Springbrook Nature Center

I decided to go after 4 caches today. I've been seeing them on my list for some time but just haven't taken the time to go get them. Well, today is the day.

I started off in a row of pine trees. These type of caches always take me longer than they should (I guess that's why I've hidden a couple of them myself :-) ). Turned out to be a pretty quick find on an excellent hide. I can't say I've seen this before. I'm not going to provide a link or the cache name because some cachers have had trouble with it and I don't want to give too much away. You can find out anyway if you think about it hard enough.

I spent the rest of my lunch time in Springbrook Nature Center. I've been there many times before hunting caches but there were three new ones that I haven't found yet. So I grabbed them - all uneventful - even with all the muggles on the great spring day.

While I was in the area, I decided that Springbrook needed some more caches. I took four new cache containers out of my trunk and started walking the paths. I found places for three of them but the fourth I just wasn't happy with. It's a special container that needed just the right place - and I didn't find that place. Maybe I'll get back there and hide it eventually.

As I was walking the trails looking for a place for hide number two, I was startled by a deer. Ok, not that unusual, I've seen lots of deer while caching in the local parks. So I stopped, and quickly grabbed the camera.

I stood there for only about five seconds and slowly lifted the camera in hopes of getting a couple of pictures. Click - ok that worked great. Click - humm, that one did, too.

The deer continues eating the new green buds on the trees and looks up at me between bites. He keeps walking closer and closer. He sees me but isn't worried in the least about me. He's more concerned with having those fresh green buds for lunch. I keep clicking pictures and he keeps walking closer and closer. He finally stopped about 20 feet from me. I slowly slide out to the middle of the trail to get a good picture. Click - that was a good one.

We just stood there looking at each other for another minute or so.

Ok, Mr deer. I have to get moving, lunch is over. I take a step toward him and he just looks at me. So I slide my foot in the dirt to scare him. He jumps - more like a twitch - and starts to meander off the path. But only about 10 feet and he starts eating again.

I head down the path to finish hiding cache number two.

It was a good day walking the paths of Springbrook. Temperature was in the upper 60's - maybe lower 70's with a slight breeze. Perfect time of year for this!

Spring is here! I think...

I really should be focused on work today but I just had to get out for a quick cache hunt. The temp in the Twin Cities is finally above 70 degrees so it's time to do some spring caching.


Over the past week or so I spent most of my caching time at the University of Minnesota campus just east of downtown Minneapolis. Most of the caches I found were hidden by meralgia. She's got some excellent hides that are not only challenging but the high muggle traffic around the UofM make them plain hard at times.


On "Don't Give Up" (GC1B9KV) I was lucky enough to get the FTF!! WooHoo!! That makes 75 FTF's (I think). I still have 25 more to go before I can log King Boreas' Challenge cache for FTF's.


One interesting find hidden by Wylbur was "Pipeline" (GC1A3HH). Two things made this one fun. First the hide. I spotted it right away but had to find the right time to get it. Again, muggles in the area - and the house construction going on next door - make this one tough. Two, this one had a digital camera and Wylbur asked that you take a picture. So now my mug shot is out there for everyone to see. In taking the picture I couldn't hold the camera up and take a shot. I had to hold it down by the cache (which one on the trunk of my car) and shoot up at me. Hummm, that's one interesting photo.


Also in the UofM area was a puzzle cache called "Where's Yoda?" (GC196CE). firstbass does an excellent job at puzzle caches and this was another fun one (fun because I was able to solve it!!). The find was just as fun as the puzzle. The cache is hidden along the Mississippi river with a very nice view. It'll be even better once the trees and flowers bloom.


Today's caching took me to the White Bear Lake area. Some fun caching near Bald Eagle Lake. Yes, it's spring, but the ice isn't off the lake yet. I'm hoping it will be soon!!