Eye test

Met Pru at the lawyer's early this morning and then we had breakfast at Solley's.

Saw Dr. Archer for my regular eye exam.  He had some suggestions for dealing with the dry eyes caused by the Sjögren's syndrome.  My lenses only need a little tweaking so I'll leave them this time.  The astigmatism has actually gone but I am still far sighted.

I told him how tricky it was getting to walk on uneven ground.  He thought it was because of the trifocals and recommended a new pair of glasses for using outside that just have a little bifocal for reading.  I'll keep the old ones for using while reading a computer screen.

My shoulder was quite painful so I came straight home (via the library) and popped a Tylenol.  It settled down after a while.

What a game the Canucks had tonight!  President's Cup!!

Laundry again?

Carted a couple of loads of laundry up and down the stairs today.

I don't have to get a cache until Monday so I don't mind the rain.

Geocaching Tuesday

Met Lori & Pam at Deas Island Park for our last Tuesday of caching.  Next month we switch to Thursdays.  We found one regular and one multi here.  Liked the multi as it sent us to several buildings and pieces of equipment to get answers.  Love this park.

We spent the rest of the day in North Delta and stopped at the White Spot for lunch.  My count for the day was 13, for a total of 2,440.  The weather held for us and some of the hides were really clever.  Only one DNF.

Geocaching 2011

Listened to the Canucks on the drive home - 51 wins!

Just switched the last few posts from my photography page to this one.  Duh!

Cactus Club

Needed a cache today and found a new one in Richmond.  It was just where I would have put it so had it in seconds.  Makes up for the time I've spent trying to solve puzzle caches.  Stayed up until 2:30 last night and finally got the right answer.

Did some shopping in Burnaby at Byrne Road and was home by noon.

Met Louise at the Cactus Club for dinner.  We didn't have a group meeting this month so it was good to sit and talk.

Sudoku Geocaching Puzzles

Didn't even get dressed today.  Watched the original Mildred Pierce and the first 2 hours of the new miniseries.  Totally different takes.  The new one is closer to the book.  Very good!

Enjoyed the Canucks winning 50 games for the first time.

Got stuck trying to solve geocaching puzzles and found a couple!

Stuff

Went through piles of "stuff" today and filled the recycling bag. 

My leg is much better.  Too much sitting or the airplane ride?

What appointment?

Picked my Faslodex at Macdonald's Pharmacy and stopped at the Book Warehouse to spend the gift certificate Mae gave me for Christmas - Voices of British Columbia.

Sat for a long time and double checked that I was in the computer.  A nurse finally sent me to the chemo floor to have my port flushed while they looked for my file.  It was there when I arrived and luckily it was an experienced nurse who had tracked it down.  While there was a copy of the prescription renewal, there was no order to give the shot.  She was seeing my doctor in the afternoon and deciced to give the shot without the order since it was obvious it was supposed to be there.

Bought groceries at Granville Island and wandered a bit before going home. 

My leg is still sore to touch but not getting any worse.

Finished logging

Finally finished entering all the logs tonight - I found 1,002 caches on my trip for a total of 2,418.  Now I can unpack!

My left leg is still pretty sore so I didn't go out today.

Desert photos

Needed a cache today so went for a new on in Pacific Spirit Park.  Bushwacked for 1/2 and hour before spotting the little dinosaur peaking out.

Took my camera to Lens & Shutter and they agreed it was toast.  Bought a new Nikon Coolpix S8100.  Bought groceries at Safeway and home by noon.

Spent another day logging finds.  Also retrieved photos from camera card.

Route 66

1,000

We were up early and found 22 caches just to make sure we reached 1,000 for the trip.  Hope we figured it out properly.  The best today was a drive through wedding chapel.  They gave us an ammo tin full of travel bugs to trade.

Dropped of the filthy rental van and took a shuttle to the airport.  Everything was pretty smooth and we made our flight with some time to spare.  Arrived early in Bellingham and had time to get some liquor at the Duty Free.  Lori dropped Pam & I at Pam's house and took Penny to catch the ferry to begin the trip home to Port Alberni.

Stopped for fish & chips on the way home and have been logging the 1,000 finds.  It will take another day or so to finish.

I am tired tonight.  Have a few aches - left leg and right big toe.  Really glad we took the trip.  We're already planning next year's.

Nearing the end

We found a cache over the border in Arizona and then finished up those in Needles. Headed for Vegas, caching all the way. Found a big series of "Grandpa" names along a dirt power line road. Once again I let Lori do some of the trickier driving bits.

