Stars in my eyes. Monday 011711

Out geocaching with The Lost Clan. We started our day on top of the world! At Mount Soledad there are several caches I've not found but we forgot the maps and decided to just go for a multi cache. I always bring any visitors to San Diego up here and it never disappoints. Fantastic views all round today. We did another couple of caches around the residential area, there are some beautiful homes and they all must have fantastic views!

We then went into La Jolla and found a cache that I've been too scared to do! I was at George's restaurant on Saturday and noticed this exciting opportunity to meet a real STAR was still active but my family of muggles were not as starstruck as me so I had to pass it by. Luckily The Lost Clan was willing to visit Miss Garbo for a second time and we made our way into the hallowed ground. Mr. Hyosung was very helpful and the required information transcribed. I only wish I hadn't waited for 9 years to make Miss Garbo's acquaintance. How foolish to get a bee in your bonnet about what you think something is going to be and as usual it proves to be quite simple!

Our next cache is called Green Eggs and Ham as it is placed near Dr. Suess' house although we were not sure which one of the beautiful homes it could be. We were at La Jolla Heights Open Space and had views of the sea, cliffs, golf course and the beaches, stunning. Unfortunately the cache, placed in May 2003, was in a very sorry state of affairs, an old rusty coffee can without it's lid. A plastic bag was not much protection for the soggy log book and a few bits. We emptied out the water and as we could not sign the log we put in a new one, I left the can on it's side so that, hopefully, any water does not stay inside. The owner dropped out of geocaching for a while but he has recently started caching again I hope he does some maintenance on this cache soon, it's certainly worth it for the views alone.

Now we were in for a treat as our next cache uses new technology, it is called Horton Hears a Chirp. My GPS does not have Chirp capability and neither does my iphone so I was dependent on TLC for the co-ords! We arrived at the posted co-ords and a few moments later the info was received and we were on our way to the next wp. Took a little longer to find than it should have, TLC walked right past it, as so did I but when I turned around I suddenly noticed it, a nice ammo can.

Next we thought it was time for a walk along a new trail with 6 different caches placed along it. We found Fey Bike Path Sampler #1 without any trouble, had a dnf on a older cache and then as there was a muggle at #2 we decide to walk to #6 and have something to look forward to on the return walk. Sadly we could not find #6. The CO says he did not place any nanos but he had made an exception here and it was a very odourous hide either on or very close to a dog poop bin. Yuck! We did find the rest on the return so that lifted our spirits a bit.

After a quick picnic lunch we decided to start to make our way home the 'scenic route' via a couple of rather interesting caches. Ashes 101 Dalmatians or a puppy as we like to call them, is one of the 101 caches you have to find in order to get the co-ords for Rolly. Ashes had been reset as the original a 5* terrain had been muggled TLC has found them all but I'm still working on the challenge. Ashes is now only 1 1/2 terrain now much to TLC's annoyance and we made a quick find.



Our last cache of the day is near an infamous sculpture. Not really sure what it is supposed to be, there are several ideas being mooted. Wish it was still posted! This cache is called The Turd and you only have to see the sculpture to see why.

Four more caches

This morning I went out with The Lost Clan finding caches that popped up just after we found the others above Sycamore canyon. Our first cache, CT 12 ~ Following those KM2's was not far from where we parked. We thought we could make it a circular walk instead of two out and back hikes. It was nice to have good start here with a find. Our second cache was along a ridge trail heading towards land belonging to Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar. CT12: Fixing a hole was placed at a gap or hole just before a cache that marks the perimeter of the base marking where no more caches would be allowed.

So after fixing this hole we followed the trail up to the forbidden entrance. A trail went off west towards a power tower but dead ended so we bushwacked down into the canyon towards CT 12: Almost at the borderline II. Not really the most sensible thing to do. It was really steep and a bit boggy at the bottom. I also almost lost my GPS as it got plucked out of my pocket by a bush and I did not notice until we had just started our way up from the bottom of the canyon. A worrying few moments as the chances of finding it were pretty slim but thanks to TLC's GPS breadcrumbs we were able to retrace our steps and much to my amazement I found it.

We were successful in making a circular trip but I don't think it really saved us any distance in the long run. We also, well me more so, got a little freaked out by the howling calls of some coyotes, TLC thought they were well away from us across the canyon back where we started but I think they can move pretty fast through the bush if they want too. I'm sure the coyote are well fed up here, we saw lots of deer prints and some quite big rabbits on the trail ahead of us but they might have taken a fancy to us!

