Day 97 Diabetic Style - Dublin

It is10:30am, we just rolled into town at 2:30am.  I have been up for a while now. Takoda got up early of course. We were hoping he would be getting up a little later today. Not him though. I had to get him out of the room so as he would not wake Niki. We took KC for a walk, then got our complimentary breakfast. When we got back to the room. Niki was ready to leave. We figured we could do Diabetic Style -Dublin, by boula and boulette on the way to Niki's mother. We found the cache quickly, signed the cache log, re hid the cache, and then continued on our way...

Day 96 Cool Cat - Kitty Litter (GCX69B)

I know the post date says the 31st. That is when I wrote the blog 3am in the morning after a long drive from my current home, to my former home. We grabbed the Cool Cat- Kitty Litter cache by Fitzy, on our way out of state. It was a quick find on a guard rail on the edge of a section of 219. Niki and Takoda found it. Takoda was excited. We signed the log book charged onward into our Journey....

Day 95 River Valley Surplus Cache (GCWZ5B)

  We are beginning to travel further for our caches. Today we found River Valley Surplus Cache, by Happydancer 123. We were originally going to do the Winery at Wilcox cache. It was a no go though. The cache description asked anyone going to seek the cache out to be respectful of the property. The winery grounds was well landscaped and Niki and I truly felt that any searching on our part would constitute not being respectful of the property. It was sad but we decided to go to the next closest cache.
   The cache sight had good parking, and plenty of space for KC to run. KC and I were the first one up the hill and the cache jumped right out at me. I was worried too cause the cache hint said something like between the rocks. Up in Kane you can't really get to any rocks because of all the snow.. Here between Ridgeway and Johnsonburg.. What snow. The ground was thinly blanketed. There was no digging involved. After locating the cache I told Niki I found it and handed her the GPS. "Give it ago I said." Her and Takoda quickly found the cache. Takoda was asking for help, "I can't get the handle" Novalee and I helped him with it. I popped open the container and grabbed the log book while the kids looked throught the goodies. Soon all the trading was done, we re hid the cache and headed home.

Day 94 ANF 12 Micro (GC1CEM1)

    ANF 12 Micro by Pegasis was a pretty fun cache. Oh it was not a hard cache to find. We drove out we parked and I located it very quickly. After ward the fun began. We walked up the trail leading into the Allegheny National Forest. That is til we heard a gun shot in the distance. Even though we were all ablaze in our hunter orange we decided not to go too deep in.
   We got KC excited playing with sticks. I think Novalee started it. KC was not interested in her little stick so I showed Novalee how it was done. I got a bigger stick and KC just got so excited when I trhew it. KC went after it of course. He picked it up in his mouth and charged on past me daring me to pluck it out of his mouth. The first two passes he got past me. He would turn and then run towards Niki daring her to pluck the stick from his mouth. Then he would charge back towards and pass me. He was haveing a blast until I managed to pluck the stick from his mouth. He was shocked. I tossed the stick and he would go after the stick and start the game again. 
    Takoda and Novalee got into the action. We all had a great time.

Day 93 Chocolate Trail 2 Wine Cache (GC1DBT2)

Working days again. Weather is is overcast. Flurries rule the sky. It is cold out. Cold and windy. Happy winter. We decided on Chocolate Trail 2 Wine Cache by 2climb because it looked like it would be quick and easy. It was to the cache was at the Allegheny Wine store off route 6. We pretty much drove right to the cache. The kids and Niki stayed in the fan while I signed the log then we headed home.

Day 92 Highland (GC1ZMXF)

     Highland by Squirt Pearl Maggie was a fast cache. We traveled down 66  til we reach route 948. We were kinda in the middle of no where, but Niki and I knew where we were. We had been this way a few times on some bum cache hunts. Turns out this cache was in a local cemetery. I located the cache before the kids had all been unloaded from the van. I signed the log book. Then we walked the dog around the area, and headed out.

