tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116783172011-05-30T14:54:51.811-07:00<B>Ruminations about my not-so-secret obsession.</B>Mirageenoreply@blogger.comBlogger5011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-49278978741891055062008-10-22T15:07:00.000-07:002008-10-27T17:44:17.653-07:00

Some of you know I have been very ill for a long time. I could go out Geocaching and be active, when — like a dedicated puppy — I had someone to follow. In my first year of caching, Princess Toadstool was a fantastic Geocaching partner. Her energy and excitement about caching was contagious, and on the days I was out with her, I could almost completely forget my chronic illness.Over these past

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-70548608354100201752008-09-23T19:55:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:01:05.356-07:00

When I started Geocaching three and a half years ago, I became instantly addicted to the activity. I never thought anything else would take over . . . ever.But something has — cycling.Here are some of the recent rides I have taken:

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-2686886304158820092008-09-13T20:12:00.000-07:002008-09-15T12:50:22.715-07:00

Friday night I got an email from Auld Pro, who had been out of touch since our backpacking trip. He said he and "lostguy" were going east and invited me to join them. I emailed right back suggesting we meet at 8:15 at the Hollenbeck staging area.At 8:20 in the morning, I called him and got his voice mail. Then I called "lostguy" and got his voice mail. I continued sitting there, listening to all

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-66766773110390500412008-09-10T18:30:00.000-07:002008-09-15T13:48:24.768-07:00

This summer has been a very busy time for dillweed and we have not cached together for months. Today I met her at the Walmart on Los Coches and we hiked up the trails behind there, finding several caches, including some she had already found.It was hazy so the views were not as great as they can be, but I got a few pictures from the very top.We covered almost six miles during our meandering hike

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-76354040675428214422008-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:002008-09-06T12:52:36.809-07:00

This time the trip was a visit to one of my caches to rescue a Travel Bug that hadn't moved since Jahoadi dropped in July 30. I rode my mountain bike the three and a half miles from my house. Wheeeeuuu! That was tough. I stopped at the top of the hill and visited with a man riding one of those recumbent bikes. While we visited, an ambulance went by, then a fire truck, then another fire truck,

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-84390045632450120552008-08-24T20:46:00.000-07:002008-09-23T20:03:24.781-07:00

In contrast to the last time "lostguy" and I came up here, this day was clear, and if not for the cool breeze, it would have been very hot by the time we completed our 20-mile tour of Mt. Laguna all the way to Pioneer Mail and back.We got an early start. The sun was just coming up as we got down into the first valley.The first cache I found was a new one placed by teamgardukes. There has been a

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-21490559827416750642008-08-20T21:07:00.000-07:002008-09-12T08:44:21.649-07:00

Gecko Dad snuck out Barber Road a couple of weeks ago to get the FTF on Akop&Fam's Elena Mountain Terracache and while he was there, he hiked to the top of Barber Mountain and placed another Terracache. I think the density of Terracaches out that way is greater than any other place in the county.It was a nice day, with a cool breeze when my friend and I, along with her two dogs, set out walking

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-76725887645922356702008-08-18T16:48:00.000-07:002008-08-27T06:13:56.012-07:00

Fantastic, incredible, wonderful, beautiful, awesome . . . I need a Thesaurus to find more adjectives to describe my weekend backpacking trip with Auld Pro, RedBagLady, and two other hikers.Here is the first of many pictures I'll post over the next few days.Okay, here are a few more pictures from the weekend.Our water source in Round ValleyAll the comforts of home near our campsiteThe Profile of

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-31759348596745815512008-08-13T17:43:00.000-07:002008-08-14T15:09:52.684-07:00

"lostguy" was going on a cache hiding spree up in the Lagunas and he invited me to join him. He picked me up near my house at 7:00 in the morning and we drove up Sunrise Highway, stopping at a parking area well south of the peak near a trail he had ridden before.The day was overcast, and the temperature was perfect for our ride. At the beginning, we rode along the old paved roadbed, but finally

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-19125228048759979952008-08-11T17:51:00.000-07:002008-08-12T09:31:41.322-07:00

I woke up early and packed my backpack with my sleeping bag, tent, Thermarest mattress, some cans of food, and a water bottle. I hefted it onto my back and started out from my house, walking up the long driveway and then down Skyline Truck Trail, past the 2 Mile marker and on to the point where the road starts to go downhill. The distance I covered was about two miles. It was a test to see how it

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-65215681279223610622008-08-09T18:52:00.000-07:002008-08-10T18:19:32.969-07:00

Once again, I got to go caching with "lostguy", and this time Auld Pro was able to join us. We met up at our "usual" place in Spring Valley. I was a little bit late since I turned off the alarm and fell right back to sleep for another 45 minutes . . . "lostguy" offered a GPS battery cover and bike mount to Auld Pro, but the cover wouldn't work on his Legend HCx. It would work on my Legend C, so I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-5790523655352129992008-08-07T20:32:00.000-07:002008-08-08T13:11:52.796-07:00

fisnjack showed up at my house very early. His new Palm e2 wasn't working and he mistakenly thought I might know how to fix it. He had driven all the way from Imperial Beach to do my Barber Road caches, but now wasn't sure he wanted to look for them.So . . . I volunteered to join him, if he gave me time to drink my coffee and finish my breakfast.The clouds were beautiful today so I got some

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-78936933962944494622008-08-04T16:09:00.000-07:002008-08-08T13:12:23.450-07:00

