buckyd's Geoblog

May 30, 2007

Somewhere .....

By: catomcat Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Another visit; another DNF. Someone very thoughtfully pruned back the ivy near the cache site, though, and swept up around the base of the object that the coords lead to. I've always thought my eyesight was pretty good, but tried a few more things to no avail. When a high school kid started through the walkway, I took that as my sign to quit. I have one last idea, and it's a stretch given that this is a traditional cache, but I'll try back again once more before this goes on my ignore list.

Summer Meet and Greet!

By: nielsenc, hjnielsen, frivlas and southbayday Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

So, this is on a Friday? Just double-checking before I go through a lot of trouble at work to attempt to secure an early day...

Coffee Anyone

By: Rocket Girl Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Okay, this was my 5th time by the site and actually I wasn't planning on stopping for this cache today. In fact, it wasn't even in my query and I was headed to another cache, but I was driving by and saw that the area I needed to be empty was! Well, not entirely, but the place I wanted to occupy was unoccupied, so I went for it. Never made a U-turn so quickly... Signed the scrap of paper left by brighteye. Thanks.

Cupertino City Center Cache

By: GeoBrowns Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Truly evil, but not as evil as Somewhere Metamorphic, which I went by today and just sighed when I saw that spot. When I got here, it took a while for my coords to settle, and that had me wandering in circles for a bit. I was looking for this kind of container cammod in the latest M & J style, and after I convinced myself that there was no place for one of those, I started the patient search for one of these.

May 29, 2007

White Out

By: shell165 Difficulty: 4.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Came back "on my way home from work" sans Geo Baby and did a few passes of the coordinate area. A few more passes and I was able to find the cache. Blends nicely, like a white cat in a blizzard [:D]. Dropped a TB. Thanks for the cache!

May 28, 2007

Bruise Mountain

By: shell165 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

6pm: Busy cache today! Geo Baby and I ran out to pick up some girl scout cookies that we ordered eons ago from cyan_blue's housemate, so this seemed like a good stop to make on the way home. We had a nice little walk in the park so that Geo Baby could see all the birdies on the lawn, but they all flew away long before she could really terrorize them. Smart birds! I hope to find some time before work tomorrow to leave a TB that I forgot to put in the cache today. TFTC.

White Out

By: shell165 Difficulty: 4.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

First visit out to the site. Had Geo Baby with me and we very quickly had issues with the broken glass on the ground, so not 2 minutes after reaching the site I had to abort the search and take Geo Baby home. I'll return without the tyke at some point.

May 27, 2007

Origins of Alexandria

By: JoeCthulhu Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

On my way home from conferencing and touring the DC area for a few days, so I thought I'd plan for some extra time before my flight to do this nice and unexpected virtual cache location. Great little slice of history here! Thanks for the leisurely visit to the airport!

History of Flight

By: BruceS Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I found myself with a couple of hours to hang out at the airport between being in DC and going home to San Francisco. On a whim, I decided to fire up the GPSr to get coords for where I was and do a search for caches on my phone. I wasn't expecting to be able to do a cache in that time - being on foot and with a carry-on, but was thrilled to see one less than .15 or so from my gate! I had ample time to wander and still get back through security! Thanks SO much for the diversion and showing me the objects around which the cache is based. Email has been sent.

May 26, 2007

Secret Garden

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

I left my nearby conference to recharge my brain between the relevant afternoon talks. All the gates were locked, but a tour was starting soon so I rang the bell, paid the suggested tour donation of 5 bucks, and asked to wait in the garden. Had to wait until the previous tour participants left the area and used the hint so as to avoid drawing undue attention to myself while searching. Launched a motogrrl travelling geocoin here, and took a couple TBs to move on, thanks for the opportunity for some history that I might not have bothered with otherwise!

May 25, 2007

My Life is My Mission

By: 3Trees (formerly gandalf_cacher) Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

This is what's so great about geocaching -- you get to see the "hidden gems" of a city that you don't know very well! I was amazed that this was here and excited to see the tribute to this particular person (we have a much less well-done one in my area). Very worthy of a cache! Email has been sent, thanks!

Church Ruins Park

By: Speal Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Neat little labrynth to walk, although I was a bit unnerved during my "release" from my troubles by the homeless guy with one eye open on the nearby bench. At any rate, I did the counting both in and out of the center, and ended up with 2 different numbers -- ain't that just dandy? I figure that I was probably paying better attention on the way in, so I sent that number! Thanks for the walk!

Well I declare....

By: Howling Wolf Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Unlike the side of The Mall I had come from (monuments to the west), this area was almost devoid of people enjoying the now-cooling evening. I also tried to get some good shots of the White House helicopter making its "President-is-in-da-house" rounds from the White House to the Washington Monument every few minutes. The bugs got the best of me, though, and I just couldn't seem to wait them out to get the perfect shot. Oh well... Thanks for the cache!

