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smilinglady13

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Posts posted by smilinglady13

  1. The bruises on his avatar are an understatement. He looks and feels like he's been in a car accident. I don't think he'll be able to walk normal for two weeks and he's gonna have a wicked scar on his shin. He had to drive my mom-mobile to work today because he can't use his left leg to shift his manual truck without crying. You can definitely tell when his pain meds are wearing off. He was up 1.5 hours in the middle of the night waiting for the new dose to kick in so he could get back to sleep.

     

    I told him if he ever does anthing this stupid again, I'm going to have to clip his wings. I think this lesson may actually sink in this time.

     

    D-Jollymon has a pain in the arse too, but I'll let him post his own pix. :D

    I have a booty shot but I'm not going to but it on the thread....i'll put it on my profile page if anyone wants to check it out.

    TMI! But looks like some serious pain! :rolleyes:

    How far did you guys travel backwards or down?

    Gory details dang it!

    We got to the creek and it was roaring down the hill as the water hit the rocks that were cemented into the wash to slow the flow down. We couldn't cross because of the force of the water so we crossed above the entrance and came down the other side where we could wade to the tunnel as the water was slower. Once inside it was slow going as we were walking as high on the right side as we could without slipping. My left foot would be a bit lower than the right to provide stability on during the walk up. We came to the first area that had side tunnels dumping water into the main one. The water was coming in with such a rush that we had to jump across the fast moving water in the tunnel to get by the incoming side rush. This happened every side spot we hit.

     

    We got all the way up to the area where we were to go up the side entrance and the flow was VERY heavy now and seemed to be getting worse. I waded across the massive flow and PW jumped and made it up to the square area. I didn't want some of the electronics I had in my jacket pocket to get wet so I put them in my backpack as I waited in the center rush of the water.

     

    All of a sudden both of my feet began to slip, ever so slightly. I tried to bear down and get a better grip somehow but I started to slide even more. I was trying to slide/walk to the side and get up on the wall but it was to late. The creek had me and there was nothing I could do. I fell into the water with my GPSr and digital camera in my Gortex rain jacket and my backpack over one shoulder. I tried to put the backpack on but it was useless. I had my headlamp on me and my 1million candlelight flashlight in my hand as I sped down the 2-3 feet deep ride of terror. Every side tunnel I passed I had to hold my breath as massive amounts of water were spewing into the tunnel. I lost my headlamp and let go of the big flashlight so I could try and grab something. The lights floated down ahead of me...illuminating my watery nightmare. I choked on the water coming from the sides and tried to see what was coming up. I sped through the 1/4 mile of tunnel quickly and was thinking I could try and stop at the end.

     

    I saw the entrance getting bigger and bigger.

     

    The rocks came quickly as I exited the tunnel. I don't remember much of the last deadly 200 yards. This is where we should have been knocked unconcious. I can't get to sleep at night because I think of what could have happened. The rocks flipped me but somehow I managed to keep my head from hitting them. My breath was knocked out and I wondered how long it would be until I felt one of my extremities break. The rocks stopped making impact with my body as I go to the bottom of the creek where it was deeper. I couldn't move my legs in the deeper water so I used my arms to swim to the reeds that lined the stream. Barely able to grip the plants, I managed to pull my self up on the floating debris and crawl over to the cement side. Laying there in so much pain I could barley move. I had no idea where PW was but as I looked up he was 10 yards away with a bloody nose and laying on the ground as I was. He had a nasty slice in his shin.

     

    I tried to move my arms and legs. The arms were fine but my hands/fingers were cramped/frozen from trying to stop myself in the tunnel.

     

    We exited the creek where the fence ends and slowly made our way up the hill. PW had lost a boot, I had lost my backpack with wallet, Palm, TB's, other flashlight, keys to truck and my shorts. I could barely move up the hill in my boxers.

     

    PW gave me a ride home in the back of his Xterra as I was wet and couldn't sit down. I just rolled myself into a ball to try to keep warm and ward off the shivers.

     

    I went to the Emergency Room that night and passed out in the waiting area. Finally got to see the doc just before midnight. He gave me some med's for the night. Went back to the hospital the next morning and got my Tetnus shot and more meds.

     

    Not a fun time for me....or PW.

