Another Two Geocache Sites

Henry checking out drain.

Henry took me on another geocache adventure today.  Following the trail to two spots was nifty and I do want to keep doing it -- but I've got to admit, there is a down side.

There we are tracking our way to the cache with the i-phone, probably looking pretty geeky-old in jeans, t-shirt, flips and baseball cap.  Then we make it to the spot!

The first one appears to be in a parking lot storm drain - the type that drains into the curb rather than straight down.  The stash is, I assume, attached somehow with a magnet.  I kneel my 64 year-old (geeky in jeans, t-shirt, flips and baseball cap) self between two cars and reach into the drain as far as I can without actually laying down on the pavement.  It appears to be farther in.  Lets move on....

Henry in front of screened geocache.

Henry and I locate the second cache along a fairly busy street uptown Whittier and in a section of 1940 style apartments. Imagine the nice old single story ones with maybe ten apartments connected around a "U" shaped courtyard.  The geocache on this site seems to be behind an apartment screened crawlspace vent.  The vent is askew -- but even with Henry, my dog excuse, I am too cowardly to remove that screen and feel around in the dark space under the building.

Its not the spiders, although I must admit that is a concern.  It is just that it isn't something you see someone my age doing.  I either need to take along a 10 or 20 year old or I need to get over it.  Hum, maybe this just needs to be a photo adventure.  Instead of signing the geocache book in the stash, I can photograph Henry at the spot.  Sounds like a possible solution to me.  The only downside is that Henry and I won't be able to put our addition in the cache box.

Geocaching

Henry took me on another explore. We went on our first geocaching search!  It took us back to Whittier's Arroyo Pescadero habitat preservation trail.

Following the map on my i-phone and not too far up the trail, we made it to the edge of a small sharp slope. With the blue dot dead on our position,  I am convinced that the box is located on the back of the tree which is almost within touch - the tree base way down the slope and growing up way past our level.

Henry was ready to go off trail to get the eucalyptus tree harboring the geocaching box and sign-in sheet.  Unfortunately it is located in a sensitive regrowth zone.

The hint sheet said there was a trail leading around the zone to get to the spot. It certainly looked like people had scrambled down the hill.  However, it was posted as a closed regrowth area.  Henry and I couldn't do it.  It takes too many years for the regrowth to establish itself in our semi-arid area.

We'll try again tomorrow.  There is another  geocaching within walking distance if we leave early - before it warms up.  We left it too late this morning.  By the 11 a.m. and the end of our two mile trek it was way too hot for hiking hills with limited shade.  Southern California summer approaches!  I forget that we go from "chilly fireplace days" to "just too hot to walk" in a day.

On the up side, we met six other dogs on our hike.  We've made that trip several times without seeing any dogs or humans on the trip so, naturally, Henry was in his element.  Great for me too - if Henry is behind another dog, he is very interested in following and less interested in sniffing every third leaf. So, winding our way - it is back to the car for more water and a bit of air conditioning.  I know, you northerners.  We are such wimps.  And, then home again for a little nap. The nap thing Henry and I do really well!