* This Just In*

14.3k · August 8, 2006

That's why I only sleep in tents made by Marriott!

I didn't know that Marriott made tents?

I agree with you. The worst part of camping to me is the packing, unpacking, setting up, tearing down, packing and unpacking. What a PITA! I can tolerate the other issue of being dirty and stinky and not sleeping very well. :huh:

2.1k · August 9, 2006

Team Geogeeks descended into the canyon by helicopter (I'm sure we saw one that looked just like that...). We did it the old fashioned way -- on foot. Here's Ms. LLOT (white hat) along with her cousins Tomas (yellow hat) and Henk on the North Kaibab Trail. We are partway down the Redwall Formation at a place called the Needles Eye.

This is, by the way, a bad place to drop your GPSr. It'll stop about 300 feet down and there may not be any pieces large enough to return to REI...

5.5k · August 17, 2006

This just in ....

AT with his first baby rattle.

Edited August 17, 2006 by SD Rowdies

2.2k · August 17, 2006

This just in ....

AT with his first baby rattle.

5.5k · August 17, 2006

This just in ....

AT with his first baby rattle.

Thanks for your support.

14.3k · August 20, 2006

THIS JUST IN! I finally completed Flibbertigibbits Wild Adventure yesterday! As many of you know, it has been the closest to my house and my nemesis cache since I started caching. I have never found it for a variety of reasons but yesterday I finally found it and with all the TrailGators! WOO HOO! :lol:

Anyhow, I finally caught "the look" on film yesterday, so you all could see what I go through! I took my family to the Wild Animal Park yesterday. There is one cache there called Flibbertigibbits that has been the closest to my house since I started geocaching. I have never gotten it, so today I decided I was finally going to get it! Even if it meant dragging my family all over the park and getting "the look." So below is my daughter Alyssa's "You want me to go geocaching? look....Of course it also might be her "Quit taking my picture!" look. Both looks are very similar. :laughing:

Here are some people feeding the rhinos some apples and waving at us.

Here is a view from our balloon ride. Harmon would appreciate the casted shadows!

On the way down, we saw a lion playing with a log on top of an SUV.

Here are the TrailGators with Granddad TrailGator.

Edited August 20, 2006 by TrailGators

August 20, 2006

THIS JUST IN! I finally completed Flibbertigibbits Wild Adventure yesterday! As many of you know, it has been the closest to my house and my nemesis cache since I started caching. I have never found it for a variety of reasons but yesterday I finally found it and with all the TrailGators! WOO HOO!
Anyhow, I finally caught "the look" on film yesterday, so you all could see what I go through! I took my family to the Wild Animal Park yesterday. There is one cache there called Flibbertigibbits that has been the closest to my house since I started geocaching. I have never gotten it, so today I decided I was finally going to get it! Even if it meant dragging my family all over the park and getting "the look." So below is my daughter Alyssa's "You want me to go geocaching? look....Of course it also might be her "Quit taking my picture!" look. Both looks are very similar.

Hey! I recognize that look! My daughter has that same look. :lol:

2.2k · August 21, 2006

THIS JUST IN! I finally completed Flibbertigibbits Wild Adventure yesterday! As many of you know, it has been the closest to my house and my nemesis cache since I started caching. I have never found it for a variety of reasons but yesterday I finally found it and with all the TrailGators! WOO HOO!
Anyhow, I finally caught "the look" on film yesterday, so you all could see what I go through! I took my family to the Wild Animal Park yesterday. There is one cache there called Flibbertigibbits that has been the closest to my house since I started geocaching. I have never gotten it, so today I decided I was finally going to get it! Even if it meant dragging my family all over the park and getting "the look." So below is my daughter Alyssa's "You want me to go geocaching? look....Of course it also might be her "Quit taking my picture!" look. Both looks are very similar.

Here are some people feeding the rhinos some apples and waving at us.

Here is a view from our balloon ride. Harmon would appreciate the casted shadows!

On the way down, we saw a lion playing with a log on top of an SUV.

