[The Lil Otter]

I just started a Travel Bug named Nuttah – The Circus Elephant, his goal is to visit every COUNTY in WISCONSIN.. please help him out on his journey by placing him in a cache in a new county.
~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

One concern I have is I’ve seen the signs from the DNR that says “no hunting/trapping” etc.. are there trappers in our neck of the woods? I think about that alot when I am bushwhacking through tall grasses.. last thing I’d like to encounter is a trap around my ankle.. has that ever happened to a geocacher yet in any other state??.. just a concern.. not trying to give anyone nightmares (grins)
~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

quote:

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Originally posted by GLSailor:
Did anyone lose a pair of glasses on Yellow Dot Trail around WP#3? I found a pair hanging from a bush just off the trail. I think they’re womens glasses and it looks like they’re for reading.

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Those MUST be mine (grins).. I lost a pair.. are you coming to the Picnic because someone else found my glasses too.. (giggles) did I leave more than one pair behind??
~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

quote:

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Originally posted by Priebe’s Pride:
Is there a record for number of caches hidden? I noticed that the lil Otter has hidden quite a few caches lately. She has almost hit 250 if she has not already done it.

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I have not put together “amazing” or “complicated” caches for others while on the road.. but have realized that each place I travel to gives me an opportunity to repay those that worked so hard to set up all the ones in their backyards.. so naturally.. most will be simple virtuals or my famous micro’s with no pencils (grins) because I’m so far from home with those. But it’s these “Thank you” virtuals that I enjoy the most… to find something amazing near another cache that I can share.. really makes the trip exciting when I return home to set them up. I’ve just returned from a LONG weekend in Milw area again.. and have 7 more virtual/micros going live any day now.

I just wish that each that came up by my neck of the woods would find a special spot to share with me… it’s always fun to find one close to home.. Most of my day trips takes HOURS of driving to get to a few to do. I won’t give up this sport/hobby til winter shuts me in (otters HATE the cold).. and I am NOT ready to cross over to Minn/Iowa/Illinois til I have gotten to all the ones I feel safe heading to in Wisconsin. (sorry UPNORTH.. I push my limits solo most days caching.. but I do need a solid Cell phone connection and it’s still tough for me to drive more than 2 hrs home after a full day’s hunt).. but ya never know.. I’ll head where Wisconsin Geocachers send me.. God, this is such a pretty State.. and I see NE just STUFFED with caches.. so tempted (grins).. can’t we have a geo-campout up there in Sept?? (grins)while you all sleep I can play at my peak time (total nightowl otter).. that way my new FS.. thingy works for 2 miles and I can always hollar to get help off a ledge (grins)..

~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

Guess who’s coming back down to Milwaukee area? (grins) I’ll be around for Gencon gamers convention this week and will enjoy bringing my travel bugs to replace the ones that I took back home the last time I was there …
oh and if any wish to watch the Otter in action (grins).. drop me an email with your phone number and if I’m free I’d would love to meet a few for a hunt or two.

[This message has been edited by The Lil Otter (edited 08-08-2002).]

[The Lil Otter]

Oh my goodness.. I was just at Gov Dodge doing your Truth about Henry (blush) duh.. guess I should have read this message board before I went.. oh well.. I still have to finish Yawningdog’s What’s that Smell.. didn’t have luck in the dark finding it.. so there’s always a reason or two to return to such an amazing state park. Unless this cache is a “sub” wader too (grins)… sometimes things just don’t sink in.. like walking on a tilt of 85 degree walking east for 450 feet.. my neck still hurts (grins)
~The Lil Otter

oh and I did get to see baby falls today.. oops yesterday (grins cus she’s still up) when I went to PeeWee’s Small Falls.. Very pretty.. can’t wait to see more..

[This message has been edited by The Lil Otter (edited 08-07-2002).]

[The Lil Otter]

I’m so impressed with the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of our Wisconsin Geocaching site.. Thank you so much for keeping us up to date about what is being done with this State Park situation.

I’ve always met with a warm welcome at the sites I’ve hid my caches upon.. always instantly solved a problem, when it comes up, with one of my State Park caches. Always take time to talk about my love of ‘caching’. I’ve met a few cachers already and realize that they too have the same passion about this sport… it’s not going to fade away as a fly-by-night hobby/sport.. it’s here to stay because it’s given us something that we’ve hungered for.. for a very long time.. Geocaching hits so many of my interests.. and I’m so glad that I have been given this chance to explore the beauty of Wisconsin. (If you will notice I’ve only hit one cache outside of Wisconsin so far.. not because I can’t travel.. but because I made it a personal choice to KNOW my state better.. all thanks to Geocaching allowing me a way in) I actually ducked into Minn to see a waterfall.. have not had one Wisconsin waterfall close enough to me to explore yet, but will, because I do know that another geocacher will wish to share this location with me.

WGA staff..THANK YOU again for all your hard works, dedication and passions about Geocaching.

~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

Being from out of town (2hr drive).. I’d enjoy seeing the ‘meeting’ done during the picnic. That way you already have 70+ cachers there. Perhaps during the actual eating stage.. that way those that are hooked on caching won’t miss out on their time in the field. I, myself, am counting this day as a ‘relax’ day and the only personal challenge I put forth towards this day’s goal.. is to not make a fool of myself (grins)..
~The Lil Otter

[The Lil Otter]

Just wanted to warn you two to NOT look under the bench.. there is a swarm of hornets nesting there.. will post it on the website as well.. I just thought of it when I read your message.

