FTF Spiders, Skeeters, Swamps, and Thorns

Sorry for the delay: I found it rather difficult to put my hands on a flamethrower these days. Who knew? But it also turns out that a cold snap was sufficient to drive the creepy crawlies into hiding. Armed instead with a green light on the checker, and with phenomenal weather, I enjoyed a rather pleasant hike to GZ.

That was the end of the pleasantness. Eric1701 called them “demon-thorns” in his FTF log. I wholeheartedly agree! Ouch. ALL OVER!! I’m not scared of thorns but I think I may now have PPSD (Post-Pokey Stress Disorder). More on that later...

I searched for half an hour without luck. PAF’d Eric. Searched for another half hour after his nudge, thinking I’d even spotted it from the mowed area and then losing sight of whatever “it” was once back on the side where I thought I’d be within reach. PAF’d sydtam; either his memory is better than Eric’s or the container and/or location has changed slightly since then, for Syd led me right to it, in a spot quite different from what Eric described. I spotted it while he was still on the phone. But how the heck do I reach it?! I thanked Syd and let him get back to his life, then set about making my already long arms even longer.

A stick maybe? I found the only one in the whole park without any thorns and attempted to hook or shift the container enough so I could grab it. I succeeded only in pushing it further in. Then, lessons learned in high school geometry kicked in: try another angle, try another approach vector. Eureka! THIS BEAST IS MINE!! FINALLY.

But now the lid is stuck. I remembered reading about that in sydtam’s log and should’ve been mentally prepared but I wasn’t. WHAT?! NO, I WILL NOT GIVE UP THIS CLOSE TO VICTORY!! I whipped out A2ZB79 (feel free to discover) and soon had the blasted thing open. And it was indeed the cache. EUREKA FOR REAL!!!

I signed my name, replaced the cache, and made my way back to the myrthmobile where I learned again the meaning of pain when I applied sanitizer to my PPSD’d hands. As I bellowed, the trees shook, rousing all the birds into flight. If I hadn’t been in agony, I very well could have signed off on every single entry in the Audubon Society’s birding books. But I didn’t die.

I don’t know if gratitude is the right emotion to express for this adventure or not. Just kidding! The story alone is worth a fave point. Thanks, Eyeash. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

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Contrast with FTF Spiders, Skeeters, Swamps, and Thorns

A Blind Man's Bluff

While I would really like to have experienced the cache in its originally intended manner, I am beyond thrilled to finally, FINALLY!, clear this blue frowny from my map. It was the DNF closest to home.

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

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

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Bottle Cap Under a Skirt

I had to wait out someone parked right at GZ before I could make the grab. Who besides geocachers waits leisurely in their cars this far away from the store?! I wonder if she thought I was the muggle. Hmm...

I signed with my “smiling m” mark for space because like Agent J when he was first issued the Noisy Cricket, I felt like I would break this thing. I didn’t! I just have big (often clumsy) fingers. And this cache is teeny!

Thank you, Texasgal60, for the cache and for maintaining it so quickly. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

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Sealy Kiddie Ghost Town

This place is not creepy at all. Until you sense someone watching you. Then you see him. And he smiles knowingly as you poke around outside, dodging spiders and double checking empty nests for wasps who might have braved the cold. And then you read the hint...

You want me to go where?! And then do what?!!

Okay. Anything for a smiley! Here’s another fp.

Thank you, Ca$hQueen. God bless! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

BTW, I don’t THINK his eyes really moved but I am tired from a long drive after a short night. Maybe I imagined it. Or maybe I didn’t...

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Dimmitt Hide

I’m in town visiting my parents for New Year’s. IT IS COOOOLD OUT! So we’re warming up with 600° pizza down the street. There was a 30-35 minute wait before we were seated: a perfect time to search for my daily cache. Mom went back to the car to read a book; Dad joined me in the hunt.

And boy, what a hunt! I had my mind set on a particular hide style so i groped and prodded likely places, even laying on the sidewalk a few times (the concrete was also COOOOLD!). I finally gave up on my strategy and looked at the hint (which I didn’t need), at old logs, and at photos.

My resolve bolstered by someone logging a find on Friday, I broadened my search (physically and mentally). Found it almost immediately… so obvious without the preconceptions!

Thank you, Centex Trekker, and happy New Year! God bless!! 2 Corinthians 5:21

~ myrthman, AKA NtN065

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Oyster Snot

A pearl forms when an irritant works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed. The process of producing a pearl can range from six months to several years. Even before this, it takes about three years for the mollusk to reach a mature age in order to produce a pearl. A mollusk is only able to begin the pearl making process naturally or with the help of humans when it reaches this mature age.

Naturally occurring “black pearls” are even more rare. They are largely considered the most beautiful kinds of pearls in the world. Pearls that are identified as “black” are actually charcoal grey, silver, or dark green, and found almost exclusively in Tahiti.

If only my boogers were as valuable. Happy hunting and oh yeah, "Gesundheit!"

Congrats to kiecker for FTF!

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