Here are the TrailGators with Granddad TrailGator.

Great photos Pat. I also can relate to "the look." It must be some universal thing that is programed into teenagers. :lol: Great family shot also. I know how hard those are to get.

Also, way to go on finally getting that darn WAP cache.

Dave

5.5k · August 21, 2006

Here is a view from our balloon ride. Harmon would appreciate the cast shadows!

Pat,

No fooling, those shadows are awsome. Point of view sure alters how we regard the world.

I have a long-time friend that has been a hot-air balloon pilot for many years. Every once in a great while I round up a dozen or so friends to crew and ride a non-commercial flight in my friend's balloon. We've had some crazy adventures including landing in very strange places like the ocean, illegal encampments, and right up to a tall alter-window of a church during Sunday services. Touch-and-go on bodies of water with a HAB basket is pretty exciting, timing and experience is everything.

Night flights are just plain nuts. If you ever get a chance to do a night flight don't.

Years ago when the bungee-jump from hot-air balloons craze first became fashionable we witnessed the jump wherein a guys harness unhooked at apogee allowing him to freefall to his death. He was an "experienced" bungee jumper so he didn't make a big fuss on the way down. Experience is the name we give to our mistakes.

By the way, Pat, did they teach you how to maintain an intended course with a windborne hot-air balloon?

Harmon

Edited August 21, 2006 by SD Rowdies

2.1k · August 21, 2006

By the way, Pat, did they teach you how to maintain an intended course with a windborne hot-air balloon?

When I was growing up in New Mexico, some friends of my parents had a hot air balloon. I can tell you of many adventures navigating the chase vehicle as we tried to anticipate the balloon's travels. Sure wish we had GPS (and GoogleEarth) back then... Based on my experience, the best way to keep a hot air balloon on an intended course is to pack it up and put it in the truck. :shocked:

2.2k · August 21, 2006

*** This Just In *** - Mrs. RocketMan and Kaching Kristin were out in SoCal this weekend where Kristin was in a horse show, so I took a trip up to the mountains today by myself to place my third series of off road caches up there (viewable once approved).

1. Moose Meadow

2. Stream Junction

3. Cabin With a View

4. Another View at the Top

5. Valley View

6. Awesome Meadow

7. View Back at the Pass

Here are some pics:

14.3k · August 21, 2006

Here is a view from our balloon ride. Harmon would appreciate the cast shadows!

By the way, Pat, did they teach you how to maintain an intended course with a windborne hot-air balloon? Harmon

To tell you the truth Harmon, I spent all of my 15 minutes up at 400 feet shooting photos and taking in the awesome views! :shocked:

BTW nice photos Dave! :unsure:

5.5k · August 21, 2006

By the way, Pat, did they teach you how to maintain an intended course with a windborne hot-air balloon?

When I was growing up in New Mexico, some friends of my parents had a hot air balloon. I can tell you of many adventures navigating the chase vehicle as we tried to anticipate the balloon's travels. Sure wish we had GPS (and GoogleEarth) back then... Based on my experience, the best way to keep a hot air balloon on an intended course is to pack it up and put it in the truck.

Well, o.k., you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway.

Here's the inside secret for steering a desired course in a hot-air balloon. First of all the wind blows different directions at various altitudes. So the problem comes down to discovering what altitude has wind blowing in a desired direction. Just spit a big waddie over the side of the basket and watch it fall. As it falls it's trajectory will be altered by altitude-dependent winds. From there it's easy, just decend to the altitude that has wind going your way. Of course one usually has to tack in order to maintain a given course when there's no wind below headed exactly your way. It's a bit of a pain in that you must ascend each time you want a new sounding.

Waddaya think of that? Ain't science marvelous?

Using radios it's a lot of fun to direct a chase vehicle into dead-end streets and other annoying places.

5.5k · August 21, 2006

Here is a view from our balloon ride. Harmon would appreciate the cast shadows!

