Saturday, November 21, 2015

Calendaze

This is a field puzzle in one of the greenbelt areas of Wells Branch. There are plenty of trails to explore, some concrete and some gravel. Some residents have unfenced yards that back up to the greenbelt, but please enter the park at one of the public entrances (see waypoints).

Park hours are 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. BYOP.

Congrats, Buckandi!!! As promised for the FTF, your Premium Membership has been extended. Happy caching!

This is a 2-stage multi-cache. The listed coordinates will take you to a field puzzle hidden under a metal fence post cap. Your results there will take you to the final cache which is at

N 30 DE.BHF
W 97 GA.ICJ

Please note that you'll be manipulating several items at Stage One. Take care that nothing is dropped and please replace all puzzle pieces as you found them so others can enjoy the experience as much as I hope you do. In order to solve the puzzle at Stage One, you’ll need the following list of dates and some information about each of them. You may want to do some research before heading out. Have fun and happy hunting!

A      May 21, 1980
B      June 18, 1955
C      November 12, 1955
D      March 14, 2015
E      September 1, 1885
F      October 19, 1987
G      August 9, 2010
H      July 4, 1776
I      September 24, 1869
J      October 21, 2015


Special thanks to TandJ1120 for testing the puzzle!

You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com

GC675E0

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Good Luck

I have to share the {FTF} honors with HiDude and acclanman but that's okay...it's my FFTF! Whoop!!

There were several critters hanging out nearby that looked suspicious. Turns out they were real! While I was ducking doves and shaking off a bumped shin, HiDude found it. Clever hide!

TFTC - God bless!

GC63XK6

Thursday, September 10, 2015

500x9/5

Casual, kid- and pet-friendly meet-n-greet at a fun spot in Wells Branch, Texas.

6:30-8:30 PM

No, it's not a math problem. If you read it like this, you may get it correct: Five hundred by 9/5.

This event is a casual hangout at a fun spot to celebrate my accomplishment of finding 500 caches within a year of finding my first. That happened September 5, 2014 in Ringtail Ridge Greenbelt (San Marcos, TX). I was just out hiking with my oldest son. We were chasing a lizard and it went into a hollow at the bottom of a tree. Pulling back some suspiciously placed sticks, I found a small container wrapped in camo duct tape. Having recently installed the free Geocaching app on my new iPhone, I knew immediately what it was so I signed the log and logged the find online later that evening. That cache was "Cactus Tree" GCVPP2. Now, less than a year later I am within 10 caches of my goal, with plenty of time to find the rest before 9/5. Heck, I may finish it today!

I scheduled this too late to be on 9/5. Nonetheless, something must happen. I've met a few local cachers and I want to meet more. Thursday, September 10 is the soonest available date to do just that.

Come to the pier at Mills Pond in Wells Branch, Texas. We'll hang out and swap stories, but no waffles in the morning. Unless you want to. But that will be on your own.

6:30-8:30 PM

GC62C3D

Saturday, September 5, 2015

What I've Learned From A Year Of Geocaching

On September 5, 2014, Aidan and I were hiking in the Ringtail Ridge Natural Area in San Marcos. We had a great time, tasting prickly pear, spotting some deer, and chasing a rather large lizard into the hollow at the bottom of a tree. We didn’t really want to catch the lizard, but it was fun watching it run away from us. In the shadowy hole were several sticks that appeared to have been placed with some intended purpose. I moved them aside to see if our quarry was trapped or if it had managed to escape. Instead of a critter, I found a small container wrapped in camouflage duct tape. I knew immediately what it was; we opened it, signed the log, and carefully rehid it.

A year later, I’m totally hooked on this hobby and look forward to more caching in the future. I’ve been places I never would have visited and discovered some that I didn’t know existed. I’ve made new friends who also enjoy this worldwide treasure hunt. I’ve also learned a few life lessons and I want to share some of them with you.

Everyone Plays the Game a Little Differently

In geocaching, the world is the playing field, the rules are simple, and the goal is clear: get outside and find stuff. Beyond that, however, the hobby can be completely customized to the preferences of the individual cacher. Some play solo while others hunt in pairs or larger teams. Some cachers aim for a high found-it count (there’s a man in Austin who logged his 50-thousandth find back in April!), others who love the more challenging hides at the tops of mountains or the bottoms of lakes (they obviously have special equipment), and still others who play casually, checking for nearby caches when they’re just out and about. There are magnificent vistas to gaze upon while some caches are hidden in ugly back alleys and parking lots. You can play for free or you can spend untold amounts of money on GPS devices, SCUBA or climbing gear, snow shoes, etc. You can also hide or seek, or both. The game is really open-ended and everyone plays a little bit differently.

Such is life. Every single person on the planet experiences life a little bit differently. Some people, by choice or by circumstance, are loners while others are the consummate social butterfly. Some define success by the size of their bank account or the number of trophies on their mantle. Some like to push themselves to the limit physically or academically while others are content to go with the flow. There are roses to stop and smell but some people walk right past. There are the journey-focused and the destination-focused. Some value family or job or physical fitness or cultural heritage more than other things. Life experiences are as numerous and diverse as the people who inhabit Earth are numerous and diverse.

