Trip to Arizona
Feb 14 - March 27
Night 216: Feb. 22
Wallace State Park, Cameron, MO
Wallace State Park, Cameron, MO
Night 217: Feb. 24
The Lodge, Whitney, TX
The Lodge, Whitney, TX
Night 218: Feb. 25
Try RV Park, Try, TX. Stopped at oldest Dr. Pepper bottler in the world in Dublin, TX
Try RV Park, Try, TX. Stopped at oldest Dr. Pepper bottler in the world in Dublin, TX
Night 219: Feb. 27
Rockhound State Park, Deming, NM. We held a Meet & Greet at Deming Visitor Center.
Rockhound State Park, Deming, NM. We held a Meet & Greet at Deming Visitor Center.
Night 220: Mar. 20
Eagle Guest Ranch Cafe (Grocery - Motel - RV Park), Datil, NM.
Eagle Guest Ranch Cafe (Grocery - Motel - RV Park), Datil, NM.
Night 221: Mar. 21
KOA Journey Kampground, Bernalillo, NM.
KOA Journey Kampground, Bernalillo, NM.
Night 222: Mar. 22
Trindad Lake State Park, Trinidad, CO. The campground was dark and the night sky beautiful.
Trindad Lake State Park, Trinidad, CO. The campground was dark and the night sky beautiful.
Night 223: Mar. 24
Arapahoe South Park, Arapahoe, NE
Arapahoe South Park, Arapahoe, NE
Night 224: Mar. 25
Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan, IA. We were greeted by snow in the morning.
Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan, IA. We were greeted by snow in the morning.
Night 225: Mar. 26
Gehrke's Lake RV Park, Iowa Falls, IA. We got well acquainted with the back roads the last few days.
Gehrke's Lake RV Park, Iowa Falls, IA. We got well acquainted with the back roads the last few days.
Northern Tier Work Week
May 11 - May 21
Night 226: May 11
Geocached in the afternoon including seeing Manitou Falls at Pattison State Park. Camped at Gordon Dam County Park, Gordon, WI.
Geocached in the afternoon including seeing Manitou Falls at Pattison State Park. Camped at Gordon Dam County Park, Gordon, WI.
Night 227 - 235: May 12 - 20
Sharon headed home on the 12th and Bill headed to Northern Tier for Alumni Work Week. The 16' x 40' deck to the new ranger house was the primary project. Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base, Ely, MN.
Sharon headed home on the 12th and Bill headed to Northern Tier for Alumni Work Week. The 16' x 40' deck to the new ranger house was the primary project. Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base, Ely, MN.
Fort Assinboine Bicentennial Brigade
July 1 - July 19
Night 236: July 2
Portage X Campground, Portage la Prairie, MB . . . Could not find a campground in Fargo yesterday. Crossed into Canada at Winkler. Did some geocaching and visited the Fort la Reine Museum where we camped on the 2008 David Thompson Brigade.
Portage X Campground, Portage la Prairie, MB . . . Could not find a campground in Fargo yesterday. Crossed into Canada at Winkler. Did some geocaching and visited the Fort la Reine Museum where we camped on the 2008 David Thompson Brigade.
Night 237: July 3
Churchbridge Campground, Churchbridge, SK . . . Left Portage la Prairie about noon and headed in the direction of Prince Albert. Camped at a campground we stayed at last year.
Churchbridge Campground, Churchbridge, SK . . . Left Portage la Prairie about noon and headed in the direction of Prince Albert. Camped at a campground we stayed at last year.
Night 238: July 4
Spiritwood Lions Campground, Spiritwood, SK . . . Continued our drive northwest. Spent much of the time on Hwy 3. Stayed in the small town of Spiritwood. The campground was next to a museum and we walked to a confectionary store to pay the camping fee. Very nice memorial adjacent to the campground.
Spiritwood Lions Campground, Spiritwood, SK . . . Continued our drive northwest. Spent much of the time on Hwy 3. Stayed in the small town of Spiritwood. The campground was next to a museum and we walked to a confectionary store to pay the camping fee. Very nice memorial adjacent to the campground.
Night 239 - 240: July 6 - 7
Blue Ridge Recreation Area, Blue Ridge, AB . . . The Brigade teams signed in at Blue Ridge Rec Area on the 6th, set up camp, met old friends and prepared for paddling. Dinner was provided for the Brigade. On the 7th, the Brigade traveled to Whitecourt where breakfast was provided. It was then get the canoes in the water for the paddle to the Blue Ridge take out. Once again dinner was provided.
