A Chi-Town Adventure
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- Written by Patricia Hutchison
- Hits: 2442
By Terri Nealon
We blew in and out of the Windy City this past weekend, which was the second time our geo-foursome had visited Chi town. Last year along with another good friend, we'd conquered 'Beverly' and other grid-filling caches, but this trip we spent a good portion being 'blown' away by the awe and beauty of the city.
Like all good geocachers, we stopped in route to and from our destination; at an awesome and favorited TB hotel, a glacial erratic to play awhile, the stomping grounds of Chicago's most famous ghost (Resurrection Mary), a D5 cemetery Earthcache with 6 waypoints, and a giant chicken (who knew?). But it was the time spent in and around downtown with three fun friends, walking in wind gusts over 35mph and temps in mid 40s that fills my memory the most.
The lake cache hike Friday had us bundled up and freezing but laughing all the way. We all felt some mist from the spray of the white caps as they crashed into the wall, but Capn Sea Bert, living up to his name, got caught in a big one unawares while signing a log for us all. Spiritwolf922 won the longest deep-dish pizza cheese string-pull at our table at Giordano's Friday night, before we hit up Vanille Patisserie for some delicious macarons. Saturday brought milder weather and many virtual wonders. The Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was a must-visit to kick off our morning cache hike. How-D even brought along some 'MARVEL'ous muggles to join the party and make us laugh. As for me, TerriBikes+, I was just my quiet self-soaking in the camaraderie and the sights and sounds of the city.
My geofriends and I had such a great time again in Chi town that I brought up the idea about making this and every spring geotrip, as there's still so much to see and experience here. As Mark Twain once said: “It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago-she outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.”
Peace and Smileys, TerriBikes+
A WyckedAnn Story
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- Written by WyckedAnn
- Hits: 2695
In October, 2014, while I was living in California, I went to Chloride, Arizona to visit family. Traveling back home, I drove through Laughlin, Nevada on Interstate 40. When I got home, I was on Facebook checking the Geocaching Singles page when I saw a lady had posted that she was in Laughlin, Nevada and was looking for a geocaching buddy. I commented that I had just been in Laughlin, Nevada the other day and that I had family in Arizona.
And that is when Cyndee B and I started talking and forming a friendship. We friended each other and would chat here and there as time went by. In The beginning of July 2015, I told her that I was moving to Missouri and would be stopping in Laughlin on our way East at the end of the month.
We had planned to finally meet up, but as time was getting closer to the move East plans changed for her; she was helping a friend move around the time we would be passing through. But we promised each other we would try and meet up again another time. Over time we continued our friendship. I loved hearing about her geocaching adventures and in February, 2016, she and her geocaching friends drove to Yuma, Arizona for the MEGA Yuma S.W.A.G. Event. When she got home, she sent us some Extagz and Pathtags she had gotten while she was at that event. That was the start of our Extagz/Pathtags trades. If we had extras of tags we would send her and same with her. She would send us extras she would get for us.
And that is what leads me here to this story. Christmas, 2016, we decided to get her the first ever Geocaching coin she owned. It is a beautiful Narwhal coin. Rainbow, it glows in the dark. I picked it out for her because it just reminded me of Cyndee B, a beautiful, whimsical soul. She loved it! She said she was afraid of collecting geocoins because she had an addicting personality and that was one more thing to be addicted to. I told her she could blame me for it. hahaha...
The next spring, she had found out she had breast cancer. I was heartbroken to find out my friend was sick. I started a YOUCARING Fundraiser account for Cyndee to help raise money for her bills and such. What was raised helped her.
Christmas, 2017, we sent her a SLAGA Christmas geocoin along with some Extagz/Pathtags. At the beginning of 2018, she was cleared of the breast cancer but then they found that she had brain cancer. She surprised me by telling me she was going to come out to Missouri to visit but after finding the brain cancer, she had to cancel.
She kept going for treatments with hope of getting better. About a month ago, she sent us a package with some travel bugs to send out into the world for her along with her Narwhal coin we had given her for Christmas two years ago. We decided that we would keep the coin and take it on our geocaching adventures – like it would be her with us, still going on that geocaching adventure.
Most unfortunately, she passed away on November 15, 2018. She was unable to change ownership of the coin but we want it to still be under her geocaching account, as a tribute to her memory. I share this story because she is my friend. We never got to meet face to face but it feels like I have known her for so long. You meet some incredible people on this geocaching adventure and Cyndee B is one of those people.
We wanted to share this trackable and its story with all of you. Please feel free to discover this Narwhal coin (NWR8RE). And be sure to say Hi to CYNDEE B, in your log.
Thank you. ~WyckedAnn, Cyndee B and ResurrectionJ
In Memoriam
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- Written by Patricia Hutchison
- Hits: 3013
As many of you know, Mr. and Mrs. Spongy163 (Harry and Carolyn Halladay) are well-loved and respected long-time SLAGA members and geocachers. It's with great sadness that Carolyn would like to let their friends in SLAGA know that Harry passed away on Wednesday evening, November 21, 2018. A memorial gathering is set for Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Jay B. Smith Funeral Home Fenton Chapel, 777 Oakwood Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. His obituary can be found at https://www.jaybsmith.com/obituaries/Harry-Halladay/#!/Obituary.
