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By Accordiangal on Lake Pepin’s Origins Earthcache:
Log Date: 2/16/2008
DOC and Accordiongal found this earthcache. I have never been here
prior to today. Absoubtly beautiful view. While driving the Wisconsin
side, admired and pondered the ice fishing villages and vehicles on the
river. Even had a brief thought of taking the ice highway across the
river. Hmmm, as I sit in my car, which happens to be in the ditch,
probably should have tried that. Would have taken a different road home
instead of Hwy 43.
Came up out of the valley onto the high platue toward Plainview. WOW,
it’s windy up here. HMMMM, that looks like black ice on the Highway.
Well, continued traveling west, with the bright sun in my eyes.
Well, know why the highway has patches of black ice. Wind blowing snow
across the blacktop. Melts, then freezes. Well, finallly came upon a
group of cars going terribly slow. Damn I say, need to slow down. Oh,
boy, oh boy, its icy here, the car started driving in ways that I
wasn’t directing. Oh, no, the back of that vehicle in front of me is
getting very close. Oh, no, in the east bound lane. Basically panicing
now. There is a car coming toward me. Well, to say the least, no
choice, but the car took to the ditch. All of this occurred while finishing
the last of the Buster Bar. Glad to say it was very good. So , here
in the ditch I sit waiting for the tow truck that was to have been here
in 20 minutes. The sun is setting, temp in car getting cooler. Toes
areb cold because they were slightly damp from tromping inthe snow.
Ring, ring, goes the phone. Oldest kid inquiring when are you getting
home? Tell, the story. He responds, Hurry up, I need to use the
computer. Gee thanks for the support!. Story to continue when tow truck
comes. BRRRR. Well, sitting here watching the sun setting. Reminds me
of sunsets on a cruise and over the ocean. Those are fast sunsets and
the air temp is warm. No howling winds, no snow ghosts and tourist cars
gauking at me. Should I give them the finger. Damn Ralph and the
earthcache. Well, finally two tow trucks and a state highway patrol
officer arrive. Give them the thumbs up.Tow truck man comes with a noose, reaches around the driver rear axel
and walks away. Comes back with a cable. Mam, start the car and put in
neutral. Stay in the car please. Next thing the car is moving and
walla back on the road. A few cars stopped in the road watching and
talking about whatever. Pull over to the side of the road, tow truck driver
says meet you at the next intersection so traffic can resume. So
start driving. Oh, the car must be mad. Its just shaking all over. If a
car can talk, the conversation must be like this: First you pack me
into cold snow, let me be assulted with blowing wind and snow. Then the
curious onlookers. Finally a helpful person arrives to strangle me
with a noose around the neck, then yanks me out of the cold snow. The
car gets revenge by shaking all tires at me.Pay the two truck driver $106.95. Head down the road. Very
stimulating drive. The car continues to complain about previous treatment.
Vibrating felt in the floor, steering wheel, and seat. DOC would love
this!Oh, yes, my lovely home. Put the car in the garage. It’s partially
heated, like a cool sauna. Hear the car groaning, and plob, plob, as the
snow melts off. Ahh, what relief.Zuma, I am claiming the find on this earthcache. Who cares about
getting you the answers. Enough drama for the day!…..and who ever said Geocachers were crazy?
Not I, Not I!!!
Bummer! I am so sorry I missed that ride!!! Had a cool experience after parting ways – driving down the road and noticing a fabulous area that really needed some caches, and a Bald Eagle swooped down and started flying next to me as I drove. I slowed the car and we rode side by side for a good 1/2 -3/4 mile. Clocked him at about 40 mph. Simply amazing!
Ahhhh, how I love having my breath taken away! That was one of those moments. Taking the in the view at Zuma!’s Earthcache was another one.
Well, if Jean can write a log like that one, the worst of the drama must have passed! Thanks for passing this one along, I’ll be seeing her tomorrow and can get the story first hand! LOL
Amazing what one can do in the car by themselves to keep themselves entertained. Only a geocacher would make good use of their down time in the ditch and enter their logs for the day on their laptop!!! Way to go, Accordiongal! You rock as a cacher and make a lousy stuntcar driver. Glad no one got hurt. 🙂 If you had waited until tonight, you could have extolled the virtues of the eclipse while waiting for the tow truck! 🙂
By Team genesis
On WSQ – Forgotten Souls
Made a little run with SR18 & Wickey7 this evening. Now each of them was very gentle in the way they phrased their description of the conversation with said landowner. Lets get down to brass tacks. He told us that his wife thought we were “violating” the deer! OK, now I believe I’ve heard everything. I have to wonder about the wife who, upon seeing potential ne’er-do-wells in a cemetary on a cold winter’s day, jumps immediately to unnatural acts being performed on the indiginous wildlife. Did we cross the border into the hills of West Virginia while I wasn’t looking? Thanks for the cache… I think.
Oh, those poor souls!
Oh my! That’s absurd….
LOL she just didnt want any poachers thinning her herd of fresh meat.
By Trekkin and Birdin at DucksRUs:
We’d made the trip to Tomah to find the new one there, looked at how far this one was and decided…sure, why not? Although it was overcast this evening, it was wonderful to listen to the music of the wetlands again; chorus frogs singing, Red-Winged Blackbirds, a Savannah Sparrow, a Belted Kingfisher rattling over the flowage, Sandhills coming in to roost and what’s that? Way over there? Birdin’ spotted a large white bird…nope, not an Egret. Not a swan of any type. Look at that stately, prehistoric walk. Sure enough, it was a Whooping Crane, browsing to the west, just beyond the Sandhills. Birder’s nirvana! At the parking lot, we met a woman from the International Crane Foundation who has been tracking this one. She shared that it’s frustrating, this crane seems to like spending her summers over here, and there are lots of willing single males back at the refuge!
Thanks for getting us over here, and praise to the birding gods for timing it this way! SL TFTC< <<<< BTW, I was lucky enough to visit the same cache, later in the day, towards sunset, and the volunteer from the Whooping Crane Foundation was still there, and pointed out the crane’s location. Woot!!!! zuma
Here is my log for GC1C5FQ, Cache With A View, by Lisz that I thought some of you might be intererested in:
>>>>>>>
DNF, but had a lot of fun anyway.
I was here once before, at this exact spot and thought then that this would be an ideal spot for a cache. I was here in search of the LAGRAC’S GRAND CELEBRATION, V2.0 cache, and walked in on the same trail to this spot. Upon getting here, I found that I had not taken the best route to that cache, and had to scramble down the bluff to GZ for that one last summer, even though there is a much easier way to get to that one.
Anyway, when I saw this one pop up, knowing I had to go to La Crosse today, I relished the chance to return, and show WI Robin the great view. Love the spot.
I DID NOT love the fact that I couldnt find the cache. I liked the spot enough that we looked for it for over an hour, before I finally listened to reason and gave up. The coords match pretty well where I would have hidden it, high up on the bluff, so I dont think I can use bad coords as an excuse. I guess I am just blind, as I looked in just about every crevice within 40 – 50 feet (except the one noted below).
What I did find was a pair of large Timber Rattlesnakes about 30 feet WSW of GZ sunning themselves near their den, on the south facing bluff, about 15 – 20 feet down from the top of the ridge. Timber Rattlesnakes hibernate over the winter in rock crevices, and come out slowly when it starts to warm. We only saw 2 of the snakes, but since they are known to have communal dens over the winter, I am sure there are more in the den.
Anyway, that experience reminded me of the usefulness of a stick in digging out crevices, on order to decrease the chance of animal and snake surprises.
I steered a path 10 feet clear of the snakes. WI Robin was not so wise, inching closer and closer to get a “good” photo with the camera on my phone, which doesnt take good pics anyway. I will upload a photo, if I can.
In addition, WI Robin could not resist moving one of them with a stick, “for a better look.” Man, some people just like to press their luck!!! As it was, the snakes were still pretty sluggish, so the risk was low, but I prefer to give snakes a wide berth. Googling Timber Rattlenakes, I am sure that is what they were, and have no doubt about the identification.
Anyway thanks for the DNF. Keep On Cachin In The Free World.
Here is a good resource on the habits if the Timber Rattlesnake, for those interested:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/factsheets/herps/timber.htm
z
@zuma wrote:
In addition, WI Robin could not resist moving one of them with a stick, “for a better look.” Man, some people just like to press their luck!!! As it was, the snakes were still pretty sluggish, so the risk was low, but I prefer to give snakes a wide berth.
Ha! I see Robin has picked up some of my snake handling skills 😀 . I wish I was there, I haven’t seen a rattler in a couple years. Thanks for sharing the log Ralph.
Ya it sure does make me wanna seek out caches in the cliffs 😯
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