Geocaching RI and CT #101 to 104

After my 100th find I decided to go to RI and CT to move along several travel bugs.  I've wanted to do this for a bit but various things conspired to make it inconvenient.  So this mourning I decided to go for it.  I called Mark of MM and we agreed to meet at the Buck Hill Management area in the NW corner of RI at 11:45.

It was a good day for caching with temps in the high 20s and about 1" of new snow.  Today's attempts:

Listing	Date	Log Type
Woodland Micro - Buck Hill	2/3/2010	Didn't find it
Beyond Benson Mountain	2/3/2010	Found it
Buck Hill Bunker	2/3/2010	Found it
Quaddick Quest	2/4/2010	Found it
Quaddic Reservoir	2/4/2010	Found it

It was easy enough to get to Buck Hill Rd but I drove past Wood Rd.  It turns out that's it is a dirt/gravel track with only a generic "Buck Hill Management" sign nearby.  Easy to miss in the winter with an inch or so of fresh snow.  I got turned around and managed to turn in on my second try.  I was the first to use it since last night's snow.  It looked reasonable so I gave it a go in my Mazda 3 and managed to navigate to parking at N41° 59.1100' W71° 47.3433' without incident.  This would be a cinch in no snow.

Woodland Micro - Buck Hill - DNF.  Mark was delayed (lost, he drove past Wood Rd. as well).  While I waited I looked for "Woodland Micro".  It was an easy short walk through less than 1" of new snow to GZ.  Unfortunately, GZ moved around by 20 or 30 feet or so notwithstanding the generally clear sky.  Despite almost 40 minutes of searching I couldn't locate the cache.  If it is on the ground then with the new snow it would be very hard to find.

Beyond Benson Mountain - Found it.  Mark finally called and with a bit of local knowledge got to the parking area about 50 minutes late.  We quickly organized ourselves and started toward "Beyond Benson Mountain."  With the recent warm weather and little new snow walking along the 'road' was easy and we quickly got to the place where we needed to turn off trail.  A bit of bushwacking followed and we quickly got near GZ.  As I was studying my GPS Mark found it.  The cache hide would be a challenge in deep snow.  I left

• C-3PO
• Chuck E. Cheese
• Everyone's HERO SPIDERMAN

That left the cache over full so I took A Stitch in Time so I could close it.  SL/TFTC.

Mark was up for a bit more of a hike so we headed out.

Buck Hill Bunker - Found it.  We bushwacked back out to the main trail and continued N toward the cache.  We got near GZ and bushwacked to GZ through reasonably open wood.  The cache is in an interesting geographic location.  A bit of searching got us to GZ.  At first I couldn't find it but a second inspection and a bit of rock shuffling found it.  This is an interesting hide and excepting deep snow access would be reasonably easy to find even in deep snow.  I left

• Discovery Educator Network - Goldsboro, NC
• Gasparilla

SL/TFTC.

We bushwacked back out to the main road and after a bit of discussion decided to call it quits for the day as Mark had a 3PM appointment and an hour drive.  It took some while to walk the 1.5 miles back out.  We said out goodbys and went off.

While I was in the area I took a moment to check for access to TGM-5 Rocky Brook Bonanza!, and the two RI - CT- MA Tri-state Marker caches.  It looks like there is good access from E Thompson and New Rd.  It looks like about 0.5 miles to TGM-5 Rocky Brook Bonanza! and another quarter mile or so to RI - CT- MA Tri-state Marke. 

Since I was in Connecticut I decided to find a CT cache or two and add Connecticut to my list of cache states.

Quaddick Quest - Found it.  I first tried Breaults Landing Rd which is just north of Quaddick park.  I drove a bit south to the park at xxx.  There's good winter friendly parking here.  This is a really lovely little park on Quaddick Reservoir.  A quick walk down the road and then cutting NE on a red blazed trail lead me to GZ.  There were recent footprints of someone searching (I don't think they found it) and I followed those without any luck.  Then I searched the North side of the wall toward the road and with the help of the hint found it.  Deep snow would make finding the cache difficult.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Quaddic Reservoir - Found it.  This was more or less on the way home so I decided to try this one.  A quick drive to the N end of the Reservoir got me within 200' of GZ.  There is reasonable parking just off the road (not winter friendly but OK today).  This cache is a nice 'park and grab.' There is a lot of brush piled along the road but the cache stood out and was easily found.  Deep snow would make finding it difficult.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

I was a bit tired at this point (5+ miles of hiking in snow and cold) and decided to head home with four finds,  one DNF, two new cache states, 5 TBs moved along, and 1 TB to move!  All in all a good day.

