Caching south of the Border

States Trip

Booked some shows down in the states. I originally had one booked in Ellensburg, Wash.,

but then decided may as well do some more shows to make the trip longer and more profitable, so I booked a couple more shows. Ended up making it a 3 day tour to Ferndale,

 then Ellensburg, and end back up this way in Bellingham before coming back across the border back into BC.

I built a list of 47 52 63 caches that I may want to get while down that way. As you can see by the numbers, I kept adding more caches to the list. I have many puzzles that I worked out as I am trying to get 14 puzzle caches in 3 days for a new souvenir that Groundspeak is giving out.

I ended up not getting as many caches as I wanted to get. Several were in areas that there was so much snow. The Pass(Steven's Pass) that I had to go over to get to Ellensburg which is in the Snoqualmie Mountain area(Home of the A.P.E. Cache and the Snoqualmie Tunnel) was shut down the night before I had to cross it. Luckily they had plows working all night to get it clear. I made it to Ellensburg early and was able to set up and check into my hotel.

I found a cache in Ellensburg called "Kleinberg Caboose" with 106 favorite points. It was a big huge electrical box

and it had a lock on it and they gave you the four digits but they didn’t say what the four digits order was so you had to figure it out yourself. When I first got there, I started to monkey around with it a little bit, trying a few different combinations out of random order, and didn’t seem like it was going too fast for me so I went back to the vehicle and asked Google for all the combinations using those four numbers, and it’s spat out 24 different combinations. I went back and systematically went through them one by one and when I got to the 17th code, the cache box opened. If I would’ve started from the back end of the numbers, It would’ve been way faster. LOL

This was the container opened, after figuring out the Combination. Full of swag!!!

The next day I headed back to Bellingham for my 3rd show in the states, and was able to find many more Puzzle caches to complete the 14 that I needed. In total I only found 14 puzzles, 3 Traditional's, 1 Wherigo cache, and 1 Adventure Lab with 5 stages. 23 total finds out of the 63 I had on my list. lol. 

That's OK though as I go down to the states often, and will get more next time.

PS: On the right hand side of this webpage is where you can find my YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, links. Please feel free to check them out and follow or subscribe!!!

Blue Switch day, AKA the day Geocaching was born!!!

Have you ever thought about what makes GPS possible?
With the flip of the “Blue Switch,” or Selective Availability, GPS became dramatically more accurate, and a new kind of adventure known as geocaching became possible, turning the whole planet into a playground.
Before Selective Availability was discontinued, the U.S. government made GPS less accurate for everyone except the military, for national security reasons.
On May 2, 2000, the decision was made to discontinue Selective Availability, ending the intentional restriction on civilian GPS accuracy and significantly improving GPS technology for public use. This date is recognized by geocachers as “Blue Switch Day.”
The first geocache was hidden on May 3, 2000, marking the beginning of geocaching—a journey full of innovation and experimentation. Today, there are 3.4 million geocaches in 191 countries.

NOTE: The highlighted or underlined words in my blog can be clicked on as they are links to other cool stuff!! Also if you click on any of the pictures they become BIGGER!!!

Puzzle Event

Went to an event called puzzles: lets put our heads together

It was a 2 hour event which was attended by about 12 people helping each other figure out puzzle caches they have been working on. Always nice to get some insight into puzzle caches. I was given a few hints to help solve 2 caches I've been wanting to get just beyond Blaine, Washington. They are a part of a 25 puzzle series called the X-Men series. I have figured out and found all but the last 2.

Next month, I will be heading to the States a couple of times for a few shows.....But more about that in Next months Blog....

Well that's it for this month!!

Keep on caching!!

Chris Yuill

Magicman65

July Adventures while Caching!!

 Cruising along the Border for a cache

The day after getting back from our Vegas Trip, I ended up going to an Event on the Canada/USA Border. We also went as a group to do a Virtual cache on the Border.

"Borderline Caching Disorder" is a Marker on the Canada/United States Border. 

The water is usually higher, and you need a boat or kayak to get to it, but on July 4th the tide was super low, so a lot of people decided to go for it and wade out to it.

Here I am on the East side of it, which is where you need to take the picture from for the Virtual.

Here are all the event goers at the Virtual cache.

It is on the Border of Canada and the United States.

It is actually listed as a Washington State Cache. Good thing I still had my passport with me. lol

I also grabbed one part of an Adventure Lab as I was headed back to my car.

It was at this cute Free Library.

PS: On the right hand side of this webpage is where you can find my YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, links. Please feel free to check them out and follow or subscribe!!!

My Mid-Year Geocaching Stats: 2023 may be halfway gone, but we prefer to think of the glass as half full! You spent half a year geocaching and making memories out in the world alongside the geocaching community. Take a walk down memory lane with us as we review your geocaching stats for the first half of 2023. Geocaching Charted shows you where you’ve been, and helps you plan where you’re going next. What memories will you create before the year is up?