There are countless ways to geocache. And that is okay. There are countless ways to experience life. And that is okay too.

Setting Goals Actually Works

I’ve known about goal setting since middle school or high school. I know how to set them and write them down, but I’ve had mediocre success at accomplishing them. This has led to frustration and a decline in my attempts. Over the past year, I set more than a few caching goals: finding 150 caches by Christmas, earning all the special badges offered for a given period, and finding 500 within a year of my first. I ended up accomplishing all three and then some. I am encouraged that setting goals actually works, and I think there are three key principles that I have neglected before.

First, it helps to tell people about your goals. Anyone can help but it will work best when the other person(s) is involved in the same activity, whether it be writing, weight loss, financial growth, or any number of other pursuits. When others know what you’re working towards, they can encourage you, hold you accountable, and even share their own achievements as a way to tell you, “See? It is possible! If I did it, so can you.” Another benefit of having likeminded helpers is that they get it. People not involved in the activity may not understand why you’re wanting to achieve it. Maybe it’s weird or a niche hobby (like geocaching). People who participate in the same activity understand why it’s important to you because it’s likely important to them too. Also, when you do meet your goal, you have someone with whom to celebrate. This offers encouragement for future endeavors (“Attaboy!! Now, go for three chapters a day!”).

Secondly, goals require disciplined work. The achievement won’t happen on its own. If it is something that’s truly important to you, you’ll work at it. But that isn’t always enough. Disciplined work means setting a schedule, knowing how much you have to do each day in order to succeed, and making adjustments where necessary. Prioritizing is a must. Sacrificing is likely. It may mean long hours, less TV and game time, and, in the case of geocaching, sunburn, poison ivy, blisters, and mosquito bites. If it’s worth it, it’s worth it.

Lastly, it’s important to not let momentary setbacks derail your ultimate pursuit. In geocaching, there are disappointments called DNFs, or Did Not Finds. You go to the location and, despite searching high and low, you cannot find the container. Maybe someone stole it (whether they know about geocaching or not). Maybe a flood carried it away. Maybe it’s missing because a person in authority at the location found it and discarded it. Or maybe the cache is just hidden really well. Whatever the case, it can be both frustrating and disappointing when you can’t find a cache. Life is no different. Changes in work or schedule, the birth or death of a loved one, and natural catastrophes can all work to dissuade you from your goals. Your dream may have to be put on hold until things settle down. Your dream may even change and new goals will have to be set. But don’t give up. Thomas Wayne told his young son Bruce, who would later become Batman, “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

Treasures Are Worth Seeking

One writer quipped that geocaching is the use of a multi-billion dollar network of satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. Oh, how true that is! To some people though, the finding of the cache is a worthy endeavor in and of itself. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The definition of treasure is all up to the person doing the seeking. In this respect, people are like caches. Some are lowly and easily found. Others are challenging and require much effort. All are worth seeking. I’m reminded of Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (both in Matthew 13). One treasure is the Kingdom of Heaven, passionately pursued by a person. The other parable presents people as the treasure, soulfully sought by the Savior. Again, the definition of treasure is all up to the person doing the seeking. God is infinitely more desirable than anything we could find with billion-dollar satellites. And we may be Tupperware in the woods, but to Him, we are all treasure.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Meet and Greet in the Midweek

Meet and greet at a coffee shop. 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

I've been caching since September and it's high time I meet some fellow cachers in person and not just on a log sheet. I also need an event cache for Road Trip 2015 and I've not been able to find one when I can attend (I have a peculiar work schedule). With all that in mind, I'm hosting my own.

IMO, Mochas and Javas is one of the better coffee shops in San Marcos (there are actually two locations). They have your typical coffee shop beverage and food options, plus free wi-fi and a small selection of card and board games. This location has an outdoor patio area; we can hang out there if the weather's right. Come out and share a game of chess and some geostories while sipping some mocha or java.

6:30-8:30 PM

GC5Z01X

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

San Marcos de Neve

San Marcos used to be ... here. Come read a few historical markers that teach about San Marcos de Neve and find a cache while you're at it.

I placed this shortly after the Memorial Weekend flood of 2015. This was a record flood that destroyed homes and upset lives from Blanco to Houston and beyond. The nearby bridge had only recently been completely renovated; the flood waters destroyed it.

The grass here can be tall so watch for snakes and other critters. In the hot summer months, this is a starting point for several local tubing outfits. Muggles are likely to be close during these times. Otherwise, this is usually a light-traffic road and there is a nice spot to pull off and "read historical markers" (I'll know what you're really up to).

Happy caching!

GC5WTT6

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Countryside Fresh Air Cache

I took off early from work to have fun with Mazytwo in this great weather.

I first found the treasure in the picture. Then I found a rusty fence rail that collapsed under my weight and pitched me into the barbed wire beneath it. Then, as I struggled to regain my feet, I found the cache. Blood, sweat, and tears for this smiley. But a great story too! And maybe a tetanus booster.

Thanks for the adventure. God bless!


GC389EV

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Muggle Island

The cache is a micro-sized bison tube. BYOP.

