Shop 'till You Drop! (GC25D1A)

This cache was not only fun but educational.  It's always a pain to find parking at this outlet mall but not any more.  The cache is located around behind the mall in a great little parking area that no one knows about.  You can walk right into the back side of the mall without having to fight for a parking spot.

The cache is stuck to a nearby fence under some trees.  It took me a few minutes to find the cache as my GPS was bouncing around a little too much.  But once it settled down I was able to make the find.  Just as I pulled the log from the bison tube a security guard drove up and rolled his window down.  Just as I was about to begin my talk explaining all about Geocaching he asking if I had found it yet and gave me a little smile.  I held up the logbook which was a nice bright orange and he just said congratulations and drove off.  I guess it's a good thing they know what we crazy Geocachers are doing hanging around under the tree in along the back of the mall.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Outlets Exit Here (GC1XN4N)

We had to head home from my brother-in-laws house today, but Julie had to stop at the outlet mall and do a little shopping.  While she was shopping I headed out to see if I couldn't get a few cache in.  This was a fun little hind.  it was a bison tube taped to a long coat wire that was stuck in the sign to the mall.  You could only see a little piece of the wire hanging out of the sign but as you pulled it the bison tube appeared.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

PLSO Geometry in the Park (GC1T6EE)

This time my niece really wanted to find another cache so we headed down the road a little to another cache.  This one was a somewhat typical cache you had to reach under a gazebo just out of sight to make the find.  Mark found it while we were all looking and feeling around.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Starlight (GC1BNQQ)

So after our 50% find rate we headed home to check on the girls and get a little lunch.  We hung out at the house for a while and I helped Mark figure out how to use / load Geocaches to his GPS.  Once he had it figured out we headed back out to try our luck again.  This time my 5 year old niece came along too.  This was another great find for someone just started out.  It's was a nice little walk up a gravel road to the cache next to a tree.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Little Pocket (GC20J04)

This was our 4th cache hunt for the day and our 2nd find.  Once again my nephew easily made the find on his own.  I'm glad he was able to find it, he was very excited to find the cache.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Twixt Park and Frolic (GC1FZMN)

I don't know if it's just those crazy folks in Oregon or if it's just bad luck.  This cache is a 1.5/2 which shouldn't be to hard but we couldn't find it.  We looked for a while and the moved on to find another one.  I really wanted to give my nephew a few easy finds to get him use to Geocaching.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Elemental Discoveries: Water (GC1Q0WM)

Since our first cache tempt didn't go so well we headed back into town and found an easy one just to get their feet wet.  I really wanted to find an easy cache that my seven year old nephew could find on his own.  I gave him my GPS and sent him off to find it.   Within a minute he found the cache and it took him another minute or two to figure out how to get around / through the bush to get to the ammo can.



--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Hippy's Bathtub (GCEF5C)

This was suppose to be my first Geocache in Oregon.  I didn't really care which cache was my first I just wanted to find one.  So my brother-in-law, Mark "14Grim", took my nephew out to find a cache.  Mark thought he knew where there was a Geocache near this cool old bridge he had found while hunting.  We drove out there and found there was no cache but this one was the closest to the bridge.

Since it is listed as a 1/1 cache I figured it would be a nice easy first find for them.  Unfortunately, this cache is not a 1/1, it might have been at one time but from reading the logs it looks like someone cut down about half a dozen tree and blocked the trail.  We made our way around the trees and hunted for about an hour before calling it a DNF.  I guess their first cache hunt ever and my first in Oregon didn't go so well.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Falcon Nest (GC1VE25)

Since we were in the park to find another cache we just had to walk over here and get this one.  This wasn't where I would have put the cache.  There was a crazy cool tree right next to this one that was all hollowed out inside almost enough for me to fit inside it.  At first I was looking all over that tree because the tree was 3 times bigger and it's where I would have put it.  Then I looked down and my GPS and realized I was still a 100 feet from the cache.  So much for geo-sense I guess you still need your GPS :-)

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

PRWandG (GCKXW1)

This has always been one of my favorite roadside attractions on Highway 2.  It's the smallest church I have ever seen.  It's the Wayside Chapel it's something like 7' x 9'.  This cache is just a quick park and grab next to the church.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

On the Sky at Sky (GC1XH2V)

Since we cut our trip short we decided to stop by my Grandparent's cabin just outside of Skykomish to get some warm breakfast and take a hot shower.  On our way out of town we stopped so I could get this cache.  It was actually a beautiful area.  They are remodeling the entire town as part of the largest oil pollution cleanup in the state.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Memories (GC1TJXT)

So camping didn't go as planned.  We got to the campsite around 3:30pm and it was great.  We had a wonderful night but around 4am it started raining and didn't stop.  By 7am when we got up there was standing water across the entire campsite, including our tent.  Needless to say since everything was soaking wet we decided to head home early.

