Geocaching Flower Walk

I've found geocaching to usually offer opportunities for plant and wildlife viewing. An evening walk along Interurban Trail didn't disappoint. Four caches, flowers, birds and a bunny. The sweet pea plants are large and holding their own in the growth. The roses are smaller than our wild roses. The last photo is one of the caches on the small side.

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Let's Go With...

Our friend is 4 days into his hike of the Appalachian Trail.  We spent an hour hiking "with" him in spirit today.  He will cover more of the 2,180 miles than we will, that's for sure.

 

 

Through the woods and around the pond /swamp.
 



 Petunia's cousin was out on the trail near the pond.   The AT hiker is likely to see snakes and skunk cabbage too.

Yes, one geocache stop.  This is a fitting travel bug as tree frog singing season is in full force.

 

Back home, I see we have our own critter trail on the east side of the property.

 

Happy New Years Geocache Day

Travel bugs don't fit in this small cache.  The next one had room, though. 

Last cache of the day was a large one on someone's front porch!

Spring Surprise

The travel bug was missing, but this is the first geocache guard hippo we've encountered. 

See posts of geocaching tours here.  Our first explanation of geocaching is here.

Now I simply say - it's like a world wide Easter egg hunt.  People hide stuff and post GPS coordinates and hints on geocaching.com.  Other people try to find the stuff and post comments and photos from the excursion.   There are lots of cool or creative hiding places near and far.

Point Roberts WA

Point Roberts, Washington - it takes two border crossings to get there, and two more to get home, but worth the trip (partly because we had never been there before).   It is about 5 square miles of land, with water on three sides and Canada on the north side.  See this link for a view of it all and how it came about.

We were already in Sumas, WA (and lots of farming and gardening to admire there).  This was our chance to cross the border at Sumas and drive west through Canada to Point Roberts. 

DH - inspecting a likely geocache hiding spot at Lighthouse Marine Park.

There is a small community, a marina and usually a lot of Canadians.  On this Thursday afternoon, there weren't many others around.

Here is a cache DH found at a different spot in the park.   DH will move the travel bug (the lady bug, in this case) to a different cache.  The owner can follow it around the world.

More later from other corners of Point Roberts.

Our Kitchen Time Capsule

Just some of the items found on a convenient kitchen shelf that is supposed to hold only our address book.

2004 We moved into this house
2004 Starbucks Card I was given for a project (I used it today)
2004 Sunflower seeds from Kansas
2005 Seeds from our first, & largest, pumpkin
2006+ Geocaching treasures
2007 Coins from Japan
2008 Ferry schedule
2009 Wisteria pods from Arizona
2010 Pet license tags (the cats refuse to wear them)
2011 Shells, rocks & chestnut from a trip
2012 Iron drops from a foundry
And other assorted seeds, parts and mystery things

What will I find in the junk drawer?

Geocache Recovery

DH had a report that his geocache could not be found so we went to check on it.  There was so much debris in the area, even he couldn't find it at first.  Geocache containers in the NW have a constant battle with moisture problems.  You know he found it in a sad state when he decided to bring it home and dry it out.

This is a side / horse trail we were on.  The main walking/biking path was quite cleared already. 

Winter color along the trail.

Geocaching is the outdoor (most of the time) activity, sort of like a world wide Easter egg hunt.  People hide caches, with travel bugs and other odd artifacts inside, and post the location GPS coordinates and a clue online.  Other people try to find them.  It gives you a great reason to explore places you might not go otherwise.  See Geocaching.com and my Label below for more info.



Rained Out

Our annual New Year's Day geocaching excursion was rained out yesterday. We made it to one, and unsuccessfully searched for another. It was just too wet for our liking.

That's okay. DH only had to look as far as his favorite geocaching bag to find several travel bugs he forgot about. (Guess this means I can start re-giving him presents and he won't notice...) So, he is getting them logged and planning the caches he wants to visit this weekend.

Forest Garden

Today: Rattlesnake Ridge, DH & Visitor.