372 Total numbers of finds so far in 2023. 7 Icons Distinct cache types logged. How many different cache types can you log by the end of the year? Traditional Cache These are your favorite caches! This is the geocache type that you logged most this year. 1 DNF (Did Not Find) logs posted. Don’t forget to log your DNFs! They alert others that the cache may be more difficult to find than anticipated or may even be missing. DNF logs also inform the cache owner they may need to check on their container. 2 Countries you cached in this year. Way to go, world traveler! Cache: GC5FZDA Favorite Points: 518 This is the highest Favorited cache that you found in 2023. We love it! 7 Number of Events you attended this year. Social butterfly, much? Cache: GC7932 Date: 2002-07-02 The oldest placed cache you found this year. 16 The number of souvenirs you received so far. You have quite the collection going! Check out the complete list of available souvenirs. Date: 2023-04-22 Number of Finds: 45 Your busiest caching day of the year—look at how many caches you found! 59 Days you went geocaching. How many more can you get this year? 10 Favorite points you awarded to geocaches. You were a Favorite fan! You haven’t earned the 2023 hider souvenir yet. Don’t worry, there’s still time to find a spot to hide your cache! 5 Number of caches you hid this year. Thank you for contributing to your geocaching community with an amazing hide!

NOTE: The highlighted or underlined words in my blog can be clicked on as they are links to other cool stuff!! Also if you click on any of the pictures they become bigger!!! Vernon Ribfest Trip Susan and I went to Vernon as I was performing some shows at the "Vernon Ribfest" It was a 3 day event, and I was doing shows on the Saturday and Sunday, as well as some strolling Magic both days. We headed out late Friday night, and ended up napping in the car for a few hours at a rest area just past Merritt on highway 97C. We woke up early the next morning and were able to grab 2 caches before leaving the rest area. Grabbed a few more on the way thru Kelowna and coming into Vernon. The first evening after the Ribfest, we went back to the hotel room and after supper we decided to grab some local caches and we also completed 5 Adventure Labs around town that involved Murals and some of the buildings.     WARNING! Cache Alert!!! What's on the other side of this WARNING Label?? Oh, its a Log book for the cache!!! I love these sneaky hides that are in plain site. Thanx to Susan for her sleuthing skills as she found this one. The next morning we checked out of the hotel and headed over to the event grounds, and grabbed 3 caches before getting there. I did my show and a couple hours of Close up and we also had some of the best beef and pork ribs around during the 2 days. After the event, we headed down the highway towards home, grabbing as many caches as we could before it got dark. This was a cool one we got on the way into Kamloops called "Dallas TB Hotel" And NO its not under the skirt of the light post. Check the next picture and you will see it. It is also locked making it a very secure place for Trackables. In total on the quick trip to Vernon, we found 32 caches, and 5 full Adventure Labs and 2 stages of another Adventure Lab. Day trip to Bellingham Susan and I popped down across the border for a quick day trip, and we were able to find 7 traditional caches and 5 puzzle caches. Merritt Magic I got a gig in Merritt for the Chamber of Commerce, I stopped for a Cache on the way there and was able to grab a couple more once in town, before heading to "Spirit Square" to perform for the crowd of Night market goers. My stage all set up!! And FINALLY: So even though I was just in Vegas at the beginning of July, I am heading back there on August 4th for 8 days. This time it's for a Magic Convention I go to every year called "Magic Live." I am hoping to get a bit of caching in but will be quite busy with the convention and going to see a few shows. But more about that in next month's Blog!!! Well that's it for this month!! Keep on caching!! Chris Yuill Magicman65

VEGAS BABY!!!

 Vegas Trip

Yay, made it to Vegas for 5 days of sun, fun, shows, and Caching!!!

(June 29) Day 1:

Flew into Vegas and got to grab 5 quick stages of an Adventure Lab as we got to the Airport. We answered the questions later on back at the hotel. That is one of the good things about AL's is that once the stages are open, they can be answered from anywhere, later on.

We headed out for a show this evening and then afterward, we walked down the strip for awhile. Susan was able to grab 3 Virtual Caches that I had already done back in August 2015 during my first Magic Live convention, when I walked 6.8KM from the Orleans Hotel in the morning heat. Yikes!!

We also got 2 stages of an AL on the strip.

PS: On the right hand side of this webpage is where you can find my YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, links. Please feel free to check them out and follow or subscribe!!!

(June 30) Day 2:

Got up early the next morning, grabbed some breakfast and headed out for a big day of sightseeing and caching in 43C weather. We headed to the Famous Iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas Sign"

Besides taking pics of us at the sign we were able to get 1 stage of an Adventure Lab. Susan was also able to grab the Virtual cache and a Traditional cache that were here and I already logged the Virtual on my first ever trip to Vegas back in 2008 shortly after starting caching. 

