Caches and Cache Maintenance

Ben was on shift at Littlerock and it was a nice day so I decided to go out and fix some of my caches that have been under the weather for a few months.  I had planned to do it sooner but we had a few weeks where it monsooned and trees fell down.  I thought it would be good to wait until calmer weather.

I called and asked grandma if she wanted to go and go on a few walks she said on another day, it was too cold for her.  I didn't blame her.

I needed to find a cache for the day so I grabbed one called A Walk in the Park (GC62YTT) and it was in my friend Shauna's old neighborhood.  I used to walk her dogs out here.  I parked near the mailboxes and grabbed the GPS, a pen and the selfie stick and attached it to my phone.  I found the cache pretty quickly and wondered why the neighborhood kids hadn't ruined or stolen it yet.

Yesterday, for the challenge, I picked up Main Attraction (GC63VGZ) at the Yelm Cinemas.  I saw there was a car right in front of the cache.  Really?  It was two women and I think they were smoking pot inside the car and having a great time visiting.  I didn't want to wait a long time so I got out and found it as quickly as I could without them really paying attention to me. I found it, signed it and put it back before they even realized I was there.  First one of the new year!

Upon logging it I received a new badge.

The day before, on the last day of the year, I found Box of Chocolates (GC5YWE6) near the Jack in the Box.  It was a quick park and grab.

Upon logging that one I earned another badge.

From there, I drove out towards Waldrick road and to a cache that needed some serious attention.  It was Asphalt Adventures #23 (GC36ABB) which is a letterbox, and the ink had exploded all over the container.  I believe it's because cachers do not put the ink and stamp back into the bags, yes I used several bags when I placed this one.  Then again, we live in Western Washington where it rains a lot.  I also know the bags eventually break and cachers also take them.  I parked the Escape, put on the rollerblades and skated the mile plus to the cache.  The cache was still there and there was black ink everywhere!  I traded containers, cleaned up the stamp and put a new ink pad inside.

I added Asphalt Adventures #25 (GC692ZZ) on my way back to the Escape.  I made this one harder in hopes that cachers don't find it right away and have to come back multiple times.

I also fixed Tribute to the CCX4 Power Trail (GC55J42) on my way back home.  This one didn't need maintenance because it was in place and fine when I walked up to it.  I had it when cachers can't find them so they automatically assume it's not there, place a needs maintenance log on it or needs archived.  It's really frustrating and annoying.  I replaced it with a temporary one because I broke it taking it out of its hiding spot.

I went home, logged my finds, updated my caches that needed maintenance and submitted my new cache.  I need to try and go caching once a week if I can I'm getting geocache antsy. 

Next Adventure:  **Snow**