I can see Lincoln

By: Robert L and Dawn L N Dutra (adopted by mtn-m Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

There were a lot of incredibly well-done and appropriate items at this monument. It was all compounded by the Memorial Day weekend and the congregation of Roaring Thunder folks at the proximal memorials at this end of The Mall. I realized while I was there that I was in the company of aged men that probably resembled the monument at some point in their lives, and that experience changed them profoundly in ways even they probably can't describe. While most of the guys I saw this evening probably are associated more with a different monument in the area, they seemed quite touched with this one and the inscriptions. Flowers were put out in honor of the weekend. I took many very cool photos. Thanks!

So We Will Remember Them

By: mtn-man from Georgia Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Virtual

This is where most of the Roaring Thunder crowd was camped out, both socializing and respecting the wall. It was a different experience for me to be ensconsed in such a large group of leather-vest-wearing vets all coming together to remember their formative years and their fallen friends. I took several photos of the "event" that shows what the Friday evening of Memorial Day weekend looked like! Thanks for the cache.

Everything is Relative

By: Cachew: John C. and Janet J. Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

It was starting to get dusky around here, more so than some other places on/near The Mall, when I arrived. Since the Roaring Thunder folks were setting up less than 50 feet away, it wasn't very quiet here either. I'm sure there is much more opportunity for careful and precise contemplation when it isn't Memorial Day Weekend! I'm including a GPSr photo since there isn't a verfication question. Thanks for the cache.

The view of an "Honest Man"

By: wv-explorers Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Out visiting the memorial side of The Mall today after a day of conferencing in the DuPont Circle area. I was surprised at the number of people here at 8 in the evening! I guess with Memorial Day weekend, there are more than usual folk about -- the Roaring Thunder were visiting, and lots of teenage school field trippers! I'm including a GPSr photo, since there isn't a verificiation question. Thanks!

May 24, 2007

Weatherlass' Irish Pub Series: Murphy's

By: weatherlass maintained by purplepassion711 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Visiting the area on both business and pleasure from California. Today was mostly pleasure as I strolled around Alexandria before heading to the Metro for a virtual marathon. Thanks for satisfying the container craving in me!

Old Town Tour No. 1

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

Ah yes, I knew what sort of container I was looking for from the description, which made it easy to think like the hider successfully. We have lots of these where I'm from (California, specifically the Bay Area), but most of those aren't hidden as politely as this one was - thanks!

Last stop for a weary traveler

By: Ice G8r Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

There were a ton of weary field tripping adolescents here by the time that I got here. There are some great photo-set-ups from this cache site! I puzzled around until I finally clued in on some things to get the verification answer. Email sent, but bounced. Contact me if you want me to forward the copy of the verification email.

The Lone Sailor

By: DiverVan Flyingmoose Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

This was my first DC cache, as it was so convenient to the public transport! I enjoyed the handiwork of all the plaques, and thought the rainbow street to the north was a nice touch. Email sent, thanks!

The Summer House

By: Roostermiesters Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

This place was a really welcome respite from the growing afternoon heat. It also provided some refreshment and more than a few people were availing themselves of lunch, shade, and water here. If I worked nearby, you'd probably see me here every summer lunchtime! Email sent, thanks!

Jenny's Cache

By: Trevelyan's R R and Jenny Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Virtual

Enjoyed seeing a cute mallard sitting in the shade, just chillin' behind the cache plaque. Chillin', that is, until a rowdy group of field-tripping middle schoolers bounded across the grass towards her... I enjoyed many views here, but chose to put one that perhaps isn't so famous as my verification photo. Thanks for the virt!

I am the God of Leaky Caches and Soggy Log Books

By: JoeCthulhu Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Virtual

Can I offer the blisters on my feet from a long walking day of virt caching? No? Well, I'll just send those verification answers, then. May all your logs be free of sog...

Out of the Swamp

By: JoeCthulhu Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I was here at the start of the DC rush hour, so it was pretty busy in the roadways. Since it was hot, most car windows were open so that there was an interesting mix of music to listen to while waiting for the lights to change! Bet the lockkeeper didn't have this sort of traffic to contend with just outside his front door! Thanks for the virt.

Pointing Skyward

By: Bulldogs-n-Rams Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

At first I was afraid that I was going to have to ask a few kids and their chaperone to move, or look like some sort of weirdo, but I was lucky and caught a break with the loiterers... Lucky for me there was sustenance nearby, so I could wander around as I ate and not look too creepy. Email sent, thanks!

Unknown Old Town Memorial

By: TheDartBoardGang Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

It was still fairly cool out in the mid-morning, and I enjoyed the puzzle of just how to get in there! I found one route defnitely blocked with a closed gate and a lot of preschool children enjoying their recess. Not to be deterred from seeing a hidden gem of history, I wandered around until I found better access. It was a lot of fun to examine the old (cache site) in the context of the new (little kids), although it did make me miss my kid a bit (I'm out here on business this week). Email sent, thanks!

Expanse of Freedom

By: Salvo Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Ah, the great expanse of freedom! I saw it as I walked up, but I'd walked through so many expanses already earlier in the day that my feet were howling and screaming for me to knock it off! So, after careful consideration of the verification answers, I gazed on the wide expanse from the nearby bus stop where I was treated to a newsperson standing on top of a pedestal-like item orating for the camera nearby. Then the bus came and I was off to the Metro station! Thanks for the experience.

