bytemobile's Geoblog

Oct 30, 2005

Fall Creek Stamp

By: Chickasaw Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

This was our first visit to Fall Creek, and it was a great day for a hike. This cache was our first stop, and we had no trouble following the directions to the cache, although that is a Douglas Fir, not a redwood near the cache. I took Mr Hopsalot TB and left Gollum TB. Gollum wants to head to New Zealand, but I figured this forest was fair approximation. I also left Bytemobile turtle #132.

Rising Stump Cache

By: Chickasaw of ynots4 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

My GPSr lost lock with the satellites about 0.15 miles from the cache, so we just looked for something that looked like the cache name. DougMoi found the cache while I was busy trying to read the cache description on my PDA. Caching with companions is really helpful at times.

Loggers Ghost

By: Chickasaw Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

We were heading for Barrel Mill and this was a nice stop along the way. Everyone else passed it by, but I spotted the telltale signs of a geocache. and made the find. I left turtle #133.

Barrel Mill

By: Kealia Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

This is a great spot. I have a cache at the Page Mill site in Portola State Park, and that is just a flat spot with a sign. This spot has quite a collection of artifacts. We located the cache with the hint, left turtle #136, and turned around to head back down the trail. The creek today was really amazing with shafts of sunlight poking through here and there.

IXL

By: Diana, Jim & Bryan - team dmg Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

We had a great hike today, the first time for all of us at Fall Creek. We diligently collected the information along the way, but in the end, it was for nought when the GPSr wouldn't lock on the satellites. We used the hint and scrambled around the area until DougMoi came up with the find. I left turtle #134.

Oct 29, 2005

VTA Diridon Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Well, this hide was a little different. I now had the final cache coordinates, but I decided to first continue my Light Rail tour with a couple of Stacy & Jerry caches.

VTA Winchester Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Wow, this series is popular. I headed early this morning to do it before any of the caches went missing. This was my first stop, after picking up a couple puzzle caches in Los Gatos.

VTA Downtown Campbell Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Well that was a bold hide. I signed and headed on for the next one. Thanks!

VTA Hamilton Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This one took a few minutes of wandering before I zeroed in. I parked very close by, which seems to work fine early on a Saturday morning.

Branham Station

By: Stacy & Jerry; Adopted by cachbefound Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I had thoughts of finishing up this series today, but I got stopped right here. I had a good look around, but wasn't able to spot anything.

Capitol Station

By: Stacy & Jerry; Adopted by cachbefound Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I was doing the new VTA series this morning, and decided to try to finish up the old one. I parked very close by and found the cache after wandering a little bit. Thanks!

Lowdown

By: 2burbacious Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I was headed along the VTA series this morning, and decided to stop for this one since it was close by. The pedestrian traffic was pretty high this morning, but I guessed where the cache must be after wandering around a little while, and made the grab after tying my shoes. Thanks!

End Station - VTA Mystery Cache

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

#42 on the log. I got out early this morning and didn't have much trouble with the series. Thanks for the tour!

VTA Fruitdale Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Continuing my trek this morning, I parked and found this one quickly, with no one nearby.

Watersdown Affair II

By: spyder woman Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I was also too slow on the first puzzle. I came out to have a look for this one a week ago and came within inches of finding it, but I was unsure of my coordinates and wasn't very thorough. Well, now I know who the killer was. Thanks!

The Home is Where the Heart Is

By: summerandnana Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I did the first part of this series ages ago, and just got around to this one early this morning. I found the cache quickly and left Bytemobile turtle #131. Thank!

VTA Bascom Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Things were pretty quiet here this morning and I was able to park right in front of the cache. Thanks!

VTA Race Station

By: frivlas Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

The entrance to the lot where I was planning to pull in was chained off, so I parked along the street and had a short walk to the cache. Thanks!

Oct 28, 2005

Encounter of the DVD Kind

By: boulter Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I evidently live in a cultural vacuum because I haven't seen this before or paid any attention to it, but now I'm up to speed. Thanks for the puzzle!

Oct 27, 2005

POP #6

By: WeBeDnD Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

My pattern recognition capabilities were not working too well when I had a look at this a few times over the last year. A few words from the owner set me on the track to seeing what I couldn't before. I made a quick find on the way home this evening. Thanks!