Day 91 Lower Gibbs Cache (GC247RA)

   Merry Christmas Straypoet, and thank you for the Lower Gibbs Cache.. Today the weather was over cast. We had had a good Christmas morning. We visited with neighbors, then we found a cache to seek and headed out. The kids were kind of upset to leave. They had little choice.  Poor things. We followed route 6 until we reached Gibbs road. Then we drove to within 200 feet of the cache. We found a good place to park. We left the four way flashers on in the van. Niki decided to bush whack. KC and I found a gated trail warning off tress passers. So we tress passed. At least I wasn't going to get my feet wet from the little brook that flowed between me and my cache.  
  As I got close to the cache I decided to unhook KC. He ran towards Takoda, Novalee, and Niki who were fording the brook. They caught up to me as I was figuring out that the cache must be in front of me somewhere. There was this rock which a tree had decided to grow on top of it. The roots dangled off the rock until piercing the ground a good eight feet from the trunk of the tree. This was a very neat sight in a very relaxing section of wood. The cache hint indicated that this was what I was looking for.
   The cache was frozen in place beneath a smaller rock. We found the cache. Then we managed to open the cache. I signed the log and we headed home.

Day 90 Ham 7 (GC1MP7C)

    Merry Christmas Eve everyone.   Kids are all tucked in bed, with dreams of sugar plums in their heads...  We settled on Ham 7  by Dadidida after attempting picture perfect. Picture perfect did not go so well. This is a pretty area. I would have loved to find the cache here. Unfortunately it did not happen. KC enjoyed the area though so going there was not a complete lost. After picture perfect we decided on a Ham cache. We love ham... lol
    The Ham 7 cache was on the edge of Arby's parking lot. Stuck tight on a guard rail. The guard rail was buried under a couple feet of snow. I dug a bit but found the cache.

Day 89 Air Day Travel Bug Express (GCYMMQ)

  Air Day Travel Bug Express by Witchiepoo 62 and Ghostfinder was a good choice for today. We were looking to find a larger sized chache so the kids could trade for items. I also knew this cache was at the Bradford International airport. I thought the kids might be fascinatated at seeing a plane or two take off.
   We drove down to the  airport. We took a back road that connects route 219 with route 59. The road is a narrow snow covered road. At one point we met a fellow traveler on the road. When we tried to pull off to the side of the road part of the nose of our car went into a ditch... Whew! We were able to back out of the ditch. I continuted driving.
   Originally we were going to attempt a diferent cache. When we got near the cache and dicided to pull the car over to park. I ended up in another ditch. Again luckily we were able to back out onto the road. This is when we decided to go to the airport for sure.
   At the airport we found a picnic area that overlooked the entire airport. The cache was in this picnic area. We found the cache very quickly. Then we explored the area slowly. It was great! We watched one plane take off. Novalee was mesmerized. "The Plane is fast", she would tell me.

Day 88 Ham 17 (GC2EJY3)

    Worked til 5 today. Work schedule changed to days til after the Holidays. Niki and I got the kids geared up then we headed towards Smethport to do Ham 17, by Dadidida. Niki parked the van about 300 feet from the cache. I crossed the street and walked along the guard rail until I was within 3 feet of the cache. The cache was easy to find even though I searched with flash light. I signed the log and we finished up.

Day 87 Grass is Always Greener (GC1DTMN)

   Working an on odd shift this week. Well day shift which I guess is not so odd for most of us. But it is very odd to me, and today is the day with the least sun light of the year. Add it all together and we can say I was worried whether or not I would get the cache in today. I did get one in. I came home after work and we got the kids ready... Uh thank you Niki. Then we headed out towards Hazelhurst.
   Hazelhurst is a nice place. We decided on the The Grass is Always Greener Cache, by Glendorn because it was described as a quick fun cache, and it was in Hazelhurst... We love this town. They have a park with a pond in it. We brought the kids here to fish last spring. The cache was in that very same park. What a coincidence. We parked the van Takoda and I got out. I started looking for Takoda's gloves. Niki said she would take care of it. While she was doing that I figured I would get a head start on the cache hunt. I had KC with me. Leashed, as this was a public space. I kinda stumbled across the cache. I showed it to Niki, "That was fast." She was saying as I looked for a pencil to sign the log book with. By the time I had the book signed Niki, Takoda and KC were heading towards the distant playground. Novalee hung back with me. We re-hid the cache and joined the others.... What a great way to spend the first day of winter....