General of the Armies

By: Salvo Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I got to this cache site after a pretty long day of walking around and doing virtual caches in DC, so my feet were happy to see lots of shaded tables to sit at and enjoy collecting the verification information. The afternoon rush hour(s) was still going pretty strong, but the General stood steadfast in his spot. Thanks for the cache!

a Wood Chuck's Paradise

By: Salvo Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I was able to cross around from the other side of the street with a bit of a detour, and find where they've allowed access to that sidewalk from one side (the eastern approach). I'm solo this trip, so I couldn't get a shot with both me and the tree. Thanks for the virt!

Neighbors

By: 3jaze Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Cool artwork, although I must confess the third verification question had me wandering for a bit before I clued in on where it could possibly be. Good thing I don't look too suspicious for that particular place! Email sent, thanks!

Earth's Own

By: lidar0101 Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Neat location, and the nearest to my conference hotel, so I thought to come by a bit early for registration and snag this on the way back to the Metro. I would have never seen the embedded object if this cache hadn't pointed it out! Thanks.

To a man on his day

By: geekcoach Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I like knowing that someone is planning to erect a memorial here for MLK, but sheesh it has been a long time in the planning! Nice walk around the tidal basin this afternoon -- shaded enough to let my sunburned *feet* have a break and not too many field-trippers to disrupt the serenity of the water and ducks! Thanks for the virt!

O A Railroad Tunnel

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

Interesting use of the former tunnel! I was tempted to follow it out towards the strand, but really would have rather done that on a bike, so I went to Safeway and got something to drink instead! Email sent, Thanks for pointing this feature out.

An Englishman in DC

By: The Wombles Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

Wow, this cache provides proof for the adage "you learn something new everyday". I certainly assumed that the life of this person was otherwise situated! Thanks for the enlightenment, email sent.

Solar Sailing

By: RobAGD Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I did this one in the correct order, just by sheer luck, as I happened to be walking that way. The whole way was pretty much packed with field trip kids, and on two occasions I had to ask a kid or a chaperone to kindly move so that I could read the information. It was all very interesting, but I kinda wish they would have used a different scale and we could have a huge old sun presiding over the walkway! Email sent, thanks for the cache!

Trev's "Freedom" Cache

By: Trevelyan's R R and Guy Nelson Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Virtual

I had figured out only the last two answers until something prodded me to leave the exhibits (which were very nice -- I didn't know about the "secret" room, since I don't typically follow gift shop signs) and enjoy the tidal basin breeze. I was here for awhile, which was fine since I really had no schedule for the day. While massaging my feet it finally dawned on me how to get the answers for the first two questions - duh! I managed to be here between field trip groups for that whole time, so that was a bonus! Email sent, TFTV.

Mile Zero

By: Jack Black Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

This was fun! Hasn't changed all that much in the last 10 years, oh -- except for all the barricading and security personnel on hand! Email sent, thanks for the virt.

Not Your Granny's Garden

By: Garmen ( Women) Group Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I'm always amazed at how many free and incredible things there are to see in DC. My last trip here was about 10 years ago, so I was really impressed with all the work done to the area. This virt stop was one of my favorites, nevermind that they had public restrooms that I could use. The plant ecosystems were very well-done and it was quite comfortable in there after walking around in the noonday sun. This location goes on my list of places that need to be seen by the family (and for more than just the 30 seconds it takes to get the virt done). Email sent, thanks!

Forest Service Info Center

By: Garmen ( Women) Group Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

I had a great time going through this building, and was actually lucky to get in just about a half hour or so before it closed for the afternoon. Smokey is always a pleasure to hang around with, and they've got some great video entertainment in the back to boot! Signed guestbook and sent email for verification. I never would have thought to visit without this virt there, thanks!

FDR Memorial

By: Jorgy! (adopted by mtn-man) Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

This being my first trip to DC in about 10 years or so, and that last one was in-and-out for a conference anyway, I hadn't seen this memorial yet. Its big! But more than that, it is a very serene place to walk through. Well, aside from the smattering of field trip groups, that is (they were everywhere today in DC!). For the most part, the adolescents were well-behaved, though. It was starting to get hot and it was all the chaperones could do to keep them out of the memorial, though... I found the answers to the questions pretty quickly, but looked kinda funny at the #2 location (at my age I couldn't be mistaken for the kids, unfortunately, since they were doing essentially the same thing with the dog) until I decrypted the hint. Lots of good statues around here for photo-taking, but since I was solo this trip the waymarking will have to wait... Email sent, thanks for the virt!

Capitol View

By: Buddhavista Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Virtual

It has been a while since I've been here. I think I took a tour as a schoolkid of the building a long time ago! Today the view of the capitol building was spectacular, but the other spectacular view was blocked by setup of Memorial Day festivities. Thanks for the virt!

May 23, 2007

Here Fido!

By: flowerman Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Visiting for both business and pleasure from California, and this was the closest to where I happened to be staying for pleasure. It took a bit of walking around to find the actual entrance, and then after finding the cache, I decided to see where the greenbelt ended. Turns out it ended quite a ways away in a fence near the hwy. I felt the inner child in me and decided that I wouldn't turn back! Thanks for my first Virginia cache! Left a travelling geocoin.