It's funny how the little cache, "Barber, No Haircut" sat, unfound, for more than two years, even though it is fewer than three and a half miles, as the crow flies, from my house, and now I found myself riding my bicycle on the trail again. This time I was with 3cd's while he looked for my different containers.This was today's view from "WOW".3cd's was trying to get through the burned vegetation

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-77670473092313479312008-08-03T23:37:00.000-07:002008-08-10T13:28:42.261-07:00

Auld Pro wasn't available to go caching this week, but the affable and funny "lostguy" was and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to go caching with him. He suggested biking the Silver Strand. I had not been down that way since DocDitto was in town in 2006 and there were lots of new caches since then, many placed by Jahoadi, of Jahoadi and John.It was cloudy and overcast when we started out and we

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-46927483726835809142008-07-30T18:51:00.000-07:002008-08-01T14:23:19.908-07:00

In the morning, I washed out the inside of the two ammo cans "lostguy" gave me and gathered up all the swag I had on hand, as well as the things I purchased yesterday at a Thrift Store and the Dollar Tree. Then, I started putting everything together, finally making sure each container had a log or logbook, and a pen, or pencil, if one would fit in the container.Finally, in the mid-afternoon, I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-14546559569015505122008-07-27T19:05:00.000-07:002008-07-31T19:24:45.781-07:00

To beat the heat, and get into air infused with the smell of pine trees, "lostguy", Auld Pro, and I went up to Mt. Laguna.We hiked almost seven miles along a trail I had not hiked before.I didn't take very many pictures, so I don't know how I can possibly tell the story, but I'll try . . . later on.Here are a few pictures from the day.My companionsInteresting milkweed blossomsA "tree gnome"

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-1546801963244195132008-07-21T22:11:00.000-07:002008-07-24T12:28:30.870-07:00

Not far up the road from my house is a cache called, "Barber, No Haircut." It was placed in 2006 and found by my friend duganrm that summer. For some reason, I could never make the short half-mile walk to the cache. Either I was driving past on my way to my friend's house, or I was driving back home after a day of grocery shopping or caching. Finally, today, after the disappointment of finding

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-77423102138466490682008-07-20T10:46:00.000-07:002008-07-21T09:05:42.670-07:00

This has been one of the most fun, successful threads in quite a while. It is great to read a long-running thread that does not have a bit of angst or mean-spirited disagreement in it . . . Of course, threads like this one in the "Getting Started" Forums are not supposed to degenerate into disagreements. I wish that was the same for the "Geocaching Topics" Forum. YIKES! Some people can sure try

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-53154663306555306702008-07-19T16:55:00.000-07:002008-07-21T10:43:57.543-07:00

Plans were changed by my caching partner, so I stayed home and walked down my road again, the same stretch I walked a week ago.It was a beautiful day for my walk, cool and breezy, although the haze blocked the views of El Cajon Mountain, Viejas and Cuyamaca Peaks, and Bell Bluff. Shortly after I crossed the road, I was startled by a long snake, a Racer, literally racing up the steep embankment to

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-17915478275240774372008-07-16T17:40:00.001-07:002008-07-21T20:58:58.770-07:00

Auld Pro invited me to join him and Tamarisk Basher for a long hike this weekend. I decided to go for a walk today to see how far I might be able to hike. I don't want to commit to joining them if I cannot complete the entire hike. I also don't want to slow them down.My goal was the trailhead for the Lawson caches, a distance of about five miles. I carried plastic bags with me, collecting cans

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-8757313319310453162008-07-15T17:33:00.000-07:002008-07-18T12:18:12.371-07:00

Last Sunday, Auld Pro and I thought about doing the new Tecate caches, thinking it was a hike. Turns out, the gate at the bottom of the road is open, so they are accessible by vehicle. Chuy! emailed me about going and I forwarded that message to 3cd's. He could go, and was kind to pick me up near my "Four Corners" cache so I didn't have to drive very far.We met up with Chuy! along Hwy 94 and then

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-10856660176018070772008-07-13T20:21:00.000-07:002008-07-18T13:35:59.541-07:00

On my seven-mile walk the other day, I twisted my foot and apparently tore something because my right foot is a bit sore and very puffy and swollen. So, I begged off the "planned" Tecate Peak hike and asked Auld Pro to pick a location where I could wear my Chaco sandals.I met him at the Von's shopping center on Eastlake Parkway and after some preparations, we headed towards the big shopping

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-15839908791342184952008-07-12T11:53:00.000-07:002008-07-14T12:19:50.114-07:00

Earlier in the week, I walked down to the horses with some treats for them and was disappointed to see they were gone . . . apparently moved to another pasture now that the grass is dry. Too bad. I really enjoyed seeing them.I walked quite a bit further down Lyons Valley Road, entering new, uncleared territory and picking up quite a few cans and bottles along that narrow, dangerous stretch of

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-85369896279875399252008-06-29T19:26:00.000-07:002008-07-14T13:56:31.227-07:00

The week before, when it was getting up to 107° in the Ramona area, Auld Pro, "lostguy", and I were going to hike Mt. Woodson. Thank goodness someone, Auld Pro, decided going closer to the coast was a better idea for that day.So now, a week late, I met up with "lostguy" and Auld Pro in Spring Valley for our Mt. Woodson adventure. Shortly after piling into "lostguy"'s truck, I realized my GPSr was

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-48722781962794070702008-06-27T18:48:00.000-07:002008-06-27T19:28:26.718-07:00

