we probably shouldn't have been, because s/he stopped the truck right at a turn where we couldn't see it proceed or stopped. Its like it disappeared. Not wanting to get in a conversation with the ranger, WalruZ and I casually turned around and pretended to loiter back at the car. This prompted the ranger to get on their way. We decided to come at the cache the "legal" way, and really enjoyed our walk (the last dry walk to a cache today). I'm getting pretty good at spotting this cammo now, after the 45 part multi! Thanks!

Feb 26, 2005

Thumb Fun

By: PassingWind Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Neat sculpture garden! I usually (or historically) have come up here to visit the Sterling Vineyards and have totally ignored the nearby wineries. The sculptures in and around the Clos Pegase winery are certainly interesting enough to warrant the visit. Thanks for having us stop here!

I know what you did Last Summer!!!

By: shoutscout Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Very cool spot, and the cache is in excellent condition. Thanks for pointing out this area!

Logvy Park

By: Stickers On My Socks and Monkey Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

After using the nearby facilities, I thought for sure that WalruZ would be grinning after having found the cache before I could even manage to get to the cache site area. Strangely, that's not the facial expression I encountered as I walked over. I joined the search and used my eyes rather than brute force to come up with the cache. Thanks for the hide!

Olympic Flame

By: mike55, adopted by Team NoBARC Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

It was a busy Saturday in the Healdsburg square, but we found this monument to the famous locals easily. Thanks!

Healdsburg's Micro Cache

By: forman Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Amazingly, WalruZ and I found parking right around the square and noted how incredibly busy this place was on a clear Saturday just after lunchtime! WalruZ made this grab. TFTC!

Ocean View Book Swap

By: Primate Social Club Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

Nice little stretch of the legs we had -- probably a bit more than the hider was intending, but it was a fun trek. Had no books in the car to swap or we probably would have. Thanks!

Stop for the Sea Lions and Pelicans

By: Primate Social Club Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

WalruZ and I took a nice drive up the coast for my birthday weekend. This was stop #1 on Saturday morning, and it really set a good tone for the rest of the day. Thanks!

Feb 25, 2005

rock n roll

By: SRT Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 4.5 Container: Regular

rock n roll, indeed. This was a great climb up and down from the hidden trailhead on Poplar. WalruZ and I felt like we were sneaking around in someone's closed community while driving very slowly through the potholed streets of Bolinas in search of a magic approach to the cache. We found one. What a great walk over ocean bluffs, down a ravine with a creek feeding the ocean, across a hidden beach, and bushwhacking back up through the beach scrub (with a little poison oak thrown in for good measure). WalruZ and I took a bit of time to ponder the great view while sitting on the sandy bluff, and made a life deci sion in the meantime. Thanks for the ambiance!

As WalruZ noted, cache really could use some TLC.

ojo del toro

By: tagsam Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

We didn't quite clue in to this one at first, mostly because we started out looking for a micro before reading the cache page. Then stood around a while after noticing it was listed as a regular, until finally the light went on (and we really could have used a bit more light in the dark like that). Thanks!

Flying Ace

By: tagsam Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I liked the place so much I left my first digitalfish bracelet here, in exchange for a couple of AA batteries of unknown capacity. Thanks for the fun!

Tacky Stash #4

By: Novato Larry Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Beautiful afternoon in Bolinas today. We appreciated the easy parking and great view back to SF, where I had skipped out of work early from... Thanks!

Tacky Stash #1

By: Novato Larry Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Neat place to eat at nearby! Quick grab with convenient parking. Thanks!

Feb 24, 2005

F.A.M.E Event Reminder - 94536

By: F.A.M.E. Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Got it on a short swing through Fremont, thanks!

F.A.M.E. Event Reminder - 94537

By: F.A.M.E. Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Got it, thanks!

Happy Birthday JoeSpaz #14

By: joespaz Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Quick grab, thanks!

Spaz Attack!

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Neat story; neat area -- but is the hint your version of a joke? Luckily I didn't need to use it, or I'd not be laughing quite as much at the thought of Alamo learning how to use a new 60cs on this particular series... TFTC.

