Poison Oak Cachers

The Trekker Family GW8 Adventure

2010-09-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

This past June we loaded up the family "wagon" and headed north to Washington State. With GeoWoodstock VIII near Seattle this year and family in Tacoma, it was a perfect combination for a summer trip.

DAY 1: We're Off!

After a good number of cache stops, the first leg of the journey ended in Redding. Although it was nice and mild when we left SLO, it was plenty hot in Redding. We hit a few caches along the way and arrived around dinner time. After dinner at Denny's we all enjoyed an evening swim in the pool at the hotel. Our room was not the greatest - there was a pile of dirty towels still in the room, and the carpeting in front of the sliding glass door was soaking wet. Needless to say we did not stay at this hotel on our way back down. Cache total for the day: 14.

DAY 2: A-MAZE-ing Fun

We spent the morning at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, where the GPS Adventure Maze exhibit is currently being hosted. As part of the exhibit, they have hidden a few caches around the grounds of the park. These caches are not published, but each one contains a code word, and by finding them all you can enter a drawing for a prize. I think the purpose is to see some different styles of containers and hides. A couple of these caches were located across the Sacramento River in the Gardens section of the park. The Sundial Bridge leads to the other side of the river and is really a sight to see up close.

Once on the other side we roamed the gardens looking for the caches. We discovered a very cool "stick house" woven out of branches. It is an impressive structure, and the shade was appreciated as by now it was getting hot.

After roaming the grounds and finding a couple of published caches nearby, we finished off with the GPS Maze exhibit. It is a lot of fun to go through this exhibit, which is meant to introduce people to the various aspects of GPS and geocaching. There is a ton of information to take in! I learned some things I hadn't known before, and would have liked to spent more time absorbing it all, but we had to hit the road and log some more miles. We drove for the rest of the day (stopping for some caches of course) and made it to Eugene by early evening. Late dinner at some funky Chinese restaurant and more swimming at the hotel capped off another full day. Cache total: 13 caches and 1 GPS Maze exhibit.

Day 3: Point of Origin

Quick breakfast and back on the road. Our destination this morning was the Original Stash Tribute Plaque outside of Portland. On the way we grabbed a number of convenient caches, and arrived at the plaque just around noon. Shortly after we arrived another two groups of caches showed up, so we had a nice chat and exchanged signature items. I have always wanted to see the place where it all began. The five gallon bucket is long gone, but the plaque is a nice way to preserve the history of the location. There is an actual cache container by the plaque so that you can make some trades or exchange trackables.

With the first of the geocaching Triad checked off, it was back on the road and full steam the rest of the way to Tacoma. Cache total: 15 caches and 1 DNF.

Days 4-6: Breather

The next three days were spent with family in Tacoma. We left the sun behind in southern Oregon, and never saw much of it again until the return trip. I did manage to sneak away for a few hours one afternoon and grab some caches in the Tacoma area. There is also an REI just down the street from our relatives which is a must-do anytime we visit. Cache total: 11 smileys.

Day 7: Going Ape

Today Lucy Goose and I headed up to Snoqualmie Pass for the first geocaching event of the trip. The WSGA had arranged the "Going APE" event so that a lot of us in the area for GW8 could also make it to one of the last two surviving APE caches. With about 400-500 people participating, you can imagine how crowded the trail was. Fortunately the weather was not bad, and the worst we experienced was some light rain/drizzle. There were numerous Sasquatch sightings that day. You might catch a glimpse of one in the photo.

Sadly the lid to the large ammo can had apparently been stolen the day before, so we were not able to see it or the APE geocoin that is supposed to be affixed to it. We did drop some TBs in the cache and took a few with us, along with some nice pathtags.

The only way to access the APE cache right now is via the Annette Lake Trail. The Snoqualmie Tunnel is closed until next summer, but we were able to hike the short distance to where it come out and take a look. It would be fun to do this cache again from the tunnel approach.

On the way back down we were able to find some other caches that are placed near the trail. They weren't hard to find - just look for a group of about 20 people hanging out in the trees! Along with some stops on the way back to Tacoma, we made a full day of it. Cache total: 19 caches and 1 event.

Day 8: The Big Event

Today we headed north to Carnation for GeoWoodstock VIII, our second event of the trip. It was held at Remlinger Farms. I thought this year's event was not nearly as enjoyable as GW6 two years ago in Sacramento. It was mostly all about the vendors booths and lots of waiting in lines. Lines for TBs, lines for vendors, lines for lunch, lines for the toilets, etc. We did buy a few things and met some nice people, but left a little early feeling somewhat disappointed. Because the event was in an isolated field on the fringe of the farm property, we never even got to see the main highlights of the farm itself.

