March 16th was the first time we went geocaching. For those who have been directed here or have stumbled upon it and do not know what geocaching is, please visit the geocaching website. There is a fantastic video on their main page that really makes sense of everything. On this excursion my brother Justin accompanied us.
Our very first cache find was titled Welcome to New York. It is called that because it is located on I89 in the New York welcoming center. This was our second attempt to find this cache. The first time we had tried to locate it we weren't very prepared. Fortunately for today the weather was fantastic and we had all day to search if we had to. Lucky for us it didn't take too long to find it. This was the largest cache we would see all day. As far as I can tell it is one of the larger containers that someone would use. Unfortunately we didn't have anything to leave behind, so we just signed the log book and put it back where we found it. We all got back into the car and enjoyed the high from our first find!
After stopping to the local mall to get some lunch as well as some new footwear better suited to our new outdoor hobby I turned the GPS back on to find that we weren't too far from another cache! This cache is named Sam's Choice because it is located right nearby Sam's Club in Plattsburgh. When we got there Zaiden was sleeping so just Justin and myself went looking for this one. During our search was the first time that I thought to myself "where would I hide a container?". We had read the cache's log before leaving the car so we knew we were looking for a micro cache, which is typically only big enough to hold a log book. We both thoroughly looking around the area and I happened upon our first tiny find. I signed the log book and snapped a picture of Justin holding the cache and we were on our way to the next location.
When we first set out this fine and fantastic day we decided that we would focus on caching in Vermont rather than in New York. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think it might be because we had already tried to find a cache that is located on the bridge leading to Vermont. It may have also been that we don't know Vermont all that well and it would have been more of an adventure. Anyway, our next stop was at the rest stop that was opposite of the one that held Welcome to New York. This cache is titled Last Chance due to the fact that it is the last rest stop before you reach Canada. The cache was cleverly hidden, much farther away from the actual rest stop than the previous was. This was also the first time that we searched for an alternate way of getting closer to the cache, rather than attempting to bushwhack our way to it. After just a few minutes of searching Colette spotted it. Justin was sitting in the car with an unconscious Zaiden so Zoey accompanied us. This time we came prepared and were able to leave some stickers behind and take a super ball. While we were walking back to the car Zoey was shouting to her uncle Justin about her new found treasure.
8 of Hearts and Pheonix
These two caches were both located that the same rest stop on the Vermont side of the New York to Vermont bridge. Pheonix was the cache that we had attempted at an earlier date. 8 of Hearts was another micro cache and as soon as I saw where we were headed I knew exactly where to look. On our way to the second cache a car with two gentlemen parked not far where we suspected the cache would be located. I mentioned to Colette the notion of meeting more geocachers on our first day out. Unfortunately for us they were just regular fishermen, trying to take advantage of the gorgeous weather. After a few moments of searching under nearby rocks and holes in the side of the bridge area I pointed to an area that I thought looked suspicious. Colette searched the spot and sure enough that is where the cache was located. This would become sort of a theme as we spent more time caching. I typically am holding the GPSr and I point Colette in the right direction!
This was a very cool cache. Not only was the log full of great information about Alburgh, it was also our first cache that was hidden in a cemetery! Colette decided that she was too weirded out by the notion of searching for a small, hidden box in the last resting place of those who came before us, so she stayed in the car with the kids while Justin and I went searching.
I of course payed respects to the citizens of this fine and well maintained cemetery by reading headstones and audibly apologizing for any inconvenience as we enjoyed our hobby. This was the first cache that would ultimately result in Justin getting the nickname "The Treeman". It was very well hidden and camouflaged but it was no match for his woodsman-like skill! I had to venture back to the car to get something to leave behind as well as a pen, from now on we'd make sure to avoid delays like that!
This is a tale of preparation. This is also a tale of potential failure, but with perseverance, one can ultimately take a bad situation and turn it into a good one. We came upon this cache after attempting to find another cache. The cache we were after is known as a multicache. We didn't know then that a multicache is named that because it typically contains multiple stages or locations that are all part of the same cache. The cache we had followed was located on the Alburgh Recreational Rail Trail, so named because it was located on a path that use to be a train track. Along this beautiful and well made trail there are remains of the past which were part of the multicache. Unfortunately for us the trail is 3.5 miles long. Our day was going quite well, so we didn't let it get use down. We decided to continue and enjoy at least part of the trail, all the while taking pictures of the area.
When we came to where the trail had to cross the road we decided to head back. But, wait a minute! What's this? Could it be another cache?! A cache that we just just passed on the trail to our current location! We started back and not too far came upon the location of our next geocaching success! The cache had seen better days, it's lid was missing and some of the contents has gotten wet. We decided to sign the log (which was in a zip lock bag) and not take or leave anything. Later that night we alerted the cache owner that it was in need of some maintenance.
After finally getting back to the car we decided that it was getting late and we were all hungry. As a result we decided to visit St Albans and enjoy the Pizza Hut located there. During our drive to St Albans our GPSr was chiming every so often as it came within distance of more caches. This went on for a few more minutes until the temptation for another find was just too great. We stopped just after the bridge between Alburgh and Swanton and decided to try for the cached named Fishing Frenzy. It was called that because it is located on what was left of the previous bridge. This short pier-like remains would be a great fishing spot. Colette and I searched for about 10 minutes but were unable to find the cache. We swore that one day we would return when the light was greater and find it. Also, I later found out that had we read the log for the cache we probably would have found it. Live and learn!
Our last cache of the night was another cache located close to the road that lead to the interstate. This well places, convenient, but ultimately quick find is named as such because of the shape of the tree that it is hidden in. Once the Treeman made short work of the cache. We signed the log and were on our way to pizza delight!
Thanks for reading about our adventures! There's more to come very soon!
-Jeremy
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