Geocaching Basecamp

niraD's Geoblog

Oct 31, 2006

GeoBeads #9 - Hidden in a Hidden Walkway

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

The camouflage of this one reminds me of a nearby cache. It hides the container nicely from muggles, without being too difficult for geocachers to figure out. I dropped by to pick up this one after finding [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCPX9V]GeoBeads #8[/url]. There were a lot of costumed pedestrians tonight, but I was able to retrieve and replace the cache during breaks in the traffic. T GeoBead #9, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

A Little Evil

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

Ah, yes... It was much easier to find when I was searching the correct location. This one didn't seem particularly evil though, because it's pretty clear from the cache description (and from the pattern established by other caches in the series) where it should be. The location was free of costumed pedestrians tonight. There was no stash note, so I left a waterproof one. T GeoBead #8, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

A Little Evil

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

I was going to post a DNF, but upon reviewing the satellite photos, it seems that I misremembered my landmarks and was searching the wrong location this morning. Sigh... I bet it will be much easier to find when I'm searching the correct location. But at least I got to see hundreds (!) of costumed children, parents, and teachers from the nearby school walking by on their way somewhere. A while later, I spotted them on their way back and decided it was time to leave.

Oct 30, 2006

A Digital Puzzle

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

I've had the coordinates for a while, but wanted to wait to do this one in sequence with the rest of the series. This was a quick find on the way home from [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCN51T]GeoBeads #6[/url]. T GeoBead #7, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Geobeads #6 - Pick Up Stix

By: zapboy with help from workerofwood Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

This was the first cache in the series that wasn't a quick find, in part because the hide location didn't fit the pattern I'd come to expect of this series. T GeoBead #6 (zapboy signature bead), L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

GeoBeads #5 ? Teal Tressel

By: zapboy with help from workerofwood Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

A quick find on my way to the Caltrain station. Okay, so it was a slight detour... T GeoBead #5, L [url=]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 29, 2006

GeoBeads #4 ? The Jos Memorial

By: zapboy with help from workerofwood Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

Another quick find along the Stevens Creek Trail. T GeoBead #4, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 28, 2006

GeoBeads #3 ? Down the Chute

By: zapboy with help from workerofwood Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

This was a quick find while running errands. It will be nice when the Stevens Creek Trail continues beyond this odd little neighborhood. T GeoBead #3, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 26, 2006

Bad Luck

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

This one has been on my "nearest to home" list for almost two weeks now. I finally got around to picking it up. I ended up using the hint; this hide style seems difficult for me. T [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBJ511]Surfers Dream[/url] TB, L [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBJ0Q0]CPU phone home[/url] TB, seashells, and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

GeoBeads #1 ? Around the Corner

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

I missed my train this morning. Actually, it was full and the conductors wouldn't let any more cyclists on. Sigh... So while I waited for the next train, I decided to go ahead and start the GeoBeads series, since I've finally got something to tie the cord to, and since GeoBeads #1 is just down the street from the Caltrain station. T GeoBead #1 (there are 7 beads left), L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Creekside Park

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

This was a quick find after work. I had noticed this park before, and figured it should have a cache, but I was still waiting to start the GeoBeads series at the time. Anyway, GeoBeads #3 is next! T GeoBead #2, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 25, 2006

Pheasant Roost

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

What a beautiful morning to ride through the baylands! The birds, the water, the morning sun... And ah, the joys of caching without a GPSr... I started in the wrong location. Naturally, I didn't find the cache, but I did some CITO and I saw a rabbit. After deciding that I'd misremembered the satellite photo, I started back, only to find the correct location around the next bend. Once I was at the correct location, it was a quick find. T origami star, L seashells and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Lizard Chick's Espresso Society Cache

By: Capt Tong & the Jungle Mock Rangers Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Ah, that explains the checksum error. It also matches the location where I found the container better... SMILIE

Duck View

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

What a wonderful morning to ride through the baylands! This was a quick find in a beautiful location, and there were lots of birds everywhere. T digitalfish #2966 and TwoToques sig card, L bird keychain, digitalfish #4925, and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig tokens (one for this cache and one for [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCPAXW]the previous cache I found[/url]), SL. TFTC!

Oct 23, 2006

Speed Ease

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

The container is missing its lid. There is an improvised flap of duct tape for now, but it won't last long.

Oct 21, 2006

GOT NET?

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

I looked fruitlessly for a while, then left to grab a cup of coffee at [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCRH0V]a nearby coffee shop[/url]. On the way back I found [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCQNDQ]another nearby micro[/url] and then looked some more for this one. I eventually read the hint, which gave me a few good ideas of what I should be looking for, but still no luck.