So we hurried, as best we could along the steep track, to the last of the four caches, Ritz Crackers. Habu had placed it to honour the cacher that had put out the super trail (to honor all of those cache owners who provide us so much fun. These represent San Diego’s top cache owners – those who hide the caches we love to find.) that we walked on Thursday. RC was
a bit tricky but we did not want to have to come back, we read the hint but in the end it was a bit higher than indicated. The temperature had climbed to the mid seventies so we were glad to get back to the car for some welcome cold air conditioning.

Tom's A Geocacher

I'm not much one for puzzle caches and unless it's really simple I don't even try them but yesterday I was scanning FB when a friend asked for recommendations for apps to put on her new phone. I suggested Angry Birds and Scrabble and another friend gave a long list including one he said would help with some new puzzles. I was intrigued and looked it up and immediately realized I knew at least 3 caches that it would help solve!

I opened the cache page and touched the new app's icon, waved it over the page and wow the hidden coords were revealed! What fun. I also noticed that someone had a public bookmark list of local caches of the same sort so I looked at that and the other caches that I had vaguely remembered were also on the list so I didn't even have to work on finding them! I emailed TLC who I rely on for puzzle cache information and she knew all about them but not having a smart phone was unable to solve them. How nice for me to be able to return a few favours I owe her for all the times she has helped me!!

So this morning TLC changed our plans slightly and looked for CT12: Tom's A Geocacher. We loaded the co-ords and luckily it was not too far and soon we were at gz. TLC made the find quickly and we signed the log. Very satisfying!

We went back to the plan and found a couple more caches. We also fixed one of TLCs caches that had fallen down. TLC also planted an ammo can ready for a puzzle that she is working on. A busy couple of hours. No photos today as I left the camera at home.

Cache Hiders Trail 011311

Today we went on a trail placed to honor all of those cache owners who provide us so much fun. These represent San Diego’s top cache owners – those who hide the caches we love to find.

TLC and I left my car at the furthest parking possible and drove to the other end, near our first cache of the day and met today's Thirsty Ladies, The Lost Clan, Luv2bake, lovesflowers, Lionhouse 75, Trixxster and me, six of us today! We set off about 8:15am and walked the sidewalk along the parkway a nice easy trail today. It was a fun trail with lots of variety in the size of the caches and the hiding places and as there were 30 or so caches everyone made a find or two!

We had a couple of side trips to find a cache hidden in the canyons either side of the road, one sadly we did not find but the other was safely found and logged.

We met some other cachers doing the trail in the other direction and stopped for a quick chat. They wondered which cache we were at as they didn't have it on their gps but we explained that TLC had found a cache she had hidden but never got round to publishing. They asked if they could sign the log as 'beta testers' So TLC said that would be OK!

TLC realised it was too close to the newer caches so she moved it two hundred feet north to another site but unfortunately when she went to publish it there was still a problem as it was now too near a waypoint for a multi cache which none of us knew about. We will go back and move it again next week.

We finished the trail at about 11:30am. The last cache was Honorable Mention for all the local cachers who had placed 40 or more caches, TLC was happy to be in that list! We had walked almost five miles, mostly down hill except for the two side trails and had a lovely morning. Now we all got into my van and I drove back to where the rest of the cars were parked stopping for just one more cache along the way.

We decided to go to a favourite Thai restaurant not too far away and had a well deserved and delicious lunch together before going off our separate ways.

It took me almost as long to log them all as it did to walk the trail as the CO had asked that for each cache we could mention a favourite cache that the titled cacher had placed. It was fun though to go back and research the old caches as it brought back memories of fun cache hunts and adventures.

PQ Canyon west end.south side 01/12/11 and 12 of 12 for Jan.12

Birthday cake

Staircase for challenge

Slippery slope with my shadow

Deep canyon looking straight down.

Another pylon

View across canyon floor, where we cached yesterday.

Industrial buildings.

PQ canyon looking east.

Cooper's hawk looking westish.

Towards the sea.

Snow covered mountains in the very far distance! Mount San Jacinto

Eye sore of dumped mattresses.


So as our caching day ended abruptly yesterday TLC and I arranged to continue today. I had, however, forgotten that it's my beloved's birthday, opps! But as he's going to work I thought I was safe, too much geocaching is discouraged! Any how plans are made but he is not really a happy bunny this morning.