May 19, 2007

DT21 FW @ 10K

By: TeamAlamo Difficulty: 5.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

The whole multi was a team find, as each of us had various appropriate pieces of information that made the final coords extractable and the final cache findable. We ended up waiting for some time before we were in the area to make the grab on stage 2, but it was well worth it. A belated congrats on 10k to DT21 & FW, and thanks for the cache!

May 18, 2007

Where have all the flowers gone?

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

I really had thought I was done caching for the afternoon, as I'd found what is normally my "going-out-alone-without-a-plan" limit. So, I had started to head on home on the freeway and for some strange reason remembered that I hadn't had lunch so I got off the freeway and looked around and instead was distracted by this cache that was so nearby. Nice plaque and nice placement, although I'm not too sure I wasn't being watched during the whole process from within those darkened windows. Then it was off to lunch, except that I got distracted by another little icon on my map, and then another...

Go Take A Walk

By: beck1980 Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

3TF at 8:15am. Trailhead? You mean beyond that "Private Property -- Rail Crossing -- No Trespassing" sign? Not. Geo Baby and I took a .6 mile stroll from the nearest legal access we know of to Alameda Creek this morning. Ran into some familiar faces doing the same trek. Found cache easily, but needed an extraction tool. Too small to leave the travellers I was hanging onto. Oh well. TFTC.

Sunnyvale Rough Too

By: alpharomero.com Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

The last time I was here, I was attending my 10 year high school reunion at the Golf course's banquet facilities. That was a while ago. Nothing looked familiar here today in the daytime... Waited out a golfer at his car while he was making all his preparations for an afternoon on the green. Spotted it quickly once the coast was clear! Thanks for replacing the cache.

Tai Chi View

By: alpharomero.com Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

One of the nearby tech companies was treating its employees to some brew in the park at the picnic tables, but I was able to saunter around until I spotted a good candidate for the hide. Thanks!

The People Zone III + A Walkway

By: garyhenry Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Ah, the bit of shade in this area was welcome this afternoon, and the counting went well for me. I didn't immediately zero in on the hide spot, but a bit of searching got it for me eventually. Thanks for the nice multi!

A Red Bridge Near A Blue Pheasant

By: stbk Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I was in training nearby, and it turns out that we trained a lot faster than normal, so the instructor let us out pretty darn early this afternoon. I took advantage of that time to pick up a few pre-weekend caches. This was my first stop, and I spent some time trying out things before reading the description. After that, I had it! Thanks.

Cache into Caches

By: garyhenry and The Petoskey Stones Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I was in the area for a training seminar over the last few days. I guess we trained a lot faster than the instructor expected, because I found myself with about 3 and a half hours before I was expected anywhere this afternoon! Wow, what to do... Well, I could go to work, only nobody was expecting me there and I wouldn't want to startle them or anything, so I decided to take out my GPSr and enjoy the afternoon. Enjoy it I did -- I had a great caching day! This was a perfect time to do this cache, as school had not yet gotten out and the pheasant's lunch rush was over. Dropped a TB, but didn't take anything. TFTC.

Ugly Ducking Lakes 2

By: DavidT21 Fisherwoman Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

I had an impromptu afternoon of caching today, and I really thought I was pressing my luck with the caching gods because I was having such a smooth afternoon of it. However, I just couldn't resist stopping for one more on the way back home to pick up Geo Baby... Thanks for the cache!

Wag That Tail -- Then Pick it Up

By: garyhenry Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I sauntered through the empty park this afternoon wondering where everyone was -- they've got a great toddler playground area here! This is the kind of cache location that Geo Baby lives for! Unfortunately she was otherwise engaged today while I enjoyed an impromptu afternoon of pre-weekend caching! Thanks.

May 17, 2007

Samba and Sudoku

By: saopaulo1@hotmail.com (maintained by WalruZ) Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Geo Baby suggested that we head out and snag this cache after an early pick up from daycare, apparently she has been here before and had ulterior motives in the form of the toddler slide. Thanks!

May 16, 2007

GeoFusion Leaves

By: ingmccleary Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

Too many windows and people during the weekday. Maybe later...

Somewhere .....

By: catomcat Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Found cache, did not sign the log. I found a few items of information, one I really liked but didn't help and one which is indicated in the cryptic hint, but could not turn those into useful tools. I even used my cell phone, but to no avail since I didn't have the right person's number to call. Unless I'm really missing something else numeric on the cache page or at the cache location, I'm wondering why it isn't an "unknown" type cache...

An Acre of Dirt

By: L-grl Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I had to look through a lot of my Sunnyvale PQ caches to find something reasonably big enough to drop CTomGeo's USA geocoin in. This is a nice location and a nice cache. I was going to peruse the gardens, but I was feeling guilty about all the work I really should've been looking at. As it was, I was having a bad caching day (which usually happens when I wander around instead of targeting a couple and getting myself back to work!). Thanks!