    I just want to thank everyone for their support over the unfortunate incident both myself and D-Jollymon went through on Monday. I’m finally coming around and I’m beginning to understand what had happened and what could have happened to both of us. The wounds are healing slowly and I’ve mentally come to terms on how crazy and addicting this sport can be, sometimes (at least in our case) overpowering common sense. I really appreciate the closeness that the San Diego Geocachers have to each other, whether your 8 or 80 we all have a common interest and support each other….it really means a lot to those of us who may not have family in SoCal…your our family.

     

    As far as the next move in my career path I’m not completely sure what will come next. The layoff was expected and not much of a surprise to me, though bad timing considering the events of the week. Five years is a long time to last in Biotech at one company and doing research and development for natural products is unheard of for that duration.....hey at least I have 3 months of paid geocaching!

     

    As the wiseman (Harmon) said "Experience is the name we give to our mistakes."

     

    Thank you for all the laughs and I’ll see you on the trail soon!!

     

    PassingWind

     

    PS. Get well Dave!!

    Thank you for your update. I have been thinking and praying for you 2 often these days. I was at the tunnel on Monday just to look so I know how fast the water was flowing and am so thankful you all made it out alive.

  2. Can't wait for new page for update.

     

    Who be going where Sat and Sun, and what times?

     

    I may go to Palomar Divide on Sat. ; but won't know till Fri evening.

    Saturday a few of us are going to do the Palms to Pines up from Idylwilde to Palm Springs. Email if anyone else would like to come.

  3. (one of ghost's friends)

     

    I imagine we would be wheelin up by Long Barn or Strawbarry.

     

    I have a Stanislaus National Forrest trail map, but how would we look up the trails that have caches? Is there a forum for trail caching?

    I looked up Strawberry and found its zip code to be 95373 so I put that in under search and came up with one that actually has 4 wheel in the title GCK98D. When you get this page up then select nearby caches of this type from under the FIND heading.

    To use the view map and move it around you do need to be a premium member. Good luck on having fun on your 4WD.

    I hope this helps.

  4. (one of ghost's friends)

     

    I imagine we would be wheelin up by Long Barn or Strawbarry.

     

    I have a Stanislaus National Forrest trail map, but how would we look up the trails that have caches? Is there a forum for trail caching?

    This is how I do it.......might be the long way but it works. I find out the zip code for the area I want to cache and then get the caches and then go to the view map on one of the geocache pages and just keep moving it around until I find the area that I want to go to. There are some great people in San Diego that might be able to tell you about Goggle earth but right now I am still new to this so do not ahve that one conquered.

  5. Make it on the day I can come and I will be there with a jeep.......it is the only vehicle I have right now  :laughing:

    I'm not sure if your Liberty would make it down the Highpoint trail. Are you going to McGinty on Sunday?

    I am told that I have been obnoxious and talking to much about obtaining my numbers and about my marathon. I apologize and and will keep my posts down to a minimum. I am just excited about geocaching as it involves hiking, 4 wheeling and getting out into nature I will curb my enthuseiams and obnoxinous.

    Thank you

  6. <snip>

    I went and looked at the start of the tunnel on Monday and the water was just pouring out of there......How are PW and D-J doing?

    PassingWind just emailed me back. It sounds like he's a bit shaken-up and scared after his ride. Injuries were (limited to) serious bruising, 10 stitches and a very bad swollen ankle. D-Jollymon came away better with bruising though I haven't heard from him directly.

     

    All in all, it sounds like the injuries will heal with time

    Thank you Dan-oh for letting us know. I will continue to keep them in my prayers.

  7. We were there rather late and we looked under those very stones......i am guessing whoever kept taking the other ones took this one.......sigh.....As soon as I saw who was there before us I KNEW.......just KNEW in my bones......what had happened. You got way to dizzy with all that ballet in those lovely leotards and just twirled the cache right out a there!!!!!  ;)  :yikes:  :rolleyes:

    Okay, SUUUURE you looked in the right spot! :)

    Doh! I guess it is my fault smilinglady13 didn't find it. We looked right where I found it the first time. We didn't wander too much away from there (the rain and slippery mud helped us not wander). I do know caches sometimes drift over time. Either that or I somehow got us to the wrong spot along with the GPSr since I let her look before I helped.

