Call it serendipity or fate or a Divine appointment (my personal choice), but the timing of me seeking this cache could
not have been better! As a surprise for Labor Day weekend, my parents took me, the myrthlings, and a lifelong friend to the circus on Saturday. There were tigers, robots, superheroes, a human cannonball, high wire stunts, dancing dogs, acrobats, ponies, elephants, and so many unhealthy snacks! We had a great time! However, no circus is complete without a legion of clowns. And boy, this circus did
not disappoint!
My oldest actually went around getting autographs in the program/coloring book from such characters as Handi, Splatter, and Miss Daisy. While they signed, I struck up conversations with them. Through the course of the afternoon, I pieced together that this particular merry band would soon be in need of housing and that funds had run dangerously low. I fully believe the Lord put me there at that exact moment because I had just recently learned of a spot that would perfectly suit their needs for space, shelter, facilities, and privacy: a bunker only a few hours outside of town! I mentioned my idea to the ringmaster. He was over-the-moon excited and in gratitude, gave me tickets to come back for the Sunday show. We could not have been more delighted!
After Sunday’s show, we helped the seventeen clowns pack all their gear into their polka-dotted MINI Cooper and led them southwest on US 59 toward “the boonies.” We found the special tree stump without incident, waited for the ventilation cycle, and descended the ladder to see what lay below. Have you ever seen a troupe of clowns go down a ladder? Each one did it differently: Splatter lowered himself upside-down, one rung at a time (like a handstand!); Handi somehow managed a Jar Jar Binks leap-flip-dive into the darkness (I don’t know how she didn’t hurt herself!); Miss Daisy placed a banana peel next to the hole and purposely stepped on it to slip and tumble down (also miraculously unharmed); and on and on. Needless to say, my boys and I were once again thoroughly entertained!
As the clowns unrolled their sleeping bags and began to settle in for their first night, I eagerly perused the sealed mission envelopes until “Eureka!” I found one requiring me to travel by exotic animal to San Antonio, scale the spinning Tower of the Americas, and zipline into the Alamo’s basement for the final cache. What perfect providence: I had just befriended a group with immediate access to elephants and tigers, climbing gear, and safety nets. I was set!
The excursion itself was easier than I expected. “LEO” seemed to be fully aware and onboard; they actually stopped traffic for me at one point. I experienced such adrenaline rushes that I may go back and do it again just for fun! Found, signed, and replaced the cache, and headed back toward Houston. We arrived back at the bunker this morning. The clowns that had remained behind had prepared us a brunch feast in the woods around their new, albeit temporary home, and eagerly awaited the story of our adventurous week.
I think Splatter, Handi, and the rest really like the bunker. The next person to do this excellent cache experience should probably run the ventilation cycle several times because it will very likely smell funny down there.
Thanks for all the fun, Snoogans! +1 fave point (because the scale doesn’t go any higher ;-) ). God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21
~ myrthman, AKA NtN065
GCHRVB