Gas is too expensive to drive into town except when I absolutely have to in order to get groceries and fill my water bottles, so for the second time this week, I walked the five miles down to "Four Corners" and back home. Two days ago it was harder to get going, but today it was an easy walk, especially knowing the horses would be there waiting for the carrots I had with me.Along the way, I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-29324956772240186442008-06-22T12:13:00.000-07:002008-06-24T09:54:55.364-07:00

Auld Pro and "lostguy" and I had planned a little hike to Mt. Woodson today. Apparently "lostguy" told Auld Pro if we left early enough, we could beat the heat. HA!! Not hardly.I begged off that hike . . . But, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to cache with "lostguy" and Auld Pro. I didn't know where we were headed when Auld Pro set the new meeting time for 7:30 at our "usual" place, but I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-45474068752255857272008-06-20T09:03:00.001-07:002008-06-20T09:37:26.670-07:00

Before it got really hot, I went outside and saw these beautiful flowers in my little "Garden."Then, I saw some hummingbirds nearby in the lavender bush. They are hard to photograph, but it was fun sitting there trying to capture them as they flew around and occasionally stopped to rest.A neighbor has several hummingbird feeders in her yard. Once this hot weather breaks, I'll have to go down

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-90303365048048632852008-06-15T20:32:00.000-07:002008-06-18T18:35:00.718-07:00

At my house, it was bright and sunny at 7:00 in the morning as I headed out to meet Auld Pro in Eastlake. After crossing Highway 94 and starting southwest on Otay Lakes Road, there were wisps of fog that soon coalesced into a deep overcast. Interesting how those clouds can make me think the sun isn't shining anywhere else, even though I just came from an area without a cloud in the sky.At the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-62079943045570078282008-06-13T09:53:00.000-07:002008-06-13T10:20:36.620-07:00

I don't go to the Home Page of GC.com very often, but I checked it today to see if there was any information about the Jeep contest this summer.And . . . who do I see in the Banner, our very own FlagMan, along with Rocketman, who moved from here to Denver in 2005.

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-38098188367211127872008-06-07T22:37:00.000-07:002008-06-11T15:29:20.789-07:00

When I got home from the long drive and hike yesterday, I sent an email to Auld Pro suggesting we just go somewhere, look at a nice view, and tell everyone we went for a hike.That was not to be . . . He and "lostguy" had already planned to go up to Iron Mountain to get some of the caches that had been placed since they had last been there. I had not hiked Iron Mountain since August 2006, so there

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-29228160981460695042008-06-06T22:29:00.000-07:002008-06-09T14:58:09.198-07:00

Late Thursday afternoon, Chuy! posted in San Diego Event Forum that he was headed north to find the Calaveras Lake caches. He said it would be about a seven-mile hike, and since I had walked five miles on each of the last two days, I wondered if I would be too tired. However, I didn't think the terrain was too tough, so I sent him an email, and then called and left a message.I set my alarm for 5:

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-2201319339566866272008-06-02T15:52:00.000-07:002008-06-08T12:44:24.132-07:00

3cd's wanted to find a Terracache located on one of the foothills of Otay Mountain, so off we went, driving the back way down Honey Springs Road to Otay Lakes Road. From there, because of both development and open space, we had to drive west, then south, then back to the east again . . . Finally, we arrived at the trailhead where a cache had been placed, so we got a smilie before starting up the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-59389049237538304892008-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:002008-06-01T17:02:25.779-07:00

Well . . . since gas prices are precluding my leaving home to go caching, I walked my road again today with a kitchen-sized trash bag in hand. Today I didn't bring along the GPSr, but did bring my camera to take pictures of the flowers that are still blooming, and anything else I found interesting, including this view of El Cajon Mountain north of Lakeside.My "Another Astounding Viewpoint" cache

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-30427719486006113062008-05-30T08:51:00.000-07:002008-06-01T15:45:17.993-07:00

Check this web page out.Unique CachesHere is one "clever" hide I saw in Yuma. I put the word in quotes because it was unique — the first time I saw it — but I've seen it several times now, and I've even used variations of that cammo myself.Here is another unique hide I saw in Yuma.Barbados Sam could always be counted on to provide unique cammo for his caches including this one near his favorite

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-9301458000966718602008-05-29T12:41:00.000-07:002008-06-03T14:56:01.438-07:00

. . . another walk down my road to stay in shape for my next Geocaching adventure. The walk also gave me the opportunity to pick up cans and bottles that will ultimately be turned in to get some gas money. Last Saturday, I got more than $17.00 for the cans and bottles that had accumulated over the last few weeks. Today I owe thanks to the person who drinks Bud Light. Since my last walk down the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-54815069421406114602008-05-25T12:01:00.000-07:002008-05-26T16:02:37.906-07:00

Auld Pro was available for a weekend hike and so was "lostguy", so he chose a destination where the three of us needed caches. Gecko Dad's "Stairmaster Caches" fit the bill and those were near Goat Peak where I needed to find a Terracache I missed finding on my last Poway adventure. We met up at 7:00 in the morning, piled into "lostguy"'s truck, and headed north up the 67.Once we arrived close to

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-126804902228078112008-05-22T17:06:00.000-07:002008-05-24T10:36:10.360-07:00

Clouds and overcast skies were sure a contrast to the hot weather and windy conditions during last week's adventure with Auld Pro, but cool temperatures were just what we needed for our hike to Long Valley Peak.After a couple of false starts, we found the trail through the yellow-flower meadow and then walked up the flower-covered hill to 3cd's' new cache, "Goin' Long," which had not been found