    The fact is that when Sandy and I approached the location we first went to the tree on the eastern side of the trail. After rooting around there a short while I took another look at our GPSr and saw that we should cross back over to the other tree.

     

    The difference was that the correct tree had three fairly large river stones neatly covering the container, you know, a small pile of obvious rocks right against the base of the tree. What with the mist and complete cloud cover our GPS must have needed a bit of time to zero in on the coordinates.

     

    The other factor is that Sandy and I, as opposed to others that shall remain nameless, didn't order cocktails for lunch. As we all know traveling nurses need stimulates now and then to remain alert.

     

    Harmon

    No Stimulants at all!!!!! I am guessing the lovely pile of river rocks has been moved from the correct tree to the wrong tree........and my source for the right tree........well he is seldom wrong so I am guessing it is gone.....sigh.......I guess i should have gotten it the night of the Christmas party......ohwell.....I will return to see if it is there and due to the heavy rain, much mud on the shoes (made me a few inches taller and I am not used to the thinner oxygen 2 inches up) we could have identified the wrong tree and the wrong pile of stones.

  8. :)

    :yikes:

    Ok, it's hard to keep up with this schedule (what with all the popcorn all over the desk) but - why not McGinty on Saturday and Palomar Divide on Sunday?

    I can't go Saturday....and I'm not going where SL is going....she still can't shut-up... :)

    EXCUSE ME!!!!!!! WOW.......Thought it was you that ........well never mind :rolleyes:;)

  9. :)

    :rolleyes:

    Ok, it's hard to keep up with this schedule (what with all the popcorn all over the desk) but - why not McGinty on Saturday and Palomar Divide on Sunday?

    That would work for me.........but then I would have to endure.........oh never mind.....I have to be nice in public :yikes::D:D:):D;)

  10. So for Saturday..........does anyone have any caches they want to get out of the way?

    I think there are some in.........

     

    New Year's Resolution kicking in again so I can't say it! (But it was real funny) :D

    Oh, come on, Pat! They are always so funny!

     

    Robyn

    Hell-ooo Robyn! How have ya been! :)

    I really do need to see if I can make it more than just 4 days with this thing! ;)

    Who made up this resolution crap anyhow? :rolleyes:

    GEEZ I thought we were going to have to suffer all year with your New Years Resolution..........I hope you did not strain anything but holding it all in today!!!!!!! :D:yikes::)

    Anyway......back to SAturday......

  11. The timing couldn't be worse for joking around about underground tunnels, given the horrific events in West Virginia.  My heart goes out to those poor families and all they went through the last several days.

    That was an incredible tradgedy, and a completely bewildering example of miscommunitcation. I truly feel for the families that are affected by this.

     

    However, I don't think our discussions here are in any way making light of the situation there. Forutunately, our story here had a happy ending. I didn't realize until I just heard from Jason how closely we came to a tragic end to our story here. I am going to edit my other post in deference to them. The experience is still to fresh in their minds to see any humor in it.

    I am so glad they are alive!!!! I went and looked at the start of the tunnel on Monday and the water was just pouring out of there......How are PW and D-J doing?

  12. We were there rather late and we looked under those very stones......i am guessing whoever kept taking the other ones took this one.......sigh.....As soon as I saw who was there before us I KNEW.......just KNEW in my bones......what had happened. You got way to dizzy with all that ballet in those lovely leotards and just twirled the cache right out a there!!!!!  :rolleyes:  ;)  :)

    Okay, SUUUURE you looked in the right spot! :D

    I guess I need to go look in the wrong spot.......sigh........it was raining pretty hard so maybe if it had been dry I would have gone to the wrong spot......I am waiting for the mud to go away and relook at it. :) Although I had it on good authority that it was gone. :yikes:

  13. Edit: New Year's Resolution kicking in again......

     

    SL enjoy McGinty on Sunday! :rolleyes:

    Thank you and I will as I will be in real good company!!!!! Thank goodness you have a New Years resolution or I might just have to.............well.......I will leave it unsaid :yikes::)

  14. If anyone is going up the Palomar Divide soon, can you replace my Grey Matters cache?

    I can provide new container; let me know where I can meet you.

    Tnx.

    If the group is going, I will be going. I can place it back for you.

     

    I thought it was Palomar Divide on Sat and McGinty on Sun?