Day 86 Route 6 Rest (GCPX69)

   Route 6 Rest by The "E" Team was a pretty quick cache. We headed over to Mt Jewit around 1pm. We spent most of the morning taking care of presents. Packing them in if it fits it ships boxes, and writing on the back of photographs. It did not leave too much time for geo cacheing. We took what time we had and made the best of it.
    When we got to Mt Jewit Novalee let us know she had to go potty. We stopped off at Cafe Sol. I waited in the van while Niki helped Novalee with natures call. As I sat in the van I looked across the street at the Post Office and said to my self why not. I grabbed the boxes, Steadied them using my chin and walked across the street to the Post Office and mailed out the packages. When I got back to the van everyone was ready so we drove on to the cache location
    We parked at a nice little rest area. Most of the tables were graced the flat areas in and around the hills around the parking area, which was nicely plowed. Novalee found a nice little gazebo that she enjoyed playing in. Niki in I climbed up the hill and counted down the footage between us in the cache. When we got close we read the hint. "In a hollowed out log" there was many of them. We looked for about 10 minutes before finding cache. We found it. I signed the log and we headed home.

Day 85 101 Dalmations #70 (GC28T36)

  Day 85, wow, and so close to the Holidays.... Been pooring through pictures on the computer most of the morning. We are doing something with pictures this Holiday season. The process is getting tedious. It was getting late. I needed to have some of the pictures printed out. Oh and of course there is always last minute shopping. Niki and I had a brilliant idea. She would go take KC for a walk while I go on geocacheing.com to see if there was any quick Bradford caches. Sweet there was. In fact more then a handful of caches was on or around the Walmart parking lot.
   We drove to Walmart in Bradford. Constrution on rte 219 is finished.  It took us about 36 minutes to get within 265 feet of the cache. We parked. I looked up and in the direction the cache was on. Yeah. the cache was up on a ridge. I looked up the cache notes on the GPS.  The description said stick to the trail. We walked around to the back of the store looking for a trail. We found it just in back of the dumpsters. The ground was snow covered but the snow was not too deep. I carried Novalee on my shoulders we followed the trail until we lost it. Then we walked in a drainage trench that was built along the top of the ridge. Niki had fallen behind. I looked back and it seemed she was playing with her shoe. She could have been frustrated? She had a chance to back out of this cache. I did too we chose to go on so I pushed forward looking for a likely spot where the cache might be hid. I kind of knew what to expect as this was our second 101 Dalmations cache. This one being #70 in that series of caches. Niki had the GPS so it was guess work for me. I set Novalee down. She stood for a second then fell forward breaking her fall with her hands on the cold snow. She got upset but it passed quickly.
  I started digging around a log. Poking around in likely places. Then walked back towards Niki and Takoda. "You guys comeing..?" Niki called from in the woods above. "We are comeing hold your horses, We are comeing." Yep she was anoyed. Oh well We started hunting for the cache. She handed me the GPS and I got within 0 feet of it. I noticed a trail further away from the ridge and directed the children to stand on the trail. They were more then happy too. Takoda though took the opportunity to tell me it was too cold to be here. "Too cold"
   Niki and I dug and poked around this log for about 10 minutes. Then Niki asked for the GPS. The readings had changed. We were now 30 feet from the cache, even though we had not moved. Niki pointed over to two other logs that could be hiding the cache. Both were hollowed out creating great natural hiding places for caches. I explored the closest one and promptly uncovered the cache. We were very excited. Niki and the kids posed as I took a picture of them with the cache. Niki then took some pictures of Bradford. The view is very impressive way up here. Then they started back, while I signed the log with a pen that did not want to write in the cold. I did manage to sign the log then tucked the log back into the container. Then oops I did not get the name of the Dalmatian.... I opened the container pulled the log back out and unrolled it looking for the name. Got it. Put everything back in place then raced down the trail to catch up to my fam....

