Tuesday, April 25, 2006

April 25, 2006

I'm Batman!: FTF! 12:15pm Thanks for the nice, large, well stocked cache! Location and cache size combine to make the muggle factor high; once I had spotted the cache, I really took care before pulling it out of its hiding spot, since there was no good way to conceal it from passersby. Good fun. TFTC.

April 21, 2006

Dolphin Encounter: Group FTF! So I was approaching the first waypoint, and I heard a couple of car doors slam shut and the 'approaching' beep of a GPSr. Yup, it's Eagle81 and Eagles Wing. Actually, the fact that we approached from different directions helped us overcome the one of the little twists this cache throws. The container seemed a little empty, so I left a bunch of swag and a SC geocoin. Trade fair! Oh, I took the other coin to move on. Thanks for a fun multi!

Sunday, April 23, 2006

April 16, 2005

Tee Time: We were on our way to this cache when it decided to rain really hard, so we took refuge under a tree for a few minutes. After that, we found the cache just fine, but then realized that there was a homeless family in the bushes about 100' away. I think their son saw my boys and his curiosity got the better of him. I was going to try and explain things, but we didn't speak the same language. I'm sorry if the cache goes missing, but I'm hopeful they may not have been close enough or paying attention enough to figure things out. It was a sad scene, but an important lesson in life that we discussed on the way back to the car. TFTC.

Element #2: Mom and the girls went ahead to Grandma's house to help with Easter dinner preparations. That left me and the boys with a little time to burn. We really enjoyed the walk to this cache. Not too muddy, and only a few sprinkles. We signed the log and traded a couple of toys for an unactivated Team Leggoes geocoin. Trade fair!

April 15, 2006

Beach Ave: With clearing skies, I though a trip to the coast was in order. I found the cache in good order, and then continued on to walk on the beach a bit. TFTC!

This Stop: Princeton!: The parking lot was pretty full, and there was some sort of meeting going on in the station...umm...restaurant. Kinda strange for a Saturday. TFTC.

U Can I Con: So I finally got around to finding this cache. Great view! It wasn't too busy today, for which I was grateful: This cache would be difficult with lots of people wandering around. Appropriately enough, I launched a travelling geocoin, 'mjp303's 2006 CITO geocoin #2'. It's kinda tough to think of a coin as something that travels, but I'm trying! I was tempted to deface it somehow, but in the end decided not to. Thanks!

Friday, April 14, 2006

April 14, 2006

Traffic Jam: FTF! 8:30am. My zero for the posted coordinates was in a spot that just was not possible. However, since the search area was considerably constrained by the terrain, I was still able to find the nicely camouflaged cache. Thanks for the pleasant morning walk! TNLNSL.

Theodore's Walk: Java & Gems: My first stop on the series; it was a quick find, and I sat on the nearby bench to sign the log. On the way back to the car, I disturbed a herd of ferral cats who were feasting on the food that some benevolent soul had left for them. I'll be Theo would have liked to check out that place! TFTC.

Theodore's Walk: Remembrance: My GPSr had me wanting to trample in a very nice garden that it apprears someone has taken on as a personal project. I resisted the urge, and had the cache in hand shortly. I'm starting to see where this whole thing is headed!

Theodore's Walk: Which Way Should We Go?: I was starting to think that it wouldn't be too muddy. NOT! Here I go to the final. TFTC.

Theodore's Walk: Final Reward: What a view! Thanks for bringing me up to see this picturesque spot. My zero was a ways off, and completely devoid of any possible hiding spots, so I had a couple of choices as to where to search, and unfortunately chose incorrectly. Really though, I didn't mind spending the extra time--it was so beautful. Eventually the find was mine. I signed the log, and rescued a TB. TFTC!

Coastal View Travel Bug Inn and Spa: I stopped by, and swapped bugs. IN: Lexington Minuteman; OUT: Adventurous Arachnid. Everybody smells really nice! TFTC.

This Stop: Vallemar!: There were lots of people out for an evening stroll; no wind to speak of in this sheltered place. TFTC!

What More Could You Ask For?: Well, since you asked...here's what I'm asking for: (1) Less wind! It was really howling tonight, and I almost lost my hat with the no snowmobiles pin on it; (2) Thinner fingers. No additional comments there. As it turns out, there were no muggles to dodge, and I had the view to myself. Thanks for that!

This Stop: Edgemar!: Lotsa people picking up Easter cakes. TFTC.

April 13, 2006

ITSA #2A: Although I wasn't inspired by the location, I appreciated the clever hide. TFTC.

April 12, 2005

X-Rated Art Gallery: I was treated to a personal tour of the Gallery with the curator. Conclusion: I don't know high from low, and red from black. I do know my numbers, though. TFTC!

April 11, 2005

Hillcrest Circle Park: I must have passed on this cache at least a dozen times, knowing the area and its exposure. Finally, everything was in alignment! TFTC.

The Easter Bunny's Favorite Cache: I stopped by in the rain. Picking up the cache brought a smile to my face. Perfect! Quite a torrent nearby. TFTC.

April 10, 2006

Tai Chi View: Those muggles Shores Scout mentioned moved 'cuz I used my Jedi mind trick on them...TFTC.