This cache is just outside the campsite so it was nice to at least find one cache before heading home.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Shell Shock (GC1XMQ4)

On our way camping at Lake Wenatchee State Park.  I needed to stop and get some gas so I figured I would pick the gas station that had a Geocache.  This was just a quick park and grab but it's a pretty cool looking cache container.

--Tom

Link to Geocaching Page

The Amazing Spider-Man (GC2878B)

This cache was a lot of fun.  It was a lot of work but fun.  In order to get to the cache you have cross Fennel Creek which is about 18" to 20" deep.  Then you have to cross a muddy field with grass at least waist high.  To top it all off you have to bush whack your way through about 15' of nettles.

You should have seen me carrying a latter on my back while walking out to hide this cache.  I don't want to give too much way but lets just say the cache is at least 15 feet off the ground.

CONGRATULATIONS to FugeFinders & WindingPath for the FTF

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

The Retirement Cache (GC2A9DC)

When I checked my phone I thought this cache had just been published but after finding it I realized it was about 30 minutes old before I ever saw the email.  Waiting 30 minutes in this area means there is no way you are going to be FTF.  It was still a fun find, the boys love large caches.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Oops (GC17D7F)

Just a quick lunch time cache at the pink elephant car wash.  It took me a minute to find the cache but after looking closely at this tree I found a pine cone that just didn't look quite right.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Why Is No Cache Over-there? (GC29YW9)

FugeFinders hide a cache at the new WinCo in Sumner so I had to stop and find it.  Really we had to stop and pickup some groceries for a BBQ and WinCo just happen to be on the way home and having a cache doesn't hurt.



As we were leaving Oliver wanted to do a little dance.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Å£Þhªßët¡žè Thî$ (GC1YE9H)

Julie and I took the boys to Northwest Trek today.  We met up with my parents and spent the day at the park.  The weather was great and we had some much fun.  On the way home we had to make a quick stop to find this cache.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Foothills Trail Troll (GC1YGP9)

The boys wanted to go for a bike ride on this beautiful day.  We decided to head down to the trail in Orting and find a few caches.  One of them was my oldest DNF so I was glad to find it and remove it from my DNF list.  This one was fairly new and I great hide.  I made it way harder then it needed to be by going all the way under the bridge and dig around in the dirt looking for the cache.  I found it on my way back up to the trail it was just barely off the path and I walked right by it on my way under the bridge.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Dirt Road Delight (GC1E9QG)

Oliver and I headed out to find a cache when I got home from work.  He wasn't being to good for Julie today so I took him just to get him out of the house.  He fell asleep in the car so I left him there while I grab the cache.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

The Unnamed sculpture (GC29F6T)

This is a new cache that was published in Seattle.  It's down on the waterfront, which is a great place to go for lunch.  FugeFinders and TheMcMorrows found this cache before me because they were in Seattle for an event the night it was published.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Three Tenors (GC24A53)

The boys wanted to go find a "big" cache so we headed out to South Hill and found this cache.  There were a couple of parts that were muddy so I had to carry Oliver most of the way.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Hit it here!! (GC29T3R)

This is a new cache that was posted in Seattle.  I was 3rd to find but in fairness it did get published the night before.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Tall Timbers (GC1B554)

Julie wanted to take the boys to the park and I had to go to the hardware story so I stopped and found this one on the way back to meet the family at the park.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

5 of a kind (GC1P5VY)

This is just another quick lunch time cache.  It's about a mile from my work it's getting harder to find caches within walking distance of work.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

SD13Micro (GC12YNT)

I'm not exactly sure why Ethan had a toy gun but he did?  Anyway this was just a quick park and grab at the trail head.  The cache was right next to the restroom.  There was a lady there with her daughter I'm sure she was wondering why the boys and I were hanging out searching around the restrooms.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Indiana Jones and the Serpent's Summit (GC28NZ9)

I saw this one a few days ago and Ethan really wanted to go find it. He loves Indiana Jones, so today I agreed to take him in the rain no less. He had to dress up in his best Indy clothes before we could go find the Geocache. Once we got to the cache site, it was just a light mist so he told me it was just like the time Indiana was in the rain forest finding the treasure.

We almost got bit but we were able to get the diary and avoid the snakes, I hate snakes. this was a great cache Ethan and I had a wonderful time finding it. Part of the cache page tells the story of the cache.  The story so far is... Enemy spies mailed a package of dangerous things to Indy but the plane crashed and the package is lost.

The whole ride home Ethan kept asking me what the rest of the story, he wanted to know if the enemy spies found Indy or if he got away.  Sounds like this would be a great series...