Cupertino City Hall, 1950s Edition

By: stbk Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Came by before class and there were too many pedestrians, which surprised me. Revisited a few hours later and found the cache easily. I couldn't quite figure out which building was which around there. It would be funny to see the 50's city hall activities shoved in to the tiny hair salon that is nearest to the cache! Thanks.

Forgotten Psychedelic Rock Venue #1THE BOLD KNIGHT

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

Revisited at night to make the grab. Boy is it spooky back there in the dark. I could almost hear the ghost of wafting covers of Pink Floyd as I signed the log! TFTC.

Forgotten Psychedelic Rock Venue #1THE BOLD KNIGHT

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

Some guy was in the area and eyeing me a little too much, since I was hanging out in my car near the mobile equipment. I'll have to try back another time.

John W. Christian Greenbelt

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

I'm sure the city workers would have liked the overtime pay, but I was glad to see them gone at 8:30pm! Easy to take stock of the area in the dusky darkness without having three orange shirts staring at me! Just a dog walker and a lot of cars going to and fro. Thanks!

John W. Christian Greenbelt

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

Had a couple hours to meander around Sunnyvale, but that didn't help my caching any on this weekday afternoon. A crew of 3 city maintenance workers were camped out about 25 feet from the cache location and looking straight at me. I wandered a little to see if I could wait them out, but apparently they were assigned to stare at the greenbelt all day... Another time...

May 13, 2007

Lunch QC

By: Scorpion King Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

We visited this cache in the morning on the way to a nice day around Shoreline park. Weekend morning is certainly a good time to visit, as no one is anywhere nearby here trying to have lunch. My GPSr seemed to be dead on for this one, so I didn't have any problem finding the search site. I thought the flies guarding the approach to the cache were a nice touch...

Turning Tides

By: MotorBug Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This cache started off our day in the area. We didn't get here early, as there was brunch to be had and all, but we managed to luck out and find rock star parking just before noon. I had been through the area a while ago, but didn't "clean out" the park, so there was a nice loop of caches to find and make an afternoon of it. Thanks for putting a newer one out here so that WalruZ wasn't all hang-dog about my suggestion of Shoreline on Mother's Day!

178

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

I've always liked my GPSr a little much. Odd that even with correcting the coordinates properly I wouldn't at least end up there. I guess that's the way it goes sometimes, though. Thanks for a nice Mother's Day of level caching...

Bay Crossing

By: Rogue Ramblers Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

Ouch. Ouch. (and some other words that Geo Baby probably shouldn't have heard). It was a nice walk out there, although I carried Geo Baby most of the way there and back. It was the end of the day and she was pretty much done with caching after a nice day at Shoreline. In fact, she had conked out in the car, but had woken up as we approached the trailhead to this cache site so we went for it. The area nearby the cache site was pretty fun for her, though. She found some rocks that she really liked. Then it was home and ended up being an early bedtime for her! Thanks for the cache.

A Nice Mature Bay

By: Neslake Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Small

About 6 months ago, I decided to try and solve some of the puzzles that were sitting atop my "nearest" few pages and this was one of the first set that I managed to whack out. Unfortunately, while it is relatively close to the posted coordinates, the solution is such that it is out of my general weekday stomping grounds, but in WalruZ's, so the scheduling of such a visit is typically not welcome for our weekend plans. Today I got to say what the Sunday plans were, and this cache was one of the main reasons we ended up where we did. The final location holds a few memories for me, as I worked quite nearby during the summers while in high school. Thanks for bringing us here.

Ravenswood Trail

By: MotorBug Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

I swear, it was like a waymarking playground out there for WalruZ. I was carrying Geo Baby out (and back) to the caches and she was in such a mood at that point that if I put her down she would cling to me like I was some sort of lifeboat at sea. So we get to the cache site and I put the baby down and tried to go search, but the baby thought she was starting to drown, so I had to stay on trail. WalruZ, in the meantime, headed the 25 feet to the cache site and started TAKING PICTURES!! As the baby fussed on, asking to be picked up, he was waymarking. Finally, I asked him if he would be so nice to look around for a cache while he was down there getting his mug in the photo with the survey marker (or at least come help with Geo Baby so I could)... Thanks for the walk!

Go Fly A Kite

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

I DNF'd this cache a while ago because a HAM radio guy had set his antennae up for the day right by this cache site and there was just no way to search with his eyes on me (and my proximity to his guy wires). Today I was lucky to only contend with a bevy of kite flyers and a few bicycle riders! I'm amazed that a cache this big does as well here as this one has! Left a Seven Summits geocoin of sorts. TFTC!

Rabbits For Rosco

By: RoscoC Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

I was following the arrow and ended up searching some foliage that looks innocent enough, but can draw blood if you aren't careful. After testing my patience there, I decided to move around a bit and see if there wasn't another option. I found the cache easily then. The only TB in the cache was The Letter C TB, which I took to move along. No geocoin, or the other listed TB... TFTC.

Computer History Anyone?

By: Jim and Jeanette Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Given all of these kind of hides that I've done in my caching career, you never would believe that this one almost stumped me!!!! I seriously did 3 passes of what I thought had to be the hide site. I was right, but just went at it with a lot of preconceived assumptions! TFTC.