Day 84 Mikey Mouse's 4 Corners (GCVYNC)

  Mikey Mouse's 4 Corners by Mikey Mouse was a fun little cache. We found the cache fast, we are loving this road. It cuts through some very pretty back country. On the way too the cache we stopped off at the cache we did yesterday so Takoda could trade for something. It was kind of neat, in a clandestine way. We pulled over I reached into the hollow of a tree and pulled out a container.... It really felt like magic. After I put the doll cache back. We continued on to our destination. When we got to the four corners we scouted for a good parking place. We parked and I headed straight to the cache.. :) I had to dig it out and my hands were a little to big, but I got it and signed the log. Then the five of us just played. It was a great moment of a great day.

Day 83 Dolls of Guffy (GC1X62T)

    Day 83 and another proper cache. We continued on with the road we left off on.yesterday. Or we regressed. I have know idea why I by-passed Dolls of Guffy by Witchiepoo 61 and Ghostfinder yesterday. But we did. Today we rectified that.
    Another overcast day. There was a couple more inches of snow on the ground today. The road we were on had not even been plowed. We pushed on though and even managed to find parking near the cache. I got out and let KC run. This is a low traffic area so it was safe. Then I actually walked a full circle while the GPS tried to make up its mind where the cache was. It came down to one side of the road or the other. Then the GPS decided it was on the right side of the road. So while I was playing with my GPS Niki says. "That tree looks like a perfect hiding place." She be-lined  it for the tree and started digging snow out its hollowed out trunk. I watched her for a second and said, "You found it didn't you." She did not answer which was an answer in and of itself cause she was working the tree pretty intensely. Then she said "Yeah but I can't get it to move it is frozen in there." Metaphorically I rolled up my sleeves as Niki stepped aside and I worked the cache container out. It was a plastic coffee can filled with pretty little dolls. Novalee was very excited. She found the perfect doll then we traded gingy, a Shrek toy for it. I signed the log book then we drove up to the Barrel House to make breakfast with Santa reservations for tomorrow morning.

Day 82 101 Dalmations #103 (GC28T4Y

   Ha, ha, 101 Dalmations # 103 by Mat-Kat+1 was not a dash and cache. I almost feel like I am getting my groove back. We took Duffy road off of route 219. This is definately a back woods sort of road. Very scenic and hilly an not so salted or sanded. We drove carefully and enjoyed the scenery. Every thing was white. The trees were frosted the sky was blue. Yep blue skies... Yay! Eventually got close enough to the cache to park.
   The GPS lead me to within 6 feet of the cache. We hunted around for a bit. We were sorta in the triangle clearing where two roads meet. KC went right up to the cache. So I dug in the snow in that area. Not finding cache I wandered off then KC was back at that spot on the other side. Again I investigated. Still nothing so i wanered away again. Niki was poking around near the wood edge and Novalee was just enjoying the snow until her boot fell off. That got the old drama flowing. Niki tended her and then Novalee sorta just stood still while Niki and rutted around digging in the snow around a fallen log. Niki came over to the spot I KC and I had investigated earlier. She tried pulling up a stick. It did not budge and she wandered off. I came back to the same spot and gave the stick I might heave and it cam loose. I dug around through the snow that was underneath the stick and I spotted a hunter orange cylinder. Ah ha it was the cache we sought. Strangely there was a black zip tie around it. The cylinder was attached to something. I dug the whole package out. How cute it was attached to a Datamation statuette. Unbelievable! Niki and I got a real kick out of this. It was about then that Novalee turned up her drama volume. She had to go answer natures call. We tried explaining to her that we were heading home and she could go there. She would not hear it. She stayed agitated awhile. I signed the log and we raced home to tend Novalee's needs...

Day 81 Ham 4 (GC1KBK9)

   Can you believe it another snowy day in western PA. Ham 4 by Dadidida was another in a series of Ham caches. I love Ham lol...  I am grateful that there are so many cache and dash caches in the area. It makes geo cacheing in the winter a lot easer. Especially when I have time restriction. I apologize though, these cache and dashes does not leave a lot to write about.
   This cache was along the side of route 219 going towards Bradford. As we approached the cache I asked Niki if she would drop me off before turning around to park on the other side of the road. I don't think she heard because we just whisked on by. We turned around and parked. I crossed the road and found the cache quickly. I signed the log book and we went on to enjoy the adventure that was the rest of our day.

