There's No Place Like Home

Earlier this week I made a list of caches that would fill in some gaps on my 360° From Home chart. After some business in Pearland this morning, I targeted this one first and planned to get others on the list on my way home.

You’d think that a geocacher with over 2500 finds would know to read the description and look at attributes before driving 30 minutes for a single cache. And that Google Maps doesn’t navigate the best for caching. Well, nope, but maybe I’ll remember that next time. (Probably not!)

Anyway, I got to within 0.7 mile of the cache when Google wanted me to turn onto a private road with multiple No Trespassing signs. Nope. Not in Texas for sure! I finally looked at the cache details. When I saw that I would have to drive another 25 minutes just to get to the park entrance, then pay a day-use fee, and finally hike about a mile to get the smiley, I gave up and turned around.

But then cattle happened. Loose cattle. I stopped to use another Google product to find the number for the local constabulary. About the time the website loaded, the owners pulled up. We quickly named the loose animals Houdini and Whodunnit. I offered my help to corral the beasties, despite having no experience. Fortunately, as I parked, an Animal Control truck pulled up. Out stepped a vision of awesome authority: brown uniform, knee-high boots, and long, pony-tailed, stringy hair. And she carried a bullwhip too! I now had nothing to offer, so I shook the hand of the forlorn but grateful rancher and moved on.

But now I have a story to tell in my log for this geocache that I had decided to come after another time. Can’t skip it now!

The second time, I navigated to the park entrance. Google knows such places much better than it does geocaches! After registering with the ranger station and driving to the nearest parking lot, I enjoyed a pleasant walk to GZ. I paused a few times for photos and to investigate the sounds of rustling leaves nearby. You see? I’ve heard, and was informed again when I checked in, that Brazos Bend State Park has a healthy population of American alligators. And I wanted to see one.

I have not yet seen one today, so I will have to come back sometime. I don’t mind at all. However… I have been writing my log while slowly walking back to the myrthmobile. Perhaps I missed one. Perhaps I should pay more attention to my surr—oh, CLEVER GIRL!!

Thank you, CacHerNTheSky. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GCT0HQ

A Fun TB Story

I did not realize this until I was reading through some of the recent logs, but geocacher emilyjen brought TB26W6G ("One ugly frog") with her to Houston from Maryland. While in Houston, she and her family attended a weekly event where, among other things, trackables are shared for discovery. TB26W6G was left in the New England area exactly one month ago by geocacher Ivanhoe42 while she was traveling there from Houston. Two of her travel buddies from that trip were at the event today. One ugly frog came full circle! Such a fun, small world we live in!

Taming the Lions of Hempstead

With HeyThereDlilah.

There was something in Leo’s nose but he did not appreciate me trying to help him. A favorite point for this one.

Thank you, The Simplers. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC9E92

Reach the Peak

Schooled

What a Glorious Feelin'!

The Lilypad

Signal the Frog is Geocaching's mascot. He's a blend of nature and technology, just like geocaching! I've met him a few times in person. Recently, I started collecting geocoins featuring or even shaped like frogs. I made a lilypad on which to display them all. Check it out!

Buffalo and Barker Watersheds

With HeyThereDlilah for International Earthcache Day.

We timed our arrival to coincide with a downpour so we could enjoy the benefits of flood control firsthand. I told HTD that it was a soaking rain. “You know how I know? I’m getting soaked!”

We had a blast despite the rain. She said several times how much fun she was having. HeyThereDlilah is a little nuts. But that’s one reason I love her!

Answers submitted via messenger. #5 is attached.

Thank you, Muddy Buddies. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC23EAN

Artemis F

ZINGO!! {FTF} at dusk.

I heard two things at Club UFO yesterday that made this FTF possible: (1) it was as yet unclaimed and (2) a hint from the CO about how to solve the puzzle. Within half an hour of getting back to my desk from lunch, I had found the means to decode the message and was happily substituting letters for—hmm, what are they? Runes? Hieroglyphs? Ancient emoji?