Deferred Success

By: boulter Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

The first time I saw this a couple months ago, I tried to work out a theory that involved prime numbers. Last night, I was just killing some time and had deferred success with a much simpler approach. I stopped by at lunchtime today for a quick fimd. Thanks for the puzzler.

Steeple Chase #1

By: southbayday Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I stopped by at lunchtime and found the cache in the second place I looked. I took the Gollum travel bug and left Bytemobile turtle #130. Thanks!

Oct 21, 2005

Simon's Coin Cache at Licorice Twist

By: Simon of Team Egerton Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Small

I took me a little while to find this one. (I've never been that good at understanding poetry.) I was surprised to see one of my signature turtles in the cache. That hasn't happened before. Thanks!

Grin and Bear it

By: The Saints Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Small

Interesting use of the term "behind" in the hint. I wandered a bit, but found a likely spot eventually. Thanks!

Long Legs

By: Team Egerton Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

I followed an interesting mish-mash of trails down from the ridgeline to the cache site. I found this one before I stopped and read the description and the hint. I left bytemobile turtle #124.

Refrain from Bouncing

By: Sgt Stitches Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

It's hard to refrain from bouncing a little here. I took the hint a little too literally and searched the very end of the bridge, but finally spotted it. Thanks!

The Trebuchet

By: Touchstone Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I verified my coordinates with the cache owner before heading out and got back some additional hints. These hints were crucial to finding the cache since my GPSr claimed I was over 400 feet away when I found it. I took The Wise Bug travel bug and left bytemobile turtle #121. Thanks for the interesting puzzle!

White Elephant

By: Kealia Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I had a bit of trouble with this one, and circled around a few times before recognizing the configuration mentioned in the hint. I left bytemobile turtle #128.

Camp #4's secret treasure cache

By: friendly four from felton Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Other

Wow, I have seen some large-ish caches, but I think this one is the biggest I've seen. I wasted some time heading down to the river, but retraced my steps and found the cache. Thanks!

Hide-a-way Hill

By: FreelerSquealers and Team Egerton Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

I had no trouble finding this one. I left The Wise Bug travel bug and bytemobile turtle #122. I don't remember seeing Lobo the Duck in the cache.

Spring Canyon

By: Calikat Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

I wandered back and forth in front of the cache a couple times before venturing a look and finding it. The hints did the trick for me.

Ridgeline Cache

By: Team Crush Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

The hint was very helpful on this one. I didn't zero out real close to the cache, but found the object mentioned fairly easily. I left bytemobile turtle #123.

Really Big Drinking Fountain?

By: ed777 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

I was doing a big hike today up Bear Mountain and down and back up through Henry Cowell. This was a nice spot to sit down a bit and have a sip of water. I took a Saints card and left bytemobile turtle #126.

Meditation Cache

By: 50sumtin Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

This cache also seems to be missing a hint. I zeroed out close to the meditation point, then looked around and climbed out of the meditation area and had a good look with my flashlight in and under anything that I could look in, then I had a look up and down the trail, then climbed up the tree where the electrical conduit comes down the hill. My enjoyment again expired and I headed on for the next cache.

Brother, can you spare some cache?

By: 50sumtin Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 3.5 Container: Regular

This cache seems to be missing a hint. I'm amazed that I'm the only one that has had trouble with this one. The canyon and the trees make for a large search area. I enjoy hiking more than searching, so I headed for the next cache when my interest expired.

The High Road

By: Sgt Stitches Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 3.5 Container: Regular

I had no trouble with this one and didn't even read the hint. I believe a puzzle cache took me up this trail once before. I admired some of the Sgt. Stitches items, then just left bytemobile turtle #127.

Eagle Creek "Bridge"

By: ed777 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Since I enjoy hiking more than searching, I don't mind caches that are easy to find. I left bytemobile turtle #125.

Oct 20, 2005

101 TFTs - Two Pair

By: winini Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

I met WeBeDnD here to do a token trade and find the cache, but there was apparently no cache to be found. We had a nice chat, though. I begged for a few puzzle hints, and got enough info to get me going again on three puzzles, so it was a worthwhile stop.

Oct 19, 2005

On Hold

By: stbk Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Not chosen

I solved this with a little googling last week, and finally stopped by on my way home tonight for a quick find. Thanks for the puzzle!

Oct 18, 2005

Twisted Strands

By: Rocket Girl and DuckeyLee Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I scored a Jazz token here, so this was a great lunchtime cache. Thanks!