Numbers Hound #2: Isn't it nice when the road building folks put up a cache holder for us? Thanks!

Numbers Hound #1: Shores Scout and I were up and down the hill. I was just opening up the phone to use a lifeline when he announced the find. Thanks for the smilie!

Sky Can: I felt like an archeologist while trying to unfold the log carefully. Shores Scout scrounged up a little zip-lock baggie, but it was too big. The log is probably beyond salvage anyhow. Interesting spot!

Sunnyvale Gold Rush: 50 tons to get 2.5 ounces?!? Thanks for bringing me to this spot.

Hungering For A Cache: A quick find on our tour of Sunnyvale. TFTC.

Don't Go There To Get There: As Shores Scout and I approached the cache, lots of yummy smells wafted by our noses. TFTC.

Whatawaste Plaza: Except for the two ladies doing some new fangled exercise routine (big, slow steps with deep knee bends in between movements), we had the Plaza to ourselves. TFTC.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

April 9, 2006

Rosita Park: I found this a while back, but evidently forgot to log it. I came again today, and things were looking strangely familar, but didn't realize it until I saw my name in the log! TFTC.

Half Dome in the Park: That's just wrong.

Ex Post Cacho: There was a steady stream of visitors to the nearby establishment. Oh, I get it...the last Sunday before Tax Day. TFTC.

Jumping Poles: I found it after poking around a bit. It was quite a struggle to get the rusty bent lid off. Took the TB. TFTC.

Bay Area Calibration Point #1: I was out caching with GPSr only, and didn't realize what this was until now...Whoops!

I Just Had to Sit Down: I shloshed my way over from 'Juan'. All that mud on my shoes made for a tough haul. Hopefully no horses until things dry out a bit. TFTC.

Juan Slept Here: A quick find, but for some reason I had a devil of a time extracting it. Fat fingers I suppose. Boy, is it ever muddy. Beautiful view from the top of the hill just past the cache. Thanks!

Pirate's Booty: All quiet on a somewhat stormy afternoon. TFTC.

Diridon Station: Not a good start...it took me 15 minutes in the rain to find this cache. I probably looked right at it 5 times before realizing what I had. What a stinker!

Race Station: A little more walking that I expected since all the parking lots were chained off. TFTC.

VTA Fruitdale Station: I found the cache and then stopped in for a soda. One of San Jose's finest was there getting a snack too. TFTC.

VTA Bascom Station: Ahhh, that's more like it: 15' from car to cache. Thanks!

VTA Hamilton Station: I definitely got lucky on this one. There were plenty of places to hide, but I walked right up to it.

VTA Downtown Campbell Station: Ohhh no...the code is missing. Not insurmountable...I think. Sorry, I didn't have any fresh logs with me today: this cache needs attention.

VTA Winchester Station: I had to wait until the girl at the drive-thru expresso shop got a customer. Also, I found a pair of scissors and a roll of clear packing tape right next to the cache...weird. TFTC.

End Station - VTA Mystery Cache: A fun series! Fortunately the rain held off long enough for me to get everything done. With one of the clues missing, I was able to determine two sets of coordinates. Fortunately, I chose correctly, and knew I was in the right place before finding the final cache. I signed the log #100. Thanks for all the hard work putting this together. I'm glad I had the tour!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

April 8, 2006

ERIN GO BRAUGH !: 2nd attempt. I drove up, and there was British Invasion just starting to size things up. We searched. We checked the previous logs. We searched again. I called a lifeline. He didn't remember the cache, but I kept talking. Eventually we got a bit of help. Finally, we went back to searching, and finally there it was. Whew! What a struggle.

Juana Find a Cache?: I attempted to complete this cache as it was designed, but the park was packed with Moms and kids on this sunny Saturday (a rare thing lately), and I felt a few suspicious stares. So, I checked the hint and wandered off. The find was mine in the second place I checked! TFTC.

20th Anniversary: Very nicely done; I loved how the hide fit the cache theme. It'll be 20 years for us later this year. Congratulations to you, and best wishes for all the years to come. TFTC!

Marsh Miles: I almost didn't make the trek back out for this cache. But, since it was a perfect day, I decided I couldn't pass up the trip. A nice cache and a glorious hike. Thanks!

Nature Galore!: Great spot! I sat for a while soaking in the sunshine. TFTC.

Itsae ucan dits ab igone: What an interesting spot. Thankfully the library was closed because I circled the spot several times before figuring things out. Nicely done!

Byxbee Park: A quick find, but a challenge to put back since I neglected to notice exactly where or how it was attached. (I assumed I didn't need to be precise!) So there I am, stalling while waiting for a muggle break, finally getting one, and then not being able to put it back. Quite comical actually. TFTC.

Stumpy: I was curious about what goes on at the building down the path, but it looked a little creepy, so I didn't investigate. TFTC.

Traffic Patterns: Odd, and interesting. It took me a while to get to since I guessed wrong about which side of the freeway it was on. TFTC.

Silicon Valley Hanging Tree?: Thanks for the history! I found the cache in good shape.

