Our Quest For The FTF

The weather hasn't been the greatest, and we needed something to do, well geocaching is always fun, especially when it's a FTF (First To Find). I've had this cache on my radar for some time now. Especially since it pops up every time I do a search for nearby caches. It hasn't been found since 2008, in fact, It's never been found. Reason, it's 70+km down a gravel road and out in the middle of nowhere. It's perfect for me, I like these out of the way caches. There is an extra bonus as there's a cache around half way, so I could get two. We pack the truck up, put the dogs in the back (it's a suv, so there inside with us) and head off. Head down 17 to Webwood, then up towards Marion Lake. Doesn't take long and the road turns to gravel. Stopped at Gordon Chutes to get the first cache, to our delight, this is an amazing spot. A beautiful waterfall with a clear view and easy to walk all around. This cache alone was worth the trip, but after numerous pictures, locating and signing the cache, we head towards the FTF. Heading towards an FTF always has you wondering if someone has found it before you, and didn't log it yet. So your hoping it's not been found. The trip is shorter than anticipated, and we pass a road (trail) that might be our turnoff. We go pass and then turn back, it's gotta be the right one. A short grown in trail to the cache location. We park at the exact location, yet no cache is seen. Get out and do a search. Hmmm, something is a little strange. OK, the hint is looking like some kind of riddle. We go over it and check by the water, not making too much sense, look around some more. The one problem I find sometimes when caching is I have to waste to much time looking, which doesn't leave me time to enjoy the area. Well we decide to make our supper while we ponder on the riddle. Get a fire going and then the rains roll in. Three times the rain stops and starts, then finally a break and time to cook supper. Angus burgers on an open fire, great stuff. After supper it rains one more time, doesn't put the fire out so I need to. Run back and fourth to douse the fire with our coffee mugs. One last time and one last look. Success, I found it, oh man am I happy now. Do the cache thing, get some more pics then it's time to head home, It's getting late. The ride home consist of how happy to find the cache as we were getting ready to leave and call it a DNF (did not find). Rained of and on which helped keep the dust down and we got to see a mother grouse and her chicks. Saw a huge rainbow and took some more pics. Stopped to get some sunset pics back at the falls when we got there. It was an amazing sight with sunset lighting, the mist of the falls and the dark clouds around. The rest of the ride home was in the dark, but our excitement was still high. A great day and some amazing scenery along with the satisfaction of an FTF. That's why I love caching.

Geocaching

Geocaching
So I'm into Geocaching, it's a game played worldwide with a GPS. The best description and easiest to understand is "I use multi-billion dollar satellite equipment to find Tupperware in the bush". Geocaching actually takes you to some of the most amazing places, like Eternal Flame, this cache is in the state of New York. There is a flame (methane gas coming from the earth) and it's within a waterfall. Been to caves in B.C. to high above Lake Huron at Lion's Head Lookout. It's not always great locations, some are at your local Walmarts. Because it is the game player's who place caches. So they can place almost anywhere, few rules like has to be on approved land and they cannot be buried or disrupt the natural surroundings. The beauty is that you can pick and choose the caches you want to do, there is no set rule for the ones you do. So if you like hard to get, out of the way caches like I do, you do those. If you like city ones, you do those.
So here's a bit how it works, caches (watertight sealed container) are placed, inside is a logbook and some trinkets. The location of the cache is documented then placed on the net (Geocaching.com) Other cachers than get the Co-ords and load them on the GPS. Then they set off to find the cache. Once found, they sign and document the logbook, trade trinkets if they like and then replace the cache to it's original location for other's to find. Then you document it once again at Geocaching.com. Upload pics if you want and this site keeps track of all your caches for you. So basicly that's what it's about and more info can be found at Geocaching.com. My web pages document many caches I've found. Next Blog will be about my latest cache.

