This Month
aka GEO*Trailblazer 1
(Editor’s Note: The Midwest invitational geocaching competition (March 19-20) combined a GPS orienteering contest and geocaching at Hawn state park in Missouri. Also notable, the author of this article has logged at least 537 benchmarks.)
I had the best time of my life this last weekend at this event. I did not go to compete but just do the A course at leisure. I caught up with the phantom 491 ahead of me. He was having a little trouble getting a fix on the location of the waypoint. While we were talking, bluebeadman caught up with us.
We all decided to go as a team from here, and dubbed ourselves the A TEAM. When we started out, I had entered 1/2 the waypoints to the 22 caches.
Two caches were on the way to the next waypoint, so we decided to look for the caches. On the way we ran across a benchmark and, being familiar with the markings, I explained what it is and we doodled for a while and took pictures.
Then, looking for the nearby cache, the event judges came upon us and asked, “What are you guy's doing hunting caches? You are on the clock and loosing time.”
We said we were in no hurry and then headed out to finish the course. We finished in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place and were very surprised after doodling around so long.
Day 2: I thought I was out for sure. On the way to the competition there was a bad accident on the highway and I was delayed. The highway was blocked. My start time was 9:06 AM. It was already 8:45 AM and I was still several miles from the camp, and start point.
When I finally arrived, there was no available parking at the start point, which was a mile from where I was. I had thought ahead and had my custom made 18-speed Timberwolf bicycle with me. I jumped on the bike and rode about 1/4 mile. I was huffing and puffing so hard I had to get off the bike and push it up the hill.
The clock ticking is all I can think about. I haven't rode the bike in years so my legs are now cramping, clock is ticking...got to do it. I jump back on. I am at the top of the hill and the starting point is at the bottom. Oh boy...swish. Here we go. I made it within the guidelines. I am in.
I am still huffing and puffing and I am way behind. Go...go; go is all I can think. Reprieve. I see bldebabe, phantom491 and bluebeadman (the last ones to leave the start point) just ahead. Got to get that point in and catch up. When I did, we decided since my GPS is getting to the waypoints more accurately, we would finish as a team, the A TEAM. We finished in record time, all together, and in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.
The first day bldbabe had created a lead we could not catch so the gal's got first on this one, but us guys took the next three places.
A Big thanks to Missouri geocachers association, Missouri state parks and all who helped and participated.
Special thanks and the GEO*SIGNAL CITO Award went to phantom491. He “trashed out” the first day while we were in the contest. Great job.