The rest of the story...

Couldn't resist trying a short but sweet post previously. Of course there is more to the story than that!

Picked up my friend in Lowell at 1 p.m., then headed towards Belding. Stopped along the way to do a cache out in the country, then made it to Belding. Went east of town to pick up some caches, then headed north. Was almost to a cache when the road was closed due to water issues (we've had lots of rain.) Remembering Eric's bad decision with high water and the (old) outback, we opted to take another road. Good decision. Got that cache, then arrived at the next one. Had to walk a short while for this one, it was in a pretty precarious spot. Had my friend wait on the path, didn't want to have to explain to her husband why I was not bringing her home from our adventure! Another caching family arrived as we were trying to figure out the best way to get to the cache (we'd spotted the likely location by then.)

After they told us to watch out for snakes, the Mrs. in the group got to the likely location first, pulled away the wood covering, and found the cache. However, she was reluctant to stick her hand down that hole because of aforementioned snakes, so guess who volunteered.... all the while I kept saying, please don't let there be snakes in this hole, please don't let there be snakes in this hole. Normally that doesn't bother me too much but the thought was too fresh in my mind! Steep climb back to the path but we made it.

Went on to do a bunch more caches in and around Belding, a nice variety of containers but not as much hiking as I'd have liked to have shown my friend. Had one park on the list but by the time we got to it, was getting late and it was time to head home. There were three caches in that park, a multi and two regular caches. I'd done the multi and one of the regulars, but it would have been fun to watch my friend look.

Home alone tonight - Steve is working late and Eric is working. He had his orientation at Grand Valley today, I'm hoping he has everything straightened out for his classes as Summer Session starts next Monday.

One good night's sleep does not begat another -- couldn't turn off the thought process and ended up on the couch so I could read myself to sleep.

Found out my mom and aunt went to Versailles yesterday -- it was fun reliving my own visit. Think they had nicer weather, hope the statues outdoors were uncovered - but more crowded than it was a month ago. They get to Paris tomorrow, then home in another week or so.