photogal928

Well, Takes the Hard Way, Baxter the Cache Sniffer and I decided to go find our first night cache (GC1DYGG). Never did find the cache, but we had quite an adventure all the same. We made our way to the final stage and had been searching for a while when we saw a helicopter approaching from the north. Takes the Hard Way suggested we turn off our flashlights as not to attract unwanted attention. The copter flew over and went down the road a bit then turned around and circled. We were under a tree and stood there waiting for the copter to go on its way. I could see flashing lights on the highway in the distance and figured the helicopter was providing overhead support. However, it kept circling again and again getting closer each time. Then finally, it stopped almost right on top of us! At this point, TTHW and I weren't sure exactly what was going on .. but I figured they knew we were there so we stepped out from under the tree and after what seemed like a really long time, they finally turned on the spot light. Should have taken advantage of the extra light to look for the cache, but we didn't know the proper protocol to follow when you've got a police spot light on you, so we just stood there, laughed … not believing our luck and waited .. we figured someone was on their way. (Hopefully it would be the cops and not some deranged criminal who ditched a stolen car on the highway and ran off into the brush) Sure enough a couple police officers came hiking up the hill. We explained what we were doing, they laughed and called off the helicopter. It seems they saw our car and due to the large number of gas well thefts and vandalism recently, they were checking everything out. They wished us luck and then the ultimate muggles went on their way.

This was the first cache I ever found ... still one of my favorites. No one is quite sure of the story behind the place, but someone started building a home nestled in the rocks on a hillside but abandoned their work before it was complete. Castle Among the Rocks - GCA470 Old Whiting Sawmill - GC15DQK - Not much left, but thought it was fitting that a tree was now growing in the middle of the one building that was still standing. Nature prevails! West End Route 66 - GCPGV4 - Old building right next to the railroad tracks on old Route 66 in Gallup NM Canyon Diablo~Two Guns, AZ~Get Your Kicks #2 - GCHBMR - There are other pictures of this location posted. This place is a photographer's dream and right off of the interstate. If you're passing by, be sure to stop! A Goats View - GC1EFZ8 - An old highway bridge being reclaimed by the forest. Animas Forks - GCKKD2

Baxter the Cache Sniffer is a great caching buddy. However, the name is decieving ... she'll only sniff out the cache if there's something dead inside!! She can smell and hunt down dead stuff from miles away. She didn't notice those two bears that crossed the trail in front of us that one time, but had no problem dragging me across the parking lot by the lake to get to the turkey necks (?? go figure ??) that someone dumped in the grass. Her favorite caches are the ones that involve water or snow ... then she's in dog heaven! Don't know how I ever cached without her! Baxter's a travel bug .. you can check out all her pictures at http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=654076