Today was my last (for now anyway) Friday of working in the morning, caching in the afternoon. I won't be working on Fridays with rare exceptions unless my schedule changes again. Anyway, since I've had several nice "numbers run" caching days lately, I decided to go for quality over quantity today. My count was 4 of 6 - total count is up to 1663.
First cache was on the way to Aman Park, my planned destination. Nothing special about the cache itself, but it was supposed to provide a view of an eagle's nest with baby eagles getting ready to fly. I found the cache easily, but unfortunately couldn't catch a glimpse of the nest.
Anyway, on to Aman Park. I had four caches on my list: finishing a 2 stage multi I'd been working on for a year, a 4 stage multi, a single stage cache, and another single stage cache that involved a long hike. The 4 stager was closest, so headed that way. GPS reception was spotty at best. Finally got to the first stage and couldn't find it, even with the clue. Oh well. On to the next cache, the single stager. Took a lot of bushwhacking and different trails, but somehow finally ended up in the right place and the find was easy. Checked my GPS and thought I could get to the long hike cache. Ended up at a dead end with "no trespassing" signs. Had to turn around and head back. I'm sure the young couple picnicing along the trail wondered what the heck I was doing!
Decided to go for the 2 stager that I'd started last year - all I needed was the final. I really have no idea how I got there, but finally did. Again, lots of bushwhacking and different trails as the GPS reception was bouncing all over. From there, decided to go back to the car. So after another hike, made it to the car. Took a short break and decided to go for the long hike cache after all since it was "only" about a half mile away. Yeah, that was like the crow flies. The cache page suggested that I follow one trail, which was an easier walk but definitely longer. Finally made it to the right area and discovered I'd have to cross a creek. Looked for a shallower area, found one a few hundred feet downstream. Decided to just cross in my sneakers as they are really old ones anyway and I did have dry socks and spare shoes in the car. Well "shallow" still had me up to my knees but I made it across. Unfortunately I couldn't find the cache so finally decided to cross back over to the other side of the creek. I followed the creek a little ways and did get a lot closer. But the cache was supposed to be in plain sight and I didn't see it. I was getting too tired to cross that creek again, plus I couldn't tell the depth as easily and was afraid it was going to be deeper than I wanted it to be. So, even after the long walk, didn't get the cache. It happens sometimes. About 20 minutes walk (3/4 mile) back to the car.
It was getting later in the afternoon but still had two caches at Grand Valley I wanted to do. Since I was only 3 miles from GVSU at this point, decided to go for them anyway. The first was a 4 stage cache on a nature trail from the Calder Art Center - a very well done cache with metal tags for coords and an ammo can final. With the scenic walk, just the way all caches should be. I was getting pretty tired by this point, though, and glad the walk wasn't any longer.
The last cache was also a 4 stager, first stage involved getting some info off the campus map sign in a certain place. I got the info, but it didn't fit in at all, didn't make sense. If I'd updated the cache printout, I'd have known that the sign had been changed so the cache info needed had needed to be changed. So didn't get that one.
Headed for home and a quiet evening. I have a Wood Badge committee meeting tomorrow morning, Steve is going on a ride with some Gold Wing friends so I'll possibly get in some caching after the meeting. The ride was last minute, he just got called tonight. If not for the meeting (and as the treasurer of the association I can't get out of the meeting) I'd probably be going with him.
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