A NO ICE CREAM FOR YOU KIND OF DAY

We were at it again this weekend with some good successes and one big frustration. Check it out:

Our trip took us from the depths of the forest to the downtown city lights of Princeton WV. We found caches, scenery, poison ivy (yes, welcome to summer in WV), but had our difficulties finding ice cream.

Bowles Falls is situated less than 100 feet from a well traveled, and surprisingly well maintained, dirt road. I wonder how many have even seen the falls. Unlike a lot of our scenic spots this one is free from trash, garbage, and drug paraphernalia. Maybe because it lies on fairly rough ground that requires some effort to travel across. The forest here has made amateur photography difficult, even with the standard digital camera. But the area actually did seem this lush and green. Beautiful spot...

And with a cache as an additional draw for coming here. A lot of caches are placed at or near scenic spots and the seeker is rewarded with something of interest or beauty in addition to the cache find. This one was nestled in the roots and rocks directly behind me.

After lunch at the very best sit down restaurant in Hinton WV (in the words of the locals, "that'd be the Durry Queen") we traveled on. But let's take a break here to discuss geocaching and upscale dining.

Our lunches are usually a hurried affair for one of several reasons. First, we probably have waited far too long to eat and are totally famished. Or secondly, we are forced to eat too early because the next cache is located some distance away and in some remote location. And finally, we are simply in a hurry to get back to caching. We seem to become drawn to "just one more, just one more..."

We have become connoisseurs of the American Hot Dog. I've heard that hot dogs are sort of death by chemical, but we seem to have gravitated to the quick and easy hot dog and french fries. I guess all hobbies and interests have their downsides. But quick and easy it is for lunch. Grab something to eat and back to caching.

Lunch is over, back to caching.

Later we were treated to a trip to a remote ridge line and a great walk in the woods. Parking was here at an old but still active church. if I remember correctly, this one has a sign indicating it was founded in the 1880's.

Sister Sally (BatikFreak10) and Joyce (Wiscongranny) model the find. This was an exceptionally nice hide. Lots of upscale swag and even an actual official Geocaching log book. The thoughtful owner even sent us a thank you note for visiting the cache once we logged our find. How nice is that? It is we who should thank him/her.

We cached on into the afternoon, finding caches hidden here and there and seemingly everywhere. We saw some clever hides and some not so clever hides. We even found a cache (not pictured) that required that we buy or improvise a tool in order to retrieve the container from its hiding place. Fun!!

And then it was time for ice cream. Friends, have you ever tried to find ice cream when you're far from civilization? Actually we weren't even far from the big city lights of Lenora WV. The owners of this store have missed a sure bet. I think their business model (I'm sure mom and pop actually know about things like business models, business plans, and market research) have chosen not to sell ice cream!! What makes this decision so incomprehensible is that they are located less than a half mile from a major state resort park (Pipestem State Park), a major destination for family camping and other types of extended stays. The store sells all kinds of shoddy trinkets, food items, beer (of course), but no ice cream. So what did we do??

We went another half mile down the road to the store that does sell ice cream!! And we were happy :-).

For more, read BatikFreak10s Geocaching Blog.

A (WAY) OUT HOUSE AFTER A LONG DAY

Two days later we were at it again. BatikFreak10 (worthy sister), wiscongranny (dear wife person), and I headed out for what would prove to be a very long day.

Our first cache stop also gave us an opportunity to view the present state of education in western Greenbrier Co. WV. Things like this are all too common in todays world. I wonder if the "educators" here even noticed the misspelling or just didn't bother to care.

BatikFreak10 had wanted to collect a cache we had placed in remote Greenbrier Co at a wind generator site, so after she captured that one we headed out for the rest of the day.

This has to be the biggest cache I've ever found.

If you happen to meet BatikFreak10, ask her about wind generators.

One of the advantages of spring geocaching is the chance to see all the latest offerings from the world of plants and flowers. We all seem to enjoy seeing them as they arrive for the season:

As best I can identify this one, it seems to be Golden Ragwort. But there are many other ragworts that are quite similar in appearance. It takes a trained eye to spot all the differences.

Star Chickweed, although it doesn't look like a weed to me.

We checked two different flower and plant guides but never did find anything even close to this little guy. Do you know what it is? Please leave a comment if you do.

You may not be able to see it here, but I am standing in several inches of water. The good news it that I'm standing on a flat rock. The not so good news is that a few seconds earlier I was standing in mud, and several more inches of water. But the cache was on the other side of the ditch and there was no place else to stand.

Geocachers have to be willing to be...well...mildly inconvenienced for their sport

Several of our finds today were located along a fairly new rail trial. Although the B&O RR left the area many years ago, traces still remain of their presence. A box of unknown use slowly returns to the natural world.

Joyce (aka wiscongranny) poses in front of a view of the Gauley River at a spot known as "Crupperneck Bend", a turn of more than 180*. The B&O grade mentioned (and pictured) above extended beside the river below as the railroad once made its way north and to the outside world.

Finally, we had to admit that we had been out a long time and were in need of a rest stop. How very convenient when we found this luxury rest facility. Evidently there had been a house, or some other place habitable by our fellow man for extended periods located near this spot. All that now remains is this decaying outhouse. Soon it will be just a pile of rotting boards covered by the encroaching plants, and when enough time passes, even that will disappear.

We'd been out for a long day, more than 12 hours and more than a few miles. We'd had a nice time and seen some wonderful scenery during our trip. There were some quiet and tired little geocachers in the truck during the long drive home.
A COMMENT ON TODAYS WORLD:
We all know the price of gas today. As this is being written a gallon of regular gas costs $3.99+. During our two days of geocaching in one week we filled the tank twice. Total cost $150.00!! While I don't plan on giving up a hobby I enjoy, I think we will probably have to reduce the frequency of our trips. We are truly fortunate in that we are retired and don't have to drive to work every day. The hardship placed upon those who have to travel every day has got to be enormous.

WE'LL CROSS THAT CREEK WHEN WE COME TO IT

Yesterday's trip (just Joyce and me this time) held some interesting surprises, and one fun wet foot adventure. Ready? Here we go!!

We had to check up on a cache of mine. Some less than creative seekers were having trouble finding the secret code, even when they literally held the container in their hands. We stopped to make sure all was well (it was) and found a hillside fully decorated for spring.

Details: Lower right is one of very many Trilliums. Trilliums are an early spring wild flower and while not rare are not overly common. They need shade and damp ground. At 4000ft, it's still early spring. The flower on the upper left is a wild Geranium. Again, not too frequent a find.

I think the Trillium is my favorite flower.

A bellwort. There are several varieties so I cannot give any further details. A nice wildflower we had never seen before.

Joyce makes the find!! We were working on a three stage multi cache (a cache with more than one step--and hide--required to find the hidden treasure) and Joyce found two of the three stages. Yes, she was always jumping out of the truck before I could even get fully stopped. LOL

The yellow blaze does not mark the cache location. It is a blaze for the Alleghany Trail, a 300 mile hiking trail extending from the WV/PA border to the VA line near White Sulphur Springs WV.

Here I am, modeling some of the latest in swag at our last find for the day. We only found three caches on this day (we had one DNF). The caches were all well hidden and required some hiking and hunting. Plus there were flowers to look at and admire. Caches like these are so much more rewarding than the guard rail quickies that are all the rage today.

Finally one of two creek crossings required. The water is only 6-8 inches deep here. The second crossing required using four wheel drive and was nearly running board deep. Fun!!

I once took that Land Rover Driving Experience off road driving course. Never thought I'd ever use the things I learned during that day. One never knows when some odd knowledge or experience might come in handy.