King of Da Hill by DaToad

This new Geocache has become a story within a story.  
Usually there's the serendipitous First to Find (FTF) and the others follow with a polite Thanks For The Cache (TFTC).
Here is a copy and paste of some of the first postings of this new cache titled King of Da Hill.
We have enjoyed several laughs over this one!

(Sorry the cut and paste looks funny. I'm working on how to fix it.)

After the cache was posted, here's what Jacokas had to say about being FTF with the CoHounds.

"Energized after getting a FTF earlier, the cohounds and us decided to go for this one too. When we got to the GZ it looked daunting. Geo-spouses and geo-child decided to stay in the car. After a false start up the "wrong" trail, we decided to try the other one as it seemed less steep. I'm not sure that was the case but we made it to the top. I with sandals, Mr. CoHound with shoes with no tread. That was certainly a challenge. We poked around and looked through the sharp plants until we made the find. We took the toad as a prize for geo-child. We signed the log just as the ink ran out in both of the pens we took up. We debated whether to sign with blood as neither one of us was willing to go back to the cars to retrieve another pen. The down climb proved more challenging than the up climb. It made us wonder who in their right minds would hide a cache there but then again, who in their right minds would go, in the middle of the night, ill equipped, just to have the privilege of being the first to sign a piece of paper.
TFTC! great hike. This one gets a favorite!"

This is what WE had to say after finding the cache...

Ahhh, we wonder if DaWife hopped up this hill with you, and if so, is she still speaking to you?

After reading about the FTF CoHound's experience, Geo-hubby and I fortified ourselves at Cracker Barrel, strapped on our finest hiking boots, and packed in bottles of water. 

We think this is not for the faint of heart, those over 40-years old, or those who have a fear of heights. Except for not being faint of heart, I will be 62-years old on September 3, and I do have such a fear of heights that Geo-hubby thought he would have to bring me down in a sling bag! 

Geo-hubby tells the family that I climbed a 60-degree incline about 1,000 yards with slippery stones, sage brush and stickery cactus under my feet. He still doesn't understand why I wouldn't zigzag but insisted on "walking straight up to save steps".

I honestly thought we wouldn't ever find a way down and live to tell the story! We must have walked back and forth for 20-minutes until Geo-hubby took my hand and said, "If you don't want to go this way, you can sit down and slide."

Now, we suggest that future Geocachers turn immediately right (North) at the parking lot and follow the gulch that is right after the second telephone pole (count the one at the parking lot). That is how we returned to our beautiful car and headed to the closest McDonalds for a cool drink of sweet tea. 

One little suggestion respectfully submitted by Geo-hubby. He would love to have seen a much larger Geocache at the top for all the hard work to get there. We took the bouncy ball for our little dog, DeeDee, and left a RN token, a polished stone by Starcatcher55, and a wooden dollar.

I know this is long, but one more thing. Along the way and on the ground at the top are many stones including lots of pretty quartz. Please save some for the Golden B's.

All in all, thanks so much for this incredible cache and the awesome views from the top.
Starcatcher55 and CatsEye55
(Linda & James)

And then, here's the last posting by DaWife...

"After seeing the log of the previous cacher I challenged myself to climb the hill. I don't know what has gotten into DaToad with all his "hills" lately! I had just recovered from the last climb and here his next cache is up - yet again - another hill. Well, I decided to climb the hill the easier way, instead of straight up, I went around and up. What a beautiful view from up here. I nabbed the RN token because I am an RN too. Now to nurse my knee again! Sheesh. TFTC. SL."

That's our tiny little car!

Now that I see the photos, I wonder if this is the 'easier side up'?

We're going down that way!

I might have slid down the hill except for THESE!

... and THESE...

Happy Hunting 

~Starcatcher55

First Earthcache, 200th Geocache, and First Benchmark TODAYIn One Day!

What a busy day driving up the mountain on I-70 West to the Easter Seal's Mountain Village Camp where I'm thrilled to be one of the camp nurses this summer. I leave in a week, and have everything to do including a call for Jury Duty!


But today, I wanted to make my 200th Geocaching find a special one, so I could move on to find the new ones arriving daily close to home and the new ventures and geocaches that await me near the camp!  Hubby enjoyed the day with me and very sweetly took my picture!


I also wanted to get my first Benchmark and my first ever Earthcache along with the 200th cache all in one day!!!  It took many hours, but it's a goal accomplished!  Here are some photos to enlighten the story.  Some were found right next to the entrance to camp!!!! Who knew???

The local cops like my hat!
Found my 200th Geocache  (GL84YA3V)  west of Idaho Springs, CO in a cemetery!

First Benchmark!  (We tried to clean it with some water.)
(AA53650)

Found close by my 200th cache at 8,316 feet above sea level!
(No, I didn't climb all that.)

My first Earthcache! This was one of those mandatory photos to prove you were there.
All Colorado sunsets are unique and beautiful.

I got my answers to the Earthcache questions from these signs.
Hope I passed the test!