Proposal Point

By: RodnSon Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

I was here on our church's bike hike for 3rd and 4th grade boys (and their dads). We took a rest break nearby, so I grabbed this cache while the other leaders watched the boys. It is indeed a beautiful spot for a proposal. Congratulations! T ring, L seashell, CA geocoin WN50381, and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Slow Down!

By: Boulter (adopted by AlphaRomero) Difficulty: 3.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

Earlier today I found [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=Speed Ease]a speed-oriented cache[/url]. I like this slow one a lot better, although I found it fairly quickly, and people were zooming by all around me. I had heard of such camouflage, but this is the first example I've found. Nice job! My [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token for this nano-cache will have to keep moving. TNLNSL, TFTC!

Speed Ease

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

The coordinates originally pointed me to a location on the wrong side of a fence, but I expanded my search radius a bit and found it quickly. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 20, 2006

A Little Logic

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

I had no trouble solving the puzzle or finding the cache, which was in the first place I looked. There was no stash note, so I left a waterproof one. The extra log space on the stash note will help too, since the log sheet was filling up, and for some reason my pen wasn't writing well on the paper. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. Thanks for a fun little puzzle, and TFTC!

Oct 18, 2006

Border Patrol #2

By: DavidT21 & Fisherwoman Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

I found it so quickly this morning, I have to wonder how I missed it last week. Oh, well. This is a nice path along here. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Mental Workout

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

I eat at the nearby pizza place regularly, but I can't do any geocaching then. Tonight I happened to be in the area and dropped by for this cache. It was a quick find. There was no stash note, so I left a waterproof one. I replaced the oversized ziplock with a smaller one that is just big enough for the log, so it fits in the container much better. But I didn't have the necessary things to fix up the container, which is held together with masking tape. T CA geocoin WN50381, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 17, 2006

Hey, Jude...

By: Vaudesir Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

For the record, this is not a Windows-only puzzle. I found a tool that works for someone using any OS.

Oct 16, 2006

Urban Beach #1

By: magata Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Small

This one showed up on my "nearest to work" list, so this morning I dropped by for a quick find before work. I had this beautiful park to myself, so there were no junior muggles (or their parents) to worry about. TN, L CA wooden geocoin #WN51412 and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Frank's Tannery

By: crawburr Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I dropped by on the way home from work tonight. What a great surprise, and I had the place to myself! There were plenty of birds around, but it was getting too dark for me to be able to identify them. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. Thanks for showing me this hidden treasure, and TFTC!

Oct 14, 2006

What, No Spinach?

By: popeye2 Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

I dropped by back in April to get the information I needed, however, I treated this cache like an offset multi-cache, rather than a puzzle cache. Sometime in July, I dropped by to pick up the cache, but it wasn't where I expected it to be. I didn't post a DNF at the time, because I wasn't confident that I remembered the satellite-photo landmarks correctly. Today I tried again, using different coordinates based on a puzzle-cache approach, and this was a quick find. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Triangle

By: Rocket Girl & DuckeyLee Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Regular

I found this one fairly quickly. It's smaller than I expected, but still rather large considering how busy the area is. T Blanston12 SMB #1092 and CA wooden nickle #WN51412, L [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TB15V53]my CCC motogrrl Memorial Geocoin[/url], Blanston12 SMB #259, and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Built Here: The White House

By: Adamski Adventurers Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Micro

This was a quick find, mainly because there was nowhere else to look. I was in the area helping the [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBJ0Q0]CPU phone home[/url] TB complete its goal, and grabbed this cache along the way. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Coffee Anyone

By: Rocket Girl Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

I've been by here a couple other times, but this was the first time I was able to search. After patronizing the coffee shop, I found the cache quickly. There was no stash note, and the log was filling up, so I left a Rite in the Rain stash note and log. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 13, 2006

Skylit

By: stbk Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This was a quick find on the way home from work--just what I needed tonight. I was the first to sign the new log. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 12, 2006

4|23 `/0|_| |337 3|\|0|_|6|-|

By: vaccine Difficulty: 4.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Micro

`/35, 1 4|\/| |337 3|\|0|_|6|-|. [I tried to write the whole log like this, but it kept getting munged by GC.com] I knew I was very close so I kept looking and looking and looking... I was about to give up when I decided to repeat something I had tried earlier. This time it worked. Now I need to become a premium member so I can publicly bookmark this as one of my favorite caches. It was an excellent choice fo r my three hundredth find. Getting my first FTF was just icing on the cake. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig tokens for this cache and for [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCRM4Z]the previous cache I found[/url], SL. [url=http://www.geocaching.c om/tr ack/details.aspx?tracker=TB15V53]My CCC motogrrl Memorial Geocoin[/url] would not fit in this micro cache, so I will keep it moving. Thanks for the puzzle and TFTC.

