mjp303's Geoblog

Dec 30, 2004

At What Cost?

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

One track mind = long search. 'nuf said. mjp303

Crossing Adobe

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

I'd been here before for another cache, but never seen the plaque. It was well worth another visit. Thanks, mjp303

The Sound of Silence

By: Linc-Clan Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

A very nice hike to an interesting location. I always thought that it was a retaining wall not a sound wall. The trail was quite muddy. TFTC. mjp303

The Purple Heart

By: boulter Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Parked within 10 feet, but had to convince the guy in the golf cart that we really didn't want a ride over to the hospital. My purple heart was earned for 3 trips to the doctor in 2 months to get 'roids for PO. You'd think she would have been willing to call the darn Rx in for me after the first time [:(!]. Beyond that, you'd think I could have been careful enough to avoid the cursed stuff after the first time [:I]. mjp303

Mayfield Puzzle

By: budd-rdc Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

After several befuddled minutes, we put things together. Thanks for this very original hide. We laughed about it all the way to the next cache. mjp303

Pete's Castle

By: Mr. Ranger Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I've been on this road before for another cache. It's always amazing how I miss things when I'm focused on that arrow. Thanks for sharing the story. BTW, the log is completely soaked. Even if I'd had a bag, it would have been too late. I had to carefully spread it out on the hood of the car to sign. TFTC. mjp303

Dec 28, 2004

Smokey Bear's 60th Birthday

By: Sierra Hikers Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

2pm FTF!!! This is a great place for a cache. Definitely something I would have never found on my own. With the rain, the trail was wet, but not extremely muddy, and the creek was running full. The sounds of water dripping from the trees and flowing over the rocks were wonderful. GPSr coverage was spotty, but fortunately I spotted the hiding place easily. TNLNSL. Thanks, mjp303

Dec 22, 2004

From small acorns...

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

I made the find and signed the log while keeping the twins' swings going. Wow, what a talented Dad [:D]! Thanks, mjp303

Homage to Silence

By: MotorBug Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

After getting spider webs on our fingers (yuck!), and reviewing simple physics prinicples illustrated by this sculpture, we paused to reconsider the situation. Suddenly, a light went on! (I know, I know, pretty lame.) Thanks, mjp303

root of my root

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

Cache run with John and Ted. Noticed the cache right off, but dismissed it as trash. (Whoops! [:I] Note to self: Cache in, trash out, maybe it will help!) Took some small stuff, left some bigger stuff. Container is full. Thanks, mjp303

Magic Forest

By: WeBeDnD Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Whether it's 5 finds or 500, it doesn't really get any easier. My little noodle couldn't make sense of the clue, although I was quite thorough with the angles that occured to me. mjp303

Dec 21, 2004

Duck View

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

The amateur ornithologist (my better half) in the family really enjoyed this spot. She was busily taking note of all the birds, and declared that there was one she had never seen before. I'm sure I'll find her with the identification book when we get home. Oh, we found the cache too. Thanks, mjp303

Salt Water Marsh

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

No luck finding this one on the way in. The kids were eager to move on for the big score...I mean ammo box...at the next location. Fortunately the trail brought us back for a second try on the way back. mjp303

Fresh Water Marsh

By: MotorBug Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

The kids ran ahead and found the cache. This trail was just right for a family outing. Thanks for showing it to us. mjp303

Ceara's Cache!

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

Found. Traded (and re-traded...and discussed...and argued over!) Logged (quickly and quietly). Can you guess who did what? Ceara, you've got a lot to look forward to! TFTC! mjp303

Dec 20, 2004

Sugarloaf For Non-Climbers

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

On my first visit, I came here without studying the map. After about 20 frustrating minutes trying to drive to it by following the arrow, I really wasn't in the proper frame of mind for a search. This time, I knew where to go, and even though the GPSr wouldn't settle down, it was a quick find. Thanks for showing me this interesting canyon! mjp303

Dec 18, 2004

Pirate's Booty

By: Rickshaw Man Difficulty: 4.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Other

Being pretty familiar with this area, I knew where to go. There were plenty of dogs out walking their owners: I think we counted 15 (dogs, that is) during our 2.5 mile loop. It was a long hike for two 5-year olds, but they only started complaining during the last 0.1 mile or so. The cache contents weren't quite up to their standards, but we left it better than we found it [:D]. I don't think it was too easily seen, but tossed some leaves on it for good measure. Thanks for a new twist, and bringing us back to this beautiful place. mjp303

Dec 13, 2004

Horse Trail

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

I snagged this cache on the way to work. It was a refreshing hike on a warm and sunny morning. Plenty of hoof marks, but no horses. For some reason I though Belmont was a bit too urban to have them. Wrong! TFTC. mjp303

Dec 10, 2004

Santa Teresa Spring

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

What an interesting place! TFTC. mjp303

Rocky Bench

By: Marky & Joani Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

Somehow, I ended up on the trail towards this cache with only the coordinates and not the description. Things turned out okay. A great hike, although everything was socked in with fog. TFTC. mjp303

M & J Style: Mint Cage

By: Team Nazgul Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

Got it! It's always nice to see a cache container that's been prepared with it's location in mind. SL. mjp303

B-G-J Ranch

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

As predicted, my GPSr was a bit off. Since the barnyard was empty, I started a sytematic search. After going over several likely places with a fine-toothed comb, the naturalist (who must have been watching me from the ranch house) came to my rescue. The conversation turned to snakes (of course). He also told me that there were several park rangers who happened to be avid geocachers. All in all, a very pleasant find. Thanks, mjp303

I LIKE 1KE

By: Team Nazgul Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

In my haste to look at what might be hiding behind the camo'd cache container, I quickly grabbed it and set it aside. Only later did I notice the cache in its hiding place [:I]. mjp303

Dwimmerlaik

By: Team Nazgul Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

For me, the degree of difficulty on this cache was increased by one star due to mud-caked shoes. Very nicely done. mjp303

Dec 4, 2004

TBUG INN ICEXT EASE X

By: Dreamer of Pictures Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I am visiting from California for just the weekend, but had to make a find in a new state! This cache was a bit challenging to find in the dark, but after spotting the geo-trail everything fell into place. I was hoping to snag a TB, but didn't find any [:(]. TFTC. mjp303