Shred it, Dude!: Thanks for pointing out this park. As I pulled up, a family arrived. Dad was going to skateboard, and his 2-year old had big plans too! He couldn't carry his too well, but was pretty good at laying on it and paddling along with his hands! Cute. TFTC.

Booked: Peaceful spot. Latest book: Whatever the kids pull off the shelf. TFTC.

Duck Dock: Approaching the cache, I noticed a strangely familiar dog, a Mom, and two kids. Then, at the last minute, I saw Shores Scout, hunched over his backpack, with a look on his face like I'd caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. My timing was perfect, and he handed me the log. TFTC!

She Sells Sea Shells: First of the day. Finally, sunshine on a Saturday! I love this park when everything is green. Thanks for the hike.

April 7, 2006

Y Palm Park: I'm confused. I found a micro cache with an unsigned log in a place about 30' from my zero. Also, I see that the hint doesn't match. Can I claim FTF on the backup cache??? I suppose I should read the cache pages before I go out...TFTC?

Sunday, April 02, 2006

March 30, 2006

Big Pappa: I took a very pleasant hike to this cache on the way home tonight. The trail was quite muddy, but the views were spectacular. As others have mentioned, I, too was grateful for the spot-on coordinates. Like PurplePeople, I left a few trade items. Hopefully we'll see Big Pappa tally a few caches on the 'found' side of the board quite soon. But, a great start with this cache though! Thanks.

March 29, 2006

We took a family trip to hike the Bear Gulch Cave at Pinnacles National Monument.

Strawberry Fields Forever: On our way to Pinnacles for the day, this was a great place to take a break and stretch our legs. No berries being sold today, but plenty on the vine. TFTC.

A bit of History: This one had me and the kids running around in confusion for several minutes. Finally the my better half put down her book and walked right up to it. Nicely done!

Please Adopt Me: Daughter Claire stepped on this cache while we were searching. We knew where to put it back, though. Thanks.

Four Boulders and a Tree: The kids were starting to get tired of micros! Thanks for the opportunity to trade.

Are we there Yet?: As noted, the cache is wet and getting wetter. We dried out the inside of the log baggie, but the sheet is already shreaded. Sorry I didn't have a replacement in my pack.

Stop Saring at Me!: We found it on our way to Pinnacles. The rain was coming down pretty hard at this point so we didn't linger. TFTC.

A Green Valley View: Great camouflage! We found an evil looking millipede who had taken refuge from the elements under the container. Plenty of trading took place. Thanks for another biggie.

Old School: FTF! 2pm Not sure how this one escaped the weekend crowd. Perhaps it wasn't approved in time? Their loss is our gain! TFTC.

Turn Here: I though about reporting you to the blinker abuse police! Oh, that's just a CalTrans phone.

Split Volcano - Pinnacles NM East Earthcache: We decided to visit the park and take advantage of the opportunity to hike the entire length of Bear Gulch Cave. What a fantastic experience! At 6'4", I think I had the toughest time; some of those passageways were pretty tight. It was a day off school for the kids, but I'd be willing to bet they ended up learning more! Thanks!

WXYZ: Quick stop; I left the motor running and dashed over for the find. Thanks for the smilie!

Ready to Hike 2: Deserted at the gate for us; we paid at the vistor's center later on. Nicely done, but the cache was like a laser beam burning my cache hunting eyes!

March 28, 2006

No Trump Bidding Quiz: 2TF. I determined the procedure for solving this cache, but had difficulty with some simple math. UncleTom graciously pointed out my mistakes, and I was able to make the find tonight after work. Thanks for a fun puzzle!

March 27, 2006

The Chris Rock: FTF @ 4:40pm. Thanks for providing the opportunity for a short walk the Sawyer Camp Trail once again. The views were beautiful, and the sound of water running in the small streams that cross the trail was very pleasant. Fortunately, my visit coincided with a break in the rain, so I didn't get wet, and pretty much had the spot to myself. Unfortunately, finding the cache itself wasn't a pleasant experience. A little bit of PO is an understatment, and it will only get worse. The recommended approach is probably going to work only for the most sure footed cachers. (Granted, my use of this path was extra challenging since it was wet.) Thank goodness I didn't have my kids along. In spite of it all, I perservered, and the find was mine.

March 25, 2006

Gone Fishing: John, Ted, and I found this one together. What a nice stretch of waterfront! TFTC.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

March 23, 2006

The Coin & Sig Item Share & Swap Event: Thanks for organizing a great event! It was fun putting names to faces and swapping stories. Picking up a few new coins was icing on the cake!

Bart: Colma Station: vaccine and I stopped by after an event. He's trying to teach me night caching. I'm a slow learner! TFTC.

Bart: Daly City Station: vaccine and I couldn't figure out how to get close to this one, so we took a tour of the station. Even after 9pm, it was suprisingly busy. TFTC.

Cache at Joe's: Plenty of contented patrons spilling out after a meal, but we persisted. Cool attachment device! TFTC.

This Should Be WalruZ's Cache: Night find after an event. Clear and no fog...except on the windows of several cars in the lot. Wonder what's going on in there? TFTC.

March 15, 2006

Kittycat: Swoop and grab on the way from here to there. TFTC!