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-75285127968416466862008-05-20T16:05:00.000-07:002008-05-20T17:19:05.684-07:00

Since I have been confined to my house by the hot, hot, hot temperatures, I took advantage of the cooler weather today to take a walk down my road to get some exercise, and pick up more cans and bottles. I walked further than I did the other day and the Trip Computer on the Vista HCx said I had walked 5.6 miles when I got back. At the turn around point, it recorded 2.87 miles.So, when I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-75110459468629263052008-05-16T18:19:00.000-07:002008-05-17T11:53:15.522-07:00

Auld Pro emailed me a few days ago saying he wanted to see pine trees on our next hike. Well, today turned out to be a perfect day to head for higher elevations. A high-pressure system moved into the area bringing almost record high temperatures to the lower elevations.On our way, we stopped for one cache that had been found easily by two finders two days ago. Either we are blind or the ammo can

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-34022865643018715122008-05-15T14:40:00.000-07:002008-05-15T14:57:34.300-07:00

One of these days when I take my walk, I want to get a DNF. A "Did Not Find" any discarded cans and bottles, that is. Today was not one of those days. I brought back half a kitchen-sized trash bag full of cans, plastic water and Gatorade bottles, and a few glass beer bottles.I'll add those to other bottles and cans contributed by one of my neighbors for my next trip down the hill to the Recyling

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-58247576497879058312008-05-13T19:09:00.001-07:002008-05-15T14:39:17.507-07:00

When I made this extremely-challenging hike last year with Chuy!, I was so tired after all the bushwhacking to get to the top, I completelyl missed that opportunity to take a picture like the amazing one T.R. Violin took for his Terracache. For that reason alone, I had to hike back up there again hoping I could get a picture like that of my very own.Because the peak burned in a fire last summer,

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-37269408263111814352008-05-10T20:17:00.000-07:002008-05-11T17:52:36.979-07:00

The Splashes planned another "We Be Jeepin'" Event and I begged a ride from The Fat Cats who have a brand new four-door Jeep outfitted with huge tires and all the other important features necessary for serious off-roading. I met them at the Descanso Park 'n Ride and off we went, up the winding road toward Julian and the even more winding Banner Grade road on our way to the meeting spot.Jeep after

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-67325155142872328942008-05-09T20:55:00.000-07:002008-05-11T13:08:45.289-07:00

Today was going to be my "errand day." I had ten gallons to fill with water from "The Water Store," and lots and lots of cans and bottles to take to the Recycling Center.However . . . while sitting here drinking my morning coffee, relaxing in a turtleneck and sweatpants, I got an email from dillweed saying she and fisnjack were on their way to my house. Eeeeek! There were several brand new caches

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-28137423351858863972008-05-08T14:22:00.000-07:002008-05-08T15:12:50.359-07:00

The gloomy gray skies of the last two days finally cleared to hazy sunshine, so I decided to head in the other direction along my road to see how many cans and bottles I could collect, while getting some much-needed exercise.I started off with larger bags today, one from the Amvets Thrift Store, another from Macy's . . .Looking for recyclables is sort of like caching, because I have my eyes

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-25694353527719796812008-05-05T16:15:00.000-07:002008-05-06T11:27:57.323-07:00

The day dawned cloudy and overcast, but 3cd's, dillweed, and I were headed further east, so I hoped the sun would come out to warm up the day from the 50° temperature it was when I left my house.We met dillweed at the staging area for Hollenbeck Canyon and after she hopped into 3cd's truck, we headed east on the narrow and dangerous Highway 94, driving past the small community of Dulzura, which

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-53397909408898024112008-05-04T14:16:00.000-07:002008-05-04T15:15:21.182-07:00

It was a beautiful day today and even though I couldn't drive my car anywhere, I decided to get some exercise by walking my road again. I took a few plastic bags with me and walked a bit further than I did the other day, taking my Vista C with me. It has been "resting" since I got my Vista HCx and because of that, it took a long time for it to find the satellites. Once it did, it sure lost them

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-71684192777291944432008-05-02T21:23:00.000-07:002008-05-04T10:13:04.866-07:00

After a couple of weeks of going to the Otay Reservoir area, dillweed and I had almost cleared it of caches . . . almost. So, today, I drove down Otay Lakes Road again and met her near the gate we drove through Monday, but which was locked today. We walked down the steep road and took a wrong turn at the bottom. I thought I was following the arrow on my GPSr, but when we got across the creek, we

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-40093890881911365052008-05-01T15:24:00.000-07:002008-05-01T15:38:24.654-07:00

With gas prices very close to $4.00 a gallon, I cannot afford to drive my car very often. So, in order to get some exercise today, I turned on the GPSr, reset it to '0', and walked along my road, filling grocery bags with cans and bottles to take to the Recycling center.I filled one bag, then continued walking until the GPSr got to the two-mile mark. I don't know why it didn't record a total of

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-38319794852246025042008-04-28T21:48:00.000-07:002008-04-29T10:15:19.521-07:00

Although it was another hot day for the month of April, I made plans to meet dillweed early in the morning to clear out the new caches placed along the west side of Otay Lake. We started near the main entrance since there were a couple of caches near there that she needed to find, ones I found the day of the Event. This gave us a long distance to walk before our turnaround point more than three

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-90668468023727828182008-04-25T21:14:00.000-07:002008-04-27T07:08:12.384-07:00

Auld Pro suggested heading out to McCain Valley for our hike this week. That is a long drive, so I was very grateful he was willing to drive that far. Akop&Fam had placed a Geocache and a Terracache in the area, and then GeckoDad placed two Geocaches and one Terracache. So, we had lots of caches to find along the trail.We started out at 7:30 in the morning and began our hike about 8:30. The