Arrived in Las Vegas at 5:30 and headed for the Strip. Cruised from end to end and settled in at the Tropicana for dinner and gambling. Should have quit when I was $100 up after 1/2 an hour!

About 20 more to find tomorrow to hit 1,000.


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800+

We found a pirate series of caches in Barstow before heading to where we left off yesterday. At 5 pm we hit the end if the Route 66 series at 800!!

Found a few more on the way to Needles and another Best Western. The hot tub felt so good.

We have been lucky to have cool, cloudy weather. Few critters - mostly little lizards. Only met 2 other couples, one from Ashcroft and the other from Atlanta. We were much faster with a team of 4.

Dropped my little Canon camera and bent the telephoto lens!

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Location:Needles, CA

500+

Back in the same Best Western tonight. We spent the day on Route 66 and found over 500 caches to today! We'll probably never make that again in one day. Won't log them until I get home.

I took turns navigating and driving. The others took turns navigating, running into the Mohave Desert and stamping the logs. All of us are dirty, especially the rental van.

Had a good dinner at Sizzler's.




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Location:Barstow, CA

Power Caching

Up early to leave at 7 am with Penny, Pam and Lori. Lori drove and we stopped at Macdonald's for breakfast. Took about 1/2 hour to cross the border. Arrived at Bellingham Airport with time to spare. Flight to Las Vegas a bit bumpy as it was windy.

Found a couple of caches in town and loaded up with foo at Whole Foods.

Did the Yer Mo series of 64 caches. Lori drove, I read the clues and Pam and Penny sprinted into the desert! Finished just at dusk - about 7 pm

In a Holiday Inn in Barstow. Dinner at IHOP.


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Location:Barstow, California

Trip to Route 66

Had a haircut this morning and then back home to pack. Couldn't find my handicapped pass for a while and never did find the camera Gorilla tripod. Stopped at London Drugs for a new one.

Had dinner at Pam's and am spending the night to avoid getting up early enough to get through the tunnel.

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Location:Delta, B.C.

Run for the Cure Bear

Decided to put a tag on one of my bears and start taking him on trips.

He started off in the woods near Southlands Elementary.  I now have 1416 caches.  Just wait until Friday and our power caching trip to Nevada and California!

Stopped at London Drugs on the way home.  Was hoping for a haircut but no one answered the phone today.

Took Moira to Applause for her birthday tonight since she'll be in Hawaii on the day.  Had tasty Petites at Starbucks for dessert.

Tired

Picked up Lori this morning and we found the cache in White Rock that kept eluding us.  I swear that Lori looked in that crack last time!

Dropped her back at home and headed for Oakridge.  Had lunch and bought a swimsuit.  Had to pick up a prescription at my Safeway and home by 12:30.

Yesterday's test took it out of me.  Glad I didn't have to do much today.  Kept dozing off this afternoon.

PET Scan

Had a quiet day and then went to find a new cache near Knight Street.

Had to miss the Carleton reunion since Friday's PET Scan was rescheduled for today.  Arrived at 3:45 and finally left at 6:30.  The tech rearranged my arms and put me through backwards so I could lower my arms early.  This did make it better than last time.  Had to eat right away to get gall bladder working.

Go Canucks!!

Sadie Blue is 6

Sadie turned 6 on Friday.  I went for breakfast this morning so I could deliver some books.  She is having a party at a gym - not bad for a kid who started the school year in a wheelchair!

Stopped at Thrifty's & Cobbs - green scones!  Picked up a new cache near SFU on the way home.

Nevada sends geocachers' money elsewhere

Posted: Mar. 13, 2011 | 1:59 a.m.
Updated: Mar. 13, 2011 | 1:50 p.m. 

Val Hamilton had her Las Vegas trip all mapped out.

She and her three buddies planned to leave the chill of British Columbia and touch down in Sin City next week. They had reservations in Ash Springs, Rachel and Tonopah.

Whoa, whoa, what? No Bellagio? No shows? No basking by luxury pools in the 70-plus-degree weather? What is this?

These women aren't interested in all that. Hamilton's grand plans included building on her 1,410 "caches," and Southern Nevada was an ideal place to do just that.

After all, 1,000 of the little treasure boxes were said to be hidden along the famed Extraterrestrial Highway, a desolate state route that runs just north of Area 51. That is, until the Nevada Department of Transportation stepped in a couple weeks ago and took them all.

If you are unfamiliar, as I was when Hamilton recently reached out for help, geocaching is an increasingly popular hobby. Enthusiasts use GPS systems to hunt down little boxes or canisters that others plant across the planet, then post the coordinates on a website.