Northern CA Solar System Model: Planet Jupiter

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

WalruZ, Geo Baby and I took a nice post-brunch Mother's Day walk around Shoreline Park this afternoon. Geo Baby enjoyed our stop at the playground before heading over to find this cache. I have been nearby at the PA baylands for other caches at least three times, but never managed to make it over this way -- I didn't realize that it was just as easily accessed from Shoreline! Cache seems to be doing fine, despite the little nick in the side of the lid. While I was going through the logbook, we were so quiet and still that a jackrabbit came popping out of some bushes and suddenly noticed us when it was just 3 feet away. It didn't seem to know what to do, but an inadvertant wiggle from us sent it bounding the other direction. That was a neat experience! Left a gingerbread man geocoin. Thanks.

Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Cache

By: artadams belrose (adopted by WeBeDnD) Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I opted for Option #3 to solve this cache, then "checksummed" it by availing myself of Option #2 and added the result to my "solved puzzles" list. I don't know how many months ago I did this, maybe as long as a year ago. Today was the day that I got to choose, without compromise, where we went (of course there was no question that the acivity would be caching...). I chose a place that I don't get to much in my normal travels, and I'm not likely to get to on our weekend travels since WalruZ works somewhat sorta closeby (cue a small amount of grumbling from WalruZ). Anyhow, Geo Baby and I really liked our day around the park and came prepared for this cache. We left Arthur C. Clarke's "Islands in the Sky" and took something called "2150". Thanks!

Trigger Happy

By: Mohetka Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

One of those places that you don't notice unless geocaching takes you right there. WalruZ dropped me off and went to find some nearby parking, as I needed a couple in the area and Geo Baby had conked out in the back of the car. I spent a little bit of time here searching, but not so much that I got frustrated. I think I spotted it on my second pass through the structure. Thanks for placing a cache here!

Rhino Eels 2

By: Dale (Mengarelliott/2) Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

WalruZ was so sure that I was going to flail and flounder at this cache, so it was pretty funny when I didn't find it on my first pass and he started to let Geo Baby out of the stroller to "help" me search. I found it just as I heard the first latch pop on the stroller harness... TFTC!

May 12, 2007

Polly wants a cache

By: dollarman Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Nice to have a traditional cache on this new trail! As others have said, this area is refreshingly PO-free after doing some of the caches on the way up the hill. We were doing a loop-de-loop-de-loop around Pulgas today, and decided to hit the inner loop first. After providing a nice nutritious lunch of fishy crackers and water to Geo Baby, Mom took the backpack full of baby and off we went to find this cache. Cache was in good shape, but could be seen from the trail by anyone who happened to be looking that way. We tried to cover it a bit better when we left. Thanks for the cache!

Creek Crossing

By: TimberToo Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

I really like caches that my brain can get, since my body typically has a sleeping 25 pound, almost 3 foot long child strapped to it by the middle of a hike! I arrived just slightly ahead of WalruZ, but managed to have the cache out for him to inspect as he arrived, rather than my usual supervisory mode of asking him to "check , oh and could you just move that and see if its there, would ya?" I know *that* gets annoying... Thanks!

The Woodrat Bonus

By: TimberToo Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Small

Geo Baby and I spotted this one right away and felt some sort of satisfaction, or at least relief, since I was still afraid that I had footyed-up the code assigments for the rattys. We had a great hike today around almost all the trails (certainly all the trails established since late 2004) of Pulgas. No rat sightings though, just a bunch of lizards, a butterfly or two, a rabbit, a squirrel and quite a few doggies (to say nothing of birds and ticks). Thanks for placing these new caches to alert us of the nice, fresh, new-spiffy-rock-and-culverted trails!

Dusky Wooded Footrat

By: TimberToo Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Small

Lots of woody footy ratty nests here, more so than I remember seeing in the lower areas of the park. As we were emerging from the tree cover from Creek Crossing, we even spied a fairly large rat condo up in a tree! I was disappointed that we didn't see any inhabitants today, but I suppose the woody rats and their footy cousins would rather play at night... Cammo was in okay condition, but it was doing its job so well that I think I helped its decline along. Still works how it's supposed to, though. This is a real nice addition to Pulgas. Polly is a nice loop trail, but this Woodrat trail is the kind of trail that's really rewarding to do (elevation, views both east and west at some point) and also provides the loop experience. thanks!

Dusky Footed Woodrat

By: TimberToo Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

I was trying to keep track of a lot of stuff, what with all the new trail to investigate and all, so when we got here I read some stuff I had on my Palm in preparation for the bonus cache, and then Woody-ratted and Footy-woody'ed myself into thinking that I had navigated us all wrong and didn't get codes and things from googling something or some such item before starting the hike. I normally don't do puzzle caches unless they seem rather straightforward, so it must have been the wind or something up there making me anxious, because as it turns out I had done everything I'd needed to and we were doing everything okay... Whew! Aside from all that, this was definitely the high point of our hike! Thanks.