Day 80 The Sign Remedy (GC11K4D)

   This was an over cast cache and dash. I did not know that the Sign Remedy by Withiepoo_61 and Ghostfi... was going to be such a quickie. It was though and considering how cold it was this was a good thing. We drove up route 219 towards Bradford. We were able  to park near the cache local. I got out of the van and walked to within zero feet of the cache. I was curious where the gps would take me. Because of the name of the cache I knew it was in or around the near by Allegheny National Forest sign. I ended up walking 65 feet away from the sign. The GPS said I was zero feet away from it. So I walked up to the sign and with in minutes located the cache, then signed the log book. We then went across the street to Mead Run road and walked KC.

Day 79 Ham 3 (GC1KBK8)

   Teehee, another quickie. It is a good thing to. Today was COLD and overcast. Novalee did not even have to get out and be submerged in this frigid weather. On days like this cache and dash is good. Parking was not a problem. GPS was dead on for a change. I had to dig the cache out but that was not a problem. I signed the log and then we took KC for a walk in Whetmore township. I tell you what we weren't warm for long. KC did his business quickly which was a good thing. We were all happy to get back home and out of the COLD....

Day 78 Ham 16 (GC2EJY2)

    Ham 16 by Dadidida was a nice cache. This was the second time I've atempted this one. The first time I could not find a parking place near the cache. It has been raining today washing away some of the snow, so now I can  park on the side of the road. Yay. Niki the kids I loaded into the van and we drove for a bit. I guess I kind of cheated myself with this cache. I had a feeling it was a cache and dash, and I was right. Niki and I got out of the vehicle and found the cache with  in minutes. It being Sunday I should have sought a more challenging cache. It was a good day though. I signed the log book and we found a nice place to walk KC properly. We even had some fun in the snow before I left for work. Sigh. Life is good.

Day 77 Sylvesters Micro (GC1BNJ7)

Another day. It is clear. The sky is blue. No snow falls. None. It is comfortable out side. We are all charged with a playful energy. We head out. All of us. It looks like there is a easy cache on Longhouse Scenic Drive. Who knows might have lots of pretty scenery in the winter. We drove on by. The road is not maintained in the winter. I started looking for another likely cache already loaded in my GPS. Sylvesters Micro by Pegasis seemed it might fit the bill. So we drove on until the GPS said we were close. Drove by about 200 feet looking for a good pull over point. We found one on the other side of the road. The nose of the van facing traffic. Which wigs me out by the way. The van though was fully on the right side of the white line so I tried to forget it.
   We were at Elijah's boat launch. The kids and Niki took KC down the hill towards the water. I headed too the cache. I had a sneaky feeling it might be on the guard rail. I poked around a bit and came up with the cache. Then walked back to the van to find a pen to sign the  log book. Eventually I re-hid the cache and then joined in the winter fun the rest of the family was having down below.

Day 76 Civil War Vet Revisited (GC1V5Z0)

Winter geo cacheing. A different animal. The biting cold. The white ground that absorbs my every step. The icy slick ground that doesn't. The caches hidden in the best of conditions. Now hidden even better with the aid of layers of snow.
    Our first cache attempt was in the Gibs cemetery.  The cache was near a rhododendron bush. My GPS thought so anyhow. The snow was over knee high for me. It came up to Novalee's chin. KC would not go any where until I broke a path. While hunting for the cache, Niki circled the bush. I dug out a couple of grave markers. After a little bit Niki and I came to the same conclusion lets go look for different cache. We headed back to the van.
    Our second cache attempt was Civil War Vet Revisited by Pegasis. By now Novalee was getting pretty up set. She had to go to the bathroom. She had gone what seemed to me just a few minutes ago. Besides sometimes she will tell us she has to go potty to force our hand in going home. We found this out not so long ago. I was shocked. Niki was like duh! So I did not put much weight into her potty needs. I figured it would blow over.
    This was suposed to be a cache and dash. So Niki and I left Novalee and KC in the van, and began our hunt. Poor Novalee must have really had to go, cause by now she was screaming, "I got to go Potty, I got to go pee"  I ignored her with a heavy heart and ended up further and further away from the Van. Niki called out to me. "Is the cache really that far from the road" I called back, "I really don't know, Right now I'm resetting the fracken GPS."     "Ok, I'm getting Novalee then.."
    It wasn't long before I heard the jangle of KC's collar. Niki and Novalee came up to me as I was closing on the cache. Niki helped Novalee partially undress. I held Novalee in a sitting like position so she could answer natures call. Then Niki buttoned Novalee back up. In the meantime I was digging around a big rock. The GPS said I was close. The hint implied it was near a rock. I was digging. I almost gave up on this spot when my gloved hand slid off a smooth metallic surface. "I think I found it" I said. I lost it momentarily then found the cache again and dug it out. Novalee was in a much better mood now. She was being cute and she was helping me dig. Once uncovered, the cache was an ammo box. We opened it up. I signed the log book. We traded my favorite pen for a Christmas wreath tree decoration, then we headed home.