Once cachers locate a box, they sign a log and can remove a trinket if they replace it with a knick-knack of equal or greater value. Nothing pricey typically. It can be a teeny plastic chinchilla or some such random prize.

Anyway, geocaching apparently is an inexpensive adventure enjoyed by hard-core cachers or outdoorsy families. It is all about the fun, unless, apparently, you wander into the state transportation agency's territory.

The government suits are to geocachers what vice cops are to frat parties: Buzz kills.

"My group is now driving to California to do the Route 66 set," Hamilton recently said via e-mail. "Most of our money will be spent there instead of Nevada. That is just sad."

Hamilton suggested that geocachers keep businesses in small rural communities open during winter, which is good, obviously, because otherwise seasonal workers become full time. And in Nevada, hunting for a job can be more difficult than tracking down a tiny box in the middle of the desert.

Hamilton's passion for geocaching is respectable; but, really, are there enough of these types to determine whether small-town businesses stay open or closed during off-season months?

Well, last winter Connie West, co-owner of Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, was preparing to shutter her 10-room motel and RV park when convoys of geocachers showed up week after week. She decided not to lay off her housekeeper and hold on to the entire kitchen staff.

"They don't come in bunches of one. They come in bunches. Bunches," West said. "They came from Australia, Austria, England because the highway is considered a 'power cache.' "

Power cache because of the sheer number of treasures in a relatively short distance. It allows collectors to rack up caches without a lot of effort.

As of March 1, more than 7,000 geocachers had logged their names on the sheet marking the first treasure site along the highway.

"Those are people that otherwise wouldn't have come here," West said. "They're putting money into our community. They are buying fuel, rooms, food, groceries."

The impact of the transportation agency's recent decision to remove the caches has been devastating.

"For the first time in the history of our business, our rooms were booked all winter long," West said. "Since they removed the caches, we have had every single one of them cancel. They're not going to come here anymore. All that revenue is going to California."

A group from Ireland pulled into West's place last week to begin a trip they had planned for more than a year, West said. They had booked one night and then were headed to Alamo and Caliente. When they learned the caches along the Nevada highway no longer existed, they too aimed their car toward California.

"A guy from NDOT was in the other day and wanted ice in his Coke," West said. "I said, 'No, you're NDOT. You've pissed me off.' "

So, now our state transportation division is at odds with these geocaching people and business owners along the E.T. Highway.
The transportation folks have some valid concerns. Michelle Booth, spokeswoman for the agency, said the caches are hidden right off the shoulder of the highway or even on top of road signs or guard rails.
"People are parking where there isn't a shoulder," Booth said. "They're going 2 mph on a 70 mph highway."

The straight portion of the highway isn't as much of a hazard as the curvy summit sections.

"They're plowing snow, they can't see and all of the sudden there is a car parked," Booth said. "It creates a safety hazard."

Nobody expects to see vehicles pulled to the side of the road. Both transportation officials and locals acknowledge there aren't any great hiking trails or reasons to park on the road. Parked cars are unexpected and pose a danger to motorists traveling upwards of 70 mph.

Hamilton and West agree that some geocachers are careless or disrespectful.

"I understand some geocachers were rushing to find as many as they could in the shortest amount of time and didn't follow the rules," Hamilton said. "There were some problems with people pulling out into traffic, especially in front of a snow plow. It is a shame that a few have ruined it for so many."

Now the controversy over the alien highway caches has been passed along to the attorney general's office . Officials there will determine whether encroachment permits might solve the problems.

I suppose the lesson to be learned here is not everybody who lands in Las Vegas is about pumping their tourist dollars into traditional Sin City experiences

We have this rather large group of unknown tourists who are in search of treasures, and I'm not talking the strip club off Interstate 15.

I'm talking treasures that geocachers were recently stripped of by the transportation agency.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number.

Nuclear disaster

It just keeps getting worse in Japan.  I am not against nuclear power if it is done right.  These plants survived the earthquake and went into shutdown mode.  It was the tsumani that did them in.  Good reason not to build them on the coast?

Found a quick cache in Richmond.  It was really windy so I had to watch my footing on the river bank.  Picked up groceries and then home.

Pam put one of my geocoins in Australia and it is already in Colorado and has travelled 25,870.6km!

Disaster in Japan

Stayed up late watching the earthquake news and spent the day glued to the TV and iPad.  Amazing photos!

Did a couple of loads of laundry and took out the garbage.  Enough for one day.

Quick trip to Cloverdale

Picked up some library books and a latte before heading to Cloverdale.  I had ordered a few things from World Geocaching and saved the shipping charges if I picked them up.  Probably spent more on gas!  Had a nice visit with the new owner of the company.