Lower Crestview

By: the voucher Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

I'd like to see a rat try to take this one away! We must have missed the recommended approach from the park, or at least misread it. Nothing we looked at seemed like a good option for a trail to us. Instead, came around from above. That might be the strangest parking lot I've ever seen in front of an unmarked trailhead... TFTC.

Old Oaks, New Trail

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

Nice old oak! In a small forest of baby oaks, this one really looks regal. We haven't been in Pulgas since December of 2004 or January 2005, and so there were a lot of fresh trails to explore -- regardless of the revolving names. It seems that MPOSD is wisely choosing laminated paper tacked to the posts to indicate trail names and distances rather than to set these "in wood" so I wonder if more will change... Cache was in great condition and there was no need to leave the trail early (although we did, silly us). For a nice-weather Saturday afternoon in Spring, there sure weren't that many people on the trails! TFTC.

Edgewood's Front Door

By: PurplePeople Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Ya know, it seemed a shame to just drive on by, so WalruZ pulled us into the front door. Its as far as we got today, though, since we were coming from our 7 mile hike in Pulgas (looped around it twice). Edgewood looks just as nice for the approaching summer (even after 2 years there, I never can get used to East Bay hiking in the summer -- one of the things I miss about SF), so perhaps its time to start a little research... Thanks for the heads-up in the form of a cache!

Off The Leash - A Kids' Cache

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

Man, I wish I woulda spotted that nice little access point earlier! I wasn't wearing the baby, so I took it upon myself to get to the cache site as well as I could from where we were. After cavorting through some ground-level sprigs of PO, I found myself at a small precipice: nothing shocking or scary, mind you, maybe 3 feet or so and just slightly steeper than I might normally try without my hiking poles to help prop me up. I signalled to WalruZ to take the back way 'round and decided that I wasn't going to bother. So, down I went, and ended up sliding down on my behind and getting some nice foliage (thankfully not PO) down my backside. Shoulda tucked my shirt in, I guess. Oh well. I'd DEETed up the clothes before starting the hike, and that seems to have served me well. WalruZ and Geo Baby came sauntering down in the meantime and we all found the cache easily (after that, anyway), took the Mtn Man travelling Geocoin and left a TB. Thanks!

Pulgas Parking

By: PurplePeople Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Last time we visited Pulgas OSP, Geo Baby wasn't even a thought in our minds, and this nice parking area (along with quite a few of the trails) didn't exist. Funny what happens in what seems like just a very short time period! Geo Baby had fun near this cache, since someone was nice enough to put the park map bin (with a fun hinged lid) at her height level. Fistfulls of those maps were about to be scattered along the trailhead. She was also quite curious as to why that tiny little house with the people on the door was sitting out there all by itself. She tried the handle a few times but didn't manage to open it up... Since she was feeling so energetic, we decided to have her walk into the park from the trailhead near the cache. That lasted the first two switchbacks. I thought that was unbelievable at the time, but then 10 minutes later at the fourth switchback a little boy only a year older than Geo Baby hopped on by us using his very own two legs! Thanks for the cache to start our day.

Pirate's Booty

By: Rickshaw Man Difficulty: 4.5 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Other

I had looked at this one when it came out, and narrowed down my "search space" to 3 different places. Then, like so many other things that don't have a due date, I promptly forgot about it. A conversation with another cacher got me thinking about this one again, and inadvertantly provided me the necessary hint to narrow down those 3 locations. Bonus for me: it gives me a hard-to-get cell in my Fizzy FindStats table for the Well-Rounded Cacher challenge cache! A good day all-around, I say! (and if I say more in that vein I'll just end up posting a spoiler log, so I'll stop here with a TFTC!)

Doggie Do (revived!)

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

In some ways this was our destination cache today. After DNFing Doggie Do in December or January of 2005 (way before Geo Baby was a sparkle in our eyes), it seemed like a priority to reverse that. For Mother's Day weekend (funny how it can be inadvertantly extended to two days, eh?), I get to pick out what we do. Heck, not only had we not been here in a couple of years but there were new parking areas and new trails and (gasp!) new caches! I was still jonesin' to do the Portola hike though (there was no way we could take Geo Baby on that with a group to keep up with). What to do, what to do... So, I gave WalruZ a choice of a half day in Pulgas Ridge or doing the HQ caches at Portola. He decided that he'd rather do the shorter drive, but more elevation... I had thoroughly DEETed my pants legs, but still managed to pick up 3 ticks at Stage 1 (and I'm sure the DEET had something to do with that low number). Somehow I misread the coords by a number and we were taken to an area that just didn't seem right, so we used the hint and expanded our location (quite a bit). WalruZ, the master at looking for caches under "bad coordinate" conditions (although this was entirely my fault, not the cache owner's fault), managed to find the location! It was also a good spot for a lunch of goldfish crackers and water for Geo Baby (we're such bad parents). She really enjoyed herself at the site, though. I've got pictures to prove it. Turns out that Geo Baby had spectacularly good attitude for a total of about 7 miles and 5 hours today. We sang some songs; she took a nap; she played cute games with Daddy while on Mommy's back; she even got down to hike (and inspect rocks) a couple of times. Thanks for preserving this cache! And Happy Mother's Day to Craw!