Day 75 Let the Stairs Guide You Cache (GCQXK8)

    Another late start on a over cast flurrying day. Niki, Novalee, KC, and I left the house around 12:30. We had a little difficulty getting pointed in the right direction. Eventually however we were driving towards the cache. Route 321 was still snow covered. We drove slow. We were looking for bliss hill road. For those of you who know the lay of the land it is the left hand turn off just after Bob's Trading post. Great place to pick up a wedgie if you are ever in the area. Bliss hill was very well maintained. The road crews sanded and salted. We were able to drive up Bliss hill with confidence. We drew near the cache then drove past it scouting for a good parking place. No such luck however so we parked on the side of the road and put the four way flashers on. We had parked at a set of stairs that are part of the north country stairs. I asked Niki if she didn't mind waiting in the car with Novalee and KC while I headed up to the cache. She looked at me and smiled I can go. I looked back saw that she was serious. So I was like why not and handed her the GPS. She disapeared up the stairs. I got out of the van to dig ice out of the wheel wells. The ice build up looked pretty dangerous to me. Niki came back down the stairs a few minutes later handing me the micro cache container smiling. I signed the caches log book while Niki continued on with my good work on the wheel wells. She then returned the cache, and headed out to look for a great place to walk KC.

Day 74 Wildcat Park (GCQXJV)

    The Wildcat Park cache by Wiz&Mol was a great choice today. It has been snowing for days now. I have been having a heck of a time finding places to park near the caches. When I saw this cache I was thinking Wildcat park... They have winter events over there, so the parking lot is probably plowed. With that in mind I got the mighty geo dog KC boarded onto the van and we headed out.
   On a day like today slow and steady wins the race. Eventually I arrived at Wildcat park. Yay, not only was the parking lot plowed. The roads that wind through out the park were also plowed. This was happiness for me. I drove into the park for the first time. I've wanted to check out this park for a while. A cache within its fenced boundaries was a great excuse. The park is very impressive. Snow covered picnic tables and gazebos grace the landscape. There is even a baseball field. The gazebos looked like giant mushrooms. I found a place to park about 300 feet from the cache. I opened up the back of the van and let KC out. I did not even bother with the leash. He jumped out and slid his four feet going in every which way. I looked at him trying to stifle my laughter. KC actually looked embarrassed. I have never met an animal with so much facial expressions. Once he recovered we began to walk. It was nice walking along a plowed road. Eventually the cache was 50 feet away, so off into the knee deep snow we went. The snow fall picked up. It was very close to a white out. KC stayed behind he was literally on my heels. The GPS counted down to 0. I was close to the cache and began feeling around for it. A few moments later I made the cache discovery. I signed the log book. Then I decided to explore the park and give KC a chance burn off some energy.

Day 73 Crossroads (GCQWGA)