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

SUMNER'S INDUSTRIAL PIONEER (GC11D5X)

I looked all over for this cache.  I think it might have been the cache page says it's an ammo can but  some old  comments say it's been replaced with something "much smaller."  I will have to go check for it again.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

---

UPDATE: June 21, 2010

Someone found this one the other day and posted in their comments that the cache was not an ammo can.  Well now I know it's there and it's not an ammo can so I went back down there today and found it.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Sumner's Sod Fields (GC10YBH)

Found this one on the way home.  It was a pretty cool cache container.  It looks like an outlet box attached to a telephone pole.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

lunch in the park (GC1V39P)

I really like this little park.  I had to wait a few minutes before looking for the cache as there was a family unloading their bikes to go ride the trail that goes through the park.  It was an easy find but it's nice to be brought to fun little places like this.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

les gove park cache (GC1VE2D)

I don't even know if I should call this one a DNF.  I didn't look at the logs before stopping to try to find it.  It's a 1/1 cache and the last 4 or 5 people haven't found it.  I looked so I will mark it a DNF but it's been muggled.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

---

UPDATE: June 22, 2010

This cache was replace by the cache owner this weekend so the boys and I headed down to find it after I got off work today.  It was right where I thought it would / should have been last time I was here.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Covington Creek Cache (GC109R7)

After spending a few hours moving my sister's stuff it was time to head home.  I figured since I cached my way to my sisters house I would cache my way home.  This one is right by her old house and it's on an old road that has been closed to traffic for a few years.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

White River Hydro (GCZY6B)

Not much to this cache just an easy park and grab.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Continental Troll (GCY7FZ)

I really like this little cache.  It's on a wonderful path between Sumner and Auburn.  I didn't get to walk the path much or find the other cache along the path but I will be back now that I know it's there.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

SUMNER's Log Cabin (GC11RPG)

Just a quick roadside cache.  The cache is hidden inside a log along the side of the road.  I jokingly thought I found the log but where is the cabin?

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

The 4th Corner (GC1ZYYN)

After the soccer game Nanny (Julie's Mom) took Ethan so I could go help my sister move.  Since I wasn't expected until noon I figured I would find a few cache along the way.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Sumner's Field of Dreams (GC10NCK)

Ethan had a soccer game this morning so we left a little early to try to find this cache.  I couldn't find it anywhere, I'm not saying it's gone but it's a 1/1 and it should be that hard to find.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

---

UPDATE: July 5, 2010

Finally found this one after looking last time I thought I knew what I was looking for but it wasn't a fake rock like I had thought.  It was truly a cache under a rock.  So Close had found this one earlier today so now I knew it was there it was just a matter of searching harder.  It took a while but I found it.  I would say this is a little harder then a 1/1 definitely not wheelchair friendly.

--Tom

Link to Geocaching Page

CC's Cache Beyond Lake Tapps (GC1CXH7)

My wife took my youngest son to Oregon with her today and left my oldest boy at our friends house until I got home from work.  So I went over there to pick him up and found this cache about 500ft from their house.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Ask the Cat (GCRBR0)

The cache name says it all.  This cache is located in a nice little park in Seattle.  There is a large mural along one whole side of the park, and on that mural is a face of a cat.  If you ask the cat nicely she will give you the cache.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

It's not Venom (GC29P3M)

So far this is my favorite hide.  It was published at 9:17pm and by 9:30 I started getting emails saying everyone was out looking and no one could find it :-)  After a few dozen emails and this picture emailed to me of everyone looking around I decided to headed up to the cache location to laugh at everyone.  It took them a little while but eventually they found the cache.

CONGRATULATIONS road trip, WindingPath, TheMcMorrows, FugeFinders + kids BugLover01, CacheMonkey03, & KikiKacheson on the FTF

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

from here to there, from then to now. (GC29NTY)

This is my first hide in Seattle.  I decided to make it a puzzle cache, it's an easy puzzle but for me first puzzle cache it's not bad.  The name of the cache is because above the cache there is a sign that says "from here to there, from then to now." plus at least with my GPSr I tend to walk from here to there and it typically takes me a while to get things to settle down enough for me to make the find.

CONGRATULATIONS towtrkdug on a well deserved FTF

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Veterans Park (GCPHVB)

This was a pretty cool camouflage job.  At first my GPSr was leading me all over the place, then I remembered the cache page said there was no need to do any bushing whacking so that narrowed it down.  The stick was just sticking out of a tree and you pull it out to find a Geocache.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

I.D. Cache (2) - The perfect at bat (GC156JG)

It took me a while to find this cache.  I couldn't find it the first time I looked and I had to email the cache owner to get a clue.  Armed with a clue I had a pretty good idea where the cache was and was able to find it will no problems.  I'm not sure why I couldn't find it the first time I was looking in the right area and could have sworn I checked that spot at least twice.  Oh well, a find is a find.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

Celebrating 500!!! (GC295J1)

After work the boys and I went to go find this cache.  It's only a mile from the house so we headed out after dinner.

I'm not exactly sure what Ethan is doing but he told me it's his scary face.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page

SD13Micro #2 (GC17YPA)

This was a quick find in Sumner on my way to work for the day.  I figure if I can find a cache in Sumner / Bonney Lake and a cache in Seattle everyday that will give me about 75 miles a day for the First Annual Summer Vacation Travel Racer Competition.

--Tom
Link to Geocaching Page