From GW8 we drove over to Snoqualmie Falls. There is an earthcache there, and the falls are worth visiting. They have a nice visitor center, and when you stand on the walkway near the top of the falls, you can definitely feel the spray. Can you tell from the photo that Mama Trekker had had enough "fun" and was ready to head over to our hotel for the night?

A short drive west brought us to Redmond where we were staying for one night. After checking in we went out to dinner at the Claim Jumper. I think every other table was filled with geocachers. Redmond is a lovely town, and after dinner Lucy Goose and I spent about an hour walking around town finding some caches. It was a pleasant, warm evening. I don't have a lot of love for Washington, but Redmond did manage to win me over some.

That evening, our hotel was the setting for our third event, Midnight Geocoin Madness II. Mama Trekker and Peanut Girl stayed in the room and relaxed while Lucy Goose and I went to the event to make some trades and add to our collection. Most all of the regulars in the geocoin world were there. Lucy Goose loves these events because everyone thinks she is so cute and she always scores some "freebies". I am repeatedly impressed with how kind and generous so many people in the geocoin circles are. By the time we made it back to our room it was after midnight. Cache total: 7 caches and 2 events.

Day 9: Lily Pad

Had enough? Well, we hadn't! Up to an early start and off to Seattle to visit Groundspeak Headquarters (lovingly referred to as "the Lily Pad") for their Lost and Found Celebration event in honor of 10 years of geocaching. This was our fourth event in three days, and by logging Groundspeak HQ we completed the holy triad of caching (Original Stash, APE, and HQ). We arrived plenty early knowing that parking could be a challenge near the Fremont area, especially given that it was the Fourth of July and there would be huge crowds filling up the area to watch Seattle's fireworks show that night. We were able to take some pictures and roam around before things got busy.

The Groundspeak event was exceptionally well organized. Besides the vendors booths they had plenty of activities, including a coloring station, dunk tank, pog trading, bubble show, you name it. One of our favorites was the scavanger hunt, where you had to find five locations near HQ in order to obtain puzzle pieces. Once you had all five pieces you were given a special trackable item commemorating the event. There was also a challenge course involving 12 caches, but we could not afford the time it would have taken.

I did have the special pleasure of meeting Jeremy (founder of Groundspeak) and also Moun10Bike, who had a binder with editions of all of his coins that you could discover. He was kind enough to trade personals with me.

We left HQ in the middle of the afternoon in order to zoom back to Tacoma for a barbeque with our relatives. The last few days had been crazy, so relaxing in the back yard with some cold beers was the perfect therapy! Cache total for the day: two caches and one event.

Day 10: On the Road Again

We say our goodbyes in Tacoma and head back south. Not much interesting happened today because it was all about covering the miles. Only five caches, but three of them were at a nice rest area where we took the chance to stretch our legs. Later we had a wonderful dinner on the patio at the Olive Garden in Medford while enjoying the warm evening. It was great seeing the sun again! We made it all the way to Redding, but chose a different hotel this time. They had a pool, but it was pretty cold so the swim was VERY short.

Day 11: Home Stretch

Mostly all driving today, the final day of our adventure. Just two cache stops today. The very last cache of the trip was "The Old Oak Tree" outside of Paso Robles. We took the side road and hiked through the foxtails and over the barbed wire fence because we thought that was safer than pulling off the side of Highway 46. This cache is worth the trouble to get to, so plan a stop next time you are heading that way. It was placed by Moose Mob, who pretends to like life in Las Vegas but we all know his true love is the Central Coast. Easy find - pretty hard to miss the container.

Well, there you have it! Thanks to Jen for setting up the blog so people like me can fill up the whole durn thing in one gigantic post. For those of you who couldn't make it to Carnation this summer, I hope you enjoyed experiencing the adventure vicariously through our eyes.

Just as advertised!!!!!!!! Wow! That's cool My first POC blog post!

2010-03-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

Where's that red button? You know, the one that says "That was Easy."

:-)
OP

Blink blink... coming out of the dark is hard, but we gotta get together and play!

2010-03-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

OP present and accounted for. Uh, this posting on a blog seems too easy. Is this really all there is to it? Get invited by BooBooBee, log onto my gmail account and I'm blogging? Humph! Seems too easy. We'll see how my first post goes.

