Pi Day

 I am working backwards through the month of March. This post is from March 14, Pi Day, another geocaching big deal day. The day started with a Cache In - Trash Out event at the Apache Junction rodeo grounds which hosted a large event the weekend before, but strong winds for two days moved most of the trash out of the area and into New Mexico!

8:00 AM - donuts to feed the geocachers

not a large pile of trash bags and only about a fourth of the group

who participated

our geocaching reward for our clean-up efforts

We met Jon and Sherry for lunch (fish and chips at the Rusty Buckle) and ended lunch with apple pie for Pi Day.

bathroom signs for my collection

After lunch we did some geocaching with Jon & Sherry. We needed a special cache for the day and this was it. I did the mental work, Hubby and Sherry opened the container.

Our geocaching reward for the solving, finding and signing the Mystery Cache.

another cache and another Mystery Cache

This cache was a tribute to a geocaching friend, Don of the team cardon. The cache was placed by Tic Toc Turtle.

Every one of his caches has a turtle on it or in it. A tiny turtle was attached to the bison tube.

we will miss these geocaching friends!

not my photo, but seen somewhere in the AJ area on Pi Day by a caching friend

Superstition Mountain

Valentine's Day 2024

Yes, I know. I'm late. Many of you know we went geocaching with friends Jon & Sherry on Valentine's Day as Sherry is so good and speedy about posting photos on Facebook. So you have seen some of the photos. My post will show some of the things - usual and unusual - one might see while geocaching in the desert in Apache Junction & Mesa.

We saw this oldie while driving to ground zero.

We were on the search for turtles hidden by a geocacher named Tic-Toc Turtle. 

He has something like 70 some TTT hidden geocaches. We are amazed at the variety turtles he has collected and hidden. They are all different.

Some were hidden hanging in trees. Some were hidden on the ground under rocks or branches. Or like this little guy, some were hidden in dead cactus or tree branches.

The turtles were various sizes, from a quarter to the size of a large tortilla. Most were very easy to find, which is always nice when walking in the desert.

It is not unusual to see horses in the area where we were geocaching. I don't know if this rider was done or getting started.

two riders

This horse was sporting his winter coat. He also had very hairy legs. The rider was from Canada. The ladies had two dogs with them.

Five wooden cross grave markers and five rock lined graves but no disturbed soil????

two towers had nests in the supports

large nests, maybe hawks or owls?

a skull about 10 inches long

more desert trail riders

Horses were the only animals we saw. No geckos were scampering about. We have been told if we see geckos, we might also see snakes. I guess it has just been too cold for the reptiles. That's okay by me!

One of the horses at a Horse Boarding across the road from the desert area we were in for geocaching.

We were dressed appropriately for the day.

Geocaching hearts for our efforts on a perfect temperature day for walking in the desert.

January

 January was a quiet month for us. If it was warm, we spent time outside. If it wasn't warm, we spent time inside. Geocaching was the outdoor activity, usually connected with an event somewhere nearby. So here is what was happening before our trip back to South Dakota:

January 7th hail storm

roof of the jeep covered in soft hail or graupel

geocaching in a nearby park after a 

geo event on January 17th

the caches had an animal theme

hidden in trees and bushes

watching the hummers on January 16th

one of the male visitors

a female visitor on a nice warm day

I hosted a geocaching event on January 17th

table of geocachers from our resort

this table of 6 drove from Florence to geocache

and come to the event

SD geocachers on the right with their friends

from IA and now AZ

And here is what we did the rest of January after our trip to South Dakota:

finally made it to San Tan Flat with Bill & Donna for steak and ribs

desert sunset on January 28th

Toby Keith Tribute concert at the resort on January 30th

singer Hollywood Yates and his 6 piece band

singing Red Solo Cup and all my favorites

raising my cup in a toast to Toby Keith

neighbors bought a park model, set in place January 31st

changes coming to the neighborhood

Fun in Gilby

 There’s a reason why Gilby ND is known as the Disneyland of geocaching. We’ve had a blast the last three days playing with some of the most creative geocaches we have done since our visit to Gilby a year ago at this time. 

I am creating a post on my iPhone. This is the first time I have tried this. I also have limited service so we’ll see how it works. 

We spent a bit of time in Larimore and Northwoods Thursday morning until geo friends Jon and Sherry arrived. Then it was off to Disneyland. 

We roasted marshmallows

Moved through a corn maze

Played with the dogs

Found ET

Played with a Swiss Army knife

Played Scrabble

Played Quidditch 

Played Twister

Found Larry

Plus many other clever geocaches. It was a great 3 days of giggles, head slaps, walking in the shelter belts of trees and greeting geocachers we’ve met from neighboring states. 

We added 62 geocaches in the three days. We said goodbye to Jon and Sherry this morning. Now we are off to Canada for more geocaching adventures.