Anywho, eventually got a solution that made sense and pasted it into the checker. Buzz, wrong! What?! I checked my work. Buzz! I found another key in case the first one was misprinted and checked my work again. Buzz! (Yes, I pasted my solution multiple times despite not actually changing anything…silly me). Maybe the checker’s on the fritz? I entered my solution as a waypoint in Cachly; fairly certain I wouldn’t need to be in the middle of the South Pacific to find this cache, I checked over my work again. And S L O W L Y this time. Then I saw what caused the error. After a single adjustment, I got a green light on the checker. Woohoo!!

I made the trek to GZ tonight after work. Lots of bugs and weeds! But I found it and the log was blank! I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again… ZINGO!!

Thank you, Benttandem. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC9G0Y0

Cutthru

What an interesting spot! Kinda creepy after dark.

In fact, while I was intently focused on writing my log, the sound of rustling leaves drew my attention away from my phone. Expecting a bird or cat, I turned and nearly leapt out of my skin and into the basket of a passing bicyclist. “OH, JESUS!!” I exclaimed, grasping my racing heart. He (and then his companion) apologized as he pedaled on, but how had he gotten so close so silently?! Phew! Fun times.

Thank you, heftydude. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC4HAWE

Jinglz the Zombie Elf Travel Tag

Listing
TB7MG22

Owner
HeyThereDlilah

Description
Jinglz was happily serving Santa when he was suddenly attacked by a zombie reindeer horde! Battered and bruised, he drug himself into Santa's sleigh and fell asleep. He awoke with a start to find Santa flying high over Houston. Jinglz was so surprised that he lost his balance and fell out of the sleigh. Now, not only is he a zombie, but he's incredibly hot due to Houston's horrifying summer weather. Will you help him get to a cooler climate? Perhaps Alaska? He's DYING for a slice of nicely chilled brain pie!

Mission
I want to travel to Alaska where it's cold like my soul!

My Logs
9/3/2021
Grabbed It
I saw Jinglz fall! He’s in dire need of first ai—ARRGH! HE BIT ME!! WHAT NOW?!!

9/4/2021
Visited @ An Old Country Store Cache
WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH MY FINGER?! OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH!! I’ve seen this in movies 😩 I don’t wanna to be a limping, brains-craving member of the undead!! Maybe if I cut off my finger before the virus spreads any further..? Here, Jinglz. You can have this back...

9/6/2021
Visited @ The Sewol Twist
Just visiting.

9/6/2021
Visited @ Studs "Я" Plumb
Hello. Just visiting!

9/6/2021
Visited @ Race Ya to the Kids Toy Cache

9/6/2021
Dropped It @ Muddbones
I’ve had ENOUGH! I gave Jinglz the finger, stomped on his foot, and dropped him in a hot box. Maybe he’ll learn some manners in this Texas heat!

An Old Country Store Cache

On a road trip from Houston to Arkansas with HeyThereDlilah.

We stopped here for breakfast on our way out of town and couldn’t not check for nearby caches. This one was a barrel of laughs! We traded for a bit of swag that is absolutely perfect for HTD’s newly released first traveler (see picture of TB7MG22). Isn’t that amazing?! I also removed some contraband.

Thank you, PAgirlinTX. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC37P7B

Gem of the Rockies

For the second time, I’m attending a men’s retreat hosted by Houston-based Faithful Fathering. I left camp today with seven other dudes, aged 9 to 43. While half the group opted for fishing at Montgomery Reservoir, the rest of us went for a hike. I took the opportunity to share the joy of the bestest hobby in the world and led the group to the nearest active cache.

We walked around the lake from where we’d parked. So beautiful! We had fun pretending to be goats on the large rocks and marveled at the old mill. On the way back, we paused to put our feet in the cold mountain stream. Quite refreshing. I had a special moment with the Lord.