Okay - I for one have been a little directionless. That's what happens when I get going in too many directions - I end up being stationary and get nothing done! Time to prioritize myself. The Geocaching Spirit has spoken - saw Tammy at Kohls, going GCing w/ BBBee on Friday, caching in the offing with Moosemob who is coming to Atas this weekend for his annual Easter visit with family and Shukymomo said we "went the way of the Dodo bird." Can't seen the spirit as pointing me in any direction other than back to the Poison Oak for the Oreo Pony.

I'm back. OP

Are We Kickin' It, or just Kickin'?

2010-03-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

It seems Shuckymoo thinks Poison Oak Cachers has gone the way of the Dodo birds. Is it true? Are we all just too busy to get together. I know I've had a few things going on (like this and this, to name a couple), and everyone else I know seems swamped these days. How about you? Anyone up for a group cachin' event? Comment here!

Join us at the SLO & Santa Maria Christmas Parades!

2009-11-18T02:51:00.001-08:00

Poison Oak Cachers are gathering again with renewed vigor for two events:
-- Cachers on Parade event cache, San Luis Obispo Christmas Parade, Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 in downtown SLO;
-- Cachers on Parade AGAIN event cache, Santa Maria Parade of Lights, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 on Broadway between Stowell Road and Main Street in Santa Maria.

Want to log the find? Join us on parade! Look for the giant (and I do mean GIANT) ammo can. (Thanks Jackster!)

The can in progress. Still to come: giant log sheet, gifts, logo and more decorations!

Bon Bon Bonfire Caching Event Success

2009-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks, OreoPony, for organizing the Bon Bon Bonfire Caching gathering at Old Port in July. While 15 cachers logged their visit, each brought at least one friend, family member or newbie. While adults swapped caching stories and technical info, kids dug holes in the sand and splashed well past sunset.

Gearing Up on the Central Coast

2009-05-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Local caching high-tech guru OreoPony bucked up and braved the potentially lonely library for her Gear Up group educational caching event.

If you notice OP's name a lot on this blog, no, she's not writing these entries. (Well, not so far.) She's just our most active group event organizer. Not into group events? You can still enjoy OP's fabulously historical caches throughout SLO County. She specializes in researching the history of the area where she places her hides, and sharing that info on her cache listings. Check 'em out!

How Do You Do...Geocaching?

2009-03-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

OreoPony struck again on California's Central Coast with her How Do You Do....Geocaching educational and social event. OP has a way of combining food and fun that attracts a fantastically warm group of cachers. Thanks again, OP!

GooTech-Athon a Micro Success

2009-01-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

More than 20 cachers traveled from throughout Southern California and the Central Coast for GooTech-Athon in Orcutt, CA to check out the micro-wonders of local cacher GooTech. While others who have been at it longer have racked up the numbers, GooTech has specialized in excellent camo for the micro stash. In honor of the event, JTK49ers and Dadbo stashed some new caches.

After a brief gathering at the local pizza joint, cachers hit the streets, trails and parks to find as many caches as they could. We reconoitered at the pizza joint to gloat, complain, swap secrets, eat and enjoy company, a raffle (thanks, TRUROKR, for the amazing walking sticks!) and share lessons in caching.

Thanks, All, for making the trip!

GooTech-Athon slated for Jan. 24!

2008-12-15T23:55:00.000-08:00

Come one, come all to a GooTech-Athon in the Santa Maria Valley! After a long discussion along the trail, OreoPony, PointSalJim, BooBooBee and Geo_Cat decided it was time to gather in search of these sometimes diabolical hides by a relative newcomer.

Get the low-down here.

Safety on the Cachin' Trail

2008-10-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

Fellow 'cacher and blogger Johnygeo has some wonderful points about safety, particularly around electrical outlets, lights and boxes.

Poison Oak Cachers web page updated

2008-06-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

In case anyone's checking up on this blog, or the site...

Thought I'd let you know the website has been updated to include the upcoming Wine/Whine GeoCACHEathon, set for Father's Day Weekend. Local cachers have been filling the area with new hides in prep for the event, some of which are in play already, some of which won't be revealed 'til the Big Day! If tradition holds, the weather should be spectacular, and the company exceptional.

Wine Whine GeoCACHEathon coming up

2008-03-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars!

After two great events recently, it's time to up the ante and GooTech and Dadbo are ON IT!