Blue Ridge Recreation Area, Blue Ridge, AB . . . The Brigade teams signed in at Blue Ridge Rec Area on the 6th, set up camp, met old friends and prepared for paddling. Dinner was provided for the Brigade. On the 7th, the Brigade traveled to Whitecourt where breakfast was provided. It was then get the canoes in the water for the paddle to the Blue Ridge take out. Once again dinner was provided.
Night 241 - 242: July 8 - 9
Walsh Park, Fort Assinboine, AB . . . Arrived at Fort Assinboine on July 8th as part of their sesquicentennial celebration complete with arrival ceremonies, a parade to our campground and a sold out dinner of 1500 people complete with entertainment and dancing. The 9th was a layover day which allowed us to visit the many exhibits and demonstrations.
Walsh Park, Fort Assinboine, AB . . . Arrived at Fort Assinboine on July 8th as part of their sesquicentennial celebration complete with arrival ceremonies, a parade to our campground and a sold out dinner of 1500 people complete with entertainment and dancing. The 9th was a layover day which allowed us to visit the many exhibits and demonstrations.
Night 243: July 10
Klondyke Ferry Park, Vega, AB . . . Heavy rain with thunder and lightining today. Fortunately, the rain was at camp and it was sunny and relaxing on the water.
Klondyke Ferry Park, Vega, AB . . . Heavy rain with thunder and lightining today. Fortunately, the rain was at camp and it was sunny and relaxing on the water.
Night 244 - 245: July 11 - 12
Smith Community Complex, Smith, AB . . . Camped here two nights, the first was part of the Brigade schedule. The second was not, it was the result of not being about to use the planned take out. Great weather on the 11th, thunder and lightening on the 12th that forced canoes off the water. Two canoes used by a youth team were special for us. Koo Koo Sint (top front) was owned by the NAL's team in the 2011 David Thompson Brigade. We paddled it most of that Brigade. The 35' Montreal canoe on the bottom of the trailer was built by Ralph Frese, the legendary owner of Chicagoland Canoe Base where Sharon bought her first canoeing equipent. Bill also had interactions with Ralph.
Smith Community Complex, Smith, AB . . . Camped here two nights, the first was part of the Brigade schedule. The second was not, it was the result of not being about to use the planned take out. Great weather on the 11th, thunder and lightening on the 12th that forced canoes off the water. Two canoes used by a youth team were special for us. Koo Koo Sint (top front) was owned by the NAL's team in the 2011 David Thompson Brigade. We paddled it most of that Brigade. The 35' Montreal canoe on the bottom of the trailer was built by Ralph Frese, the legendary owner of Chicagoland Canoe Base where Sharon bought her first canoeing equipent. Bill also had interactions with Ralph.
Night 246: July 13
Athabasca & District Agri-plex, Athabasca, AB . . . With our landing in Athabasca today the Brigade is over, but not the memories.
Athabasca & District Agri-plex, Athabasca, AB . . . With our landing in Athabasca today the Brigade is over, but not the memories.
Night 247: July 14
Saokii R V Park, Oyen, AB . . . We left Athabasca headed- to Ft. McMurry but had to turn back after driving more than an hour because of the heavy forest fire smoke. We set our sights to cross into Saskatchewan before looking for a campsite. However, a series of FTF geocaches slowed us down and we stopped just sort of the border.
Saokii R V Park, Oyen, AB . . . We left Athabasca headed- to Ft. McMurry but had to turn back after driving more than an hour because of the heavy forest fire smoke. We set our sights to cross into Saskatchewan before looking for a campsite. However, a series of FTF geocaches slowed us down and we stopped just sort of the border.
Night 248: July 15
Cadillac Campground, Cadillac, SK . . . Our plan for the day was to find caches in Saskatchewan Divisions and to visit Grasslands National Park. Our stop for a cache and lunch break in Cadillac turned into camping here. The metal sign at the cache site, streets named after old cars with pictures of them on the street signs, meeting Danie from Quebec at the campground, an annual street dance all made for a memorable stop.
Cadillac Campground, Cadillac, SK . . . Our plan for the day was to find caches in Saskatchewan Divisions and to visit Grasslands National Park. Our stop for a cache and lunch break in Cadillac turned into camping here. The metal sign at the cache site, streets named after old cars with pictures of them on the street signs, meeting Danie from Quebec at the campground, an annual street dance all made for a memorable stop.