This is one of my favorite spots in San Marcos. Except when it's not. And that's when it's crowded.

The population of this little island is directly proportionate to the outside temperature on a given day. The day when I placed the cache? The high was 60 degrees Fahrenheit and it was very overcast; a lone fisherman was the only other person there. On a summer day in Texas, this place will be crawling with people: on the island, on the bridge, under the bridge, or even between the water and the land (with or without a rope swing). They'll be barbecuing and swimming, tubing and jumping, laughing and blaring loud music. And this island is primo property.

Summer holidays are even more crowded. Last summer, while shuttling tubers from bottom to top of river, I met a family who'd come up from Houston for the weekend; they arrived at the park at 5:30 AM to claim their spot. That's at least a three-hour drive!

Finding the cache in the "off season" should be relatively easy. But for an extra challenge, take on Muggle Island in the summer! Whenever you come, I recommend preparing to get wet. Falling in the river is a likely outcome or you may want to swim/wade/tube/canoe to the cache location. Also, please be very careful when moving around on the island. Aside from people, there are TONS of gnarly roots to trip on that get VERY slippery when they or your shoes are wet. That's the reason for the higher terrain rating.

Happy hunting. God bless!

GC5M9Q5

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Love Locks

On my visits to the park, I became fascinated by the growing number of locks secured to this bridge. After some research, I knew I had to place a cache here.

You’re looking for a black bison tube inside a key safe. You’ll need a 3-digit code to get the cache open. Be careful opening the lock so nothing falls into the river and watch for muggles. BYOP and have fun!


As legend has it, a pair of Serbian lovers is the inspiration for the romantic tradition displayed before you. School teacher Nada and her love Relja, an officer in the Serbian army, would meet on a certain bridge near base, each night at dusk, to walk and dream and do what young lovers do. With the onset of World War I, Relja was reassigned to a post in Greece. Their walks on the bridge grew more important and more emotional as the time for Relja’s departure neared. The lovers’ final meeting on the bridge was a moment of grieving affection and whispered promises of a sweet, blissful reunion. “I’ll wait for you,” she whispered. “I’ll stay true to you,” he promised. They embraced. As he turned back toward the barracks, their eyes locked one final time. With each slow step he took, their hands slackened their grips on each other until pressing fingertips finally parted.

Relja was never to return.

But it was not the war that consumed him. He forgot Nada and found comfort in the arms of a peasant woman on the island of Corfu. When Nada learned of Relja’s unfaithfulness, her heart was crushed. Despite the efforts of well-meaning friends and countless suitors, Nada became a bitter woman, never loving again. She would see other couples walking together on her bridge, occasionally overhearing hushed assurances of fidelity. Pausing in her purposed gait, she would lean over and whisper a warning to the woman: “War changes men. Make sure he secures his love before he leaves or you’ll never see him again.” The startled couple would wonder at her words and watch as Nada resumed her slow, lonely march across the bridge.

Nada, of course, meant an engagement ring as a sign of commitment. Most understood that, but few of the soldiers could afford jewelry on such short notice. Instead, they used what they had on hand: padlocks from their personal footlockers. Securing the padlock to the railing of the bridge at their final meeting, couples would commit their love to one another, the gentleman soldier taking the key with him and promising, upon his return, to remove the lock together. The lady trusted that the key would remind him of his word.

As legends spread and traditions grow, changes inevitably occur (including some of the creatively added details above). Some couples write their names on the locks, akin to carving initials in a tree. Others throw the key into the river below symbolizing the permanence of their love. Whatever the twist, the tradition spread, and since the 2000s, has taken off virally nearly all over the world. In Paris, for example, love locks became so popular, and numerous, that in June of 2014, part of the Pont des Arts bridge collapsed under their combined weight. Some governing bodies have deemed this practice dangerous and are taking action to outlaw it. San Marcos, however, has not yet decided. And so, we have this cache.

One of the locks in front of you is the cache you seek. I placed it to express my love for geocaching and my fascination with this ever more popular romantic tradition. Happy hunting!


You can read more by googling "Nada and Relja" or "love locks." Pictured below is the bridge in Serbia now known as The Bridge of Love. Look at the thousands of locks that have been secured here!


To crack the code, call the following gentleman soldiers who stayed true to their lovely ladies: Lukos, Uri, and Viktor. Make sure you call them in that order.

Note: Digit dials are under the black cover on top of the lock. Once the correct code is entered, press on the front half of the lock to get it to open.


UPDATE 8/21/2015: If you read previous logs, you'll find that someone broke the locking box mentioned above. Today, I removed the broken lock. Whoever it was that broke into it was probably disappointed at finding only a baggie and a sheet of paper. He or she also left me part of the Swiss Army-ish screwdriver blade used to break my lock. I feel a little vindicated in that their tool broke.

I looked for more than an hour for a spot to hide a replacement that wouldn't be so obvious to would-be vandals and other muggles. I couldn't find anything I liked, so for now, it's a been-there-seen-that cache. Please claim a smiley just for visiting, seeing the locks, and enjoying the view. If you have suggestions for hiding an identical lock, please email me and I'll consider it.

GC5K7EM