Ever since I first began geocaching, I became interested in geocoins.

These trackable items come in all shapes and sizes with me having a fair amount (still small by the standards of some) in my personal collection that I have either purchased or been given along the way.

I was honored last night when two dear friends … AltGofur & stefmaus … gave me a few new coins for my collection.

They include one honoring the first moon landing, another the space shuttle, the colors of geocaching and “Geo-Jack.”

To my friends … thank you!

Finally Getting Around To It

Originally, I found AshleyGoRound Cache after returning from a trip to the beach back in July … over a month ago.

However, time seemed to get away from me and the log entry never completed, but with friends visiting and more caches to be discovered later today … it seemed good to get this log entry out of the way.

This is one I visited previously without success in finding. The location had been recently mowed at the time of that first search which complicated things a bit.

This time, I walked right up to the cache and found it without any difficulties at all.

That log now completed, I am looking forward to geocaching this day with two good friends (AltGofur & stefmaus) as well as getting my feet wet once more in the sport … and returning to the sport with the full force of a dedicated seeker!!!

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,08,21

It occurred to us that the official report from us has yet to be filed so credit for our … discovery … has also yet to take place.

On Imperial Stardate: 2010, 07,17, we boarded our bird-of-prey … the I.K.S. Maelstrom … and went in search of “AshleyGoRound Cache.”

After all, it is just not right for Klingons to allow such a nearby outpost to go undefeated!

Unlike a previous visit by those of our expeditionary force, this time the outpost was right where it should be and quite easily found … and conquered!

– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. MAELSTROM
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire

Many may say I am getting my “geek” on, but hey … It is not just fun for me but seems to be fun as well for the others out there geocaching around us.

I cannot say how many times people have taken time to speak of their enjoyment of the adventures of both the Federation and Klingon “Ships of the Cache.”

They enjoy it as it is random and different!

To this end, we have always had specific geocoins that represent specific ships that are part of our geocaching identities.

So I decided to take it to the next level and paid a visit to “Cache Advance” to procure something that moves the traveling item of the coin onto something that really does travel … something that gets us from place to place when geocaching.

Check out what I’m talking about here.

And know that if you are out and about traveling or adventuring, you never know when you will fly down the road, look up and see one of our “ships” in front of you.

And yes … they are discoverable!

“Mega Smiley” Denied!

“Mega Smiley” is one smiley that is currently denied for me as although I have searched and searched … it was nowhere that I could find it.

Finding ground zero was easy as there definitely is a large smiley at the spot to be found but unfortunately it is not the one that gets you credit for finding the geocache.

On two different days and occasions, I searched the location with an extensive and long search performed on the second day.

I followed every geocaching trail I thought I could see as well as sifted through all the tall grass as well as searched the strands of lights around the palm trees to see if a micro might be woven in and well camouflaged somehow.

So diligent was my search that I walked away with scratches on both arms as one of the short palm like plants to the rear of ground zero was disagreeable with the search efforts.

Knowing I had family waiting for me to return as well as fearing I would be holding them up, I finally left location and decided it must be lost and gone.

Disappointment rose in me later as when I checked after having returned to our home in the valley, I learned others had found that which I could not.

Frustration and disappointment abound as I heave a heavy sigh, wonder at how out of practice I am as well as when my almost 3-year-old will be old enough to let (and even help) me search more depth, enjoyment and easy.

I find I miss the days of old when there were fewer demands on my time … time that currently (even on vacation) hovers only slightly above zero.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

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“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,07,13

On the first day, we sought out the mysterious “Mega Smiley,” and although we found the grinning sphere with complete ease, the hidden outpost remained elusive to our imperial scanning equipment.

We searched ground zero for about 15 minutes before forced to retreat back to our fortress overlooking the beach which was secured for our stay in the region.

The next morning dawned with our bat’leths sharpened and held to the ready.

Again we stormed ground zero, this time combing our way from front to back and from side to side.

Suspected geo-trails were followed and into the brush we dug to the point that blood dropped from one warrior’s arms as a result.

No luck with finding this …. mysterious outpost … as it continued to elude those of the Empire who thought we were being most diligent in our search.

However, honor is stripped from us on this mystery as we have seen intelligence reports that others have found what we cannot.

All I can say is that the location has been logged in our ship’s memory banks as our warriors will one day return in force to complete the conquest that has as yet been denied us!

– Brig. Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire

The Norwegian Lady

As a person who loves photography, history and a good story, I loved seeking out and seeing the “Norwegian Lady.”

Having just left a neighboring arcade, our small team found her standing as she was described facing out towards the sea.

The inscription on a plaque at the site of the statue reads:

“THE PEOPLE OF MOSS, NORWAY, HAVE SENT ME TO COMMEMORATE NORWEGIAN AND AMERCAN SEAMEN WHO PERISHED TOGETHER WHEN THE NORWEGIAN BARK “DICTATOR” OF MOSS WAS WRECKED OFF THESE SHORES ON MARCH 27TH, 1891.”

The added bonus of finding this was seeing the wonderful sculptures at her back that existed as part of Naval Aviation Monument Park.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

- – - – - – - – - – - – -

“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

N 36° 51.218 W 075° 58.548

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,07,12

Our Klingon warrior spirits drove us forth this evening to seek out something new that was worth not only finding but honoring.

And so it is that the Norwegian Lady is worthy of such efforts.

One who stands eternal watch our of respect and honor for previous souls lost has proven themselves to us and thus are worthy of our songs and praise.

So it was that we raised our bat’leths in salute of the noble lady depicted in stone.

Likewise, we took time to honor the warriors depicted close to this noble lady’s location.

Qapla’ !!!

– Brig. Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire

Quick Stop Leads To Quick Find

Heading out on a much needed vacation, my family stopped to stretch our legs at a rest stop on the eastbound side of Interstage 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg.

We were traveling to Virginia Beach where we would spend three nights.

Figuring their would be a cache hidden at the location, I performed a quick search of the net to retrieve the coordinates and then set out to find the cache.

It only took a few minutes to locate the hidden container …. accomplished after the GPS finished bouncing signals once.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

- – - – - – - – - – - – -

“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,07,11

We are KLINGONS!!! …. and we are on a trip of conquest!!!

Traveling aboard our Sienna-class battle cruiser, we pulled out of warp at the location to rest our engines and stretch the legs — having a feeling that there was an outpost to be conquered at this location.

A quick connection with the imperial communications grid was enough for us to locate intelligence on outpost “History In Progress.”

Sensors stolen from the Federation helped us triangulate the position using supplied coordinates which led to a quick victory before departing again in our journey towards the Virginia Beach System in the Virginia Quadrant.

Qapla’ !!!

– Brig. Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire