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Interesting stories, and interesting memories.
Our first find was in Shambeau Park in northeast Waupaca back in late 2003. That cache is gone, it seemed the neighborhood kids kept muggling it until that CO finally gave up. The kids must have grown up or moved away, because a new cache has been there for awhile, very close to the original one.
Our first log: “We’ve lived in the Waupaca area for 16 years and never knew about this place! Lovely Fall day, nobody else was around. Hard to believe we were this close to the city. Interesting historical markers, but unfortunately, many had been vandalized so we couldn’t read everything. We found the cache, took a dwarf, and left a keychain. We will be back to this very scenic area – bet it’s really beautiful during other seasons. Gram & Gramps”
Our subsequent log for the replacement cache: “The very first cache we ever found was in Shambeau Park. That was just slightly over 6 years ago – Nov. 9, 2003. The park must have just opened back then, the historical makers were mostly new and intact, and very interesting. Now all that is left is one marker and about half the posts. And interestingly, this new cache is hidden about 30′ from where I remember the old one being placed. Sharp eyed Grandma found this ammo box as I was wandering around in nostalgia land looking for the spot where the old one was. I think I found it, but to no avail… We took nothing, and left a sig card and a AAA luggage tag. Thanks a lot for the cache and for bringing us back to our geo-roots.
Grandma & Grandpa”
cYa, Jim & Chris
Gram anI have Tubbs snoeshoes. We like them a lot, and hope to be able to use them at least once this winter…
Part of what you get moving up the foodchain of snowshoe prices is improvement in the bindings. We find that something very easy to strap on and pull off is quite important. The ground seems further away these days than it used to be. Our Tubbs shoes have one ratchet buckle that latches a full ‘bootie’ that goes completely around our boots. Very easy on and off, and stays securely on.
We bought ours used from eBay at a deep discount. They arrived with a few scratches, but mechanically in great shape. We’ve gotten several other sets for kids and grandkids, also via eBay, and were pleased with them as well. But one other set were Tubs shoes, privately labelled for an online retailer, and we got them really cheap with free s/h. It pays to shop around.
Most shoes are rated by weight range, look for these specs and stick to the higher end as previously stated. Gram’s first set were at the bottom of the range (too small), and did not work well for her. Our very thin daughter-in-law has them now, and likes them.
cYa, Jim
Where in central WI?
Caching is one thing my sweetie and I can enjoy together. Otherwise our many interests are pretty diverse. We like all the new places, finding awesome hides, meeting new friends, caching with kids, etc that have already been mentioned. I like building creative caches and finding places to put them where they’ll last and not get wrecked. We don’t particularly like getting or leaving crappy logs, there is always a story to tell and it only takes a minute.
We keep track of our counts, but are not number driven. We usually do around 100 finds per year, although we have had a couple of more intensive spurts – usually leading up to a milestone while on vacation someplace far away.
All in all, this has been a great hobby that we hope to enjoy for years to come!
cYa, Jim
We put out temps when we are doing caching activities in the school neighborhood. On ‘minicourse’ days when we can go 10 or 15 miles away, we do real caches. To my knowledge, there has never been an issue with any that we’ve found. Being able to work with the website ahead of time, plan out the caching route, actually find caches, and do the logging afterward, all add greatly to the caching experience. Plus we are able to weave in a few more educational connections.
cYa, Jim
Started in Summer of 2003, actually went official and signed up in November, 2003.
09/11/2001… I was teaching a high school class, and word spread that we should get the TV’s on, as there was national news breaking. We saw the first tower burning, and the second plane come in. Most of the kids were numb and in shock, but I distinctly remember a few who were joking and disrespectful. And interestingly, these same three are currently in jail, or awaiting trial on seriouis felony charges. Unfortunately, some attitudes do not change, I guess.
Gram and her mom and aunt had a European trip booked for early October that year. We had to make some quick decisions about whether they should go. The airline industry was in chaos, planes were not flying, and nobody could predict when they might or how safely. We had a lot of money laid out in tickets, hotels, etc, it was a personally stressful time in addition to the crisis in our nation. They eventually did go, amid a LOT of security, and encountered no scary situations (other than the Autobahn…).