   Wow, it is still snowing? I have discovered that finding winter caches are easy... So far. However finding a good  parking place near the cache can be daunting. Keeping this in mind I was unable to pursue the first cache I was closed in on. I drove past the cache location looking for a place where I could turn the van around. Getting stuck was not on my agenda. So I am glad I didn't. I found a nice plowed out road I could turn around at 5 miles past the my first choice. I continued on after confirming there was no place near to pull over.
    My second choice was closer to home at the cross roads in Lance Corners. I hoped there would be parking. It was my luck. There was, so the Crossroads by Biddlebeach was a good second choice. I parked and began walking. The GPS silently counted down the distance as I approached the cache. The snow was waist high in some places.  The wind here was intense, almost knocking me over. I came to within 30 feet of the cache, decided I could get closer and then approached within zero feet. I thought I was looking for a micro cache so I brushed the snow off the tree. I must have looked funny standing waist deep in snow dusting off a tree. It soon became apparent that the cache was not in the tree. I walked  further away from the tree and performed the same operation on a different tree. Nope not in that one. So I walked back to the first tree. This cache was definitely not in the tree. I started digging around the base of the tree, and there the cache was in plain sight after clearing 2.5 feet of snow off it. I signed the log book and trudged back through the snow too the much warmer van.

Day 72 Cabin Fever Blues #6 (GC1NTJV)

I think there is 3 feet of snow on the ground. I guess this is why Pegasis started the Cabin Fever series of GeoCaches. Driving was slow. Visibility was low. I drove us out there and past the cache location. Turned around at Bob's Trading Post.... A great pizza joint. Then found a place to pull over near the cache. Our final resting place was about 130 feet away from the cache.  I was kind of nervous about where I parked the van. I was not 100% sure I could get the old girl moving again. I would find out soon enough though. So Niki and I left the warmth of the van to go and find the cache. We had to cross the road. The GPS lead us towards the guard rails on the other side of the road. Once I was within 13 feet of the cache I spotted it quickly. Niki also spotted the cache at about the same time. Yeah but I saw it first lol... I signed the log book. Then we went back to the van to see what we could do about getting out of where we parked..

Day 71 Bus-E-Turn Around (GC1PYDG)

    We decorated the Christmas tree today. It looks real nice. After ward we decided to go and find the Bus-E-Turn Around cache by Mikey Mouse. We all left the house just before 12. The little ones put up their traditional resistance. Sigh. We loaded into the van cleaned the snow off. Yep it is still snowing :) It is very pretty. Then we drove. It was a short trip along route 6. Until our turn at the cross roads.
   We parked the van 30 feet from the cache. I read the hint to Niki. Niki dove into the hunt. I kinda dragged my feet hoping the GPS might divulge more information. Mean while Niki is in an old foundation of a building that has been torn down or was never built, and she is digging in the snow. I start wandering around. I have walked to within 3 feet of the cache.  I look up Niki is smiling, she asks "Is this what you are looking for." She is holding the cache., "I was hoping I was digging in the right place."  "Looks like you were babes" She handed me the cache. I signed the log book then we headed some place to take KC for his walk.

Day 70 A Fine Cache (GC1VV3G)

    Niki and the kids joined me on A Fine Cache by Pegasis. The kids did not want to come. They wanted to watch TV. We bundled them up and left. We drove to within 60 feet of the cache. Niki and I were going to leave Takoda, Novalee, and KC in the car while we looked around for the cache. Then a puzzling thing happened. Both Takoda and Novalee asked if they could look for the cache with us. We piled out of the car and 2 minutes later I was signing the log book. Yay!

Day 69 Watermill Micro (GC14KDC)

   A quick cache and dash, just out of work, Watermill Micro by Pegasis was just what the Dr. Ordered. Things are heating up at work. There are lots of bottle necks to work through. As a result I worked a spit shift. 3-6, then 1230 til 6. I know I am going to be wiped out later so I figured I might as well find a cache before the second wind leaves my sail. Niki works today. I hope I can grab a nap before my next shift begins.
   I found the cache by the cold light of the dusk... and, um my flash light. When I left work I had a pretty good idea where I was going. I had park in the same location for two other caches. This did not help me much, I still passed the parking area. I found a safe place to turn around, and then swung the van into the parking area. I was pleased to note that the parking area had been plowed. I double checked to make sure the van doors was unlocked. Made my flash light ready.
   When I got out of the vehicle I headed straight for the gate. This was one of Pegasis hides and I knew her m.o.. To my surprise the cache was nowhere on the gate? I then followed the GPS signal to the near by guard rail. This time with confidence that my infallible GPS would not lead me astray I walked with in 6 feet of the cache. I did not see it. I circled away from the spot then came back to close proximity of the cache. Still nothing. I poked and I prodded. Dug around in the snow. Going away from then back to the GPS hot spot. It took a bit of looking but eventually I found the cache in the very spot I had looked several times earlier...? How did I miss that. I signed the GPS log then headed home.