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-27836111818238732882008-04-22T09:24:00.000-07:002008-04-22T14:27:36.177-07:00

Hazy sun and cool tempertures accompanied dillweed and me as we started our walk around Otay Lake to get some of the new caches placed prior to the Event last Saturday. I never knew there was a path all around the lake, and am surprised no one placed caches along it before now.I felt very good this morning as we walked and talked, and occasionally stopped to listen to the funny, distinctive sound

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-81971688065510725132008-04-19T21:00:00.000-07:002008-04-20T16:20:09.918-07:00

When I wasn't feeling well in the middle of the week, it was hard to make plans to attend the A Lake, A Snake, and A Cake ! Event. However, when I got an email from 3cd's saying he was going, and asking if I wanted to go, that made my decision for me.What a great time! More than 100 people attended, possibly just so they could see this cake:Photo by Team DuckitI had so much fun trying to fill in

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-75940090555126388332008-04-18T20:52:00.000-07:002008-04-20T13:39:34.060-07:00

After receiving the emails from someone affiliated with Anza Borrego Desert State Park, threatening to remove the final container for my cache, "ABDSP -- A Virtual Tour of the SW Region," I have wanted to check on it to make sure it is still in place, in a location far from the Park boundary.So, on this beautiful day, I took off for the mountains, now that I was feeling better again, after a

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-16288778946503696452008-04-15T09:40:00.000-07:002008-04-17T18:38:44.168-07:00

It had been more than a week since I had hiked with dillweed. I saw a whole bunch of caches in the Lakeside area when I Exported a .gdb file from GSAK to Mapsource, and she was up for it, so I met her at the Rancho San Diego library and we took off. First, I wanted to find a Puzzle cache I figured out a couple of weeks earlier. If it was easy enough for me to "sort of" figure out on my own, I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-1655771206040048082008-04-15T09:25:00.000-07:002008-04-16T18:56:27.947-07:00

A couple of years ago, DocDitto came out here on business. He also had several days to go caching. We had a great time, so when I see his name in the Forums, I always want to see what he has to say.Today, he posted this a thread that included a link to this log which included this image:Apparently, some workers were replacing the lightpole and found the small container near where the bolts attach

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-15909491208174767492008-04-13T16:42:00.000-07:002008-04-15T18:28:32.390-07:00

I am very grateful to jahoadi and john for giving me a ride from Rancho San Diego to the trailhead in Poway. With gas at $3.75 a gallon now, I really could not have afforded to drive that distance by myself . . . So, thanks guys. I really appreciated the ride!This was our goal for the day, Goat Peak.And, this is the Profile of our hike:These are some of the other pictures I took on this

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-24633360826512560922008-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:002008-04-11T10:21:02.773-07:00

This is an interesting exchange in the Forums this morning between a long-time cacher and a new cacher. Finally, Renegade Knight came along to sum everything up. A few weeks ago, when I wasn't feeling well, I let some "killjoys" get to me after I posted my most recent cache. Initially, they "won." However, once I started feeling better, I was able to respond correctly and do what I still believed

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-14142748683919146872008-04-09T19:30:00.000-07:002008-04-09T19:32:10.093-07:00

in honor of flask, i am writing in all lower case, which is how she writes her posts in the forums.i hope she is back so i can add to my favorite "flask" quotes. already today, i can add these lines from a post she made, quoting something i wrote yesterday:what i first loved about it was the secret web that caches and cachers trace on the land. i loved the idea that i might sit alone on a cold

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-7509165268654324502008-04-07T19:32:00.000-07:002008-04-07T20:09:01.858-07:00

Last summer, a fellow Geocacher invited me to join him and his wife to see a play at Balboa Park's Old Globe theater. It was a wonderfully-fun musical called "A Catered Affair" starring Harvey Fierstein and Tom Wopat.When we walked outside, the incredible afternoon light stopped me in my tracks. Even with other people present I stopped conversing to get out my camera and take some pictures of the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-22788595324569200252008-04-04T19:29:00.000-07:002008-04-05T17:47:18.049-07:00

Auld Pro is training for a five-day hike in the Grand Canyon and wanted to go on another long hike. Guatay Peak had a number of new caches, placed by nine intrepid cachers who braved bad weather last Sunday to make the six-mile hike, so that became our destination. "lostguy" and dillweed were also able to go, so I got to hike with three of my favorite Geocachers.I was wearing the new "Energy

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-50924043427116145942008-04-03T16:05:00.000-07:002008-04-04T19:34:10.170-07:00

When I posted my new "Desert Virtual" cache, there were a few people who were upset about how I was dealing with the cache removal situation in Anza Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP)I really didn't think my allowing of Multi-logging on a single, unique cache, would become a wildly-spreading practice in the San Diego Geocaching community and cause "bad blood," however, when I wasn't feeling well a

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-22242604624529111002008-03-28T19:59:00.000-07:002008-03-29T14:32:45.269-07:00

Today was another great day with Auld Pro. This time we drove up towards Bear Valley from the Buckman Springs side and stopped at the locked gate that was open when I first cached in this area with Princess Toadstool in the spring of 2005. That was when we actually drove a good portion of the entire route in her P.T. Cruiser.From that location, Auld Pro and I walked up the road to the parking

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-57223596781020645612008-03-28T14:05:00.000-07:002008-04-11T14:12:31.401-07:00