Trocadero Trot

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

The suggested approach put me on the correct side of construction, and so I was able to at least get to the area today. That's when the easy part stopped and the hard part started. I couldn't get any sort of consistent GPSr signal, and when I did it was leading me to NOT where the cache was. After a half hour of milling about quite baffled since I'm well aware that WalruZ's hate ivy, and the GPSr was leading me across a sea of ivy, I went back to the car, read the hint, and did a search of all the hinted items within a 300 foot diameter of the area, including wandering across the side of a hill full of ivy and stumbling upon the log floor of what someone appears to be using as a temporary residence. Another circle around the area gets me an entirely different reading, more appropriate to the terrain and difficulty rating, but still not quite near where I actually found the cache. A fourth circle around, and I finally found it -- and wouldn't you know my GPSr said 8 feet with 26 feet EPE?!?! TN, LTB, SL. From 19th to home, just going to stop for a quick cache = 1:15.

Plaza Park

By: TeamSpaz Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Spent a good 45 minutes trying to look everywhere except where it was hinted I shouldn't. Didn't come up with it this time, I'll try once more with the alternate coords (which I'm only seeing now).

Highway 84 TB Hotel

By: TeamSpaz Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Large

Grabbed lunch and did a TB swap.

Feb 23, 2005

Happy Birthday JoeSpaz #13

By: joespaz Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Wasn't too much foot traffic in the 'hood this evening, so I was able to guerilla grab it. TFTC!

Feeling Groovy

By: jef Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Groovy, man! Let my eyes do the walking while my feet moved at a snail's pace. Funny that I didn't attract more attention walking so slow during the "rush" hour... TFTC!

Fetch!

By: Muggle Finder Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I was confused at first by the story in the description, and wasted the last of my daylight wandering around nearby. After getting the flashlight out, I proceeded to check more reasonable places -- and there it was! Thanks!

Hornet's Nest

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

FTF at 6:15p. This one appeared to be on my route after work, so I quickly added it in to today's caching schedule. Not much around to mess with coords, so they were really really really good, and I loved the cache location. Thanks!

Trocadero Trot

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Came from the Vale parking lot this morning. The construction has the trail to the Troc closed off at 150 feet from the cache from this direction. I'll be back some other time...

Tookie Tookie

By: 4wheeler Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Neat little place. Interesting sculpture. I was a little self-conscious being in the park after dark with the neighbors so close by, but I got over it fairly quickly. Thanks for bringing me here.

Alameda History Puzzler #1

By: Muggle Finder Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

I had to work later than WalruZ yesterday, so he got to this one before I even though I had solved it first. Today I managed to leave early enough to come out and have a look for myself. TFTC.

Emeryville Shellmound

By: billyturtle Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Nice little grab on my way home after work. The traffic around here was much nicer today than this weekend, when I was in the area on my way somewhere else. Interesting shopping mall landscaping... TFTC!

Feb 22, 2005

Brooks Park

By: Woof! Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Small

Turns out that this park has an interesting history. http://www.outsidelands.org/sw23.html

Feb 21, 2005

Beach Loafer's

By: cyan_blue and RI_Walter Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Having lunch at the nearby scenic taco stand with the ever-wonderful WalruZ on a sorta-kinda-not-in-reality-holiday Monday. We thought we would mosey over and get these nearby caches. We hit this one on our way, and were dry for the whole hunt - which is more than I can say for the hunt for the one up the path! TFTC!

Beach Comber's

By: The Robot Family Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.5 Container: Regular

Took a bit of a lunch break with the wonderful WalruZ today before trying to figure out what kind of work I could actually get accomplished today. We enjoyed the walk to the cache site, and then enjoyed the pelting with hail -- yes hail at the beach in California -- on the walk back to the car!! Thanks for the cache!

Feb 20, 2005

Happy Birthday JoeSpaz #5

By: joespaz Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I looked around for just a few minutes, pacing back and forth trying to get a consistent read, but just as I was deciding what to search, a local came over and tried to engage me in some conversation (that was on the verge of turning very inappropriate), so I left. I think I'll bring my bodyguard with me next time.

Happy Birthday JoeSpaz #22

By: joespaz Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

This was my first successful attempt at the infamous JoeSpaz Happy Birthday series. Must've been on the heels of Neslake and Calhunter, as I ended up signing the dry version of the "log" they included. This shouldn't prevent the necessary cache maintenance, but at least it sufficed for today! TFTC.

Valentine's Day: Love Notes

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Late bug drop, sorry I forgot to click the TB when I logged...

