Hide In Plain Sight

Sharon & I hiked into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve along with my uncle and aunt who are visiting from Michigan. We missed a turn, and ended up taking a much longer hike than planned. Along the way I found one cache that I’ve been meaning to get for a while – there are still two more out here to grab. It was a gorgeous day, Murray and Irmgard were real troopers and came through without too much difficulty.

Nikki graduated from ASU today and we have family in from out-of-town to help celebrate.  After lunch I took my uncle Murray and nephew Phil out to hunt down a couple of caches and give them a taste of geocaching.  The first one we found is my 17th FTF. Eagle-eyed Phil found the 2nd. I also showed them “Alvinize” (GC1E0QY), the first one I hid which is in memory of my father

Technically 703. Fergie and I found the most recent on a grey overcast day. She’s been a real trooper riding around town and being taken on walks and in washes she doesn’t want to go down. At least the temperature is above 50 and there is no snow on the ground. Nikki graduates from ASU in a week, and an uncle of mine is coming to town to celebrate and escape the cold in Michigan, and I’ll drag him out to find some. Next up, 725.

This isn’t an 80s retrospective for one hit wonders, but I have to say I was, and still am a fan of New Wave, and after coming up a couple short of 700, I couldn’t help but think of this of this song and change it slightly – “Two[sic] shy shy Hush hush, eye to eye”. I don’t understand the lyrics either. Tomorrow 700.

A few months ago we adopted a Cardigan Corgie named Fergie. She is 3 years old and we’ve known her since she was a puppy. She belonged to Nikki’s former roommate who couldn’t keep her in the place she moved to. So, given that my house is being retiled, Fergie and I had to find something to do, and after conversing with her(!) we decided to go hunting for some caches. Five for five. She was a real trooper and I wore her out traipsing through the desert and along some suburban trails.

OK – some days I’m lucky to get one. Today I got two. Out with Nikki and Fergie, we grabbed a couple, ate some lunch and came home. Twelve to go.

No this isn’t a Dick Van Patten post, although he was pretty good in Spaceballs. I decided to get out and grab a series I put off looking for since late summer. Had I looked for them when they were first placed, I probably would have added to my FTF total. Such is life. Along with finding two others, I had a 100% day. The road to 700 continues. As Yogurt opined, “Never underestimate the power of the Schwartz!”

Every Thanksgiving I always remember the old TV show, WKRP in Cincinnati, and specifically the episode “Turkeys Away”. Without a doubt, the funniest episode of one of the funniest sitcoms of all time. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch it, I still laugh out loud as Les Nessman broadcasts the event, only to be topped by Arthur Carlson’s assertion.

In any event, we had our Thanksgiving dinner at Gillian’s future in-laws, before which we did a bit of hunting in the area. Took her friend Beverly out for the first time. She had heard about geocaching, but had never gone. She is a convert, and a good seeker. Of the 6 found, she found 3.

Out and about grabbing a few. I’ve got to pick up the pace to get to 700 by the end of the year, so I’ll be getting a little more aggressive between now and then. Picked up another FTF – “First to Find” for those not familiar with the geocaching jargon. – my 16th. I was lucky to get this as there are a few folks in my area who are retired and usually get the ones around here very quickly. This one was hidden by a local radiologist who is very good at hiding them and driving those who seek them up a wall in frustration. Thanks radDad1 for making this a lot easier than your other hides.

I love living in Arizona this time of year. Sunshine, temp in the 70s, and not a cloud in the sky. Picked up another 3 while out with my daughters, Gillian and Nikki.