Here's the photo log of today's adventure.  As usual no spoilers and click through to see full size photos.

Geocaching #98, #99, and #100! Framingham and Sudbury

Out geocaching today to get my 100th cache find.  Here's the adventure.

Return to Tradition #8: Henry's Hill Hybrid	2/2/2010	Found it
X marks the spot	2/2/2010	Found it
Nobscot Mt	2/3/2010	Found it

Thanks to INEZ36 and KASHK9 I realized that "Return to Tradition #8" and "X marks the spot" were now accessible.  I'd wanted to do these for a bit but winter parking has been an issue.  So I drove by and saw that it was now possible to park one car at N42° 20.4840' W71° 27.9070'.  There is only room for one car here.  It might be possible to park on the side street just a bit north.

#98 - Return to Tradition #8: Henry's Hill Hybrid - After yesterday's 8 miles of walking my legs were a bit tired so I decided to go up the hill to "Henry's Hill" first while I still could go up hill.  This is a lovely area and a very pleasant walk with temperatures in the high 20s, little wind, and bright sun.  I followed the tracks and quickly got to the cache.  It's an interesting hide and I quickly found it within 20' or so of GZ.  Deep snow could be an issue when searching for this cache but today wasn't a problem.  The cache is in good shape.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

#99 - X marks the spot - I decided to loop around to "X."  Part way down I got to some abandoned farm equipment.  It was a seeder I think and realized that I was walking away from the cache.  Since the forest was relatively open I just bushwacked toward the cache and eventually rejoined the trail.  This took me by the source of the rocks mentioned in the cache description.  Just a bit of searching revealed the cache.  As with most such caches, deep snow would be an issue.  The cache is in good shape.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

I went to checkout parking for Abandoned and Crazy Callahan Climb as I've wanted to do these for a bit.  There is allegedly trail head parking along Edmunds Rd.  I don't think it would work even in the summer.  I also drove west to the Harvard Facility.  This looks like an attractive option.  There was also some so so parking along the road toward there.

One of the things I wish cache owners would really do is think about parking particularly in the winter.  It would also be helpful to note if the cache is reasonably winter accessible.  Just a POV.

Having found some possible parking for a future adventure I headed out to #100.

#100 Nobscot Mt - I've been saving this and the nearby Ford's Folly for something special.  Number 100 seemed special enough and with the recent warm weather and snow melt Brimstone Lane, the road up, was easily navigated.  Instead of parking at the state park area I continued to the summit where in good weather there's reasonable parking in several areas.  I parked at N42° 20.7738' W71° 26.9737' off the side of the turnaround at the summit.  From there it's only about 500' to GZ, almost a park and grab.  I bushwacked in over crunchy snow direct to GZ.  Just a little searching found the cache.  I picked up another travel bug, C-3PO, that I'll move along on my long delayed trip to Rhode Island.  The cache is in good order.  Deep snow would make the find difficult but on a day like today is was easy enough.  SL/TFTC.

With my 100th find I went home, had a celebratory drink, and began planning the Rhode Island trip so I can move along the travel bugs.

As usual, I took photos, no spoilers.

Geocaching Bedford and Billerica

With 83 caches found I'm sneaking up on my 100th find.  There have been many recent finds in Bedford and Billerica so I decided to see if others success would help me get to 100.  Here's the day's story.

Fawn Lake	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Fawn Lake: many pass .. few stop	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
DLY #14 - On a wall	2/1/2010	Didn't find it	Compose Log | Delete Note
York's Ferns	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Buehler's Pond, off the beaten path	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Buehler Pond	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Buehler Pond - on the far side	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
DLY #13 - Techno Tribble	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
No Name Pond's Nameless Cache	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
the one less traveled	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Minnie Reid: Good place to start	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Minnie Reid: Climb a little for cache	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Minnie Reid Remembered	2/1/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
Minnie Reid: Off the wall	2/2/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note
DLY #15 - Who cut the cheese?	2/2/2010	Didn't find it	Compose Log | Delete Note
DLY #3 - Aydan's Cache	2/2/2010	Found it	Compose Log | Delete Note

That's 14 finds, the most ever on a single day for me, and only 2 DNFs! Quite a day and it moves my finds to 97! Now I'll need to start planning my 100th find.

Started the day by parking at N42° 30.8703' W71° 16.5484'.  This provides good access to the bike path south and north.  Empty bottles and beer cans around the parking lot.