    I can't go Saturday so that's why I wanted to go Sunday. So SL go ahead and go to McGinty as you had planned! It is possible to have two groups go to two different places! ;)

     

    Chuy, I can tend to those caches also. Let me know what they need! Does anyone rememebr where you can get those logbooksthat can be printed out?

    Thank you for directing my life..... :D Plus it was Duganrm's idea for Sat and Sun and not mine........anything else you want to point out to me today???? :yikes::rolleyes::)

    If you're going to act like that then it's better that you to go McGinty (as you said that you were) and I go somewhere else..... :)

     

    Thanks Chuy! I can replace the log. Maybe, Richard can grab the replacement cache from you!

    It is true.........or I might have to knock you over the knoggin or something like that :D:D:D

  15. If anyone is going up the Palomar Divide soon, can you replace my Grey Matters cache?

    I can provide new container; let me know where I can meet you.

    Tnx.

    If the group is going, I will be going. I can place it back for you.

     

    I thought it was Palomar Divide on Sat and McGinty on Sun?

    I can't go Saturday so that's why I wanted to go Sunday. So SL go ahead and go to McGinty as you had planned! It is possible to have two groups go to two different places! :D

     

    Chuy, I can tend to those caches also. Let me know what they need! Does anyone rememebr where you can get those logbooksthat can be printed out?

    Thank you for directing my life..... :) Plus it was Duganrm's idea for Sat and Sun and not mine........anything else you want to point out to me today???? :);):)

  16. Make it on the day I can come and I will be there with a jeep.......it is the only vehicle I have right now  ;)

    I'm not sure if your Liberty would make it down the Highpoint trail. Are you going to McGinty on Sunday?

    We came down Highpoint in a Jeep Liberty without problems. It can be safely done.

    THANK YOU for your support. My Liberty is pretty good.....just needs lifting eventually.

  17. Make it on the day I can come and I will be there with a jeep.......it is the only vehicle I have right now  ;)

    I'm not sure if your Liberty would make it down the Highpoint trail. Are you going to McGinty on Sunday?

    I could try.......I am going on Sunday. MIragee says the McGinty's caches are so nice to find.....many of them and the terrain is great I am looking forward to it.

  18. The timing couldn't be worse for joking around about underground tunnels, given the horrific events in West Virginia.  My heart goes out to those poor families and all they went through the last several days.

    I had heard 12 of 13 had survived last night on the news and had not heard the tragic update until this morning: "Joy gave way to grief and anger on Wednesday when a West Virginia coal town learned that 12 of 13 miners trapped in a mine explosion had died, three hours after friends and family were mistakenly told that all but one had survived." I'll be sure to say a prayer for those families....

    It is so very sad.......

  19. OK SDCET, I'd really like to do an outing to Palomar and the Barker Valley trail!

    Just read the description on one of Parsa's new caches out there:

    "Jerry Schad lists this as one of the best hikes for wildlife in the county."

    Also Hi Point Lookout Tower has been on my "Someday List" for a long time!

    Here is a map of the area:

    [snip]

    Some of the roads on your route are blocked. Palomar Divide from 79 South goes all the way to Chuy and Duncan's Observatory cache, and then you hit a gate that keeps you from going farther. Also, Oak Grove Road was gated when we went up there, but you could exit by either returning the way you came in from 79, or by going down Highpoint Road. Now that's a road you won't sleep going down!

     

    On the plus side, the views are great and it's a fun caching expedition.

    Thanks S&R!

    OK new plan:

    9615bdf2-d784-4fab-8316-1ba5a28a5300.jpg

    This would give us more time to explore the Barker trail!

    I have two small ammo boxes that are waiting to be hidden! ;)

     

    P.S. No more DH roads unless somebody comes with a Jeep! ;)

    Make it on the day I can come and I will be there with a jeep.......it is the only vehicle I have right now :P:P (that did not count as a number statement did it????? :lol:;)

  20. My New Year's resolution was to be less sarcastic so I've deleted my last comment.....

    But please let's just talk about the fun events and not numbers on this thread!

     

    There's another thread for talking about numbers and congratulating people for numbers! :lol:

    OK OK

  21. Tons of 4WD roads in this state. There are a couple of good trail books out......well more than a couple but the ones I use are the one for S. Cal and N cal....funny thing.....I have been finding geocaches along a lot of them.....go figure.

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