TLC and I are on a quest to find the last one for her PQ Hall of Fame Challenge, Spider Wasp's Lair and it is well deserving of the high terrain rating but not so much the difficulty rating, thank goodness! We had found the trail head yesterday so knew where we need to park. We made our way down yet another steep and slippery trail, the recent rains have eroded the trail in places and in some places the ground has subsided, I have visions of the ground giving way under our feet and causing a mud avalanche to the bottom of the canyon taking us with it! But although it is like walking on jelly sometimes, we make it to gz. The power lines are making our numbers jump around and lead TLC astray but I carry on a bit further and we realise we have a little further to go and with a bit of bushwacking TLC finds the cache.

I remind TLC about a couple of photo challenges that we try to do are posted so we are taking lots of photos. We can see the steep trails that we took yesterday from over here and walking along the trail to another cache we can see a long way along the PQ canyon. We can see the glittering sea to the west and snow covered mountains to the north, I think they are the Mount San Jacinto Range. As we walk I see a rufous sided towhee, humingbirds and a Cooper's hawk perched in a tree.

Our third cache has been placed near a heap of discarded mattresses which is rather sad to see up here. We don't want it to be there so it's the last place we look but sure enough it's under the mattress, yuck! Such an eyesore. We walk to the end of the ridge but the view is not so great here as the eucaliptus trees block the way. So we turn to retrace our steps back to the car. TLC thinks that this trail would sustain another cache and we look for a suitable place for an ammo can. We need to check there are no puzzle caches up here before making a final decision.

Mr S phones me to let me know he has decided to take the day off work and suggests we have lunch out to celebrate his birthday. TLC and I were only going to be out for a short time today so we choose 2 more quick cache and dashes and make that 5 for the day.

PQ Canyon west end. 01/11/11

The Lost Clan and I are working on the PC Hall of Fame Challenge and only have a few at the west end to find to complete the challenge, in fact TLC has less than me to find as one of the hardest is WAR and she found that years ago! Our trail to the few caches we need is a bit unconventional and we use a trail head with a cache that TLC found using google maps. The sign said that it was a viewpoint but we thought we knew better and followed the trail to the edge of the canyon and a fence, opps! Not to be put off we explore a bit further but can not find a legal way down so we ducked under the fence, I must admit to being more worried about the ranger catching us off the trails than falling over on the muddy track. (there were no signs on the fence) We followed a steep and slippery trail to the bottom of the canyon, around another short fence and a sign facing away from us says 'Keep to the trail'. An easy cache we are after is right there and we quickly sign it and moved on.

Now on to WAR. I knew it was tricky but when I saw the trail my resolution wavered and as TLC had already found it I gave her the option, well me the option, not to proceed, my that trail was steep but TLC was not having me chicken out and led the way! Very nice camo and worth the climb.

TLC and I had both loaded our pocket queries for the canyon last night but two more caches had been published this morning, seems to be a theme lately, so we had an extra two miles round trip added to our plan. We decided to go for the furthest one first so we would have something to look forward to on the return trip. We were slightly hoping for FTFs but you have to get up really early around here to get those! We got to The Long Gone Bridge and spotted a little red bus toy wedged in some branches, this had been left by the CO as a ftf prize, so we were still hopeful. I spotted the cache really high in the tree and although there were some 'steps' we are not tree climbing sort of girls. After a moment or two's foolishness, climbing the 'steps', we well I, decided to take a chance and dislodged the cache with my stick and luckily it fell where TLC could reach. Sadly we were not FTF but someone had found it 30 or so minutes before! We signed the log and managed to reposition the cache. It's a shame that it was a micro as this area could hide an ammo can really easily.

The second new cache was in a bush, again fairly high above the canyon floor and took us quite a while to find. The cache name 'There used to be a bridge here somewhere' gave us pause as we were nowhere near the water but we checked if it had been found on my iphone and sure enough the ftfinder had logged it without comment, so we carried on searching. Methodically searching, we circled the bush until I was almost to where TLC had started and BINGO there it was, bigger than I expected but well camoed.

We have decided not to go back the way we came but to take an official trail up to the mesa which passes by one of my caches so we stop to check it out and also to catch our breath. Back at the top we don't have as far to the car as I thought and we are soon there.

We decide to have a break and stop at a Starbucks but TLC forgot our plan and directs me to a parking lot that has has a couple of caches in it, she certainly has a one track mind when it comes to caching! We find the caches and go on to Starbucks. We are all set to carry on but our earlier climbs have worn us both out. Just one or two more we discuss but as I left the parking I got into the wrong lane and could not get over, oh well it seems that we are done for the day after all! It wasn't meant to be.

Hawkwatch at Ramona 1/8/11

We received our annual newsletter about the Hawkwatch event in Ramona and decided to attend this weekend. We had a great time watching the free flying prairie falcon and other hawks being shown by their handlers. There were several wild hawks and eagles perched in trees and on rocky outcrops in the grasslands for the scopes to be trained on including a golden eagle.