I have not been feeling well . . . have been feeling dreadful, in fact. Yesterday, when I took off for my hike, I told my friend, and neighbor, where I was going. I frequently forget to do that when I take off on my solo adventures.When I got back, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on my porch, with a kind note. What a wonderful, generous thing for him to do.The flowers are absolutely

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-1320106992836051062008-03-27T20:35:00.000-07:002008-05-29T14:38:27.296-07:00

Although I still did not feel well today, I decided a physical challenge would be good for me, so I set off to the Horsethief Canyon area where I have a few caches I could check on, including the challenging "Elevation 3000. These are the interesting tracks of my little trek.I walked down my shortcut, which is a well-used, illegal alien trail. At the bottom, I took a picture of the location of

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-7149035902334937662008-03-26T16:23:00.000-07:002008-03-30T14:40:52.783-07:00

Because of the new policy in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, which disallows physical caches in the Park, I thought my "Virtual Tour Cache" would be a good idea.Seems it was too controversial . . . It generated discussion in the Forums, and when I tried to clarify things, it got worse. Then I got a couple of emails from people, then a "Note" was posted on the cache page. The way I worded the part

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-31444789528123626362008-03-26T09:06:00.000-07:002008-03-30T16:07:26.320-07:00

A little while ago a "newbie" posted a list of ""Ten Things" they have learned in their short two-month caching history:1. Only trust your GPS to get you to the ball park, then concentrate on the ball.2. One mistake on the coordinates will put you off by one street, park, county, or state, depending on where the error is.3. Much of the landscape that I thought was deserted is visited every day by

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-12656840061853058942008-03-25T09:05:00.000-07:002008-03-25T09:32:55.151-07:00

Last December, right in the middle of the Holiday Season, the Superintendent of Anza Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) suddenly changed the policy about having Geocaches in the 600,000-acre Park. They started stealing the caches without allowing the cache owners any time to retrieve the containers themselves. And then, what was even worse, they didn't post Notes on the cache pages to let people

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-26262681320940731742008-03-24T20:02:00.000-07:002008-03-26T10:58:28.849-07:00

While on my little drive to place the final container for the "Virtual Tour," I took some pictures from a great viewpoint off of Sunrise Highway. I have been in that location when the blue of the Salton Sea is as blue as the sky. Today, smoke, and haze made the sea indistiguishable from surrounding desert landscape.The smoke messing with my pictures was from a "prescribed burn" the Forest Service

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-84604132659827284222008-03-22T22:14:00.000-07:002008-03-25T19:49:01.820-07:00

Until Friday afternoon, I didn't know if I had a ride out to the desert for this Event, but Team Fatman offered a seat in his Toyota truck and I accepted his offer. Since I haven't been feeling well for the past several days, I probably would not have gone if he had not posted in the Events thread, giving me an opportunity to email him impulsively.We had a great day and I took lots and lots of

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-83478128835662148012008-03-21T15:48:00.000-07:002008-03-30T14:45:15.118-07:00

I had not planned on driving into town, but dillweed suggested meeting for a short hike in the morning, so I left the bright sunshine at this elevation and drove down the hill into the overcast and fog to meet at a Health Food Store in El Cajon. I loaded my stuff into her vehicle and she drove the rest of the way to the trailhead for "Golden Hammer" and several other caches."Golden Hammer" is an

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-88742432297109114392008-03-19T15:29:00.000-07:002008-03-19T15:39:26.007-07:00

Gas is more than $3.50 a gallon here, which puts a crimp in my ability to drive very often since I live a long distance from town. So, since I couldn't justify driving my car anywhere today, I decided to get some exercise, and get some gas money, by walking along the along the road out here and picking up cans and bottles. Boy, the people who drive this road are sure slobs, but I guess I should

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-2331233466042559652008-03-14T19:53:00.000-07:002008-03-16T14:54:54.741-07:00

Auld Pro sent me an email saying he wanted make a good long hike on his day off. "How about Bell Bluff?" he asked. Oh boy, Whoopee . . . another hike to that wonderful rockpile I hiked to solo back in August of '06.I met him in "downtown" Jamul and he drove the rest of the way, for which I am grateful. On our way to the elusive "Spanish Bit Trailhead" for the California Riding and Hiking Trail,

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-82722481208830331502008-03-13T15:02:00.000-07:002008-03-19T16:16:24.831-07:00

A week ago, on a day when I was in town running errands, I ran into an old friend. It was great to see her again and since she lives near the trailhead for a few of my caches in the Hollenbeck Canyon area, I planned a little hike there so we could see how the area looks six months after the devastating fires.It was a perfect morning for the hike. Down in the valley, there was some fog, but the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-8112460017171992482008-03-11T17:11:00.000-07:002008-03-11T17:34:19.442-07:00

They offer great entertainment, like that offered by this cache owner who got a message about an ammo can that had apparently been muggled by "Willie Wonka." The cache owner is a great storyteller in the way he described the container, its contents, and his washing of the ammo can in the dishwasher . . . I'm waiting for the "rest of the story." It will be interesting to know what his wife said

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-12030681713800693142008-03-10T21:15:00.000-07:002008-03-11T16:19:24.591-07:00

Because of its proximity to the ocean, the San Diego area frequently has an "onshore flow" of air. All the water vapor in the air gets in the way of distant views, so even on a bright sunny day, the views are obscured. It is rare to have an awesome crystal clear day like we did today.I met up with dillweed, rnblver, and a young friend of dillweed's in the Mast Blvd. staging area for Mission