That day has changed all of our lives forever. We have done some travelling since, and it is far more complicated. Many have lost their lives on our behalf in the war on terroism. We are all more diligent in observing what others may be up to. In it all, I am thankful to be living where we do, I don’t think rural central Wisconsin is much of a terrorist target. But on days like today, I am reminded to pray for those who live elsewhere, perhaps in harms way.
God Bless the USA!
Grandpa
Our school kids have released about 200 TBs over the last several years, The mortality rate is way above 50% after 12 months, although I have not done another tally in awhile.
Gram & I personally won’t turn loose any more, ours just have disappeared way too fast. Our TBs don’t get released now, they stay with us – our cars and our hiking sticks. Gram doesn’t have a TB tatoo yet, though.
We’ll do them again at school this year, and ought to have 25 or 30 ready to go by the end of Sept. or early Oct. We use them across several curricular areas in the 6th grade, but the 7th and 8th grade teams do not have much interest. That works out OK though, because by then a lot of the TBs are MIA.
Interestingly, when any of the kids’ TBs get to Europe, they usually move regularly, are well cared for, and don’t disappear.
We still see a few trackables now and then as we find caches. We usually grab them and try to put on some miles and post some appropriate photos. I guess I’d have to agree that there do not seem to be as many these days. But watch for the SetonCachers5 TB’s, that will be a bunch hitting caches in the Fox Valley and Waupaca areas in about a month.
cYa, Jim
One winter, I found a cemetary matchbox in the crotch of a tree. I could clearly see it – frozen in the middle of a large block of ice. It was very cold, and I did not have an ice pick along. I emailed the owner, explaining that time was tight and we needed that find to lead up to a major milestone. He allowed it with the caveat that we return in the spring and sign. That we did, and I appreciated his willingness to say OK. Another winter attempt a couple of years ago we found an ammo box stuck under a boulder due to frost heave. We posted a note, and still haven’t been back to get the find!
We were recently chastised by a new cacher who posted a find on a cache of ours that he said was obviously gone, we need to replace or archive it, remove the webpage, etc, etc. Of course, the cache was still there. I sent a gentle note asking him to try again or delete his log, he did find it, and we both ended up happy.
So I guess common sense needs to prevail, but in general we go along with no signature, no credit – on our caches as well as the ones we try to find.
cYa, Jim
The Marquette / Ishpeming area has a lot of high quality caches. We’ve been very impressed every time we’ve been up there visiting our kids.
Jim
08/03/2011 at 2:21 am in reply to: RJ McKenzie reaches #5000 with Oconto County – High Point #1951033I remember Barry telling us about his plans for this cache before it was put out. I’d like to keep it reserved for a milestone, but I think I’d be doing it solo!
Since we’ve averaged about 100 or so caches per year in our career, we are awed by somebody doing 5K in this short time. Truely an accomplishment, Ryan, and our hats are off to you!
cYa, Chris & Jim
Per today’s Youth Go email to me (see above):
“We are taking our Youth Go Leadership Camping Trip next week Wednesday-Friday”.
The last time we did this with them, we spoke to the Youth Go folks and set up the geocaching time on the day and time that worked out for us and them.
If interested, call Kelly at Youth Go at 920-722-1435
Thanks, Jim
The free box at the end of the driveway at rummage sales. Usually junk, but there are sometimes things that are just right for various sizes of caches. I always check!
Mark and Pat, congrats on another notable milestone, and what could be better than one of Pete’s caches placed in your Summer Home! We are really honored to have been a part of your #1500 find. We all enjoyed spending time with you guys at HCSP back in May, and now Chucky and me in July. Our only regret is that Chris was not able to join us recently, we’ll just need to schedule something yet this summer.
I try to post decent logs, but yours are always so much fun to read. You’ve set a high standard for the rest of us to shoot for.
Kudos to a terrific caching team, and great friends!
cYa, Jim & Chris & Chucky
Your area is fondly known as Camelot. I spent awhile there on Sunday collecting a few more caches that we have not had a chance to go after other times.
Bonduel is about halfway between our home and cottage. It is often that we stop on our way up north for a pizza, or a cone, or a cache. There are a lot of really good ones to pick from!
Hope to meet you out on the trails sometime. Camelot or an hour further north?
cYa, Grandma & Grandpa
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