We always like to see the burrowing owls that are on the property, not sure if they are really wild or contained is some way but unfortunately they were being shy today and staying in the burrows. While we chatted to the docent we were lucky to see three immature bald eagles fly overhead, two of them circling around each other in a playful manner. A volunteer we spoke to who had lots of experience was really excited and exclaimed she had never seen three 'baldies' in the sky at once before.

As we were leaving I asked about the barn owls that I'd overheard someone mention and they were just over our heads in the huge palm tree in the yard.

Back at the car Simon got out his telescope and had a look around and we at last saw a burrowing owl as will as some western blue birds then we drove down to the pond and did some bird watching. saw lots of western meadowlarks, ferruginous hawks, snow geese, white-fronted geese and various ducks. Well worth a visit and so close.

San Diego's Cache Placers Thursday 010611

Today's plan was to do an easy paved trail of caches 'This trail is to honor all of those cache owners who provide us so much fun. These represent San Diego’s top cache owners – those who hide the caches we love to find. But at the last moment TLC had noticed that there were three more placed in the canyons beyond the pavement. Some of the honorees of the series had been busy doing what they do best, placing more caches!! We met up with our group of friends, hikers and cachers, we call The Thirsty Ladies.

We set off and as we had not met as a group since before Christmas we had a lot to catch up on. The trails are mostly access roads to the power line towers criss crossing the canyons. Our first cache MCAS Borderline I was the newest cache so we hoped for a FTF, first to find, so skipping a couple of older ones we made straight for it but we had been beaten to the punch by Ritz Crackers the CO of the 'cache owners' power trail! We then retraced our steps and found a couple more caches.

It had been a cold start but we had warmed up by now so walked back towards our cars to off load our hats, scarves and coats. We then noticed a car on the trail on the next ridge and guessed it was another cacher, we waved even though we did not know who it was!! It turned around and parked up behind us and turned out to be Harmon of the SDRowdies, a veteran cacher well known for his photoshopping skills on the forums. As we stood chatting I noticed a SDG&E truck pass and go through the gate Harmon had just driven through, close and lock it. I think we just saved Hamon from being trapped on the wrong side of the gate!

Harmon joined us for some more caching and we also met a couple of cachers on bikes who stopped and said hi and who, later on, we also met at a cache. The caches with CT12 prefix (Covering Tom's 12 mile) are being placed as a friendly challenge for one our keenest SD cachers, flagman, who tries successfully to keep the 12 mile radius of caches around his home found. The next ridge trail only had one cache at the furthest point so Harmon was going to place some more caches along the way but luckily as it turned out he left them in his car because three quarters of the way along we met another cacher, Lulu499, who excitedly told us she had just had 3 FTFs on caches that had been posted while we had been out on the trails and we had just passed one of them!! Good thing Harmon had not dropped his caches or he would have had to come out again and pick them up!!
Nancy shared the new cache details with TLC and I checked my iphone and put the coords in my GPS. I love my iphone for paperless caching, reading hints and previous logs but prefer to use a 'real' gps to actually find the box.

It was now a lovely warm morning and lots of fun going on. At one of the newest caches ahead we could see a cacher searching, no doubt hoping to be FTF. We did not recognise him and cheerfully called out as we approached, 'have you found it?' he did not seem pleased to see us!! We introduced ourselves and spread out to help him. I made the find but felt bad that we had spoiled his fun! He did not want to join us for the next closest one and strode off back towards the other caches! Oh well, he obviously was very keen FTF seeker!

Harmon needed to turn around and find the caches we had found earlier so we said our goodbyes and made our way back to our cars. A great morning's caching, meeting cachers on the trails is one of my favourite things! Oh and along the way TLC drooped a cache to add to the mix!! Not many photos today as we were too busy.

FTF at a Spa

Met TLC at our usual P&R and then she drove up to Starbucks to meet wl. We had a slow start, chatting about our varions holiday activities and then TLC mentioned we needed a FTF to keep up our run of one every month for a challenge we are working on. wl reminded us that a cache published earlier was very near by, so although it was not on the plan we decided to go for it just in case!

We took our time, finishing our various drinks and then made our way to wl's car, transfering our stuff and greeting the geodog, gomez, and making ourselves comfy! TLC navigated us to the cache area but we overshot the turn and almost decided to do another cache first. The road led back to the cache but we had to go 'off roading' along a muddy trail to get close. TLC got to gz first with wl approaching from the left, we read the hint and I made the find! I handed the cache to TLC and she unrolled the log... a dollar bill was rolled up with the log, so this was handed to the driver for gas and ta dah an empty, clean log sheet!! Happy dance all round, a FTF for us all!!