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-84215270952836494752008-03-09T21:07:00.000-07:002008-03-28T21:13:06.195-07:00

Since I started Geocaching, I have not done as much reading as I used to. The Geocaching obsession has been fairly all-encompassing over these past three years. Another factor that has affected my reading has been my health. Now that I have been feeling better over the past few months, it is easier to concentrate and enjoy reading again.Recently I have been reading a few different books and in

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-72617835965084093852008-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:002008-03-11T16:58:29.387-07:00

Gratefuldad went out to the Hollenbeck area to fix his "On the way up" cache and while he was there, he found that his "Free the Gnomes" cache container was gone. The heat of the fire when it went through that area last October was very intense, so perhaps the container just disintegrated.Bradybunchboys beat our group to that cache, getting the FTF the night before, so we thought he got the FTF

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-85443602536786117552008-03-02T16:56:00.000-08:002008-03-02T17:52:27.478-08:00

The last time I hiked to the waterfall area of Kitchen Creek, it was dry. Now, after all the rain we have had this winter, it is flowing and the falls are noisy with that wonderful, relaxing, water-falling cacophony. It was a short hike, compared to some I've taken recently, but the first time I made this hike, back in 2005, it was a long hike . . .At the trailhead, the wind was gusting and the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-5063189728493426332008-02-29T21:46:00.000-08:002008-03-01T18:07:46.303-08:00

Bradybunchboys put out a new cache called BBB's "Widowmaker". It was a long hike, but dillweed was up for it, and there was the chance for FTF, with a FTF prize of a Geocoin. So, off we went in the mist of the marine layer, which was quite a contrast to the bright, warm sunshine at my house. When we got to the staging area, I was sure glad I grabbed my fleece vest at the last minute as I left the

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-6387182225006703342008-02-28T21:33:00.000-08:002008-02-28T21:45:38.293-08:00

This is the Profile of our nearly six-mile hike, during which Auld Pro and I found twelve caches.We started the hike on a city street and eventually made it to the top of the peak in this next picture, at an elevation of more than 1800 feet.I'll try to add more details later on . . .

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-1934102010500754862008-02-26T18:04:00.000-08:002008-02-28T21:49:21.021-08:00

When bradybunchboys hiked to my newest caches in the Horsethief area, he left two caches, and his cell phone . . . He did not intend to leave the latter item . . .One of the new caches is a Puzzle cache and I don't know how to figure it out, but I decided to hike to the other one. It wasn't a very long hike, just over a mile, but it was challenging in places because of the burned vegetation. I

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-11531934660740683922008-02-25T20:50:00.000-08:002008-02-28T18:04:06.247-08:00

It was a beautiful day for a hike back up Oak Canyon where the water was flowing. We had to cross over the creak many times, and it was more difficult than the previous Sunday since we had so much rain last Friday and yesterday.I have some pictures I took in the canyon I hope to post later.dillweed found about twenty caches, I found five, but that was fine. I don't have to write so many logs at

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-12085651119977687472008-02-21T09:50:00.000-08:002008-02-21T20:12:14.314-08:00

A few people have requested that I explain how I get the map, track, and profile images I use here in the blog, so here goes with a little tutorial.The first thing I do as soon as I get home from a "caching adventure," is hook up my GPS unit, a Vista HCx, to my computer. I open Mapsource Topo and use the "Receive from Device" icon on the toolbar to get the Tracks and Waypoints in the Mapsource

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-62749305621201407442008-02-20T11:20:00.000-08:002008-02-20T12:57:54.201-08:00

Someone posted in the Forums about where your "cache centroid" was located. I didn't know what that was, or how to figure it out.After finding out there was one program for it . . . that doesn't work on this computer, someone suggested the "FindStatsGen" Macro for GSAK.What a cool tool! My "Cache Centroid" is located in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the place that just rudely banned Geocaching

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-28987108675592080092008-02-17T20:38:00.000-08:002008-02-24T11:30:15.871-08:00

I had not planned to join the cachers who were meeting for a hike in Mission Trails Regional Park at 6:00 a.m., but when I woke up at 4:55, I thought about it for a while, then got up and rushed out of the house to meet the group. I was a bit late since I had trouble scraping the ice off the windshield of my car . . . I thought there would be more people there, but was happy to see The Polar Bear

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-30381554467108382652008-02-14T08:40:00.000-08:002008-02-16T09:43:24.991-08:00

Just two days after I was "bragging" about the beautiful weather here, it snowed . . . and it stayed on the ground for a few hours the next morning.Even the weathermen on the local news shows were surprised . . . Once good thing about this kind of weather here is that it usually passes through quickly, so good hiking weather is right around the corner again.

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-14350338785326493772008-02-12T20:05:00.000-08:002008-02-16T08:40:21.802-08:00

I picked up some Geocoins on the trip to Yuma and rather than risk putting them in another cache for the coin thief to visit, I decided to place a couple of new caches, and hike to my "Hard Hike, Easy Find" cache to have "safe" homes for the coins.The first location isn't far from "Blame it on Miragee," a cache placed about a year ago by CTYankee9. It is up on a high point near a marker placed by

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-51257592606893172042008-02-11T11:02:00.000-08:002008-02-16T10:08:49.673-08:00

Last year, through the very kind generosity of Team Adelos, I was able to attend the Yuma Event. This year, it was fisnjack who provided my transportation over to Yuma so I could attend the "Warm Up" Event on Saturday night and the big Event on Sunday where I got to visit with my caching buddy, Princess Toadstool, whom I have not seen for more than a year.On the way over to the Event, we stopped