By the way, Pat, did they teach you how to maintain an intended course with a windborne hot-air balloon? Harmon

To tell you the truth Harmon, I spent all of my 15 minutes up at 400 feet shooting photos and taking in the awesome views!

Well, yeah, but you are clearly more sensible than I am. Well, shoot, by now everybody on the SD threads has already figured that out.

Loved the photos Pat, nice job.

14.3k · August 21, 2006

Here's the inside secret for steering a desired course in a hot-air balloon. First of all the wind blows different directions at various altitudes. So the problem comes down to discovering what altitude has wind blowing in a desired direction. Just spit a big waddie over the side of the basket and watch it fall. As it falls it's trajectory will be altered by altitude-dependent winds. From there it's easy, just decend to the altitude that has wind going your way. Of course one usually has to tack in order to maintain a given course when there's no wind below headed exactly your way. It's a bit of a pain in that you must ascend each time you want a new sounding.

Waddaya think of that? Ain't science marvelous?

Even though my post didn't sound like it, I am actually interested in all that "how" stuff. I didn't know the wind shifted that much at different altitudes. That is very interesting stuff and thanks for sharing it Harmon! :unsure:

Thanks for the compliment on the photos Harmon. :shocked: I broke out my good digital camera yesterday. It's kind of bulky so I typically don't take it with me. But what a difference a 12x optical zoom makes! I am still learning how to use the thing. That camera gives so many built-in shooting modes it's hard to know which one I'm supposed to pick. I also took a shot of a tiger from the train but I forgot to post that photo. The tiger was a good 500-600 feet from the train, but that zoom lens brought him in up and and personal. I'll post that one when I get home later...

Later on in the day, we saw Pumbaa catching some Z's....

Edited August 21, 2006 by TrailGators

2.2k · August 21, 2006

I broke out my good digital camera yesterday. It's kind of bulky so I typically don't take it with me. But what a difference a 12x optical zoom makes! I am still learning how to use the thing. That camera gives so many built-in shooting modes it's hard to know which one I'm supposed to pick.........

Which camera are you referring to?

14.3k · August 21, 2006

I broke out my good digital camera yesterday. It's kind of bulky so I typically don't take it with me. But what a difference a 12x optical zoom makes! I am still learning how to use the thing. That camera gives so many built-in shooting modes it's hard to know which one I'm supposed to pick.........
Which camera are you referring to?

My Panasonic Lumix DCM-FZ20.

2.1k · August 21, 2006

Here's the inside secret for steering a desired course in a hot-air balloon. First of all the wind blows different directions at various altitudes. So the problem comes down to discovering what altitude has wind blowing in a desired direction. Just spit a big waddie over the side of the basket and watch it fall. As it falls it's trajectory will be altered by altitude-dependent winds. From there it's easy, just decend to the altitude that has wind going your way. Of course one usually has to tack in order to maintain a given course when there's no wind below headed exactly your way. It's a bit of a pain in that you must ascend each time you want a new sounding.

At the International Balloon Fiesta, held in Albuquerque every year, one of the main events has always been the "Key Grab". There's a set of car keys at the top of a tall pole. The object is to maneuver your balloon, using the techniques described above until you arrive at the pole and grab the keys. Grab the keys and you get the car that they go to. It's grand fun to watch -- especially the near misses. (Most of the contestants use more sanitary means of checking the winds below than the method described by Harmon but if you are on the ground, you still want to watch what may be falling from above.)

The real trick, though, is figuring out the winds above. Hucking a loogie over the side doesn't cut it. You can however look at the clouds, plastic bags (and other trash) and other balloons to help see which way the wind blows. You can also let loose a helium filled toy balloon to accomplish the same thing.

The big problem with New Mexico, though, (as with most mountainous terrain) is that you can expend a lot of hot air (to go down) or propane (to go up) to achieve a desired altitude only to discover that the winds have changed in the time you took to get there. A the same time, you can't move too quickly or you will overshoot your desired altitude and end up going some other direction entirely. (Worse, in a crowded environment like the Balloon Fiesta, you definitely do not want to be ascending onto another balloon or to have one descend on you.)