Valentine's Day: Love Notes

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

WalruZ and I, along with Lechuck, came out to do this one even though we had been otherwise occupied for Valentine's Day last week. LeChuck enjoyed egging on the stampeding bovine youth, while WalruZ and I found the cache. Lately I've been partial to the Marley tune, "Is this love?" We did some TB swaps, and I left a sunflower growing kit, so that another geocacher might watch something bloom this spring. Thanks for the themed cache!

Niles Depot

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Neat place -- I was glad to get here on a Sunday when the inside was open! Thanks for bringing me here.

Oh, say Cann U C...?

By: BpSnake Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I think this is my first BPSnake hide, Yippee! Recently I've extended my territory into yours [:P]... There were plenty of people around, but since it was a little dreary, none of them were loitering outside for very long. This made for a nice walk of the area.

Feb 19, 2005

Baseball Story

By: CleDvy Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

It was a heckuva day to try and brave the streets of Emeryville, with the rains apparently driving everyone nearby to make their way to the shopping centers. The Pixar studio area, however, was pleasantly devoid of traffic. Thanks for the baseball history, and the breather from the crowds!

Insect-ful cache

By: Team feline Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Dinner was over, the rains had subsided, and lo and behold a new cache was listed -- so off we went! Drove around the perimeter to get a fix on the best parking, and after one false start we were there. Thanks!

Flickenger Duex

By: GeoBrowns Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This one took a bit of slow searching, but I came up with it after investigating the area somewhat methodically. I think I might have done better in the daylight, but the sprinkly night ensured that I didn't have to worry about other people (except the ones in the car that found the cache yesterday and were patiently waiting for me to clue in...) . Thanks!

Feb 18, 2005

Catapult!

By: Sierra Hikers Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Second stop in the Sierra Hikers' neighborhood this morning. Again, walked right up to it, which (again) had me amazed... Thanks!

Belmont Beauty

By: Rickshaw Man Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

Neat park. Thanks for bringing me here. Never knew there was a museum in the middle of Belmont. The things you learn while Geocaching... Left the Moon Man #2 TB.

Shopping by Numbers

By: Sierra Hikers Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Started this one last night in the rain; finished it on a beautifully partly-cloudy spring morning. Nice final location! Left Mini the Micro-bug to enjoy the area.

Benny

By: bthomas Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

The first and second stages of this cache were great to do on a rainy night (last night, to be specific). I was half-expecting to put off getting the final, but this morning the weather was more conducive to traditional caching, so I went for it. I upset the dog nearby, too, but no people were around to bother with. Funny that a place like this would be empty on a nice day just before a holiday weekend... Thanks for the tour!

Slough View

By: Sierra Hikers Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I seemed to be on my game this morning while caching, for the first hour I was able to walk up to every cache I was hunting. After that, things started getting hairy, so work seemed like the more prudent place to be. This was my first stop, so the fact that I could walk right up to the cache and find it had me astonished for a bit. Thanks!

Feb 17, 2005

Taylor-Made

By: The Owl and the Pussycat Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

Pleasant little walk in the sprinkly weather today after work. It was a little muddy, but then I've never been afraid of a little mud. Managed to get in and out of there before I lost all daylight. Thanks for a great walk -- I'm also happy to turn a DNF around!

Feb 16, 2005

The House That Jack Built

By: ruukh Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

I found the starting coords to be ~50 feet off for the first stage, so am including my reading here. It was a nice afternoon stroll in the square with WalruZ to get the info for this cache. Thanks for bringing us here!

Oakland Mole

By: bthomas Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

WalruZ was starting to go through cache withdrawal, and it looked like I could sneak out of work a tad early to help him find a cure. Besides, I needed an even ten to make it 800 tonight. This was our first stop of the evening, and so we had the benefit of light. This was a good thing, as the area is what I'd call "hidden" to the general public, although very unique. TFTC!

See Planes in Alameda, v.5

By: bthomas Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Boy am I glad that WalruZ read the cache page more carefully than I did! Once I pointed him in the area that I thought it was in, he found it while I was staring straight at it! TFTC!

Moonbeam's Plaza

By: Blanston12 Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Yeah, I guess it takes me a while to turn around some DNFs. I brought WalruZ this time, and came around 5pm on a weekday, to avoid some of the issues I had last summer here. Anyhow, I knew where I wanted to look from that adventure, so this was a quickie for us. Thanks!

Crown Beach - Dog Park

By: TeamSpaz Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Out with WalruZ this fine evening, looking for number 800 for me. We were almost there, this was 798, and besides the tennis courts this place was deserted! Took TB to get it moving again, thanks for the cache.