Take Care on the Journey,
Your Geocaching friend,
~Starcatcher55 aka Linda

Wyoming Stones and Possibly Jade From Our Trip

Hubby and I recently took a couple days from Denver to Wyoming on a gemstone hunt. I found a website of a geologist who spent 30 years finding gemstones in Colorado and Wyoming. We drove to places he said we should find something. We came back with a car full of "rocks", but not being a Geologist, we're "stumped" as to what we brought back.


Here are a few photos if anyone knows geology, maybe you can enlighten us.

Our trunk when we got home.

A mystery.

The only one we know. Milky Quartz. I have lots of these. But this is the largest!

What's inside this rock?

Someone said this is what the earth is made of.

Looks like a cave!

An assortment of mystery rocks.

A lovely little green stone...

Neat!

Does anyone think this is Jade?
We were in Jade territory.

It sparkles!

 (Linda Meikle photos)

I'd love to see some comments.

Take Care on the Journey,

~Linda

Sandy's Cache

I love my little sister, and miss her a lot. She and her husband live in Tampa, FL. So I decided to make a cache dedicated to her. She will be so proud!


Day before yesterday, this Rubbermaid container with an almost real bird's nest on top was placed 50 miles away at Estes Park, because Sandy and I had such a grand time there when she came to visit last summer for her birthday. But, alas, it was hidden too close to the medical center there, and we had to drive all the way back up to Estes Park today and remove it.


But, I'm happy to have found a perfect little tree about three blocks from our home (near Lowell Road) at the edge of WalMart parking lot. There's a bike path from this parking lot that goes right by our house! How neat is that?


So we (hubby and I) waited with bated breath tonight for Sandy's Cache to get published!  Our geocache publisher seems to enjoy doing all her publishing about 9 p.m. at night. If one wants to go to bed early because one has to be at work very early in the morning, no luck. I got notice on my iPhone that it was published at 8:30 p.m.


When the notice came out that the hiding spot was approved, and the GPS coordinates came out on the Geocaching website, I got in the car with camera in hand to catch the First to Find (FTF) in photos. 


Earlier, I told my sister that I 'bet' it would be The Golden B's and Chihuahuas-3's. Sure enough, just as I gave up on anyone showing up, and I was leaving the parking lot, here they came! The entire clan of the Golden B's and the Chihuahuas-3's. There were four of them, but the two ladies were running around looking for the cache with their Geo-flashlights. I sat in the car smiling from ear-to-ear as they quickly found the geocache.


"I've been waiting for you an hour." I greeted them cheerfully.  They happily posed so I could take pictures for this website and for my sister, Sandy.


Because my sister absolutely loves the quartz rocks I've found here in Colorado and mailed to her, I placed a large one under the tree for the FTF. 


I plan to add another rock the first week of every month at the cache under the tree, so all Geocachers take note,  and get the chance to be another FTF every month!


Mrs. Golden B especially loved her rock because she collects rocks! I was happy that worked out so nicely.


It was very nice to meet up with some of my favorite Geocachers again.  :)


Here's the story in photos:

 Golden B's and Chihuahuas-3 enjoy being FTF at Sandy's Cache at 9:31 p.m.

"I know there's something good in here!"

Husbands enjoy watching the family fun!

Golden B really loves her quartz rock!
(FTF reward)

Fun was enjoyed by all
TFTC

I always love the messages that are left on the Geocaching website. Geocachers can read the entire comments on the website at www.geocaching.com ("Sandy's Cache")  in Colorado. 
They wrote, "It was nice to see the cache owner and happy to participate in honoring sister Sandy"!

Take Care on the Journey,
Your geocaching friend,
~Starcatcher55 aka Linda

Frog's a Jumpin'! and Friend's a Makin'!

Well yes, here in Colorado and all points east, the frogs are awakening. Crocus are blooming, and Daffodils are starting to spill across the forest floor!


The title of this posting (Frog's A Jumpin'!) is the name of a new Geocache that came out today. Since it was fairly close to home, I hurried over to see if I could be First to Find.  The following is how this cache was described by the geocache owner, "Broncoman61"


"On a beautiful day...the sunset will be awesome and give you a gorgeous view of Croke Reservoir with the mountains far in the background. On an average day...it's still a great view of the reservoir with the mountains far in the background. On a bad day...you might not see the mountains, but the relaxing calm of Croke Reservoir is still worth the view. Take a seat and relax for a bit. You'll be glad you did!"


You can hit me now for not taking a photo, but the strange story is as follows:  "Not FTF but found a new friend at this cache site! When a man walked up to where I was searching, I asked which Geocacher he was. He responded, "What is that?" As I explained what I was looking for, he (being at a lower level than I was), pointed and said, "I see something right there!" ha ha The non-Geocacher found my cache!!!! There's a story with every find!"


The Frog's a Jimpin'! Geocache was not a micro on the bench as I expected. (That's why I pack a small mirror in my geocaching kit.) It is actually like a magnetic business card attached on the bottom of the small trash can that's attached to a pole. 