Flyin' balloons ain't for seesies...

Edited August 21, 2006 by Let's Look Over Thayer

5.5k · August 21, 2006

Here's the inside secret for steering a desired course in a hot-air balloon. First of all the wind blows different directions at various altitudes. So the problem comes down to discovering what altitude has wind blowing in a desired direction. Just spit a big waddie over the side of the basket and watch it fall. As it falls it's trajectory will be altered by altitude-dependent winds. From there it's easy, just decend to the altitude that has wind going your way. Of course one usually has to tack in order to maintain a given course when there's no wind below headed exactly your way. It's a bit of a pain in that you must ascend each time you want a new sounding.

At the International Balloon Fiesta, held in Albuquerque every year, one of the main events has always been the "Key Grab". There's a set of car keys at the top of a tall pole. The object is to maneuver your balloon, using the techniques described above until you arrive at the pole and grab the keys. Grab the keys and you get the car that they go to. It's grand fun to watch -- especially the near misses. (Most of the contestants use more sanitary means of checking the winds below than the method described by Harmon but if you are on the ground, you still want to watch what may be falling from above.)

The real trick, though, is figuring out the winds above. Hucking a loogie over the side doesn't cut it. You can however look at the clouds, plastic bags (and other trash) and other balloons to help see which way the wind blows.

The big problem with New Mexico, though, (as with most mountainous terrain) is that you can expend a lot of hot air (to go down) or propane (to go up) to achieve a desired altitude only to discover that the winds have changed in the time you took to get there. A the same time, you can't move too quickly or you will overshoot your desired altitude and end up going some other direction entirely. (Worse, in a crowded environment like the Balloon Fiesta, you definitely do not want to be ascending onto another balloon or to have one descend on you.)

Flyin' balloons ain't for seesies...

Excellent! I just knew that somebody would offer a more refined take on balloon steerage. Us ol' country boys always take the simple "gitRdone" approach no matter who is affected by the resulting fallout. Thing is with steering balloons one needs a lot of experience so's you can be comfortable with the behavior of an airborne vehicle that has a lot of inertia and significant outside influences. There's a notable lag between the burner and the hoped for response.

Low and close steering depends on luck to a large extent; however, some pilots are just plain better than others. Hocking one over the side is only suited for high altitude distance runs because wind direction doesn't vary much for small changes in altitude.

5.5k · August 21, 2006

2.2k · August 21, 2006

Believe it or not, I actually had my socks bunched, but you can't tell since I missed my feet on the self timer shot.

Edit: Here, I found another shot from my log on this cache (Look Closely).

Edited August 21, 2006 by RocketMan

5.5k · August 21, 2006

Believe it or not, I actually had my socks bunched, but you can't tell since I missed my feet on the self timer shot.

Edit: Here, I found another shot from my log on this cache (Look Closely).

Dave,

You da man and th' devil made me do it.

Keep those great photos coming. You are in scenic heaven it seems.

Harmon

2.1k · August 22, 2006

Believe it or not, I actually had my socks bunched, but you can't tell since I missed my feet on the self timer shot.

Edit: Here, I found another shot from my log on this cache (Look Closely).

Either those are not white socks or you need to run them through the laundry more often... :huh:

2.2k · August 22, 2006

Believe it or not, I actually had my socks bunched, but you can't tell since I missed my feet on the self timer shot.

Edit: Here, I found another shot from my log on this cache (Look Closely).

Either those are not white socks or you need to run them through the laundry more often...

They are brown synthetic hiking socks (Fake wool/machine washable, kind of puke colored).

14.3k · August 22, 2006

I also took a shot of a tiger from the train but I forgot to post that photo. The tiger was a good 500-600 feet from the train, but that zoom lens brought him in up and and personal.

Here is the photo of that tiger...

5.5k · August 25, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where this is.

August 25, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where this is.

HONK!!