Day 68 Where the flowers live (GC1BH6W)

    Another Cache and Dash. Am I taking the easy route? Yeah I probably am. I am juggling a few things at the moment. Today I spent part of the morning loading the gps with caches that can be relatively easy to find in spite of the snow covered ground. I do like hiking. I do not like frantically  looking for a cache that is probably buried by several inches of snow, while my 3 year old daughter, who has better winter gear than me is upset because she is cold. Enough all ready! The fun is getting leeched right out of this. This is why I decided to stack the deck with more then just a few winter friendly caches.
    Where the flowers live, by Ogrin was pretty clever. The name of the cache was a great hint for where to find it. Niki drove down 6 east. The land is frozen and white. As we  approached the cache the GPS counted down. I drew a mental image of the area into my head. 30 seconds before the green house came into view I realized that this is where we would end up. "Niki, I bet this one is at Belles." She pulled into Belles and the GPS read 3 feet from cache when we passed their sign. I looked at Niki. "Um, looks like it is near the sign. I should be right back" I hopped out of the van. Walked around the sign. Then poked around at the signs base. What seemed to be the cache moved. I brushed snow off the container. It was the cache. I brought the cache back to the van and signed the log book in the vans warmth. Novalee traded for bunnie whistle. I put the cache back where I got it. We moved on.

Day 67 Blackberry Micro (GCT37W)

     Almost gave up today. I just did not feel like doing anything. I do not know what got into me. It could have been the the the snow that was piling out out side or maybe I could have a case shift change jet lag. Either way we did not leave the house til 12pm. Novalee, KC and me attempted another cache before settling on the Blackberry Micro by Pegasis.
    We got off to a bad start. Novalee played in our front yard while I cleaned the snow off the van. When we were ready to leave Novalee had told me she had to go pee. We went in side I helped her out of her winter garments. Then after wards I helped her bundle up. It was 12 when I had decided I better get going on the cache. It was 12:30 by the time we were able to leave.
    I started  towards the cache. It did not take long for me to realize I needed to turn around and fuel up the van. At the gas station Navalee told me she had to go to the bathroom again. This was the 3rd time with in a half hour. I drove back home, then helped her out of her winter garments.. Then back into them again. I was very frustrated by this. I was starting to feel a bit of panic.  I finally decide to get going and it felt like I could not get out of town. 
    Eventually we did get going. I drove to within 70 feet of my first cache choice. Took me a bit of time to find a decent place to park. At first I wanted to park near a gate. The road that led to the gat though was not wide enough for me to park off to the side and let traffic flow around the van. I did end up finding a place to park 300 feet from the cache.
    We got out of the van, donned our hunters orange. I put Novalee on my shoulders, grabbed KC's leash and we headed towards the cache. We got to with in 0 feet of it. I set Novalee down, then let KC off the leash, and started hunting. I made circles from ground zero. I did not see the cache anywhere. Novalee started complaining about the cold. I distracted her by asking her if she wanted to make a snow man. "How?" she asked. "Make a snowball and roll it on the ground." I told her. to her credit she tried. Then I did and realized the snow was not sticky enough. Poor thing was disappointed. It did not take long to realize that we would have to move on. So we did.
    We hopped back into the van. This is when I decided on the Blackberry Micro, a cache and dash. I drove in the wrong direction at first. Turned around and drove in the right direction. It was 2 oclock when I parked the car at the second cache location. I thought the cache was in a magnet on the gate. I left the Novalee and KC in the van while I checked out the gate. I walked to the gate and noted on the GPS that the cache was a good 300 feet away from the gate. I walked back to the van and got Novalee and KC. Then we headed past the gate 300 feet to the cache location.
   We were at an old oil well. The cache was a magnetic key holder with a log book in it. It was hard to find. Mostly because I was running out of time. I did find it. I signed the log book just as Novalee was telling me she had to go pee again. I called KC to me and leashed him, then popped Novalee back on my shoulders telling her, "We will be home soon babes". Then we left.