When I got to 10,998 I stopped and waited for Saturday's event which would be 10,999, followed by my 11,000th cache at Mission 9.
We got up around 7 so we could leave by 8:30 to give us enough time to get there. Of course Ben laid in bed until the last possible minute. I got ready, got my stuff together and ate some eggs in toast, waiting patiently for Ben to get up. When he finally did he was rushed. He ate some eggs and toast and put together some snacks for our upcoming hike through the tunnel. He made a few sandwiches, PB and honey, baby carrots and water. I brought a Lunchable, apple sauce and water. I made sure we brought our ape tag.
I kept calling mom to see where they were. Erika was also going to join us but she got home from the Seahawk game with her friend "Murse" too late last night and had no desire to do anything. Mom said they should be there soon and neglected to tell me where they were. I really wanted to leave at 8:30.
Mom and dad finally got there around 9 and now we had to hustle. I drove with Ben, mom and dad and Trish and Amy followed us because there wasn't enough room for everyone in the Escape. I chose poorly on what way I decided to get onto 410. I ended up turning around and going the long way. At this rate we could make it by 10:30. Ugh! I really wanted to be there somewhat early. Next year, if I go, I am not bringing everyone.
We got to the top of Tiger Summit and had to slam on our brakes. I have never been stopped here and I drove Hwy 18 a lot while I was in college. It was slow getting onto I-90 but picked up through North Bend. Of course dad needed to stop and use the restroom so we stopped in North Bend, the busiest exit on I-90. Getting in and out of there was a nightmare...especially in the summer time. Now I was going to be even later, ugh. I stopped at the McDonald's and everyone used the restroom as quickly as they could.
About 15 minutes later we were back on I-90 trying to get to Hyak as fast as we could. From North Bend to past Denny Creek it slowed down and traffic was condensed to only two lanes. Since people have no idea how to actually merge and use their blinkers or wait too long and cut everyone off when their lane ends. I was so irritated on how everyone was driving and it was terrible. We were now going to be super late.
When we finally got to Hyak it was 11:00; an hour after the event started. We had to use the overflow parking lot and of course the overflow lot was being manned by that moron Derek on a bike. He only volunteered to make himself look important. We grabbed the stuff we would need and walked to the event site. I saw many people I knew. I talked to Annette and her husband, saw Ben and Jayme, talked to JCar, visited with McMorrow and his wife, saw the FugeFinders, Sproutter and walked over to get our Ape coin from finding a tag. That was being manned by Blue Canoe, so we talked to her for a little while. Everyone else used the restroom while I talked to people I knew. I felt like I missed a lot by getting there really late. We signed the ape to make sure we were there and logged the event. I was obnoxious and wrote our names really big in the middle of the poser board.
Everyone was getting restless so we started walking to the entrance of the tunnel.
We talked to Lisa and her husband KidVegas, took a picture and started our hike in. Like I have mentioned previously, I've been through the tunnel at least four times throughout the years. I was dressed pretty warm since the tunnel year-round is pretty chilly. Just a few steps in, mom found a passport someone had dropped and gave it to me as a souvenir. It had a lot of information about the ape cache, the history, the hunt, a map, you name it.
Amy, up until the Fen Dweller, was attached the Trish, pulling her along pretty quickly. That morning we told Amy about the ape in the tunnel. We tried our hardest to convince her that he lived there and would pop out when you're least expecting it. She was trying to ignore us but deep down she wondered. Throughout the first 2.5 miles in the tunnel we talked about an array of stuff. Amy definitely was surprised by the ape but she wouldn't openly admit it.
When we got to the other side, I was so stoked that the ape cache, Mission 9: Tunnel of Light (GC1169), was finally ready to be found again. The cache is a Project APE cache, hidden with permission for the Planet of the Apes Promotion in 2001. Moun10Bike and Jeremy were the original covert placers, the cache is now maintained by WSGA. When the cache was placed, it contained a torch from the movie. The description below was the original description for the cache:
"This mission is not going to be an easy one. The hike will not be as scenic as some of the other missions, but you'll be on a great adventure. You'll need to wear a good pair of waterproof boots or an old pair of sneakers. A flashlight is necessary, even if you go during the day.
This is a creepy, historical and very cool spot. Be ready for a unique hike, but beware because in parts you'll be sitting ducks for the authorities. So move fast and keep a good eye on your back to make sure you're not tailed. Good luck!"
Alas, our beloved APE cache (and unique icon) was stolen and archived in 2011. In November 2016, a small band of cachers took up the challenge to located the stolen container. The original container (and subsequent lost ones) was found about 300 feet down the hill and abandoned in the bushes, with some of the original swag still inside. With Groundspeak's blessing and the input of the community, the last APE cache in North America will be unarchived and reinstated in its place of honor in time for our even and allow you to once again find the unique icon...
...without having to go to Brazil.