Dropped off two TBs.

Thank you, Mr Ed. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GCH244

Frewey's Almost Como

For the second time, I’m attending a men’s retreat hosted by Houston-based Faithful Fathering. I had such fun and such stories solo caching last year that I was appointed to “captain” geocaching as an optional activity this year. Today, I set out with six other guys, aged 5 to 67, to show them the bestest hobby in the world.

I spent quite a bit of time here last year and left with a DNF. Today, the 12-year-old of the group navigated to GZ and picked it up right away. I am ashamed 🙁😩. I sincerely don’t know how I missed it! I’ll blame the altitude. Yeah, that’s it. Anyway, I owe him a meal since I promised such to whoever found it. To be honest, it’ll be money well spent.

We tried some wild raspberries that were growing through the rocks. They were perfect: not too tart and not too sweet.

Here’s a fave point for the fun and the great story.

Thank you, frewey. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

GC164XQ

Don't go chasing waterfalls

I’m working on a “Don’t” challenge. I came this way after church because there are several caches nearby that qualify. I had to laugh when I saw the title of this one; I’ve had that stupid song stuck in my head all day, due in large part to one of my Facebook memories from today (see image). Fave point for the timely humor! Do you know of an effective cure for earworms?!

Thank you, Kpip1066. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC788Z8

Templar Quest

Club UFO: La Venganza de los Quinto

Alien Cachers Invade Downtown ... Again!

Work Downtown???

Need a Break from Work???

Just happen to be in the area???

Join us for great fun, good food and lots of geocaching talk! Bring your Travel Bugs and GeoCoins to show and trade! Come work on your plate. Discover some of the trackable plates already there!

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 - Cinco de Mayo and the day after Star Wars Day
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Place: Flying Saucer (the mother ship)
705 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
BYO$$

Due to construction - metered parking is often available on Texas between Fannin and San Jacinto by Christ Church Cathedral (and around the side and back) -- if you get there early.

Please log a Will-Attend so we know how many tables are needed!

GC97C9X

Goodfeathers

“When the birds hit the street
Looking for food to eat,
That's Goodfeathers!
(That's Goodfeathers!)

“When I'm cooing at you
And you're cooing at me,
That's Goodfeathers!

“Take no guff
'Cause they're tough,
Strut their stuff,
No cream puffs,
That's Goodfeathers!”

Bobby, Squit, and Pesto Goodfeather

Central Cachers Consortium - Is Anyone There?

Meet and greet local cachers

Tuesday, April 20th at 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm

at

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

3800 Southwest Freeway,

Houston, TX 77027

Ever wonder what those "event" caches with a little speech bubble icon are all about?

With a name like "event", it seems like it should be a bit more formal, and well maybe it should be, but that's not the way we roll here.

This event is a bunch of folks with something in common getting together for food, drinks, and conversation.

So, if you've been caching for years or maybe you just started, events are a great place to learn more about our obsession (er, hobby, sport, pastime, etc...).

Want to learn about geocaching? Want to know where all the cool geocaches are? Or maybe just meet the person behind those devious hides out there? Come on out and join us!

We will (likely) be the rowdy group at one big table. Look for trackables and maybe GPS units or other sundry nerd-like paraphernalia on the table.

With regards to COVID precautions, if you feel unwell, please stay home. Also, Potbelly has the following posted on their website:

Potbelly Safety Promise

Mom always said: “Safety First.”

And as usual, she’s right. So rest easy: We’re taking extra steps to make your Potbelly experience a safe one. All so you can enjoy your hot, toasty, stress-melting lunch or dinner with peace of mind.

Steps We’re Taking

Daily Temperature Checks

And screening questions for all our associates before starting each shift. Anyone who’s feeling under the weather is sent home until they’re symptom-free.