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-346296516575876402008-02-01T16:34:00.000-08:002008-02-02T16:26:00.382-08:00

A new cacher placed several caches on a trail off Proctor Valley Road, so I met fisnjack there to make the short hike. On the way up, we stopped and got this view of Mt. Miguel.There was a great view of El Cajon Mountain from a point midway up the hill.At the very top, this was the view of Mt. Miguel.As with several of the other caches, the cache at the top was off from GZ by more than 20'. By

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-32981292945104532172008-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:002008-01-27T15:57:26.716-08:00

When I woke up and logged on to my email, there was a message from fisnjack. I called his home and his wife said he was already on his way out to my place with his eye on two FTFs on Guatay Peak to the northwest of where I live. Akop&fam had placed both a Terracache, and a Geocache on Guatay Peak.The trail was fantastic with only a few steep sections where I had to stop to catch my breath. Once

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-49947683033117723592008-01-19T21:23:00.000-08:002008-01-20T17:20:37.970-08:00

My alarm clock went off at 3:15 in the morning. I got up, got ready, and met fisnjack at 4:45 at the Descanso Park 'n Ride for the long drive out to the Mortero Palms campsite to meet up with Eric and Hill and The Polar Bear. On the drive to the campsite, fisnjack stopped so I could get out and take a picture of the water tower, an object I first photographed more than 30 years ago.We continued

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-55593716506961505852008-01-15T21:57:00.000-08:002008-01-17T14:03:07.172-08:00

After my long, steep hike with dillweed yesterday, I wasn't planning on going anywhere today, but fisnjack twisted my arm . . . I still needed to get gas, something I didn't do yesterday because there aren't any stations along that back route I took. And I had all those cans and bottles we collected to take to the recycling center. So, I talked fisnjack into meeting me at the Recycling Center in

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-14136803220182455152008-01-14T18:36:00.000-08:002008-01-16T15:55:35.333-08:00

Monday I drove the back way, down Proctor Valley Road, to meet up with dillweed at the trailhead for a whole bunch of new caches on the south side of Mt. Miguel. One of the caches, near the top, was one Kwvers! placed for me. This is part of the area that burned in the fires of October 2007, so the area is still raw and scorched.We hiked up one trail and then realized we needed to get to a

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-53557910983958524772008-01-11T19:10:00.000-08:002008-01-12T16:08:29.895-08:00

"Where to Begin?!" was placed by a fairly-new cacher back on December 21. On the last day of the year, we attempted to drive to it, but got sidelined by a Ranger at the Cuyamaca State Park sign. Today, it was beautiful, and after fisnjack had to cancel our trip to "Long Valley Peak," I felt well enough to justify driving up to Cuyamaca to make the hike by myself.I first learned about this cache

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-52121395745315319972008-01-09T18:51:00.000-08:002008-01-11T19:45:48.071-08:00

The weather cleared, finally, so 3cd's, fisnjack and I headed for Mission Trails Regional Park to hike a loop in front of and then over the top of North Fortuna Mountain. T.R. Violin placed that Terracache a year and a half ago and I can't believe it has taken me this long to get to the top of that peak.It was a hazy day, so I didn't take as many pictures as I would have on one of those "severe

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-4009522834219307982008-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:002008-01-08T10:09:14.043-08:00

Yup, it is still raining, something it has been doing since Friday night. At times it has poured down. Right now it has let up, but it is still overcast and cloudy. I really wanted to go to the big event in Las Vegas being held this afternoon, but couldn't see driving up Interstate 15, with all those big rigs splashing water up into my windshield, and worrying about the other drivers who don't

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-5431494824700944262007-12-31T21:26:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:48:41.666-08:00

The last day of the year was an auspicious one for dillweed -- she was to find her 1000th cache. I joined her, rnblver, and fisnjack at the Descanso Park 'n Ride. I hoped we could get a FTF on a new cache up in Cuyamaca State Park, but we got delayed at the Park sign by a Park Ranger. I didn't understand why we would be asked what we were doing, parked on the side of the road as we were there,

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-70366538693765216912007-12-30T09:59:00.000-08:002008-01-03T09:56:43.593-08:00

My alarm went off at 3:45 in the morning . . . After my brain figured out what that obnoxious noise was that had interjected itself into my dream, I got up, got dressed, put on my coffee water, and fixed breakfast. I put together some snacks for the day as well, some almonds and raisins in little snack bags, as well as those great spicy dried mango strips I buy at Trader Joe's. Finally, I got

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-10263118997937026912007-12-26T17:38:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:44:07.188-08:00

The day started in Rancho San Diego when dillweed and fisnjack picked me up. From there, we drove to Peutz Valley Road where we met up with 3cd's, my frequent hiking partner that I haven't been hiking with for the past few months. We sort of hoped to get some FTFs on the new caches, but another cacher was ahead of us on his mountain bike. We did finally catch up to him so we got a couple of FTFs

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11678317.post-56582593386842799112007-12-24T17:00:00.000-08:002007-12-25T09:10:32.286-08:00

Whoooo Hoo!! The Horsethief Canyon area is back open again. I got a log yesterday that someone DNF'd "Hopeful Tree," so I decided to take off on this absolutely gorgeous and warm Christmas Eve Day to hike that very familiar trail. I took a bunch of pictures because it was such a clear day, although the solid blue sky was a bit boring. Here is a picture of the hopeful tree with the location of "

Mirageenoreply@blogger.com0