This was posted to the November 11, 2016 Geocaching Blog:
In April of this year, cachers Winos_Seattle and rambudo met up with Geocaching HQ co-founder Bryan Roth. As they chatted, the subject of the lost Project APE cache came up. Winos_Seattle wondered if the container could possibly be found. Over the years, some have speculated that it's unlikely that whoever muggled the heavy container would have carried it nearly two miles back to the nearest parking area. Perhaps they simply removed it from its location and discarded it nearby?
(I originally thought this was the case and talked about it with several people over the course of the six years and nothing was done about it until 2016).
After hiking to the tribute cache, the recovery group split into three teams assigned to one of the three plausible zones and spread out down the hill. Equipped with tow-way radios, one team quickly located what turned out to be muggled tribute cache containers. The other teams found a variety of swag and logbooks, including ones with signatures from 2011 and 2014 (likely from the tribute cache.)
Following an extensive and courageous effort, a joyous call eventually came over the radio, "We think we found the original container!" Down hill in the woods below the original cache location, behind a tree with the open end of the container facing down, was the Mission 9: Tunnel of Light cache. Distinguished by stickers affixed to the inside, as well as some Planet of the Apes trading cards, the cache had fared remarkably over the years. Thank you to both the recovery team and Groundspeak for making the unique project Ape cache icon possible in North America again!
The day before it was released for the rest of the geocaching world to know, Winos_Seattle messaged me on Facebook and basically told me what the teaser was about. He told me not to tell anyone that they found the original Ape cache container. I knew he probably told others and could not help himself. I told him this was a big deal and I was looking forward to log it when they figured out what they were going to do with it.
I've waited six years to finally find this cache and I could not wait to get there.
We continued the half a mile to the container I have been waiting to find. When we rounded the corner I noticed a gigantic line! We had to wait in a line to find this cache?! What?! This was the first time I waited in line for a cache, ever. Ben, Amy and I waited in line while Trish, mom and dad sat on a long nearby and ate their lunch. We probably stood in line for at least a half hour. A group of guys in front of us were from North Carolina and talked about all kinds of stuff. Antoine (Winos_Seattle) chatted with a bunch of people, when we got to him, we visited with him as well. He probably told his search and rescue story at least 200+ times today.
They sent the logbook down the line so people could just sign it to avoid a bigger hold up at the actual cache site. I signed my name and added "this is my 11,000th cache!" I can't believe I've only found 1,000 caches since the same weekend back in 2015. I've definitely slowed down since my life got busy with work and other stuff. It frustrated me because I didn't have the time like I used to but on the other hand, I was making money and getting rid of my student loan debt.
When it was our turn with the cache I had Ben take a few pictures with my phone. Mom was suppose to take some pictures with her camera but she didn't get over there in time. I gave her a bad time about it.
After our turn at the cache, we walked back to where mom, dad and Trish set up camp. We all thought we should use the restroom before walking the 2.5 miles back to the event. We had to stand in another line to use the restroom. I was in and out quickly, followed by Trish, Amy and mom. Ben went and found the other caches in the area that I found back in 2011. We all gathered at the tunnel entrance and headed in.
It took us less time walking back than it did walking there. Amy still was on edge waiting for Fen Dweller to sneak up and scare her. We just laughed. I walked with Trish most of the time through the tunnel. She talked about how she was happy she decided to come with us. Of course when we got back to the other side I found people to talk with. While I talked to Nikki, dad went and found the bathroom...on the way there he found a diaper in the parking lot and decided to tell the park ranger about it. We just laughed.
I told everyone we were going to stop in Issaquah so we could go to the Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In. I've heard great things about the rootbeer. I had Trish follow me. I followed the Nuvi because I did remember that it was off of I-90 but couldn't remember exactly where it was. It was off the main drag. We were lucky to find two parking places because the place was packed! This place also hosts vintage car shows.
The place also takes just cash so I had to get some out of the cash machine. I paid for mine and Ben's. We found a place to sit and there we hung out and looked at the menus. I ordered their 56 F-100 which was the basic cheese burger and fries. I ordered one of their rootbeers as well. We surprisingly didn't wait that long. Trish and Amy ordered chicken burgers, Ben got a bacon burger and mom and dad split the same burger and fries I got. Several of us had water and rootbeer. The food wasn't as good as Harold's and Eagan's but their rootbeer was pretty tasty. We paid and headed the back way onto Hwy 18 so we could get to Bonney Lake.
We got back to Bonney Lake around 5ish. Mom and dad took a quick tour of Trish's house and used the restroom before heading back to Rainier. We got cleaned up, had a late dinner and passed out after watching a movie.
We were going to go see Ben's grandma in Auburn for a bit the next day followed by some disc golf at Game Farm. The weekend goes by so fast especially in the summer time. It was an eventful weekend and I am glad I finally found that ape cache and I was lucky enough to make it a milestone. Until the next time!
Next Adventure: The Great American Eclipse
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