Fawn Lake - Found at N42° 30.7527' W71° 16.4824'. Just a short walk in from plowed parking.  It's an easy find but snow would be an issue.  The cache is in good shape but would be a touch find in deep snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Fawn Lake: many pass .. few stop - Found at N42° 30.6488' W71° 16.5106'.  This is just off the VA parking lot.  While there is a fence separating the parking lot from the trail it has many gaps so this might be an alternate place to park.  You'll probably need to cut east a bit before the cache near the large stone outcrop on the east since water separates GZ from the bike path.  The cache is in good shape but would be a hard find in deep snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

DLY #14 - On a wall - DNF.  Everyone but me seems to be able to find this cache.  Since I was in the area I went back again and tried again and was unsuccessful again even when checking within 60' of GZ.  I'm sure it's there with all the recent finds.  But the find eludes me.  Perhaps some kind soul will throw me a hint?

York's Ferns - Found at N42° 30.4766' W71° 16.7350'.  I bushwhacked in but there is trail access at N42° 30.5346' W71° 16.5590'.  The cache container lid was split and there was ice in the bottom.  It should probably be replaced.  Easy find but would be a challenge in deep snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.  On the hike out I met a dog walker with a VERY enthusiastic field dog.  Unfortunately I dropped one of my gloves then spent the next 20 minutes or so convincing the dog to return it.  The nice lady owner found a dog treat that the dog was happy to trade for my glove.  Had a great time.

I walked back to the car and changed batteries in my camera and GPS.  I should probably buy stock in a battery company at the rate I'm going through them.  Then I headed north where there are five caches off the trail.

Buehler's Pond, off the beaten path - Found at N42° 31.0794' W71° 16.8669'.  Thanks to Team Bullis for digging this out and pointing the way.  The cache is in good shape but deep snow would make it a hard find.  Hats off to Team Bullis.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Buehler Pond - Found it.  Once again I followed Team Bullis to the cache.  Easy find.  Cache in good shape and would be an easy find in snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Buehler Pond - on the far side - Found at N42° 31.1803' W71° 16.9598'.  Another easy find when there's no snow and a good kids cache.  Cache in good shape.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

DLY #13 - Techno Tribble - Found it.  At last I've found an other DLY cache!  Accessing the cache was a bit of a challenge with ice/snow but there were enough handholds.  Cache in generally OK shape but the baggie is shot.  Didn't have a small bag spare.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

No Name Pond's Nameless Cache - Foundat N42° 30.9926' W71° 16.9197'.  Cache in good shape but would be a hard find in snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Flush with considerable success I hiked back to the car and went to "the one less traveled."

the one less traveled - Found it.  Beware, there is serious poison IVY within 6" of cache container and really serious about 2' away.  It might be prudent to move the cache to a less problematic location.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Drove on to Minnie Reid.  Fair parking at N42° 31.2842' W71° 17.2920'.  Not plowed but today was easily managed.

Minnie Reid: Good place to start - Found it.  Cache container broken and needs to be replaced.  Could not extract log.  Replaced cache.  TNLN/TFTC.

Minnie Reid: Climb a little for cache - Found at N42° 31.2531' W71° 17.3165'.  Cache is in good shape but would be problematic in snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Minnie Reid Remembered - Found at N42° 31.2604' W71° 17.4970'.  Good hide.  Cache is in good order but would be problematic in snow.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Minnie Reid: Off the wall - Found at N42° 31.1648' W71° 17.6075'.  The specified GZ is probably incorrect.  The cache is in good order and would be a good snow friendly winter cache.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.
 
DLY #15 - Who cut the cheese? - DNF. Some issues parking.  It's near 1000-1010 Technology Park Dr.  This provides access to what I think is a private road/driveway.  Follow it south and cross Springs Rd to connect to trail head.   From there it's a short walk to GZ.  As with several other DLY caches I DNF despite looking for 20 minutes or so and dodging a couple of muggles.

DLY #3 - Aydan's Cache - Found it.  This was a return to old haunts since I used to work in the nearby building when it was Honeywell Small Systems Center.  A quick search found the unusual cache container.  SL/TNLN/TFTC.

Fourteen finds in one day!  That's a record for me and moves me within striking distance of number 100.  It was a great day with good finds.  Total walking distance was about 8 miles.

I photograph my geocache adventures.  Here's today's offering.  As usual click through to see full size photos.  There are no spoilers.