May 11, 2007

Roosevelt Highway Fountain - Willow Creek

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

Proofed the placement of this cache. In fact, spotted the Seven Stairs sign that seems to be fading into oblivion. Thanks for pointing out some forgotten history of California!

Roosevelt Highway Fountain - Lucia

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Proofed the placement of this cache. It takes a keen eye to spot disintegrating historical relics without coordinates. You must have a great set of eyes (LOL). This is the closest fountain to the Lodge, n'est pas? So, when's Limekiln... TFTW.

Roosevelt Highway Fountain - Elmer S. Rigdon

By: WalruZ Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Ahh, Elmer. Elmer started this whole thing off (oh, and the construction of the Highway, too). At least there was some idea of where this one was, thanks to Miss Tioga and George. I guess more fountain-hunting is in order to get the last 2 sites... Signed log midway down the first page, as I proofed the placement of this cache.

May 9, 2007

Black Phoebe Lake

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

Poor WalruZ had started his day off all wrong. Today was such that I could restructure my free 90 minutes to help him out. It wasn't the find that I was expecting, but it is always nice to have a find on a workday, regardless. Apparently security was quite insistent that there was no place for the public to have lunch here... I hope that attitude doesn't become a problem for future cachers. TFTC.

May 8, 2007

City Stairway - Oakhurst

By: rosmo Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

Finally had an opportunity to revisit this stairway and count my steps a little better. Still managed to prick myself in the process, not sure how I did that... In fact, I only saw the cache on the second pass through the area. Little bugger is tough to see! I was surprised that this side of the City was so warm today. Expected a fog bank or something to encroach in and make it a little more bearable to be in long pants and long sleeves. TFTC!

City Stairway - Father's Day Walk

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

I had such an ego boost being able to find the Oakhurst cache that I figured I'd come here and try my luck (and spend the 5 extra minutes that I still had remaining on my caching-clock for the afternoon). I came from above and found the coordinates pretty much dead-on at the cache site, so no counting was required. That is one unique view from the stairway. I could hear the kids below enjoyng their PE on what must be a rare hot day for them, which reminded me that I was on the clock and didn't have time to sit and enjoy the view. Took the geocoin to move since it has been here for some time. Thanks!

May 5, 2007

Check 'It' Out!

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

WalruZ had done the deed to get the puzzle solved and we happened to have a little extra time before a plane came in, so we swung on by to check 'It' out. I had a colleague that was recruited to do 'It' here, but he's since moved on up to Seattle with another very large and successful online business outfit. From all reports, he really enjoyed doing 'It' here (in this case, mathematical psychology, e.g. decision-making algorithms to predict what people will do and buy). I guess it sure beat all heck out of working as an underpaid and very educated slave in academic research... We picked a great time of the day and week to search for this cache and found a nice new logsheet with lots of legible cacher names in it. Thanks.

Liberty

By: Travieso Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

It was a busy day of family visiting, but we managed to get in a few geocaches while on the way here and there. I'm glad to see that they've finally finished this area. Nice statue, as well. Thanks for the cache!

Puzzle Master 3000 ?

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

I'm not sure how I stumbled onto this cache description, but I did and I was intrigued, so I did it. I thought it was pretty cute. I guess it is grandfathered in with all the new "guidelines", given all the hubbub about getting other unknown caches approved (e.g. the FizzyFindStats challenge cache, recently). We were on our way to the airport this morning, and this cache was convenient for a quick stop to get a caching fix on a largely noncaching day (although, surprisingly, we inadvertantly hit 5 caches during the course of the day). Anyhow, nicely done! Thanks.

Heads Up

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

Nothing going on in the nearby community theater -- last time we were here they were building a whole bunch of sets all over the place. This time we were able to let Geo Baby walk (and run) around to her heart's content without getting into much trouble at all. She particularly liked the nearby fountain, although she wasn't tall enough to get herself into it. Thanks for the cache.

Bailey's Oak

By: sloigo Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

This happened to be the northernmost cache in my mini-Morgan Hill query for today. I didn't expect to have much time to cache, what with all the family activity and Geo Baby gazing that was to be done today, but wouldn't you know that we managed to sneak in 5 caches on the way there and back?!? Anyhow, WalruZ really wanted another one to round out his day, so I suggested he take the appropriate exit if he wanted to. Heck, it was a 1/1 and right by the freeway... A little bumpier than I expected, but it was all fine in the end. (Remind me not to offer to pay for any more repairs on WalruZ' front bumper). It was just around sunset, which made for a nice view, mostly. CHP was down there supervising a tire replacement or something. Thanks for the nice view (for a minute or two) on the way home.

Urban Assault #17

By: Ruprex and his Girl Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

All quiet on the airport front 10am this morning -- no one but a solitary guy wandering around presumably waiting for someone to show up to the vacant storefronts. It must have been his car parked by the cache site, because during the time I jumped out, found, signed and returned the cache, he had sauntered mostly across the storefronts to make sure his car was still intact or something... Thanks.

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