Night 249: July 16
Rock Creek Campground, Grasslands National Park, Fir Mountain, SK . . . Stopped at center in Val Marie then visited West Block of park. Beautiful area between the West and East Blocks of Grasslands National Park.
Rock Creek Campground, Grasslands National Park, Fir Mountain, SK . . . Stopped at center in Val Marie then visited West Block of park. Beautiful area between the West and East Blocks of Grasslands National Park.
Night 250: July 17
Stanley Community Campground, Stanley, ND . . . Crossed the border back into the states. Found caches in border counties of Montana and North Dakota.
Stanley Community Campground, Stanley, ND . . . Crossed the border back into the states. Found caches in border counties of Montana and North Dakota.
Night 251: July 18
Jamestown Campground, Jamestown, ND . . . Drove across a significant part of North Dakota with a detour for a couple of FTF caches. Tomorrow we will be home.
Jamestown Campground, Jamestown, ND . . . Drove across a significant part of North Dakota with a detour for a couple of FTF caches. Tomorrow we will be home.
Indiana Geocaching
July 23 - 25
Night 252: July 23
Judy's Motel and Campground, New Buffalo, Michigan . . . Drove to Michigan after Silas' birthday party. Found caches in Michigan to meet an I-94 challenge cache. The campground could have been located in Alabama or Mississippi back country as the campground office picture shows. But it was clean and available when we arrived late evening.
Judy's Motel and Campground, New Buffalo, Michigan . . . Drove to Michigan after Silas' birthday party. Found caches in Michigan to meet an I-94 challenge cache. The campground could have been located in Alabama or Mississippi back country as the campground office picture shows. But it was clean and available when we arrived late evening.
Night 253: July 24
Big Fish Campground, Lafayette, Indiana . . . Focused on meeting challenge cache requirements today -- 2004-2005 placed caches, finds in five counties and about thirty finds in Indiana. Found twenty eight in six counties. It was a fun day.
Big Fish Campground, Lafayette, Indiana . . . Focused on meeting challenge cache requirements today -- 2004-2005 placed caches, finds in five counties and about thirty finds in Indiana. Found twenty eight in six counties. It was a fun day.
Wisconsin Geocaching
August 8 - 12
Night 254: Aug 8
Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium, WI . . . Finding old geocaches was on our list today as we headed to Justin's. Found two oldest county caches.
Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium, WI . . . Finding old geocaches was on our list today as we headed to Justin's. Found two oldest county caches.
Night 255: Aug 11
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit, Ottawa, WI . . . On the 12th we attended the West Bend Cash Bash Mega and then returned to Justin's.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit, Ottawa, WI . . . On the 12th we attended the West Bend Cash Bash Mega and then returned to Justin's.
Arizona with trip to Hawaii
September 16 - October 5
Night 256: Sept. 16
Pigeon Creek Campground, Millston, WI...Nice, wooded state forest campground. Plans were to leave on the 17th, but we were ready this afternoon. Short drive but we did find one cache to mark our route.
Pigeon Creek Campground, Millston, WI...Nice, wooded state forest campground. Plans were to leave on the 17th, but we were ready this afternoon. Short drive but we did find one cache to mark our route.
Night 257: Sept. 23
Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Morrison, IL...First day of our drive to Arizona. Beautiful, old state park. No friles except electricity but nicley spaced wooded campsites.
Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Morrison, IL...First day of our drive to Arizona. Beautiful, old state park. No friles except electricity but nicley spaced wooded campsites.
Night 258: Sept. 24
Schleswig Park, Schleswig, IA...City park with a few campsites in the swimming pool parking area. We were the only ones camped here.
Schleswig Park, Schleswig, IA...City park with a few campsites in the swimming pool parking area. We were the only ones camped here.
Night 259: Sept. 25
Buffalo Bill State Park, North Platte, NE...Arrived late, left early the next day. Campsite with electricty.
Buffalo Bill State Park, North Platte, NE...Arrived late, left early the next day. Campsite with electricty.
Night 260: Sept. 27
Lathrop State Park, Walsenberg, CO...Very nice State Park with large camping area. Arrived at camp lated afternoon after finding geocache GC19 at an eleveation of 11042 ft. and a walk of over a mile. Campsites nicely spaced. Have stayed here before.
Lathrop State Park, Walsenberg, CO...Very nice State Park with large camping area. Arrived at camp lated afternoon after finding geocache GC19 at an eleveation of 11042 ft. and a walk of over a mile. Campsites nicely spaced. Have stayed here before.