I did a few chores, ate lunch and planned out where I wanted to go and which new caches popped up in the area the last two years. There were plenty around to get me to my milestone for the day. I made sure my query was up to date, grabbed some paper, my two caching back packs, made sure my selfie stick was charged up, grabbed clothes for all weather types and headed out to the Escape. I followed SR 507 to I-5 towards Centralia.
The first one, Block House (GC51F9H) was located inside Fort Borst Park, a place I have been to many times for caches and fastpitch tournaments. I knew someone would eventually put one at this square structure it was just a matter of time. I parked, grabbed everything and walked to where to coordinates were taking me. I read the hint because the cache could be anywhere on this thing and started to look but kept a low profile. There were many people here enjoying the park. I had to look high and found a spot above the windows where something could be. I stood on a foot ledge and grabbed the bison tube.
I got back in the Escape and drove to the other parking lot to go get The MANN (GC5HN49) and it hasn't been found since December but the cache owner went out recently and proclaimed that it was still there. Why not. I walked the quarter of a mile out there and I took the hard way in and the easy way out. I got really muddy and made this cache harder than it really needed to be. If I took the correct way in it would have been a very simple in and out. I was probably out there for a half hour. I did manage to find the cache and put it back in its hidey hole for the next cacher. I walked back to the Escape and made my way to the next one.
There were a lot of caches that were missing along Airport Road, a series called The Trans Alta Trail, so I decided to skip them and try again another time with roller blades since it was paved. The next available one was Muggle-Free Mustang P-51 (GC5WB16) and there was a nice pull out and park. This road didn't seem very busy until three cars came roaring by as I searched for the cache. This one was an obvious "sticks out like a sore thumb" rock among a bunch of rocks. I walked right up to it. There was a great view from the south as I stood here.
No Train Here (GC5WB16), not sure of the name, I found in the Home Depot's parking lot. It was a large rock that have had a hole drilled into it and a plastic baggie with a log book shoved into it. It was kinda lame but counted towards my goal.
Of course there was a new one in the Walmart parking lot. Wallee Whirled (GC5VWFE) was at the southeast corner of the lot. Of course when I drove up I knew where it was going to be. Those darn lamp skirts!
I went inside Walmart for a few things and it drives me crazy on how people block the aisles or push their cart really slow. I knew what I needed, got in and got out as quick as I could. It was also a good place to use the restroom.
I plugged the next set of coordinates into the GPS and made my way towards the K-Mart at Hole In the Wall (GC5CVN8). I checked the obvious places and then had to squat to see if it was in the hole. It was and the container was broken. I signed it and put it back where I found it.
The last one on this road was Last Rock (GC50EHN) and there was a nice little pull out to turn the Escape around and then find the cache. It was the obvious rock and I turned it over and it was another rock that had been drilled but this time there was an actual cache inside of it. Nearby some tree blossoms started growing.
The Veteran's Memorial Museum is a facility I've been to at least three times since I've been caching. Caches come and go and are replaced often. Honor A Vet (GC50N1T) was found just about in the same spot as I found it years ago this time it was daylight and not cold. I had to take a picture of the awesome Army helicopter that was nearby.
I got back onto Hwy 6 and drove up towards Claquato, a place I geocached almost 5 years ago now, to get another geocache. This time it was the cemetery instead of the historical view point. The Twin Cities Cemetery Series, sadly I've been working on since early 2011. This cache completes the series and now I can move onto the final cache. This cache, Twin Cities Cemetery Series: Claquato (GC1E2R4) was found on the ground out in the open. The log book was mushy. The cache owner needs to come give it some love. I put it back underneath some bark to give it some camo.
Because we do not have maps on the GPS, only the standard map that came on the device, it made it hard to navigate to caches. I still have to purchase them but was waiting until I had a permanent job. So I had to put them into the Nuvi. It also made it hard to see what roads the caches were on and I had to back track. I got back onto I-5 and headed north back to the Adna/PeEll exit. I got onto Hwy 6 and then made my way to Hwy 603, the road that connects Adna with Winlock and Boistfort.
I set the coordinates to Close to Home (GC4XRN9) which took me to a unmanned fire station I've never been to. Lewis County Fire District #5, Station #4. It was a quick park and grab near the fence line.
I drove further south towards Winlock. It was fun driving around places I've never been before. Papa Hoot Again (GC52AE2) was hidden underneath the roofline of a really cool cabin bus stop. That also was a quick one.
That was the last one on that road until I got to Winlock. I got off of the road I was on which merged onto a road called Pleasant Valley Road which got back onto Hwy 603. It took me into the north side of Winlock. Upon my arrival, I expected the World's Largest Egg to greet me as I entered town, it was gone. WHAT!? I've never seen the egg missing before.
My guess is that it was taken down for maintenance. That's gonna suck for cachers who come just to see the egg and do the virtual and it's missing. I came for the newest cache, Cock of the Walk (GC540GZ) and it was at one of the Roosters in town. I parked the Escape, ran across the street and found it quickly.
I got back in the Escape and turned around in the nearest driveway to head back to I-5 and I found it hilarious that I turned around in the driveway where they were storing the egg. I found that very random and me being in the right place at the right time. Mystery solved!
I headed back towards I-5 and grabbed another Bearsandme cache off of Camus Road. I've been there twice before, once with Bob and Bev and again with Ben. I'm Green or Black, Rattle or Roll~#65 I-5 Series (GC5JQCT). I've found several of her caches and knew that there was going to be some sort of a fun animal toy or doll or action figure attached to the container to make it unique. I really didn't read into it but when you find it you know you found it.
I saw there was a new one off of Rush Road in Napavine, an area we stopped a lot at in high school after fastpitch and basketball games. Back then, it was just the Rib Eye and the McDonalds, now a gas station, several restaurants and of course, a Starbucks. I parked in the Starbucks parking lot and read where the cache, Loving Every Minute of It (GC59DBY) was. It was in a very high muggle area with the Love's gas station being right there. I saw where the cache was and was very thankful I brought my geocaching back pack with my magnet attached to a handle. It made retrieving the cache very easy when no one was looking. I signed it and nonchalantly put it back without being spotted.
Where the Cows Came Home (GC3REFA) was the last one of the night and I am really glad I saved this one. I've driven past here many times and wanted to stop and grab it but I knew it would come in handy later...and it sure did. I always like my milestones to be with creative, fun or at a really cool viewpoint caches, not some dumb one under a lamp skirt or in a guard rail. This one was at the Rib Eye near the Uncle Sam billboard. The cache was inside a decorative outhouse with a bunch of fake cows in a small fenced off pasture. Perfect setting for a cow selfie. #10,500!!
I headed home after that. It was getting dark and it was almost dinner time. I had to do some laundry and get a shower in. I spent the evening logging my caches and watching Bones. It was a nice day.
Next Adventure: Leap Day Events
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