It's a beautiful 70 degree day here in Denver, CO.  The cats beg to be allowed into the backyard, and the dog wants a very long walk. 

Our previous spring flowers in New Albany, OH (near Columbus)

Hubby has a job interview today at Home Depot. After almost three years of being unemployed, our fingers are crossed!


We hope this day continues to smile on us and all of you! <3 (that's a heart sign online).


Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life
~Linda


Linda's E-mail: geocaching55@yahoo.com

Heard It Through the Grapepine

When this new geocache came out today, I thought I'd be First to Find, because I didn't see any postings on the geo website that anyone had found it yet. Boy, was I wrong.  But, innocence is bliss.


Seems the greater part of the local geocaching community beat me to it an hour earlier!  While I searched up and down for over an hour all alone not finding a speck of it! My GPS said I was 'spot on", but all I saw was a great big pine tree with lots of tiny baby pine cones!


Finally, in desperation, I texted a plea for help on the geo website for the person who had hid it. Nothing. No response! I vowed not to leave that spot until I found it, but I was getting a little worried after an hour had passed. The neighborhood dogs had gotten so used to me that they went back their dog houses thinking that anyone silly enough to walk back and forth around a pine tree for an hour wasn't worth barking at anymore.


As I leaned on a large branch, I happened to look up - higher than before - and there it hung!!!! Way up there much farther than I've EVER climbed a tree! Wow! After all the hints in the posting! After all that time of not looking UP! I felt foolish and frustrated that now I couldn't even reach it. I figured this was a dead end. A disappointing DNF!


Stopping by to replace our Bib and Fibs geocache that has been muggled (stolen!) four times now, I headed home to bewail the Did Not Find to Geo Daddy Jim.


"Climb a tree?"


"Yes, it's way up in a TREE!"


"Why, I can still climb a tree. Let's go!"


The rest of the story is in the photos...

It's up there somewhere. He doesn't see it yet.

Don't catch your pants on the limb!

Success!!!

The bones aren't what they used to be!

Later, I discovered the funny story of how Geocacher, "Lord Mike" was FTF earlier in the day, but was happy to re climb the tree for other Geocachers who needed a hand up there. 


Geo hubby says this might be the last tree he ever climbs, but it was worth the trip for Geo Wifey!


We signed the log and left our swag. 


On the geocaching website, this one is called "Heard it through the grapepine" (case sensitive)


Take Care on the Journey
Your friends in Geocaching,
Starcatcher55 & CatsEye55

The Majestic Rocky Mountains
(Linda Meikle photo)

I absolutely love geocaching in Denver at sunset. I can always look over my shoulder and follow the setting sun as it lights up the majestic peaks with its golden beams of light!

Every sunset is vastly different and unforgettable.

Today was no exception, but there was an additional treat never before seen while gathering numbers in nature that Geocaching provides.

But, let’s follow the story from start to finish

.

View for the Birds (GC2B7C9) is described as the top location for bird watching in the State of Colorado. The East Lake Number 3 is profiled on the United States Geological Service (USGS) Eastlake Topological map, according to information posted on the cache’s website at www/geocaching.com.

It says, “This place can be crowded with good numbers and variety of waterfowl. It also boasts a cattail marsh large enough to host any marsh-loving species. To top it all off, there is a nice patch of thick, second growth cottonwoods to trap migrants. Take the time to read the signs to see what birds and animals you may see.”

Braving a brisk, cool, wind that comes straight from the Rocky Mountain Front Range that we live close to, I found this fairly new, small, Geocache container stuck in between the posts where photos of the birds are located. I was third to sign the log, and I added a small, plastic, yellow toy teddy bear to the container.

Walking back to my car, I noticed a group of a half-dozen boys playing a noisy game of basketball. Then, my cell phone rang, and I was delighted with a call from youngest son checking in with up-to-date news of how his new teaching job is going. (Great!)

As I said bye to youngest son, I noticed that the basketball players had suddenly stopped playing and stood together looking towards the lake I had just come from.

I opened the window to look and listen…

What in the world would stop a bunch of teenagers from an active game of basketball?

Then I saw him! The silhouette of a man walking against the setting sun on the park trail. He was playing a bagpipe! I quickly got out of the car and listened, entranced with the haunting melody of sounds floating across the lake!

Then, grabbing my cell phone (camera), I ran towards the young man who had no idea of all the interest he was attracting.

Taking short cuts across the field, and huffing through the trails, I finally caught up with him and breathlessly asked, “Can I please take your picture for my Geocaching story?”  He smilingly obliged and you can ‘see” the rest of the story.

Bagpiper Ryan poses for the Geocacher

What a stunning treat today. Just imagine with me, the haunting sounds of "Amazing Grace" and the evening, sunset, solitude of a man and his bagpipe.

Take Care on the Journey

Your Geocaching friend,

~Linda aka Starcatcher55