Black Tan

By: r.haus Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This cache was picked as #800 for me, largely because of the celebratory nature of the cache site, and also because we've never been ones to pass up ice cream and I've never been one to pass up having a Black and Tan at other types of establishments. I am SO VERY glad that WalruZ was here to help me with this cache even though I'm taller than your average female. We celebrated this quasi-milestone with a Black and Tan inside. Thanks!

Trails Challenge: Crown Beach

By: Muggle Finder Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Nice little walk over from the Dog Park cache in the dark. At first I was afraid it was behind a relatively newish-looking chain link fence, but my fears were quickly assuaged. After a few passes with the flashlight, I found its hiding spot. Thanks!

Bureau E

By: bthomas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Have I seen this place before?!? It sure seemed like it, and I was temporarily distracted from the cache hunt to figure out what the plaques on the building said, but alas I didn't have my hard hat with me... Thanks!

Wind River Wander

By: Barbiecacher,Soccerref, Chili barefoot94040 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

Nice night out for caching with WalruZ. We happened by here after getting turned around coming from See Planes in Alameda, and so decided to go for it. It was a nice calm place to be in the dark. Cache was well-hidden but in a logical spot. Thanks!

Shaud and jors

By: Halbert Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

I like caches with appropriate titles. Thanks!

Feb 15, 2005

Doggie Do (revived!)

By: Paul Hoff - Team Dralasites - crawburr ! Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

Any plans to replace the first stage?!? We're going on 6 weeks since the last find, a month since the DNFs started, and no response from owner...

Feb 13, 2005

KANZ Sticker Exchange

By: Zippe Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I happened to be in the area running an errand tonight, so I thought I would pick this one up. I did, but was timing my visit to the cache site in between the security vehicle and parking lot sweeper visits. I didn't time so very well, though, because the security vehicle came back around shortly after I finished replacing the cache. I must have looked suspicious coming from where I was (it wasn't [i]that[/i] late, since Target was still open nearby). I noticed them get out of their vehicle to check what I had been doing there as I was driving out of the area. I hope the cache survived the perceived threat to Homeland Security...

Feb 12, 2005

Monkeyflower

By: Mkuze Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Not chosen

This was stop #4 of 4 today on the Garland Ranch expedition with WalruZ and DavidT21 & Fisherwoman, and we were really quite glad that we chose the path through the caches that we did, because it involved nabbing this one down from Sniveley's Stash. I think Monkeyflower must be some sort of code word for Poison Oak --which we had to skirt very carefully around to get to a place where we could safely grab the cache. Of course, WalruZ doesn't bother himself with such subtleness and went and stomped right through it! Really, there is a ton of new growth, so future finders be alert to what you are brushing past!

Snivley's ?Stash

By: Terra •Indaga Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

WalruZ, myself and DavidT21 & Fisherwoman did all 4 Garland Ranch caches today, which involved a lot of up and a lot of down. This stop was #3, and there was just no lazy way to get there! We were so relieved to finally make it to the trail junction (and bench) between the Sky and Sniveley trails that we were amazed when we looked down at the GPSrs to see how much there was left to do! The cache is really, really, really in need of maintenance, if the next person that plans to do the trek could bring a watertight (fairly large) container it would be much appreciated (as Terra-Indaga is no longer active/in the area). I would do this myself, but it will be a while before I'm recuperated enough from our Garland Ranch tour to think about doing it again!

Bought the Farm

By: AltDotAir Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

Late bug drop...

Bought the Farm

By: AltDotAir Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

We were out doing all the Garland Ranch caches in a single day, and this was stop #2 on the list. I suppose we hadn't planned all that well, but we had trail maps and GPSrs, so what more could you ask for. After going up, up, up then down, down, down to get to Gordon's Bench, this was a short "up" from the main parking area. Okay, well maybe not so short by most people's standards, but a nice walk nonetheless. I left the Putting Around TB, but I messed up and didn't grab it first. Hopefully I can rectify this soon...

