I got most everything ready the night before. My clothes, food, etc. and set it aside. My alarm went off around 9:15 and I woke up with a sore neck on my right side. I must have slept wrong or something. It hurt to turn my head to the right. I grabbed the heating pad to see if that would make a difference. I finished packing up my stuff and I put it in the car. I took one more trip in the house to make sure I had everything and said bye to mom.
I got gas at the Arco and made my way to the freeway via Reservation Road to Mounts. I got on I-5 and hoped that I didn't have any car trouble. As I was approaching Tacoma, for some reason traffic went full retarded and decided to stop...for no reason. As we passed the Tacoma Dome and into Fife, traffic let up like nothing had happened. What is up with this insane traffic! It wasted ten minutes of my travel time! Grrr.
I cruised along until I saw a sign that said there was a accident on the interchange of I-5 and I-90 and there was a three mile back up. What? Really? Come on people! Learn how to drive! I approached the stoppage and made sure I was in the correct lane so I didn't get stuck and have to cut someone off at the last minute. We got through the three mile back up and I was cruising right along again. I should get there by noon.
I pulled up next to Doug's house at exactly noon. I grabbed my laptop and my bag, my keys and phone and walked up to the front door. I knocked and walked in. I made a bunch of queries while I waited for him to finish his game so we could go to lunch. We jumped in the car and headed towards Ravenna and Roosevelt and parked in the park and ride. We walked a few blocks and across the street to Rain City Burgers. A place that Doug tells me Dave Matthews frequents a lot. I ordered a bacon burger and he ordered the 12th man burger. They were all Seattle sports teams oriented and even the decor was decked in sports memorabilia. The food was tasty.
We drove back to his place and I decided to grab my last 13 caches while I had some time. I decided to ride my bike to Green Lake and grab the eight caches around the lake loop. I got to experience what it was like to ride your bike down the street like it was a car. It felt weird waiting for a light to make a right hand turn on the street. The Green Lake trail was a 2.8 mile paved loop that ran counter clock wise if you were on wheels and whatever way you wanted to walk. I rode my bike so I had to follow the way of the path.
The first one I grabbed was called Beauty of the Earth (GC2V18R) and it was a nano attached to a bench. I found it instantly. Some landscapers sorta watched me but really didn't care too much.
I hopped back on the bike and road towards the next one on the loop, Surprise, Surprise (GC2TY3R). It required me to climb up a tree to reach the cache. I found the right tree and now I had to find a way up it without getting myself caught up on the branches. A squirrel watched me the entire time.
The Greener Side (GC3WDDH) was the next one around the lake. It was near the Green Lake Aqua Theater and there were lots of muggles just hanging out. To the picnic table to the left of me were several teenagers just enjoying a Friday. I sat at the other picnic table like I was taking a break. I found the cache right away.
I got back on the bike and headed to Frederick (GCT2GV), it was a classic fence cap cache but instead of a fence it was on the top of a sign. I had to be really sneaky for this one grabbing it and putting it back. So many muggles.
The next two caches brought me to Woodland Park, a wooded area next to the zoo. Both caches were near a very large dog park. I chained my bike to a sign and walked out to grab Cocoa Cola (GC1QA7K) and Won't Bite the Hand that Feeds You (GC2HAPN). That one was adorable. They used a squirrel stuffed animal and chained it to a tree. It was holding a bison tube.
Green Lake Dock (GC4KJ93) and Green Lake Grove (GC14V1E) were the last two on this leg of my quest for 10k. Both were easy to grab, log and put back. I rode my bike back to Doug's place and I was sweaty when I got there. I logged my caches just to see where I was. I was at 9,994 and it was only 3:45. I didn't realize the World's Collide (GC57KW3) event was at 4...I thought it started at 5.
I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door as quick as I could. I knew I would get stuck in traffic...and I did. I got there around 4:30 with some time to spare. I found the logbook, talked to a few people I knew including Sean, Jayme and Chris. I was given a pathtag and a lackey tag just for being in the right place at the right time. I really need to get my pathtag going.
Just after 5, I decided it was time for me to go. I needed four more caches and I still had some daylight. I decided to drive out to Discovery Park, a place where Doug has done some conservation work about a year ago. I've never been there until now. I followed Nuvi, which led me into Ballard and near the locks and out towards the Puget Sound. I parked in the south lot and walked almost a mile to the earthcache (GC2WVHP) location. With the earthcache, I would complete my 7 Souvenirs of August, geocaching's newest challenge, and unlock the achiever badge. I was the 14,879th geocacher to complete it. I got to the beach and answered the questions and took the necessary picture.
I walked back up after visiting the light house.
I stopped at the three on the way back to the car, Discover the View (GC2C509), Discovery Park Cito Cache 2010 (GC274GK) and Caching Again in Discovery Park (GC254YZ). All were really easy to get to and find. I was tired and hungry so after using the restroom, I walked back to the car as quickly as I could and made my way back to Doug's house. His roommate Duncan, made dinner. I ate my food as we streamed the Seahawk/Charger game through the computer onto the projector screen. I logged caches and got caught up on my pictures on Instagram.
Next Adventure: Geocaching Block Party and My 10,000th Caching Milestone
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