We went on to find a few more driveby caches and then we knew we were in for a treat, a cache by Redrox was next. Her caches are always special and we were not disappointed! The ammo can was hidden in plain sight but the paint job matched so perfectly that only a cacher would see it. Inside were several TBs and a coin. One of the bugs was a book and a few people had signed the sheet inside thinking it was the log book, opps. I signed us in to the correct log book and wl and I took a tb each and I took the coin leaving two tbs for the next visitors.

A few more straight forward caches followed and then it was time to have a go at finding a trailhead for cache that had previously thwarted us. We had found a way onto the area but as we got closer we realised that there was a fence preventing us by about 30feet from getting to gz. TLC had since checked on google earth and was convinced she now knew another entry point but when we got the end of the cul de sac there was no way through and another possibility was flooded. We drove along the perimeter of the site noting the No Tresspassing sign at one end. But at the other end it was clear there was a trail leading towards the cache about .20 of a mile away. Made our way towards gz and we were on the right side of the pesky fence! I stayed on the main path with the geodog while TLC and wl bushwacked to the cache. Sadly the well cammo'd cache was completely full of water, even the baggie the log was in had water in it. They managed to sign the log and put it back together. Hope we don;t have any more rain as many of the caches we found today had soggy logs and we only carry a few spares.

Found a few more caches, one TLC found after wl & I had exhausted all possible places because she put her fingers down a spidery place that we were too chicken to do! It had a dnf on it so we were pleased it was still there.

We had taken picnic lunches today and were getting hungry. Our next cache was called Bone Yard and was a hidakey on the fence. We had parked in the cemetry under a shady tree and it seemed the perfect place for lunch.

Sadly our first cache after lunch was a dnf but we think the rains had washed it away.

Our afternoon soon passed finding all sorts of caches and soon the sun was setting. The last two caches were in a very interesting area, it looked like it was private property but there were no signs saying so or explaining the site. Most of the area was covered with fruiting cacti, prickley pear, I think. TLC found both caches which were enormous tubes, known by some as Yuma micros! They are former missile holders so look a little intimidating!! Last cache of the day.

The sun was setting and it was a beautiful sunset but it meant our day's caching was at an end.

Hiking Sunday Jan. 2nd 2011

Mr SH had set his sights on the top of Mount Woodson after our easy hike around Poway Lake on Thursday. I was not so keen as it was a 5 mile round trip and most of that uphill. But in the interest of a happy start to the New Year I looked up the geocaches and found there were a few I could use as breadcrumbs up to the summit. Sadly I downloaded an old pocket query which did not have them on and only found a couple of them! Oh well that just means another great hike to the top is in my future.
We had a late start and didn't get to the parking until 11 am. We found the first cache quickly although I sent Mr SH up the muddy bank unnecessarily as I spotted the hidey hole behind a boulder along the trail where I was standing, oops!

Continuing up the trail we are passed by several people who are walking much faster than me!
The second cache was hidden in a crack between huge boulders overlooking the fast moving stream in the canyon. The tin was a bit rusty and tricky to open but while Mr SH scrambled over the boulders I signed the log book noticing on the cover the clues to another cache. So I took a note of them for another time.

This is where I notice that there are, surprisingly, no more caches! Convincing myself that the reason is that there must be puzzles that I'm not aware of and I've found the caches on a previous trip at the top from the other side of the mountain I simply did not think to check on my iphone!

It's a long, steep and difficult trail to the top but with much encouragement and frequent stops 'to look at the view' I make it!

We have a picnic lunch at about 1:45pm sitting on the footings of one of the many towers at the summit. We sit looking west towards Black Mountain and south towards San Diego, Point Loma and the Coranado Islands down Mexico way!

Getting very cold now and we can see storm clouds gathering, so gather our things and start down the mountain. The park closes promptly at 5pm and we don't want to get locked in, so Simon sets a fast pace. About a mile and a half from the lake it starts to drizzle and the last part around the lake it's really raining, a first for us to be out on the trails in the rain in California.

The park rangers are making announcements to the fishing boats out on the water to come in and that the park is closing in 1/2 an hour and we hurry to our van in the nick of time!

My legs are shaky and I'm cold and wet but feel a good sense of achievement at climbing to the peak of Mount Woodson. The trail was longer than the 5 miles I thought, closer, in fact to 8 further than I have walked for a long time!