Gordon's Bench

By: KARHU Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 5.0 Container: Regular

My story isn't quite so entertaining as Touchstone's, largely because I opted for the planning and permitting route of which he was so aghast on a chilly evening in January. Even with the permit, this was not a hike to be taken lightly! WalruZ, myself, and DavidT21 & Fisherwoman had wonderful weather and seemingly vacant trails for the hike, likely because the AT & T ProAm was going on a few ridges over. This was a very peaceful place and we enjoyed the bench immensely before going back to the car to get to the parking area for the 3 other caches in Garland Ranch (a spectacular and exhausting day of hiking to grab all 4!). My trade item wouldn't fit -- I guess I didn't plan all that well -- so I TN, L geocoin, SL. Thanks!

Feb 11, 2005

South Beach Wonder

By: CKayaks Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Nice little walk after leaving work a bit early to start the weekend. Found it pretty easily after pacing a bit. Its always nice to have one close to where you are. Thanks.

Play Circle

By: anotherone Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Apparently third to sign the logsheet. I left work a little early to start the weekend, so I thought I would do some of the new caches that came up in the area before heading out. Found some semi-legal parking close by and was happy that there were few people, and all over the age of 50, in the area. Made for a quick search. Thanks!

Vista Park Redux

By: anotherone Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Quick find on the way to Monterey, before realizing I left my hiking boots in San Francisco. Woops... Now to brave the rush hour [i] back [/i] to the City and then backtrack down the peninsula. Aaargh! Took Putting Around TB to visit the AT & T golf event this weekend, but dropped him without writing the number down (ugh). Left Lady Luck's Lion TB here.

Feb 10, 2005

Garden for the Environment

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I was working from home today, so I had a bit of flexibility for picking up caches that happened to pop up near the 'hood [:P]. Amazingly easy parking today, but that'll happen when everyone else is at work. I've been by this place before, pre-geocaching, as its quite nearby the neighborhood pumpkin patch/christmas tree lot, but its always nice to come back for a bit of re-education! Thanks!

Feb 8, 2005

At the Pier

By: CTomGeo Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Other

Looks like Alamo jinxed the cache with all of his antics...

Not a Ridgeback

By: bthomas Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

We were in the area after work, picking my Jeep up from a sorta nearby dealership service center, and took a reprise evening walk along the bay trail. Thanks for the stroll.

Run? Voila! Humiliates 'em!

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Quick to find, but tough to retrieve. Neat place -- looks like there was some party starting inside. Thanks!

Feb 6, 2005

Pinehurst Stage

By: kusanagi momiji Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

This probably would have been a better staging area for the nearby cache than the area we had parked in. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks for showing us this area for the next time here-- this is a great, redwood-y portion of the park that I hadn't been to! Swapped a TB for the geocoin. Thanks Kusa!

Bear Tree Lot

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

WalruZ and I were doing the Multiple Hills series this weekend (you may have noticed that we hit Eaton yesterday) and after finishing the last of the traditionals, decided to hang out in the 'hood to see what else might be around. We were already showing up fashionably late to my friend's Superbowl party, so multis weren't really on the agenda. However, as we were speeding by in the little Red Bug, we noticed the plaque and stopped to look just out of curiousity. Being a geocacher, I automatically looked down and saw it was the start of a multi, so we read the cache page and thought "why not?" ... So glad we did -- the plaque was really interesting, fit with the theme of some of the caches we grabbed down the street, and was a straightforward. Thanks M & J!

Bay Area Multiple Hills - 3

By: Mhop (adopted by bullit) Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

What a great view from here -- a very unique way to look at San jose! I think this was my favorite Multiple Hills hike, although sitting up at the Coyote Hills view of the Bay was really special as well. We got to the trailhead area a little late, after having to take a bit of a detour between MH2 and here, so we went directly for the peak. It was a great walk up the trail, and there was *much* less bushwhacking involved than our chosen route to MH2 earlier in the day. We stayed a while at the cache site, watching the clouds turn grey overhead and the airplanes roll by on their way to OAK (I think). I think I could have stayed there a lot longer, but we did want to be sort of social and catch the last quarter of the Superbowl... Thanks so much for the series, I'm looking forward to getting the bonus, which is apparently in my neck of the woods. TFTC!

Bay Area Multiple Hills - 2

By: Mhop Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

We read a little too much into the cache description and chose a trail that looked quite popular from the closest staging area, but it was definitely the wrong one. After getting within .2 miles, we decided that we would take the more direct route, rather than backtrack around to the right trail (and we later di scovered perhaps a better staging area to have started from also). It was quite the adventure, and I'm still not entirely sure that WalruZ and LeChuck were up for that sort of thing today. Although there was some confusion in the middle of the ascent about where exactly the game trails were, we were successful in locating a route that involved a sort of clear path, and even discovered what had to be an old, unmaintained trail about halfway to the site! It was a blast -- and a great little area of the park to boot. I'm definitely planning on returning, for more caches or noncaching hikes. I swapped TBs, and took some photos of WalruZ and LeChuck resting before getting to the "right" trail. Thanks!