We did this at night, I dropped John off and was wondering why it was taking him so long :laughing: ...when he got back in the truck he said he wished he had a stinkin' ladder

I guess somehow I missed that parking spot at night :laughing:

~Jess

5.5k · August 25, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where this is.

HONK!!

We did this at night, I dropped John off and was wondering why it was taking him so long ...when he got back in the truck he said he wished he had a stinkin' ladder

I guess somehow I missed that parking spot at night

~Jess

Jess,

You two always seem to be the first to honk. (FTH?) Apparently you traded in the old "meeper."

We nearly got busted by a patrol car just as we were driving off of the curb. Whew! but I was ready with an alibi as in "The Geobabes made me do it officer."

Ain't that Splashette th' sweetest thang in her sparkly bling-tee?

Harmon

Edited August 25, 2006 by SD Rowdies

5.5k · August 26, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

August 26, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

Nothing like having your backside being posted on the World Wide Web! <_< (I'm assuming that's Spashette)

August 26, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

Nothing like having your backside being posted on the World Wide Web! (I'm assuming that's Spashette)

Not my backside....................Harmon's in trouble with $kimmer now!!!

Splashette <_<

August 27, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

HONK! did you remind her what the name of the cache is? <_<

5.5k · August 27, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

Nothing like having your backside being posted on the World Wide Web! (I'm assuming that's Splashette)
Not my backside....................Harmon's in trouble with $kimmer now!!!

Splashette

Splashette made me do it, and she giggled when I did.

Hey, Team Geogeeks, wanna go caching with me some day?

Edited August 27, 2006 by SD Rowdies

August 27, 2006

This just in ....

Honk if you know where it is.

Nothing like having your backside being posted on the World Wide Web! (I'm assuming that's Splashette)
Not my backside....................Harmon's in trouble with $kimmer now!!!

Splashette

Splashette made me do it, and she giggled when I did.

Hey, Team Geogeeks, wanna go caching with me some day?

Sure.......would love to go caching with you.

However, all cameras, recording devices and the like *must* stay home. :unsure:

1.3k · August 27, 2006

Hey Harmon come on out to the Camp Out and I'm sure she will let you ride shotgun in her Jeep. Just make sure your life insurance is paid up :laughing: :unsure: Your life will be in her hands.

August 28, 2006

Hey Harmon come on out to the Camp Out and I'm sure she will let you ride shotgun in her Jeep. Just make sure your life insurance is paid up Your life will be in her hands.

Hey! My Jeep comes back right side up every time. Of course my husband was using my name in vain yesterday as he repaired (for the second time) the broken sway bar on my poor girl. We took her out today and she's good to go again. Of course my husband drove. So the ride was a little dull.

14.3k · August 28, 2006

This Just In Out!

Headlines: Blonds Run Amuck in Big Bear!

Kawikaturn, B.R.A. and TrailGators were coming back from an FTF on Gold Mine or Yours when Barb hit a soft spot and her right front wheel sunk down and got stuck!

It didn't look too bad but she needed someone to pull her out cause we tried and tried but we could not get her out! Luckily, a group of jeepers showed up a little while later and one of them tried to pull her straight back but the guy pulled too fast and jerked too much and Barb's Xterra slipped down into the ditch and almost tipped over! :rolleyes:

Now Barb's Xterra was in a world of hurt!

So then one of the jeepers figured she would be better off to drive down into the ditch and get more square and then they would try pull her out....

So they got it more square and then TWO guys hooked up and pulled and pulled...

and pulled....

and finally got her out!! Amazingly there was hardly any damage and the jeepers saved the day! :anibad:

Edited August 28, 2006 by TrailGators

2.2k · August 28, 2006

This Just In Out!

Headlines: Blonds Run Amuck in Big Bear!

So they got it more square and then TWO guys hooked up and pulled and pulled...

and pulled....

and finally got her out!! Amazingly there was hardly any damage and the jeepers saved the day!

Great photo story Pat. I love it. :anibad:

5.5k · August 28, 2006

This Just In Out!