Check out this cache event slated for June 14!
GC19Y22

Vegas caches

2008-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Summer's just around the corner and, well, I don't know about any of YOU, but I'm makin' my travel plans! MooseMob must've been reading my mind 'cause they sent us a link to the best caches in and around Las Vegas. Heading that way? Check out these as potential diversions from Vegas's...well...diversions! ;)

Thanks, MM!

Results from the March 1st "How Do You Do... Geocaching?" Event

2008-03-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Results from the March 1st "How Do You Do... Geocaching?" Event

Saturday was such an informative gathering. It began as an information gathering session - the attendees completed this survey and then the fun began. Every piece of electronic equipment was set up and put through its paces in front of various individuals who were interested in that topic. Discussions varied widely - 1) types of PDAs to purchase; 2) features and abilities of GSAK, Cachemate, GPXSonar; 3) a demonstration of the routing feature - routing your way through a series of caches in a cache-rich area in a sequential (gas-saving) manner; 4) fun & handy GSAK macros (one to pull cache statistics, one to make special icons on our Garmins, etc.). My main regret of Saturday evening was realizing later that questions went unanswered. Too many conversations to complete to satisfy all. As a courtesy, I have written to some of those individuals and answered the questions I remembered them asking. Please contact me if I missed you. OreoPony[at]gmail.com. I would encourage those who feel so inclined to download, fill out and email the survey to me. As it stands now, the survey of 15 responses are as follows:

10 own Garmins
2 own Magellans
1 owns a Delorme
6 use "routing"
4 use "tracking"
8 own PDAs
none own a SmartPhone
12 own a laptop
13 utilize "pocket queries"
10 utilize "insta-notify"
6 utilize the "bookmark" feature
6 utilize the "cache along a route" feature
2 are benchmark hunters
2 are Waymark hunters
7 utilize the Groundspeak forums
14 want to place caches
8 want to learn html code

Overwelmingly folks wanted to participate in group outings such as hiking, biking, camping and CITO events.

Using the information from the survey, I have reserved the same conference room at the Atascadero Library for Sunday, May 4th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. for an additional, more specific, session of learning and sharing. It will be a community effort of workshop stations. I am looking for folks whose knowledge is better than average on the above topics. You know who you are...

The Geo_Cats are spearheading a 12:00 p.m. event/gathering/picnic over at Stadium Park that same day at the base of Pine Mountain). Come to both and in the afternoon practice some of your newly-learned skills.

Cachin' Bi-Coastal

2008-02-27T00:06:00.001-08:00

Hi -

I'm Miss Heck's mom, and I was at the Pizza with Everything event in January --
I won a stocked ammo can and brought it back to Connecticut!  I finally got it
placed; I waited for the right weather so I could place it by snow-shoe!  Check
out GC19MAM for the "California Dreamin'" cache, thanks to you and the Poison
Oak cachers.  Please share this cache site with anyone you know who contributed
to it.  Thanks!

NorthofForty

Finding cachers on the trail

2008-02-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

Isn't it grand when you're seeking out a cache, you KNOW you're looking the wrong direction 'cause you just have "that feeling," and THAT is when the cache owner pulls up and says, "Did you find it yet?"

Well, it happened to me this week. I love meeting cachers on the trail, though it doesn't happen often enough. Mr. Blue 57 caught me in the act this week. I guess the big fat GPSr gave me away!

If you don't run into enough cachers along the trail, attend a POC event. I believe there's one coming up, right OreoPony? Check the event links over there <------- for the latest.

Anyone else care to chime in? I'm looking for other authors for this blog 'cause, really, who wants to listen to me yammer on?

Happy Cachin'!

The Hits Keep On Coming

2008-02-21T01:18:00.000-08:00

Our page has only been up a few days, but already it's had 1,213 hits, according to our handy-dandy statistics provided by GoDaddy. Keep spreading the word. WHO KNOWS what kind of showing our future gatherings will have!

Happy Cachin'

It's HERE!

2008-02-16T23:00:00.001-08:00

OK...it didn't take a week,but that's because they're basic pages. The links page isn't up, nor is the "contact" page. I need some feedback from members regarding what they'd like to include on those pages. :)

Welcome to a new era in Poison Oak Cacher history

2008-02-15T02:17:00.000-08:00

Next week we'll introduce the new Poison Oak Cacher website, an information portal to the geocaching group serving California's Central Coast. That page will be static while we sharpen our html skills, but will link to this blog on which members may celebrate their hunt victories, opine on all things geocaching, organize group cache hunts...the possibilities seem endless.