Santa Teresa Spring

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Cute little area! I especially liked the latticed trail. Lots of care put into arranging this tour, and we were starting to lose our daylight with which to read the info. Springs are always something of a mystery to me -- its amazing that the water keeps on coming up! Thanks for showing us this miracle of nature and this neat neighborhood.

B-G-J Ranch

By: Team Nazgul Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Quick and straightforward find, and I also really appreciate pointing us to the well-maintained restrooms which were still open at dusk! I think that the next time I plan a trip to Santa Teresa Co. Park, this will be the trailhead I choose, lots of interpretive material and free residential-style parking nearby. Thanks!

Feb 5, 2005

Doggie Do (revived!)

By: Paul Hoff - Team Dralasites - crawburr ! Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

Oh yeah, I'm gonna stick my neck out there and say that stage 1 is a goner.

Queche Sera Serra - Northbound

By: PisoMojado Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Well, technically I was "moral support" for WalruZ from the wrong side of the fence, as I've never been one to cross boundaries set by The Powers That Be --as ridiculous as it seemed at 11 am on a Saturday to have the fences there. I'm sure (in fact I can tell) there's a darn good reason to keep the rest area visitors separated from the Preserve space. In fact, there seemed a darn good reason for my female presence to stay there and direct, cheer on, and otherwise continue conversing with WalruZ as the sharks were circling...

Big Canyon

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

On this visit, I managed to go far enough up the hill to see the additional structure around which to search. Funny how easy those DNFs are to get when you try to go caching after work sometimes. Thanks!

Eaton Again

By: Marky Joani Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Small

WalruZ and I are working on the Multiple Hills this weekend, and finally doing the Eaton caches that I seem to always run out of time to do when I'm caching around this area. We were able to drag Neshura up some hills, and wouldn't you know it the non-cacher was able to grab this one before we could! Thanks!

Moonman

By: NavySparks Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

Nice walk around Eaton today with WalruZ and Neshura. A bit hazy out this morning, but it was still a very nice view out to Redwood Shores, where WalruZ and I had the pleasure of doing mjp303's new bike trail series last week. TFTC!

Bay Area Multiple Hills - 4

By: Mhop Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

Great view! Not too long of a hike over from the Don Edwards Preserve, walking across the toll area to the Coyote Hills Park, which was an interesting route to take. This was my favorite stop of the day, just because it afforded a nice area to kick back and relax at. The cache was surprisingly full, so we swapped in a canadian coin and a SF muni token for a robot thing and a skull necklace. I also added a TB. We hope to hit the next two Multiple Hills tomorrow, to round out the regulars in the series!

Bay Area Multiple Hills - 1

By: Mhop Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

Our weekend assault on the Multiple Hills begins! WalruZ, Neshura and I came up to this one as our first Multiple Hills this morning, although we quickly succumbed to the temptation of the nearby caches as well. Enjoyed the walk around Eaton. It looks bigger than the GPSr seems to say it really is. There was a Bug Swap here, but it looks like that's old news thanks to the quick latency between finds today. TFTC!

Cordilleras Creek Cache

By: Effie, Caleb, Paul Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

Great little bushwhack to this one -- I'm a bit shorter than WalruZ, as was our additional hiking buddy today, so getting to the cache site was half the fun! Thanks for a nice walk in a preserve I've not been in before!

Feb 4, 2005

At the Pier

By: CTomGeo Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Other

WalruZ and I stopped by on the way to work to do this one, but apparently our first associate had trouble getting a clear view of both of us... Luckily, we had a backup associate (Neshura) that took two photos which show us clearly -- one posted to WalruZ' log. edit: photo uploaded, changed note to find.

BADGES Dinner #6 (South Bay)

By: BADGES Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

Think so. Schedule looks promising, anyway, and no bridge tolls in order to get home this time around...

Feb 3, 2005

Bridge View -- 1

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Nice!!!!! This was a hide I talked about for some time after finding it. WalruZ had a nice rest and played some backgammon on his Palm while went about my caching. We both commented afterwards about how we never find cool spots like that! Thanks.