Headlines: Blonds Run Amuck in Big Bear!

So they got it more square and then TWO guys hooked up and pulled and pulled...

and pulled....

and finally got her out!! Amazingly there was hardly any damage and the jeepers saved the day!

Great photo story Pat. I love it.

Now THAT'S reporting. Love the photo essay but shouldn't you have been helping with the xTerra?

Edited August 28, 2006 by SD Rowdies

5.5k · August 28, 2006

... so the ride was a little dull.

Say little girl, want some excitement in your life?

No wait, did I hear somebody say "husband?"

14.3k · August 28, 2006

This Just In Out!

Headlines: Blonds Run Amuck in Big Bear!

So they got it more square and then TWO guys hooked up and pulled and pulled...

and pulled....

and finally got her out!! Amazingly there was hardly any damage and the jeepers saved the day!

Great photo story Pat. I love it.

Now THAT'S reporting. Love the photo essay but shouldn't you have been helping with the xTerra?

Thanks Harmon. As I'm sure you can imagine, it would have been difficult for me take photos of myself when I was helping push the Xterra or when I was gathering/piling rocks and doing stuff like that.

Edited August 28, 2006 by TrailGators

14.3k · August 28, 2006

This Just In Out!

Headlines: Blonds Run Amuck in Big Bear!

So they got it more square and then TWO guys hooked up and pulled and pulled...

and pulled....

and finally got her out!! Amazingly there was hardly any damage and the jeepers saved the day!

Great photo story Pat. I love it.

Thanks Dave. The one thing that would have worked the best would have been a winch. I didn't get a photo of it but another guy pulled Barb's front end away from the edge at the very end. It only took a few seconds and he pulled her very easily. If we had had a winch or a come-along, we could have tied around a nearby boulder and pulled Barb's front-end over by ourselves.

Edited August 28, 2006 by TrailGators

2.1k · August 28, 2006

The one thing that would have worked the best would have been a winch. [...] If we had had a winch or a come-along,

This whatcha meant??? :rolleyes:

August 28, 2006

... so the ride was a little dull.

Say little girl, want some excitement in your life?

No wait, did I hear somebody say "husband?"

Excitement is always good. :rolleyes:

Regarding the husband...yeah just ask anybody whose met him, he's a big guy! :anibad: but then he's a big ol' teddy bear too.......however, just ask him....he's always told folks that if they can afford me, they can have me.....now what's that supposed to mean?

14.3k · August 28, 2006

The one thing that would have worked the best would have been a winch. [...] If we had had a winch or a come-along,

This whatcha meant???

Ye forget that we already had a blonde! How else do you think that we got nine Jeeps to stop and help us?

August 28, 2006

The one thing that would have worked the best would have been a winch. [...] If we had had a winch or a come-along,

This whatcha meant???

Ye forget that we already had a blonde! How else do you think that we got nine Jeeps to stop and help us?

AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN TRADE FOR $15. WORTH OF BEER!!

2.2k · August 28, 2006

*** This Just In *** - I went out and did some off roading yesterday, driving up and along a ridgeline that at some points was above 12,000 feet. It actually snowed a little bit while I was up there (In August, go figure).

Also, saw this guy on the drive. I assume it is a Bighorn Sheep, but it doesn't look like the type I am used to seeing in Borrego.

Also, I posted a few photos to the CO Thread here.

14.3k · August 28, 2006

Nice photos Dave!

Just be careful if you ever run into one of these.......

Edited August 28, 2006 by TrailGators

2.2k · August 28, 2006

Nice photos Dave!

Just be careful if you ever run into one of these.......

I would turn around and run if I saw one of those!

5.5k · August 28, 2006

Nice photos Dave!

Just be careful if you ever run into one of these.......

I would turn around and run if I saw one of those!

Why I oughta ....

Wot, no horns? Yeah, and who learned y' t' do that kinda photo editing anyway?

Edited August 28, 2006 by SD Rowdies

*** This Just In***

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

* This Just In*