My inability to stay Focused

I seem to have an inability to stay focused, my brain is always going 100mph. I have a lot of ideas and feel I can solve any problem and know and understand much of the universe, but my mind changes so fast and I get easily sidetracked that even when I have answer or solution to something simple or complicated, if I don't get up and write it down right away, it will be lost inside my head till another time, and then lost again, cycling through until one day I'll jot it down, or not. Even being alone or secluded doesn't really help, in fact, I think it makes it even worse. Drinking doesn't help, just makes me think of stupider (it's a word to me) things. Even when I try to say a little prayer to God, I seems to go off track and forget what I was praying for and then forget to end my prayer. Than it's always like "Oh yeah, Amen." 1/2 hr later if I haven't already fallen asleep. The only things that seem to help is something that takes a lot of focus, video games actually help slow the brain down, I get so into what's happening in the game, but the games could be hectic, so I'm not sure if I get relaxed or tired. Music seems to work, but has to be a song that I really like so I sing along with it. Creating stuff helps also, so I'm always coming up with new projects, mostly making my own things, figuring out how I'm gonna make it. I think that's why I like fishing and hunting, I concentrate on what I'm doing and nature provides me with it's own distractions like wildlife, love seeing animals.
When going camping or taking a trip, packing poses a problem, as I start off getting one thing and end up grabbing another. List really help, except when I can't remember where I put the list. Even when I find something I've been looking for, for a long time, I try to place it in a better place where I think I'll remember, but I usually don't, thus making it lost again.
Even writing these Blogs, I have an Idea of what to say for my next blog, but if I don't write it right away, the next blog will be of something totally different, whatever is on my mind at the moment I sit to write it down. I've learned to take questions or problems, and not always rush to solve them, it'll come to me eventually so I give it time.
Anyways, I thought of ten different things while writing this, so I'll have to jot a little memo so I'll remember for my next blog, but by then, I'll have something totally new.

Camping Idea's

Went camping for the weekend, plan on going back in a few days, anyways a few good ideas when camping makes life a lot easier. First, those solar lights come in handy when camping. We place a few around the tent and camp area. They charge all day, then give you some light at night. When your camping in the wild, it can get pretty dark, so although the lights aren't super bright, they are bright enough to help you see on those dark nights. So when you get up for mother nature in the middle of the night, you can see your way around. The lights probably help keep critters away also. Another handy item has been the Tripod grill. The grill hangs over a fire pit on three metal bars that form a tripod. You can raise and lower the grill and you can twist it one way, and then it spins back the other, so your food cooks more evenly, the only downfall is that it's hanging, so care is needed to replace or removing the food. An oven mit helps. We also use a small plastic folding picnic table. When folded it's like a 4 foot skinny suitcase, open it up and you got enough room for 4 people to sit and eat, or a table to cook on, do the dishes, or just play cards. Not only do these items make life a little easier, it makes it fun to go camping just so you can use these cool ideas. Anyways there are more but I think you get my point. If not, maybe your just not into camping. Looking forward to some more nights under the stars, so have a great week.

What to do, Where to go

This is what I've been working on this week. See, my wife begins her holidays and I'm trying to get her in a canoe trip or camping trip. We've done the B.C. trip and the Vegas, but now I'd like to get away from civilization and just enjoy the beauty of our back country. Besides, I already have a boat, kayaks and canoe's along with quads and trailers, so let's enjoy the things we have.
So recently I went to Lake Obabika with my son, what an amazing place, such serenity and solitude. Now it seems, it's calling me back and to tell you the truth, I really would like to go back. But it's a bigger lake and if the weather isn't perfect, it could be more frustrating than fun. There is a few familiar places like Mosquito Lake and Lake Nippissing, but I've been there so many times, I'm thinking somewhere new (newer) would satisfy my outdoor adventure craving. I'm pondering Lake Matagamasi, Lake Obabika, then was thinking Ramsey and Biscotasing. The thing is Monique (my wife) isn't crazy about the idea of being (sleeping) in the woods. And if any big portaging is happening, she won't be too impressed. Another deciding factor is the dogs, camping with the boat, they would be able to come. Canoe on the other hand, well there 's no way Max (106lbs German Shepherd) can do. Was initially thinking of getting some geocaches up near West Tree, but I think hiking 2km would just make Monique more nervous than fun. So lot's to think about and then there's the weather. Well another day contemplating and researching and this quest goes on, hopefully it all comes together, but then again, it usually does.