Gustine's Sister Cache

By: TeamJiffy Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Grabbed this quick one on the way to dinner after a nice evening stroll around Redwood Shores with WalruZ. No one around the park tonight, except WalruZ and I, so I was able to look in all the places my arrow pointed to. Thanks!

What's the frequency?

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

This one has been on my list to do for some time, so I figured that after the nice stroll with WalruZ to do the nearby unfound caches, this one would be the next order of business (before going off to get some well-deserved pub food for dinner). It was a little dark, but after a methodical visual search of the area I was able to find it. Thanks!!

Varney Air

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Neat stop. Thanks for the cache, and the company. [;)]

Guano Guantlet

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

FTF with WalruZ after leaving just a tad earlier than normal from work. I enjoyed the walk out to this one, since I haven't managed to get to the older wetlands caches that involve this sort of thing yet. I remember going out to the baylands farther south as a schoolkid on field trips and being scared of falling in. Thanks for another nice late afternoon stroll!

Levee Stroll

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

This was the last of the unfound caches we did tonight, and by this time I finally managed to calm down from the trying day at work I had. Thanks for the nice walk around the baylands, it was a calm and comfortable evening to walk around sans jackets and pick up a few caches as the sun went down. Thanks mjp303!

Belmont Slough

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

FTF with WalruZ ~6pm. Nice little parking areas nearby this side of the path around Don Edwards, which we took full advantage of. I'm pretty sure we dated our entries, but hey, it was dark by this time, I was responsible for this particular find and logging, and I've been pretty frazzled out due to work lately, so I can't say for sure... TFTC!

Don Edwards Refuge -- West

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Maybe the woman was just one of those early evening apparitions in the fading sunlight? Who knows. She was there, then she wasn't. By this time we were looking around at every cache site, figuring that someone has to have gotten off work someplace nearby and wanted to go for these "unfound" caches. Good thing WalruZ and I don't mind taking long evening strolls by ourselves... Neat structure, reminded me of one I hit later on in the evening.

Gossmer Cove Lagoon

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

WalruZ and I were on foot (which is also a nice way to see the area), and needed to get in the car and cut across to the other caches in the series via this cache. For some reason, it was a quick find for me. Thanks!

Ex-Evaporator

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

WalruZ and I got to the cache site, then he came up with the diversion technique. This technique seemed to chase off the idling woman on the phone nearby, so double bonus for that! And it was even still fairly light out. I couldn't do the dirty work, as I was still in my work clothes, but I left a TB for my part. Nice little playground nearby, too!

Clapper Rail View

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

FTF with Walruz, this was our 3rd stop of the afternoon/evening. We weren't sure that these wouldn't have been found already, since many cachers work closer to this area than we do and could do some lunchtime caching. We were also surprised as it got later that we didn't run into anyone... As WalruZ said, the nearby facility sure is obvious to more than one of the senses, but the area and observation deck is a nice little walk. TFTC!

Steinberger Slough

By: mjp303 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

I was already having one of [i]those[/i] kind of days at work, and it was only 11am or so... I noticed these come up as I was tearing my hair out about some technical issues that were not my problem but somehow became my responsibility, so I IM'd WalruZ to see how early he might be able to leave. We decided that, even though we didn't have bikes, daylight would be more fun to do these. This was our first stop ~4:45, with plenty of daylight left. Kudos to mjp303 for the series, it was a ton of fun!

Feb 2, 2005

Moving Woof!

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Bug passing through...

Moving Woof!

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I was already running late to work, and ended up having an unscheduled conference call via cell phone right as I was leaving the train. I figured that, armed with the new information about the general area and knowing the coords were probably suspect, I'd be able to spot this one fairly quickly, so went for it anyway. After all, I've been by this unique building on my way to and from various places many times. I usually don't have the nerve or need to stop the car here, though. On a weekday morning, and on foot, it wasn't bad -- I guess I looked sufficiently busy enough with my phone conversation to not be panhandled or otherwise solicited. I hung around the site long enough to get 8 different GPSr readings (over the course of about 15-20 minutes), two of which were actually viable, given the map on my Legend. For these two readings, I had an EPE of 36'. The coords I'm providing are the average of those two. I continued on my way, and on my conference call -- which lasted the entire walk to work. Sometimes I don't know why I bo ther going in...

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