[The Lil Otter]

(slips on a wolve’s pelt)
What is she.. some kind of nut? (grins)

The hour is late and I was just made aware of this topic.. I’m a lil’ shocked that my activities have been noted.. I truly enjoy caching and did warn a few that once I ran out of ones near me that I’d be chewing down Milwaukee like a piece of cheese (smiles).. but alas.. all caching ‘vacations’ must come to an end..
I’m heading back home tomor.. today.

But once I have my notes/fact sheets back in order.. expect more SE activities from me when I head down for GENCON.. (I’m staff/sysop online for a British-based company and I HAVE to be there) but will make it a point to sneak away to finish some of the caches that I didn’t find time to do this go.. I’m as well looking forward to the picnic.. will sign up as soon as I get back to my own computer.

I really enjoyed the learning experience of how you ‘southerners’ do caches.. gave me alot of ideas to play with..
And.. last but not least.. I couldn’t have done this without all those cachers that placed these creative caches.. just wish to thank the few that gave me a bit of help when I was stumbling…

FAST FACTS for my 11 day SE Wisc. Vacation..
-I dropped 12 pounds of sweat
-I put on 1635 miles on my car(still have to drive back home yet 160+)
-My dog is not a geocacher (grins)
-I left most days at 10am/returned at dark
-My excitement about caching and finally finding a sport that I can do solo has not faded..
-I’m not a fitness nut.. I just love the challenge
-I’m still afraid of heights
-I still refuse to snap my picture at caches
-I got injured four times
-I found stolen foodstamps and a bike at two caches (turned them into the police dept)
-I lost my reading glasses at the end of The Yellow Brick Road.. (chuckles)
-I ate once per day (my normal anyways) and made sure to eat at McD’s to get toys (to trade) when I ordered a ‘Happy Meal’
-I smoked like a fiend back at the car
-I drank 6 diet dews per day
-I walked alot..
-I was scared only once.. (I heard a man’s voice in the bushes.. but it was Jthorson on the cell phone that I thought was hung up)

Hope this was a helpful training lesson for any that want to walk a mile in my shoes (grins)

~The Lil Otter

can anyone guess how many miles I walked these past 11 days?

[The Lil Otter]

I have just gotten into Geocaching at the end of May 2002 and realized that I loved the hobby/sport right from the start. I’ve hidden 8 caches so far and 4 of them are in the Roche-A-Cri State Park (please see Roche-A-Cri #1 – #4) with permissions from the Ranger. (I had to wait 2 weeks to get the permission after my first presentation/approach)
Because I came to them first with considerations.. backed with my commitment to constantly monitor the impact to the area I hid the final cache upon.. I was given permissions. This State Park has a Registered Historical Site plus has a protected Natural area. I respect why the DNR wishes to protect certain areas.. my micro cache there is easily gained without breaking their rules yet allows a fun hunt and a beautiful view. As far as my normal cache placement was reconsidered after I gave much thought to how some geocachers love to blaze off trails.. so hence my first site option was moved to a less sensitive area. (I did not hide the cache first then ask permissions to relocate it. I went back to get the Ranger’s permission to relocate it.) And yes, I did get permission to hide the normal cache container “off trail”. Surprised??

I feel if we work hand in hand with the State Parks that we can actually have their respect. But if we sneak around behind their backs and show no respect to their rules, naturally we all then look like we do not respect the area they try to preserve.

After my 75th cache.. I cannot call myself an expert on Geocaching.. all I can state is how much I love this sport and how much I am willing to commit time to it. It has given me (a single white female over the age of 35) the option to enjoy these areas by myself. How, without Geocaching.com, I’d have never ventured into the scope of understanding how beautiful our “Wisconsin” truly is.

I thank all those geocachers that have taken the time to find these special placement spots and how much it means to me to share in their secrets/discoveries. We are not a bunch of renegades that trash our natural resources.. I constantly walk with trash bag in hand now as most other geocachers do.. and I take great pride in knowing that Wisconsin is staffed with quality DNR/Ranger staff.. so why not respect what they are trying to protect and work with them instead of against them.

A parting comment.. I just came from a full day at Governor Dodge State Park and I had the amazing experience to venture into a small cave (please see “I Dare You” cache). I had stopped to pick up the official park map and NOWHERE was this cave mentioned on their map, yet there are two signs on the small trail that says “CAVE” so it’s common understanding that the Park allows entry into this area. Yet it took Geocaching for me to find it and enjoy in the experience. And this is only one of the AMAZING adventures I’ve been on..

I’ve done most of my caches solo, yet with being a member of Geocaching.com, I DON’T feel alone when on my trips. And I’m constantly showing others, that I encounter on my journey, how amazing this hobby is.. because they think it’s amazing to see a single older female out hiking.. I even had an Amish family, at Roche-A-Cri, help me in finding the perfect spot for my micro. It was a perfect day and many more to come.

~The Lil Otter
(AKA Lorrie)

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