Brief Excursion to the Arboretum

I always enjoy visiting the arboretum at James Madison University and only wish that I had time to enjoy the visit more today while there.

Set to photograph state play-off games at JMU’s Convocation Center, I took time to find first another geocache followed by “Entering the Exit” at the arboretum.

The name itself offers the best of the clues as it was behind the wall right at the entrance.

Well worth the find … just wish I had more time to explore the trails while there.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

Crawling Through Bushes

Considering I was going to be visiting the Convocation Center at James Madison University, I decided to seek out “Zip It: 22807″ to see if I could locate it.

Going into this one, there were two bits that worried me a bit.

The first was finding a parking spot while the second was that one person found retrieving the cache in the past a bit of a “tight fit.”

I found a parking spot right off, although it was a risky place to park as it might well have drawn the ever possible parking ticket to my windshield, but in the end I found luck was with me as I managed to escape this.

The problem I faced, however, was exactly where this geocache might be hidden as there was a little bit of a signal bounce with the GPS for some reason.

In the end, I narrowed down the location, although freely admit that I took about five minutes longer than needed as I did not trust where common sense told me it would be.

After a bit of crawling around in the narrow “tunnels” of shrubbery, I found the cache tucked away among the branches of a bush.

To be honest, it reminded me a bit of shrubs I would tunnel into and play within as a child back in eastern North Carolina many years ago.

Logging my find, I moved rather quickly back to the car to make sure I escaped being ticketed.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

Good Fortune Favors The Search

Following a failed quick attempt at another geocache a mile away, I had the fear that “Chinese Fortune” would also be buried in snow to the point that I would not be able to locate it on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010.

However, the clues in the cache description gave me a strong idea as to where it was hidden which made digging it up quite easy — despite the fact that snow removal of the adjacent parking lot had piled snow over the bush under which the cache was hidden.

It brought back memories to see the diner across the street as I remember being taken there for lunch several years ago on my first day of work as a staff photographer at the Daily News-Record.

It was also fun to watch how a LOT of ducks came up out of Blacks Run to see who was about and if I might have food for them.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

Our ship emerged from warp this afternoon as we returned to port yet the date does not seem to match our mission time.

It must have been a timewarp as whatelse can explain the absence of activity from this ship and crew as well as the lateness of various mission reports that have been needing to be filed for some time now?

Look for logs to be caught up within the coming days as the crew of the Pathfinder prepares for an long-range mission of exploration that will take us in the direction of the Florida Quadrant within the next couple of weeks.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder

After shooting past the hiding place, Capt. Jonathan Hunter takes time to verify directions while seeking Outpost “Oh-Barn-Di, Oh-Barn-Dah” in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)

————————

Captain’s Log — Stardate: 20090807

While conduction missions of exploration within the Smith Mountain region of the Virginia Quadrant, decided to search for Outpost “Oh-Barn-Di, Oh-Barn-Dah” after locating another outpost within the area.

At first, the U.S.S. Pathfinder overshot the location of the outpost while on approach causing ship and crew to come about and return to the actual location.

Intelligence reports were indeed helpful in locating the cache, although there were numerous plants surrounding the outpost which sensors reported might well be poisonous leading to the use of extreme caution while investigating the interior of the installation.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder

Capt. Jonathan Hunter investigates the interior of Outpost “Oh-Barn-Di, Oh-Barn-Dah” in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)

After finding another cache that was only a mile or so away, I overshot the location where “Oh-Barn-Di, Oh-Barn-Dah” was hidden and was forced to turn around and approach the location again.

There was definitely a barn at the location which at first was where I expected to find the geocache, but was surprised as it was actually hidden across the street.

It’s location was behind a telephone maintenance box and only after I began snapping photographs of Capt. Hunter with the geocache did I realize that there were quite a few plants with leaves of three.

Poison ivy? … Poison ivy?!? …. POISON IVY!!!!

Thankfully, I escaped without major harm although I did have a couple of itchy spots … could have been worse, however, as I was able to treat and get rid of the itch after only a few days of trying as opposed to the weeks and weeks experienced last time.

The awayteam contacts the U.S.S. Pathfinder to inform them they have located Outpost “The  Food On The Hill” in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)

————————-

Captain’s Log — Stardate: 20090807

While conduction missions of exploration within the Smith Mountain region of the Virginia Quadrant, decided to attempt to locate Outpost “The Food on the Hill.”

Intelligence reports downloaded before our departure of the Staunton System helped us in locating the installation rather quickly.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder

Capt. Jonathan Hunter locates Outpost “The  Food On The Hill” in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)

Decided to take a moment for myself and headed out looking for a couple of geocaches.

First on the list was “The Food on the Hill” which was a fairly straightforward hide and easily located as it was under a lamp skirt at the Blackwater Cafe … and I do believe the cafe was located on a small hill to boot … well, at least higher than surrounding locations.

Looking for “Blackberries (Island) Singing in the Dead of Night” marked the first time ever that I searched for a geocache hidden on an island that had to be reached by boat.

Special thanks to Daniel Jarrett for taking me out to the location while family and friends enjoyed an afternoon on Smith Mountain Lake.

The island was fairly easy to approach with only my feet getting wet as I jumped from boat to lake to beach.

We had guessed the geocache would be hidden at the one visible cedar tree at the heart of the island and were right.

Only on my way back did a briar latch onto my leg and refuse to let go.

Capt. Jonathan Hunter braves the briars and finds Outpost Blackberries (Island) Singin in the Dead of Night on an island in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)

————————

Captain’s Log — Stardate: 20090807

An team from the U.S.S. Pathfinder hitched a ride out into the Smith Mountain Nebula aboard a Captain Daniel’s ship which was much better suited to navigating the region.

After making our approach, I led an away team which beamed to island serving as home for Outpost “Blackberries (Island) Singin in the Dead of Night” only to become caught in the tangle of native briars.

Managed to fight our way free, find the outpost and log our visit before departing the location.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder

Outpost Blackberries (Island) Singin in the Dead of Night was located on an island in the Smith Mountain Lake Region of the Virginia Quadrant on Stardate: 20090807. (Photo by Mike Tripp/U.S.S. Pathfinder)