It is a very nice hike through the forest. As it gets closer to the top, the trail does become more steep (or else we were more tired!). And a little geocache hunting. No, they didn't have to move anything. They are just looking from all angles!

Welcome New Geocacher

We have a visitor this week. On her first day, she was introduced by DH to some local geocaches. Other than this one being a big bug, it seems to have been a successful first day out!

I was fascinated with this slug munching clover along the trail. Guess he reminds me of seeing goats and sheep standing on their hind feet to reach the (apparently) more tasty treats overhead.

I'll have some photos from the SAGBUTT arboretum tour later. There was lots of tree inspiration going!

Alternative Views

DH & I had a little (geocaching) hike on a recent evening. I gave up trying to photograph the evening sunlight filtering through the trees or the colors in the forest.

But, I liked this rather accidental shot. It was something else that caught my attention. Whatever it was, I'm glad it did.

Geocaching Uncovered

Geocaching mascot, Signal, at the Pacific Science Center for the opening day of GPS Adventures.

See this link for more official information about the exhibit/maze now open through May 3rd.

Sure, the maze covers the important technology behind GPS and the roles it plays in our lives (i.e. not just driving instructions), but it is also about Geocaching!

Don't worry. You can find the Pacific Science Center on most maps, without relying on the coordinates.
This is an overview of the maze with past, present & future possible uses of GPS technology, overlaid with assorted elements of geocaching. Fortunately, there were some kids in there with us who could show us how to reset the doors so we could enter our codes. Otherwise, we might still be in there. Just missed the bundled up little boy, dodging water during the changing fountain routines.

Outside McCaw Hall. I love the trees in the background, but forgot to get a closer look when we returned this way. See the wet pavement? It is more than just the rain that day. It is a sheet of water that runs from the benches to the drain on the left side. The temptation to splash through some of the water is more tempting than most can resist. Plus, it has a nice running water sound to it.

New Blend Found by GPS

Ahhh... NOW I can make those early morning cache runs (or flash mobs)!

(It's a trackable geocaching coin.)

Garden Tours by GPS

Our traditional New Year's Day geocaching excursion took us to the end of the runways this year. The landings weren't bad, but one departing flight looked like it might trim some trees!

And also to a neighborhood botanical garden... with a frozen garden pond. Brrr!

...and with interesting growth on the log arbor. Above, the bottom of one log.

Above, the side of the log. It was quite overcast and I didn't have much luck capturing the growth all along both sides (didn't help that it was well above my head). Maybe I'll be back that way for another try.

As it my fingers get cold (& gloves lost) when I take off gloves to use the camera. I thought I'd try my favorite gardening gloves. They worked, but they didn't help for warmth! They were surprisingly cold. Finally, the best of both worlds. Fleece gloves over garden gloves for warm. Garden gloves only for photo attempts.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

The Anniversary Decoder

What? You didn't know? Now there is just the gift for the 21st year!

The Pocket Decoder Geocoin. DH's honey-do list will never be the same!

It will stay with me and check in and out of caches or events I visit.

You can follow its travels at this link.

Blossom II - The New & Improved Travel Bug

Blossom I was a sweet Geocaching Travel Bug I sent out to see the world two years ago. Unfortunately, the geocaching world proved too much for a butterfly, and she has been lost.

Meet Blossom II - a slug eating pterodactyl! May she have a long life on the garden tour.

Here is her link to watch her travels: Blossom II
Here is the original Blossom and information about Geocaching: Blossom I

While we had only a little rain during our outing yesterday, we did run in to some mud, by the Green River. DH tried jumping across the spot, but lost a shoe! But, then he pulled off a great yoga move and didn't get his sock muddy! Mud was a clue, though, so we knew we must be close.Came across this massive stump, now a nurse log to a replacement tree.
And finally, at the end of a rope, down a natural hole, we found the cache.

While I like to cache this time of year when the undergrowth is tamed down some, the massive maple leaves have buried everything. Hence the handy poking stick I mentioned in the last post.