A Use for Micros

I've seen a number of caches in multiple states recently which have a log container in the cache container to provide additional protection for the log. It seems to work well as I can't remember any of those logs being wet.

365 Dozen Challenge

Eva and the Cone

Our attempt to qualify (and therefore be able to publish) the 365 Dozen Challenge is on the shelf for a long while. In April we hid the 366x10 Challenge after we filled our calendar with 10 finds in each day of the calendar year. We were working on twelve-a-day with the hopes of hiding the challenge cache in Pennsylvania in the spring. We were keeping up until last Friday. Last Friday, our Geodog Eva returned to the vet for a second surgery after a return of cancer. Somehow not being able to continue the 12 per day challenge effort didn't really matter. It's been a rough stretch for our geodogs. They have bounced back and forth from Gwen's surgery to Eva's first cancer surgery, Gwen's partial ACL tear, and now a return of Eva's cancer. We're hoping Eva is able to return to the trail soon.

The Geodogs the summer with their 900th find

We missed two days this week making certain Eva was safe and comfortable.

In the meantime, there are twenty-five more days with fewer than 12 finds between now and spring. The short days should once again be a big challenge especially with only three weekend days in those 25 days.

New State

We started the year with finds in 29 states. We were thinking we might end 2012 with finds in 33 states by adding Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and Florida. We recently added Arizona for our 30th state with a cache found. It will be the only new state this year. If you can only add one state, Arizona is a really great choice. We were too far from the Grand Canyon and the days were too short to make a trip we both want to make, but the area near Tucson is special enough to give a wonderful destination each day. I was on business for the first few days, but Ali joined me for a super, if short vacation. For 2013, who knows. There is a good chance Nevada and Utah will join the list. I still have hopes we add Colorado on a long weekend when I am returning from Spokane.

The first find was a multi at a church behind the resort where my meeting was being held. I had a few hours free after the flight west and was able to walk to this one.

Dinner at Tohono Chul Park yielded a nice find on day 2. The southwest has the best sunsets.

Catalina State Park

Pima Air Museum

Kartchner Caverns

The only images you will take from these amazing caverns are wonderful memories. No cameras are permitted inside the caves. You can, however, visit this sloth to complete a challenge and log an earthcache with a little work while at the caverns.

Queen Mine Tour in Bisbee

San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area

Patagonia Lake State Park

We hoped to rent a canoe for a few paddle caches here, but didn't get to the park early enough to pull it off. Instead we enjoyed a few hours on the trails.

In the end, we have 43 finds in the state, three more state parks with caches found, and a thousand memories. If luck is ours, we'll be back for that much desired visit to the Grand Canyon, a chance to tour the Rotunda Room at Karchner, another visit to see the birds and butterflies at San Pedro, one more walk with the zombies in Bisbee, and maybe take that paddle at Patagonia. I'm almost certain we will pass on another visit to Tombstone.

Jif

We found a cache recently with this label. It was quite creative and fun. The label is in good shape for a four-year-old cache.

Moving Cache?

There are some big ammo cans on this Harley, but I think it counts as a moving cache. ;-)