Lunch at IHOP and then found a cache in a lamp standard just as the rain started.

Looped around by Hwy 1 and bought a vest I had on backorder at Tilly Endurables.  Added a couple of t-shirts.

The Cancer Agency called to verify tomorrow's PET Scan and tell me what to do this time.  A couple of hours later they called back to say there was a problem with the isotopes and it has to be postponed to Monday.  This means missing the Carleton Reunion!!

NEXUS

Parked at the casino and hopped the Canada Line to the airport and had the interviews for NEXUS.  First time I've been fingerprinted!  It was a long walk and by the time I got home I had gone 1.3 miles.

When I got back to River Rock I put my coat in the trunk and went in to gamble a bit to thank them for letting me park for $2.50.  Picked a slot machine that I thought I could at least understand and stuck in a twenty.  In 3 minutes I had won over $15 so I cashed out and left quickly.

Found today's cache in Steveston and stopped to shop at Northern Reflections.  I used to buy a lot of clothes there every September.  Now I can never find anything I want.  They are always empty so I don't expect the chain to last long.  Picked up lunch at Tim Horton's (did not win the roll up the time, again) and was home by 2:30.

Booked a holiday package for Matt & Andrea and the girls at Harrison for April 17th.  Have to share some of that insurance settlement.  They are staying 2 nights and I am in a room of my own for 3 nights.

Tired

Tired all day after busy day yesterday.  Met Pam at Lori's for a day of planning for our trip next week.  We know our route and have the Pocket Caches done.

Found today's cache on the way home so am at 1409.

Saanich trip

Picked up Moira this morning and delivered her to Parkland Secondary in Sidney.  She was giving a workshop and I was going geocaching.  Bought some presents at Tanner's and then set off.

Found 8 caches in the general area but gave up when it started getting really cold.  The sun was shining for our ferry ride but it was cloudy all afternoon.

Had halibut & chips & caesar salad at Fish on Fifth.  Best halibut I've had for ages.

Got in line for the 7 pm ferry and Bonnie dropped Moira off in the pedestrian area.  We were home just after 9

2 quiet days in a row

Haven't been dressed since Friday.  Love having a couple of days with nowhere to go.  Did some paperwork and cleaning.  Finished my book.

Canucks rule!

Slow Saturday

Don't have anything to do this weekend.  Seemed to take all day to read the papers (on my iPad).  Canucks entertained all aternoon.

Nice to just read and watch TV all day.  Housework be damned!

1,400!

Had to to to SPARC BC this morning.  I made 2 mistakes on my application for a handicapped parking decal and decided to just drive there.  Very patient clerk did all the work and handed me the permit.  I do promise not to use it all the time - just when the arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, Plantar fasciitis or Chondromalacia patella hurt or when the cancer treatment tires me out.  Don't you love that old Protestant guilt!

Wandered around looking for an easy cache and finally snagged one in Coquitlam and was home by 2:00.  I now have 1,400 finds!

Thunder

Had to go to Lorne's office to sign papers and then dropped them through Pru's mail slot.  Decided that dinner was so bad last night I needed a good lunch.  Raspberry waffles & bacon at the Waffle House hit the spot.

Found today's cache in Brownsville Bar Park in Surrey.  I sat in the sun on and had the Skytrain bridge on my left and the Patullo & a rail bridge on my right.

Stopped at Queensborough Landing for some shopping on the way home.

Tonight there was one huge peal of thunder and torrential rain for a few minutes.  My apartment shook!

Wind

A big storm came today but there was very little wind around here.  I enjoyed watching the western sky as it changed from black to blue to sun and then did it all over again.  Matt missed presenting at a crime conference in Victoria as there were no seaplanes or ferries all day.

Met Lorne at Starbucks at 10 and another at 7 to sign papers for Pru.  Should finish tomorrow.

What the...

Fell asleep in my chair last night and was totally disoriented when I woke up.

Lori got a hint for Omer so we met in White Rock to try again. No joy! While we sat enjoying the view, Lori saw that the Nevada Highways Dept insisted that the ET Series be dismantled. We are going to Las Vegas on March 18th. Lori will cancel 3 nights but keep the 4th near the airport. The new plan is to head for California and the Route 66 series. I wrote the Governor & a newspaper. Roads aren't just for cars.

Tried to get a couple to reach 1400 but it just wasn't my day. Even stepped in cow manure. Wouldn't have been so bad if I'd found the hide.

Bought stuff for dinner at Applewood Bakery and was home by 4 pm.


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