MIC Day 6 - Friday

MIC Day 6 – Friday, July 27, 2012


An overcast morning greeted us again here at MIC. After a “McMuffin” type of breakfast, I had my toes re-taped. This time my “doc” was an international staffer – he had trouble finding the tape but finally got the job done. He did not tape my toes together, just covered the blisters and hot spots. That was ok by me! Blisters seem about the same tonight, though I’m not taking the tape off as I’m going to wait to shower and there’s no other reason to take it off. My feet are sore but that’s to be expected after six straight days of one or more two mile walks.

Our first group today, Huron, was from East Lansing; Economy, Pennsylvania; Puebla, Mexico; and Egypt. We had received a “heads up” from their commissioner that the Egypt group generally took their time going anywhere and marched to their own tune. So this should be interesting…. We got started without too much delay. As we were beginning to break into groups, the rains started coming down. Tom and I were staying back so that we could set up the advanced course. We set up six caches, including a two stage multi using my magnetic nut and bolt. As the groups came back, we determined that one GPS receiver was missing. Apparently one of the Egyptian leaders had it – and had gone back to camp with it instead of staying with the group. We kept the entire group while someone went back to their camp to retrieve it.

Lunchtime was rainy, so it was under the canopy for the first time this week. We had welcomed our last group – Mohawk. These were scouts from Bath & DeWitt, MI; Gastonia, NC; and Essex, England. Then we did the regular intro and headed out. Mohawk is the camp next door to geocaching, so we made a quick stop at their camp and then headed out. It poured most of the way – trails are getting muddy and full of puddles. Gave up on the poncho hood as it restricted my visibility and also muffled hearing just a bit. Dripping wet from the neck up, but everything else was protected. Back to camp and then we got ready for the advanced course.

We had less than a dozen scouts come during the open program period for the advanced course. We had them find one cache at a time, then the final which was the two stage multi. Pathtags were in the final stage. Went to dinner after the end of open program – hamburgers, mac salad, and pudding.

I convinced Tom & Mike to let me stay back from evening open period so that I could go to the other patch trading session. They didn’t have many come to Geo HQ for advanced course, so it worked out. And it ended up that Patrick volunteered to walk the regular course and pick up the containers, so we won’t have to do that tomorrow morning.

Patch trading tonight was fun. I started out at a table, but then decided to walk around. Commissioner Mary saw me and asked if I would trade some patches for her, trying to get international patches. I agreed to do so but then realized it would be best to go back to a table as then people could choose what they wanted a bit better. I was able to get some more patches that I really liked, including patches from Ireland and a Hungarian contingent patch. Nice!

Then back to the cabin for some rest and relaxation. Most people are out at campsites for campfire programs. I probably could have gone to one but since it was mainly for the contingents, I didn’t worry about it.

Tomorrow brings the international festival from 11-4. So I have a mostly free day – we do have to finish packing up our geocaching supplies and hope that someone can help us bring them back down to the housing area. Can’t get our cars until Sunday morning.

Looking forward to an interesting and less physically demanding day!