He was at the Littlerock Fire Station so I took the back road behind Tenino. For some reason my stomach was feeling a bit yucky and I thought I could make but instead I had to pull over and run to the trees before I regretted it. I was back on the road in minutes and made it to the fire station at a decent time. I just wished his captain wouldn't have screwed up his day off. I hopped into his car and we drove to Tumwater. He told me that he would buy a battery operated fan for us to go camping with. We checked Walmart, found one then went over to Fred Meyer to see if the price was cheaper, it wasn't. We went back over to Walmart and bought that one. It was time to head back to Littlerock and for him to get ready for work again. We didn't get to spend that much time together but I was glad I got to see him before I drove over to Yakima.
We said our goodbyes and I headed home. I immediately started packing and eating breakfast as I went. I made sure the chickens and ducks were alright, packed the car with everything, locked the doors and off to Yelm to get gas. I left home around 12:30. I texted and called a few people to let them know I was on my way and talked to Ben until my phone lost reception. I decided to drive thru Eatonville instead of going the long way around on Hwy 7. I texted Ben one more time and told him I wouldn't have service until Morton.
When I got to Morton I turned the GPS on. I thought since I wasn't in a hurry I could stop a few times to grab caches along the way. I've been up and down Hwy 12 so many times I've almost gotten all of them along the road. More so closer to home than closer to Naches. My first stop I made was for Redneck Cache: MGC (GC120TE) and it was located outside of Morton at the gun range. The CO did get permission to place this one. This one had me going for a while. It was hot and I kept getting text messages and phone calls so I was really distracted for the first half of my search. I knew it couldn't be that hard and over looked it twice. I knew what the hint was because me and my dad used to go trap shooting. The hiding place looked legit so that's why I was so hesitant. I pulled on the lock and the lid opened up and BAM, there was the cache in all its glory!
I got back in the Escape and made my way down Hwy 12 towards Glenoma. That would be my next stop. I figured since I was coming this way to grab the four Mount Rainier GeoTour caches. I followed so many slow people. It was nice to take a break from all of the cars heading east. I stopped at Rainier100: Protecting Glenoma (GC5V7T2) and an old guy, probably a volunteer, was working on the old brick facade at the driveway entrance to the fire station. I parked and walked to where the cache was located. It was definitely getting warm outside. I put it back better than I found it.
I got back on Hwy 12 and made my way to Packwood home of the elk in the middle of the road. You really had to watch out when you drive through here. They come out more at night but you still never know. I made a stop in the middle of town to get Rainier100: "Visit" Packwood (GC5V6DA). Finding a place to park was easy and navigating to the cache was even easier. It was an interesting hide though, a cache tucked away inside a cinder block with a flat brink on top of it. I took one of the stickers to make a scrapbook out of once I complete the whole geotour.
I got back in the Escape and continued my way up towards the pass. I started up the grade and realized that there was a scenic view I had never had the time to stop at, well...now I do! Crystal Palisades (GCQ399) was a great stop to use the restroom and to check out the awesome geology as well as a view of Mount Rainier. Between 20,000 and 110,000 years ago, a period of volcanism resulted in a flow of lava which met an obstacle in what is now the valley of the Cowlitz River's Clear Fork. Although the nature of the obstruction is not known, the volcanic extrusion of dacite formed a deep pool and congealed under particular conditions, allowing the lava to 'crystallize' into basaltic columns. Subsequent erosion by wind and water have left the formations exposed to view here at the Palisades.
More people started to arrive so that was my cue to leave. I got back onto Hwy 12 hoping I didn't have to follow a semi truck, UGHH! I had to follow a semi truck. Luckily the Mount Rainier view point was up ahead. I stopped just to get relief from the semi truck and it was a clear day so Mount Rainier wasn't going to be obstructed by clouds.
I got up to the summit and texted Ben and Willmarth to let them know I made it to the top of the pass. I stopped on the north side of the PCT to grab Rainier100: Pacific Trail Crest at Leech Lake (GC5VDV4) and it was about 400 feet from the parking spot. I hustled up to the stump and found the cache.
As I made my way down and past Dog Lake I decided to stop at the Clear Creek Falls overlook pull out. I've been through here so many times but never had the chance or time to stop. I'm glad I did. It was an awesome view of the falls. I'm sure as a kid me and my family stopped here but it was so long ago I don't remember. I took a few pictures of the falls from multiple vantage points and then found the cache New Year Outlook (GC4W8WH). I could see how someone would have trouble with this one if the rock wasn't given away like it was for me. I put it back to make them have to look for it.
I made up some time coasting down the east side of the pass and the best part I didn't have to follow anyone! When I got to the Oak Creek area I stopped one more time to get Rainier100: Feeding the Elk (GC5VAYB). This was the last one along this stretch of highway. It took me a few minutes to pinpoint the rock that it was hidden under. It was hot outside and I wanted to get back into my car as soon as I could.
I made the turn at the 410/Hwy12 junction towards Naches and got about a mile in and had to stop...for chip sealing. I was pretty upset. While I waited the first time I texted everyone to let them know I made it over and I Instagrammed a few pictures and got onto Facebook to pass the time. About a half hour later we got to move about a mile and then we stopped again for another half hour or so. I was hungry and wanted to be done with traffic. I called mom and talked to her for awhile until the line of cars moved again. Once we got past the town of Naches the traffic disappeared and I got to my destination. I arrived after 6:30.
The dogs were very glad to see me. The jumped around, licked my legs, barked and tried to wrestle with me. It was funny. I haven't seen them since October when I came over for the Pirate Plunder. We chatted for a while and watched whatever was on TV. I asked them if they had dinner yet and they said yeah. He said it wasn't the best dinner to save and heat up so he offered to take me to get a sandwich at Subway. We went to the ghetto Albertson's to get a few things and some ice cream for later.
We got back, settled in and watched several episodes of The League. I never thought to watch this show and now I am hooked. It is hilarious! We ate ice cream and chatted and then threw the ball for the dogs. I brought in the rest of my stuff, made a bed in the other room and ended up watching youtube videos of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Robot Chicken episodes. It reached 1 a.m. and it was time for bed.
Next Adventure: TriCities Geocoin Challenge: Day 1 (#tcgchallenge)
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