I am so glad I did GCD last year. This year it would have been tougher due to work, my car and other unforeseen situations.
So far my car was cooperating as I got into Issaquah. I just needed it to get me there without overheating. I drove into North Bend and still the car was doing alright. I still had about 25 miles to go and a lot of time for something to go wrong. I started up the grade and my poor car felt it. I had to pull over into the furthest right lane...yes, the one with oversized vehicles and trucks pulling trailers lane, just so I wouldn't be in the way. I saw my thermometer start to rise. Crap. I got off at exit 42, Tinkham and found a pullout near the river. I got to it before it overheated. I shut my car off, ate my lunchable and talked to mom for about a half hour, mostly to let my car cool down. Lame.
I got back onto I-90 and finished the 13 miles to the Snoqualmie Summit and to Hyak. My car made it! I got off at the exit and followed the Ape event signs. I got to the main entrance and AndrewRJ (Andrew) told me to go to the overflow lot because I was one of the volunteers. I followed the overflow signs, parked, got my stuff and my bike ready and headed over to the main event.
I saw some people I knew, talked to April and Mike for a bit and made my way over to the tents. I picked up Bev's Ape coin, asked if anyone needed help, found Andrew again for my volunteer shirt, signed the Ape and just wandered around. I had about an hour and a half until my parking lot shift started.
I rode my bike over to the tunnel and hung out with FenChurchE (Fen), her husband NepoKarma (Mitch) and CaptCosmic (John). I helped cachers take pictures in front of the tunnel.
About a half hour later, Team Noltex (Jeff and Kristie) arrived for their shift and told us the bad news. They said someone had died on their way up to GCD. They suspected a heart attack. That cacher was ECM41, Eric McDoinald. I was just at an event the other day where I actually talked to him and Hoovers69 (Brian). They had asked me about GCD. They were really looking forward to the hike. I was just floored at the news. Almost unbelievable. Someone died while geocaching...
This event will never be the same even though GCD is not really a part of the Ape Event.
I got back on my bike and did some of the lab caches nearby. I saw Mr. Gadget #2's (Gene) bird house and watched some international cachers try to get to the codeword. I talked to him for a bit and he sent me over to his wife Mrs. Gadget #2 (Kathy) to talk to her about the Crandall's and how I knew them. They used to snowmobile with them back in the day.
I reported to AndrewRJ (Andrew) my lead to see where he wanted me to go. He kept me in the main parking lot and because I had my bike, my job was to circle the lot to find places for people to park. I got to talk to Hazard (Steve) and ended up hanging out with GrnXnham (Staci) for most of the afternoon. I thought it was weird that they didn't give me a walkie talkie. Oh well. Hydnsek (Abby) came over for a bit to talk to us and give out information for the cachers attending the event.
April and Mike came back from the tunnel and was about ready to head up to GCD before they started their way south. I asked if they wanted to meet me at the table to take a picture before they left. They agreed and met me.
We ended up selling all of our Discovery Passes. I helped them pack up and they made sure everything (tables, chairs, tents) went back to their owners. I used the restroom and then saw if I was needed anywhere else before I went back to my car. Everything was pretty much taken care of and if anymore people helped it would have gotten too crowded. I hung out with a bunch of lackey's for a bit before I got really hungry, rode my bike to the car, secured it and made my way to North Bend. I was really hoping my car would not give me any trouble on the way home.
I stopped in North Bend, along with everyone else traveling, and decided instead of fast food to grab a sandwich at Safeway. The guy who made it was very slow. You could tell he hadn't been there that long and a line started to form. He finished my sandwich and I grabbed some chips, a couple of drinks and a candy bar. I was starving. Every time I go to these events I never have time for food or I forget to eat because of everything going on. I got back onto I-90 and inhaled my food. It hit the spot.
I had to stop as soon as I got off of I-90 because my thermometer was rising. I pulled over on Hwy 18 at one of the gated dirt roads and waited it out. I ate the other part of my sandwich called Bev, Ben and mom because I would have to wait at least a half hour for it to cool down. I continued on.
I made it to Puyallup and had to pull over off of the Pioneer exit and find a place for my car to cool again. I did some internetting and texting. My mom called me and asked if I could bring pizza home. I wasn't sure how long it would take me. I cautiously drove up the long hill on 512 and had to pull over again in Spanaway at a bank parking lot. This was getting ridiculous. I was suppose to be home an hour ago according to Nuvi. In between Spanaway and Roy my car finally gave up, overheated and erupted all over the gravel turn out off of 507. I was 15 miles from home. Lame.
I let it cool down, took the cap off, it fell inside the car and I was getting frustrated. I got it out, put a container and a half of anti-freeze back into the car and drove to Yelm to pick up pizza by 7:00. I was exhausted. I took the pizza over to the rental and Ben met us over there. I washed clothes, took a shower when we got back to my house.
Next Adventure: Mount Rainier
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