I have been requested to add the following information regarding Harry Halladay's memorial service on Saturday, December 1: Please dress in business casual; it is requested that we do not wear jeans. Additionally, family members will speak, but plan to ask anyone who would like to share their memories to come up as well. This is a great opportunity to share your favorite stories about Harry, so start recollecting and we'll see you there.
2018 Travel Bug Race Standings
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- Written by Hobbit Taz
- Hits: 3371
Last updated October 16, 2018
TB Owner | TB name | Curr. Miles | # of Caches |
---|---|---|---|
spongy163 | Surfing SpongeBob | 24,571.11 | 4 |
spiritwolf922 | 2018 Wolf Racing Tag | 7,445.70 | 7 |
nan-d1955 | MIZ ZOU RAH! Racer | 6,053.59 | 6 |
Breezy406 | Happy Ape | 5,132.60 | 2 |
bluedaisy | Another Key to Happiness | 4,214.90 | 1 |
resurrectionj | Halo Top Tag | 2,446.40 | 6 |
WyckedAnn | WYCKEDANN'S WITCH | 2,396.30 | 3 |
TeamBMZ (bmzdaddy) | The Reviewer | 861.50 | 3 |
bluedaisy | Monkey Business | 717.70 | 4 |
fishin'buds | Fishin'buds First Release | 628.80 | 3 |
Control Freeks | Clyde, the Fancy Racing Camel | 510.60 | 2 |
bluedaisy | Did Someone Say Lasagna? | 26.50 | 2 |
CribbageWitch | Key to the Lighthouse | 0.00 | 1 |
bluedaisy | Lucky Aces | 0.00 | 1 |
Cachemas 2017
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- Written by Race by John Elfrank
- Hits: 3194
Cache | FTF | Published | FTF Time |
---|---|---|---|
Christmas Day Bonus | Paul Gracie | 7:30am | ??? |
Day 12 | Father of Rebels | 11:00am | ??? |
Day 11 | moonchild & Diceman71 | 6:00pm | ??? |
Day 10 | beladi1 | 2:00pm | ??? |
Day 9 | strider | 7:00am | 8:06am |
Day 8 | nanonabber69 | 11:00am | 11:22am |
Day 7 | bmzdaddy | 7:00am | 7:26am |
Day 6 | SWAseeker | 6:00pm | 6:16pm |
Day 5 | Spongey163 | 3:00pm | 4:36pm |
Day 4 | Unut74 | 10:00am | 10:55am |
Day 3 | Forest-Ghost | 12:00pm | 12:36pm |
Day 2 | 7 Dragons (Brooke Six Koenig) | 2:00pm | less than 26 minutes after publication |
Day 1 | Paul Gracie | 6:00am | 6:26am — Way to go, Paul |
In honor of Brandt Teske (87preludea20a3) the TWELVE DAYS OF CACHEMAS RETURNED for 2017!!!
Here’s how it worked: For 12 days beginning December 13th (Day 1), a new cache was published and every day afterwards until December 25th. Those who were First to Find (FTF) on one of these daily caches received an FTF Cachemas Ornament in the container for them to keep. As an added bonus, thanks to L Frank, the ornament can be converted to a cache container for a future hide. Those who got an FTF on one of the 12 days were asked not go for another one so that someone else could have some of the fun.
Again, there was be a 13th Bonus Cache which can only be found by using the codes written on the inside of the container lid of each daily cache. Keep these codes and use them to solve the location of the 13th cache which was publish on the 12th and final day, December 25th. In the process of locating the codes, you will solve the coordinates - which is not difficult.
Have fun and remember to thank 87preludea20a3 in your log. He brought this great series to St. Louis.
10TH. Annual Slurpin' Soup and Watchin' Eagles
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- Written by Chod
- Hits: 3080
10th Annual Slurpin' Soup and Watchin' Eagles
Winter BLUES already getting you down? Well how about some great food, great geo-fellowship and first class eagle watching in a gorgeous location high above the Mississippi River? Join us for this MEET AND GREET anytime between 11:30 and 2:30 Saturday, January 13 at the VILLAGE OF THE BLUE ROSE which is located on Rt.79 midway between Clarksville and Louisiana Mo. Dining room seating is limited, therefore this will be an OPEN HOUSE event. There is no specific starting or ending time. Gourmet soups, chili, fresh bread and drinks are available for a tax-deductible donation.
Serious sledding, weather permitting
(bring your own sled)
Bonfire!
On site shopping available!
On site and area caching! The current caches will be archived and replaced with new ones
For More information on The Village Of The Blue Rose, click HERE
Cache page https://coord.info/GC7F4GT
Date: January 13, 2018
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