It was actually my 14th find ever and my first Virtual cache.

After spending a bit of time here we headed off to the Dessert for some more sights!!

We headed out of town to "Seven Magic Mountains" which is about 28km away, and where I have been several times. I even was able to set up an Adventure Lab that started here. I built it from home, as I had been here so many times and had enough pictures and Information of the surrounding area.

Here you can see me trying to push them over. I wasn't able to though. lol

We took several pictures of this amazing art installation, and even grabbed a cache nearby.

We then headed over to the little town of "Goodsprings", which is an old mining town in the middle of nowhere. The Pioneer Saloon in town is the oldest drinking establishment in Nevada. 

Featured on many Blockbuster Movies, TV Shows and International Media Productions. The Pioneer Saloon has been operating since 1913. Inside you will see the Carole Lombard/Clark Gable Museum (Free of Charge). The saloon was used as base camp for search and recovery for the passengers of the ill-fated DC-3 flight, where in 1942 actress Carole Lombard lost her life. Her husband Clark Gable sat at the bar for several days burning holes into the bar top waiting for news of his wife’s fate. See the bullet holes in the wall where in 1915 a card shark was shot to death for cheating at cards, ruled a justifiable homicide. The original 1860 potbelly stove still heats the Saloon today. The Saloon is also haunted as seen on the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures”. Take lots of photos you may get a ghost!

Here is a picture of me at the bullet holes in the side of the wall.

There is even a cache here in the bar, and you ask the bartender for it. I got it last year when in town. Susan was able to sign it though.

We finished our drinks and headed down the road after swinging by the other 3 stages of my AL and grabbing one more cache.

Next destination was "Red Rock Canyon"

We saw a couple of wild Donkey's while heading thru, and we stopped to take a picture and it was also where we were stopping for a cache anyway.

I didn't see any the last several times I came thru here, so it was nice to be able to see them this time while I was playing tour guide for Susan and other friends.

The Red Rock Canyon is an awesome place with lots to see and lots of Earthcaches to be had.

Hoover Dam

We then made our way over to Hoover Dam.

The water at Hoover Dam is drastically low. It should be up to just under the bridge you see here. We were told it is 150 feet lower than normal.

We noticed on the way out here a lot of fields filled with Solar panels. I assume the city of Las Vegas is now using Solar to power the city.

We got a Virtual Cache here called "A Virtual Reward for A Dam Cool Dog"

It told the story of the Hoover Dam Mascot when it was being built.

(July 1, Canada Day) Day 3:

Susan was looking at the map and noticed an event being held here in Vegas on Canada Day by a fellow Canadian from Ontario. So we decided to head out in the morning, grabbing a few caches and then off to the event in front of the Fountains at the Bellagio. 

 There was a couple other Canadians from Whiterock, BC and several others from around the states. Thanx to cacher Colin.Wigle for hosting. Was nice to meet you!!

We grabbed a couple of Virtual caches and an Earthcache after the event. 

Later that evening we headed to Fremont Street Experience for a show and some fun. 

On Fremont there was 2 Adventure Labs that we did, and Susan got a Traditional cache and a Virtual that I had done years back.

NOTE: The highlighted or underlined words in my blog can be clicked on as they are links to other cool stuff!! Also if you click on any of the pictures they become bigger!!!

(July 2) Day 4:

This would be the last full day in Vegas, so we wanted to do as much as we could. We ventured out to the strip to find a speakeasy. There are several in town. We ended up at "1923 Prohibition Bar", which was a cool spot in the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino.

You walk up to the Bookcase and push it open to enter.

Its like you transport yourself into the past when speakeasy's were everywhere during the Prohibition.

It was a nice little spot to have a drink and just chill for awhile.

Speaking of "Chilling' for awhile, after we came out of the speakeasy we went into a place across the hall to another bar called "Minus 5 Bar"

You put on a Parka and enter a room made of Ice.

Everything including the glasses you drink out of are made of Ice!!

We ended the evening by going to see David Copperfield at the MGM Grand. I have seen him live 3 other times but never in his Home theatre in Vegas. This was a treat for me!!

(July 3) Day 5: Heading home In total we went to 7 different Adventure Labs with a total of 27 stages between them, 7 Traditionals, 8 Virtuals, 3 Earthcaches, 2 Puzzles, 1 Letterbox, and 1 Event!! We also had a blast on and off the strip, and looking forward to my trip back there next month for MAGIC LIVE 2023!!! The day after we returned back to Canada, I went to an Event which took me to the Border and slightly across the Border to get a very cool Virtual Cache, and then packing again to head to Vernon, BC for the "Vernon Ribfest" where I will be performing 2 shows over the weekend and 4 hours of strolling magic......BUT, More about that and More in Next Months Blog!!!

Well that's it for this month!!

Keep on caching!!

Chris Yuill

Magicman65