Masks And Gloves

You’ll see our staff wearing masks and gloves for everyone’s safety. Pretty please, we ask that customers wear a face covering too.

Clean, Disinfect, Repeat

From disinfecting high-touch areas to placing “Just Cleaned” sticky notes on tables we’ve disinfected, you can relax knowing everything is squeaky clean.

Social Distancing

We've installed new floor decals to help everyone keep a safe 6-feet apart.

Toasted At 500ºF

No cold subs here. Our oven toasts your sandwich at a smoldering 500ºF for an extra reassuring layer of food safety.

Tamper-Evident Stickers

Secured on all pickup and delivery order bags. If your sticker's ripped for some reason, just call us and we'll remake your order.

Contactless Payment

Use your Potbelly Perks app to pay ahead, or we can scan your app to pay at checkout. (Just link a credit card on your app.)

So relax and enjoy your meal with the peace of mind that it's been prepped with the utmost safety, with your health as a first priority. We look forward to seeing you soon!

GC97QB4

Inside Job

 

Hey There Dlilah

 

Plan B

CLUB UFO: Stop Bad Service Day

Alien Cachers Invade Downtown ... Again!

Work Downtown???
Need a Break from Work???
Just happen to be in the area???

Join us for great fun, good food and lots of geocaching talk! Bring your Travel Bugs and GeoCoins to show and trade! Come work on your plate. Discover some of the trackable plates already there!

Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Time: 11:00 AM to ~12:30 PM
Place: Flying Saucer (the mother ship)
705 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
BYO$$

Due to construction - metered parking is often available on Texas between Fannin and San Jacinto by Christ Church Cathedral (and around the side and back) -- if you get there early.

One of the best ways to end bad service it to appreciate good service. Ashton does a great job for us: she knows our favorite drinks, most of our usual dishes, and most importantly, our names. Bring cards, thank you notes, gift cards, trinkets, etc. to show her how much we appreciate her. Let's overwhelm her with gratitude!

Please log a Will-Attend so we know how many tables are needed!

GC95NE9

Contest: Win a Geocoin!

Team Podcacher is giving away two HUGE geocoins to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Check out the details here: http://www.podcacher.com/current-podcacher-contests/20-years-of-geocaching-geocoin-giveaway/.

By the way, I entered and sharing about it on my blog is one way to boost my chances.

Thanks for reading and happy caching!

Treasure

 

Let’s improve the outdoors - Locationless Cache

Group effort in Bear Creek Park in Houston, TX. I’m the goofy one.

Thank you, Geocaching HQ. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

GC8NEAT

Tools.Ofthe.Trade

The cache is not at the posted coordinates, but there is an excellent one nearby. You should definitely check it out.

A good geocacher is always prepared for anything he or she may encounter in the wild. Seek and find some recommended TOTTs below.

GC95Y5T

20 Years and 366 Days: Community Celebration Event

myrthman will log this event to complete his 366 Days of Finds Calendar. Come celebrate with him and for 20+ years of geocaching in general. Let's have some geo-fun!

January 24, 2021
2:00-4:00 PM
Cleveland Park - picnic area

--

Community Celebration Events - 2020

This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between May 2, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.

GC8Q9NW

So Cool

 

Swipe Right

 

Club UFO

 

CLUB UFO: A Fresh Start - Hello 2021!

Alien Cachers Invade Downtown ... Again!

Work Downtown???
Need a Break from Work???
Just happen to be in the area???

Join us for great fun, good food and lots of geocaching talk! Bring your Travel Bugs and GeoCoins to show and trade! Come work on your plate. Discover some of the trackable plates already there!

Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Time: 11:00 AM to ~1:00 PM
Place: Flying Saucer (the mother ship)
705 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
BYO$$

Due to construction - metered parking is often available on Texas between Fannin and San Jacinto by Christ Church Cathedral (and around the side and back) -- if you get there early.

Please log a Will-Attend so we know how many tables are needed!

GC93M49