Open 24 hours

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

Wow! What a climb! I made it most of the way up the hill with my bike's granny gear, but at the end I had to get off and walk. I found the cache itself quickly, in the third place I looked. TNLNSL. My [url=url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token wouldn't fit in this nano cache, so I'll keep it moving. TFTC!

Oct 11, 2006

Border Patrol #2

By: DavidT21 & Fisherwoman Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 2.0 Container: Micro

I didn't have much time after finding [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCGPK6]a nearby puzzle cache[/url], and I didn't realize that the replacement container is a micro, so don't worry too much about this DNF. I'll be back when I can search more thoroughly.

The Dead

By: bthomas (maintained by kindredlaugh) Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This morning, I found this one the multi-cache way; I figured out the puzzle-cache way only after the fact. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 10, 2006

Square News

By: momagna Difficulty: 1.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This was a quick find on the way home from work, and I was the first to sign the replacement log. After finding the cache, I decrypted the hint, but I still don't understand it. There was no stash note, so I left one. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 6, 2006

Lizard Chick's Espresso Society Cache

By: Capt Tong & the Jungle Mock Rangers Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Earlier this week, I collected the necessary information for A, B, and C, and then worked out X and Y. My checksum for Y didn't match, but the coordinates I came up with seemed very likely. This morning, I double-checked the value of C before heading to my coordinates. I found the cache easily, so I'm pretty sure the checksum needs to be updated. I recommend replacing the container with something waterproof; the bottom is already rusting. T BADGES button, L [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBNV0F]LFD's EU Geoco in #1 (0840)[/url], keychain, [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. Thanks for the excuse to explore downtown San Mateo, and TFTC!

Sylvan Park

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

This was a quick find this morning, but not quick enough: I still missed my train. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Little Fellows

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

Thanks for showing me this mural. I found the cache quickly. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

Oct 4, 2006

Mind-Parole

By: workerofwood Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

I finally had the "aha moment" yesterday. I really enjoy puzzles like this, once I figure them out. SMILIE This morning, I reached GZ, looked around, and found a likely hiding spot. However, the location turned out to be incapable of holding a cache. Thinking about it, a decon container probably wouldn't have fit. Anyway, I checked the hint and found the cache shortly thereafter.

Or rather, I found th e remnants of the cache shortly thereafter. [:(] Something chewed up the decon container pretty badly. I looked around, but didn't find any of the cache contents. Sorry.

Play Ball II

By: ChrissySkyking + Blaze (adopted by CaliSeaSta Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 1.5 Container: Small

Overall, this is a nice park, but I filled 3 grocery bags doing CITO while looking for the cache, and the area can still use CITO. I finally decrypted the hint and found it quickly. There was no stash note, so I left one. I also put the log book and stash note in a ziplock, because this kind of semi-disposable container is prone to leaking. TN, L [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig tokens (one for this cache and one for [url=http://www.geocaching.com /seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCDA6B]the previous cache I found[/url]), SL. TFTC!

Oct 2, 2006

Kiss the Dog!

By: Marky & Joani Difficulty: 4.5 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Micro

This was a quick find after collecting info from the first stages of [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCRG70]a nearby multi-cache[/url]. I just looked around GZ for a perfect location for a "really evil" hide, and there it was. It took me a while to realize that I needed to use my other hand to retrieve the container though. I'm not sure why the "attachment mechanism" isn't working, but it doesn't seem to be necessary. My [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token for this cache wouldn't fit, so I'll keep it moving. TNLNSL, TFTC!

Joani's Prize

By: ChrissySkyking + Blaze (adopted by Team 5150) Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 1.0 Container: Small

This was a quick find after collecting info from the first stages of [url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCRG70]a nearby multi-cache[/url]. I noticed a likely hiding spot as I circled the cache site on my bicycle, and sure enough, that's where the cache was. I enjoyed looking at the nearby rose garden, but the roses didn't seem very fragrant this morning. I dropped [url=http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBNV0F]LFD's EU Geocoin #1 (0840)[/url], but had to take it back out since the cache description asks us not to leave hitch hikers. There wa s no stash note, so I left one. TN, L seashells and [url=http://niraD.sigitem.com/]trackable[/url] niraD sig token, SL. TFTC!

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