STATE PARK EXPLOITS

We knew that yesterday was the only day Mike had off last week and was likely to be the only day he had off this week. Mike and I determined that we were not going to spend it working or preparing for THIS week but that we were going to have fun.

We packed up a picnic lunch, 5 light sabers, 7 kids, 1 football, 1 Frisbee, and 2 GPS units and headed for the local state park. This is the very same park where I saw an 8 foot snake this summer. I had been told that this IS winter and that the snakes would be HIBERNATING - so the story goes. We had a great lunch and the kids enjoyed goofing around with the light sabers. Our oldest boys have discovered a great benefit of a large family is that it is cool to play kids games with them. {grin} We also discussed the logistics of really driving the OR Trail…still thinking.

The state park checks out GPS units and there are 45 caches hidden in the park. This was great fun. We had no clues other than the title of the cache “big cactus….hmmm which big cactus WOULD that be when there are acres and acres of cactus”…and the coordinates. We took the challenge. We found three caches before the sun disappeared and we had to call it a day. These were the kinds of caches we enjoy most…nice hikes, interesting new things to watch for and a bit of a challenge. Mike estimates that we hiked 4 miles yesterday –mostly through cactus strewn brush. We eventually discovered a few things. First, after making sure the kids were all correctly outfitted I somehow got out of the house in Capris….I have the scars to testify to the experience. Second, we instructed everyone to “step AWAY from the cache and nonchalantly say found it” when they found a cache so that all could find it by themselves. Third, we divided into teams and had fun seeing who would find the place first. Fourth, Jamin and I finally bowed to the wisdom of the group. We kept taking off through brush – following those coordinates on the straightest path….over hills, through cactus….and we always seemed to end up at the spot at the same time or behind those who looked for a path. We finally realized that most who HIDE these things are going to walk in on a path and hide them…so now we look for the path and trust that it will eventually wind around to the right coordinates. Fifth, those thorn bushes HURT! We still don’t know the scientific name but these things are lethal. The whole plant is made up of thorns. They can be TALL….many were taller than Zander. At one point I heard a squeak and turned back to see Zander straddling a thorn bush. He rode on Josiah and Jamin’s shoulders for a good 2 miles after this. Josiah learned that my comments about a thorn in the lip were fairly accurate.

This was our favorite treasure of the day. It’s an adventure tape on gratitude from Chick-Fil-A. Notice the cactus and yes, Stacia loves to ride in the back pack. Cuter picture won't upload. {grin}

This is the best hide we’ve seen yet! Can you find it? It’s in plain sight.


We found three more cache’s making our total 12. Our goal is 20 by the end of the month. As the sun set on another hike we realized it was time to pack up and head home.




*Spoiler – find the cache yet? Want to know where it is? Scroll down.






Look slightly to the right, directly over Josiah’s head. {grin}