Circles & Squares,Light & Dark

By: Rocket Girl and DuckeyLee Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

This was my fifth lunchtime cache today, a new record for me, I believe, and all were done within one hour. I hadn't been out at lunchtime in a while and the caches had been building up. Thanks!

Speed Ease

By: Rocket Girl and DuckeyLee Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

The extra duct tape across the bottom seems to be working just fine in place of a lid. Thanks!

GOT NET?

By: Rocket Girl and DuckeyLee Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I had to look around a bit for this one. It could have much harder, but I'm glad it wasn't. Thanks!

Sky Can

By: L-grl Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This worked out fine as a lunchtime cache. I came a little early and didn't have to search much. I know a lot of people that work here, so I was on the lookout for familiar faces. Thanks!

Oct 14, 2005

New Wrinkle

By: spyder woman Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Wow, some of the homes here are unbelievable. I left turtle #119. Thanks!

The Lost Village of Purissima

By: PurplePeople Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

The GPSr claimed we were still 68 feet away when we found this one, but there weren't a lot of places to search here so it didn't take long. We hiked back up the road and had a look at the cemetery. It looked like there was a bit of clearing work done here in the last few weeks. Thanks for the history lesson!

Journey to the Moon

By: vaccine Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

After setting up camp, Wirebndr and I headed out for an afternoon caching trip. This was the first stop. Wirebndr had the GPSr, but I was the first to spot the object of interest. I left Bytemobile turtle #120 and took the GeoWomyn_SF_CA sigitem.

Wild Blackberries ? Yum!

By: PurplePeople Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Regular

Wirebndr and I admired the Maryland Geocoin and the interesting book, CD, and Ethernet hub, but ultimately took nothing and left Bytemobile turtle #129. Thanks!

Cave Dweller of Purisima Creek

By: geekster Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

Wirebndr found this one with his walking stick before I had a chance to read the hint. This is quite a scenic trail. The sycamore leaves on the trail said that this is fall. There are lots of ferns and still some water in the creek.

Debbie and Kevin's Wedding Cache

By: XB70man Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

This was my closest unfound cache. Maybe the closest cache to my house, found or unfound. I had a little time before taking off for the weekend, so I stopped by. I left turtle #118.

Purisima Creek Troll

By: geekster Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

This was our turn-around point today. Wirebndr found the cache after a bit of poking around. We left the Key to Success travel bug.

Purisima Creek Parking

By: geekster Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Wirebndr and I parked here for a little hike this afternoon. The lot was full, so I guess we got here just in time. Thanks for the trailhead waypoint.

Oct 13, 2005

Easy as Pi 1

By: Team.Geek Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

I made a quick visit to the cache location a couple days ago, but I wasn't confident of my solution, and DNF'ed. After verification of the coordinates, I found it without too much problem at lunchtime today. Thanks!

Tie-Dyed Coins

By: bullit Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I decided to make a quick lunchtime stop and try my luck at this one. It took me a little while, but I finally spotted something to investigate. The coordinates were right on for me. Thanks!

Something to read?

By: pao_flyers Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Not chosen

This turned out to be and easy lunchtime grab. I took the Key to Sucess and left turtle #117. Thanks!

Oct 10, 2005

Charleston Stormpumps

By: bullit Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I DNF or DNS a nearby puzzle cache, so I came by here for a consolation cache. I left turtle #116. Thanks!

Oct 9, 2005

Ardenwood: Lost in Time

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

We found this cache on our way back to the car to bring in our picnic lunch. Unfortunately, I forgot to write down the clue and had to come back later to get it. I left Bytemobile turtle #115.

Ardenwood: Spirits of the Forest

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

The squash had been harvested from the nearby field, but there were still a few small ones here and there that Mrs. B and friend Sandy picked up and stuffed in a backpack. We also found some chestnuts nearby and used our feet to separate them from their pods. Sandy took the GPSr and found the cache.

Ardenwood: Baba Yaga is Waiting for You

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

Mrs. Bytemobile wanted to find this one, so she had the GPSr, found the area of interest, then circled it a couple times before coming up with the cache. The buildings parked nearby were quite interesting.

Ardenwood: Rows of Nuts

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

As we walked through the rows of English Walnuts, we couldn't resist picking up a few and cracking and eating them. To crack them with your bare hands, put two in your hand and squeeze.

Ardenwood Scrabble

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

This was just a beautiful day to be out here. We had a nice picnic and had fun nosing around the farm and learning about the medicinal uses of herbs. Thanks for a great day!

Ardenwood: MoooSic

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

We dropped in to "The Herbal Harvest" activity first, which was interesting, then found this cache as we wandered around the farm yard.

Ardenwood: On the Move

By: GeoWomyn_SF_CA Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This was the first stop on our first visit to Ardenwood. I messed up for a few minutes and headed for the nearby (fake) location of the main Ardenwood cache, then corrected and found the cache after searching for a couple minutes.

Oct 7, 2005

Just Calaveras

By: Dynamic Duet Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

It was just me and the cows about 8 am this morning. I enjoyed the drive, particularly since most other folks were working today. Thanks!

Ohlone Overlook

By: CKayaks and Kenny162 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

I came by here on my way back down, and had a good view of the reservoir today. I left a key fob travel bug and Bytemobile turtle #107.

Halleluiah Rock

By: CKayaks and Kenny162 Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.5 Container: Regular

The five things listed under "A Word of Caution" are all my favorites, so I was anxious to get out to this cache. I'll let you know about the PO in a couple days. The poison oak branches are mostly bare this time of year, so it can be somewhat trickier to spot. I left turtle #105.

Ultimate Battleship: Lost Patrol

By: Koris Barloff Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

After a long hike, I was ready to go home, but decided to checkout the Lost Patrol. No wonder they are lost -- the trail doesn't appear on the park map, even though it is well traveled. I spotted a bobcat on my way out and will upload a picture if it turned out. I left Bytemobile turtle #108.

The 19th Hole

By: Kenny162 and CKayaks Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Small

After three DNFs in a row, it was good to find a cache. Thanks!

Bloodhounds' Reprise

By: Caching Casey Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Small

There was quite a group of cows and calves here guarding the cache. They let me by and I found the cache quickly. The top to the cache is broken, and the cache has been enclosed in a plastic bag, but the bag has been nibbled on, so it might let in a little water this winter. I left Bytemobile turtle #106.

Burl Ives

By: Ron Streeter Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Pretty cool, but I bet it catches a little water in the wintertime. Thanks!

Jurcachic Park

By: Chuguy Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

I had my walking sticks for poking around, but forgot to use them here. Mrs. Bytemobile got them after my first geocaching rattlesnake encounter. The cache is in great shape and is stuffed full of goodies.

Acorn Woodpecker

By: N2Books2 Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Regular

I said hi to a couple guys sitting on the bank. The cache was just out of their view, so they probably wondered what I was up to. Thanks!

It's a jungle out there

By: frivlas and oneangrypuppy Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

My errands took me right by here today, so I stopped for a quick caching break. Thanks!

Cerro Este Pit Stop

By: dandm Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

I forgot to log my DNF last Friday, but I'm logging it now. I zeroed out close to a logical spot, but the cache was not there.

Oct 6, 2005

A Little Evil

By: zapboy Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

The evil for me was not so much in knowing where to search, but in finding a cache that is hard to spot even if you are very close. I felt I earned this bead, and will add it to the string. Thanks!

GeoBeads #9 - Hidden in a Hidden Walkway

By: zapboy with help from workerofwood Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

I went out at lunchtime to get my string of beads up-to-date. This one is tough because the GPSr readings bounce around in this walkway. I after searching on both sides and back and forth, I finally spotted something. Thanks!

Oct 5, 2005

101 TFTs - Three of a kind

By: winini Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

I hope Echo is doing better. I stopped by at lunch time and couldn't resist the new Rocket Girl token in the cache.

Oct 1, 2005

Hidden Secrets Trail

By: STP Ron Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Small

I came to Santa Teresa County Park for an afternoon of hiking and finding, and this was second on my agenda. This one worked out pretty nicely. Thanks!

Bernal Hill

By: CKayaks Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 3.0 Container: Regular

Since I DNF's on O.W.L. #1, I headed over here to pick up a couple caches that were new since my last visit. I left turtle #102.

Support the Troops

By: Ruprex and his Girl Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

This one was pretty easy to find. It was sitting in the open, with its lid open and half of the contents on the ground. I packed it back up and added a new log since I didn't see the old one. I found a spot for the cache that was 13 feet from my zero point, but it was the only nearby spot I could find that provided a little cover. All the weeds are dry and well beaten down around here.

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