Geocaching

Official Geocache Page

This was a very well hidden Geocache! The cache description states that this one may be tough for the vertically challenged so I was looking in trees, looking up under the bridge which is at the location and I just couldn’t find it. My GPS was consistently pointing me to the same general area so I was focused my search in that area. After probably 20-30 minutes just when I was about to call it quits I decided to check the likely spots one last time. This time I finally located the very well hidden geocache! I sure was happy when I found it, it’s never any fun not finding a cache.

Official Geocache Page

I have walked across the UC Berkeley campus countless times and I never had any idea that this location existed. Hidden on the campus is this log cabin of sorts. The building is quite large and very cool looking. Unfortunately, the building wasn’t open so I couldn’t see the inside but the outside was still worth the visit. The cache itself is one of those hides where a normal person could walk past day in day out for years at a time without ever noticing it but a cacher will spot quite quickly.

Official Geocache Page

I had heard about this cache before I saw it so I knew what was in store for us. Back in the mid eighties when I first moved to the bay area along the shores In Emeryville there was all this really neat art that was out in the water. One of these was an airplane. Most of the art work is now gone but the airplane remains.

This cache is located out onto a deck like pier. At the end of this pier is the airplane in question. Now this airplane is probably about 5 feet from the end of the pier, you can reach out and touch it if you stretch. In order to actually retrieve the cache you need to crawl over the railing and then make a leap of faith over to the pilings that the airplane is resting on.

My buddy and I were looking at it, trying to figure out the best plan of attack. When were were there the tide was low so falling meant landing on the ground and not in the water. My friend volunteered to make the leap and I let him. Heights aren’t my favorite thing in the world, if I was there by myself chances are I would have done it myself but since my friend volunteered I wasn’t going to complain.

Even once my friend made the leap it isn’t easy to find the Geocache. The cache itself is hidden way out on the back of the pilings so you have to step completely out there and then maneuver yourself to the back. My friend did it and made it back safe and sound. This cache was definitely the biggest adventure of the evening.

Official Geocache Page

My brother had come out to Berkeley to help me get Cerritos Creek Cache but since we still had time we decided to go and grab a few more as well. This one was the next closest cache that I hadn’t found. This is pretty much a drive up cache. While I was looking in the area that cache name would make you think it is my brother was looking in the correct spot and quickly found the cache.

Official Geocache Page

I had scouted this one out a while back. The first time I got to the cache area I couldn’t find where you were supposed to enter the area, I saw a spot with a rather frightening drop off but I didn’t think that would be the spot. I decided to look on my Treo to see if the cache description would shed any light on it. Well, it turned out that this was a 4.5 star difficulty terrain and that the scary drop off was how you were supposed to go and get it. I decided then that I would come back with my brother to get this one as I didn’t want to fall and break my leg and be there by myself.

So I came back with my brother and we were actually able to find an easier way to start our decent down to the cache area without having to deal with the drop off. We had to cut through someones front yard a little bit but it was minor. Once we got past that area we started the journey down steep canyon to the cache. I don’t know if this cache is worthy of a 4.5 star difficulty, maybe when it is wet it would would be that hard. That being said, it isn’t an easy hike down, it is rather steep and slippery.

We finally made it down to ground zero and I was able to locate the cache fairly quickly. Getting back up to the car was probably a little bit harder than getting down. The hill is quite steep and slippery but it is very doable.

Official Geocache Page

To date this is the oldest cache that I have found. This cache was placed on 3/10/2001 so it is over six years old. The cache is labeled as Difficulty 1/Terrain 1 and the terrain rating is definitely way off. A one star terrain should mean that it is wheelchair accessible and there is no possible way that someone in a chair could get to this cache. That being said, it was still pretty easy to get to, just had to navigate around some bushes and branches and stuff. Once I made my way to the cache location the cache itself was easy to spot.

I have a feeling that this cache will last for a very very long time. There really isn’t any reason for anyone other than cachers to go up here. The area it is hidden in is not on any real paths and it is right next to quite a bit of private property. I was actually not completely sure whether or not I was trespassing or not.

Official Geocache Page

This cache has a very funny description. The hider talks about a hamster with laser beam eyes that he has left guarding the cache and that you should never wear polka dots while hunting for this geocache. The hide itself was a pretty easy one to find. There was a lot of poison oak in the area but that doesn’t bother me as I am not allergic. When I found this cache, which was a large Tupperware container, the lid was off and the insides were exposed to the elements. Thankfully everything was still in good shape and after I signed the log I put everything back together as good as I could.

Official Geocache Page

It was getting a bit late and I knew it would be getting dark before long but I figured I could squeeze this one in real quick before I headed home. This is a multi stage cache. I found the first stage of the cache super quickly, it was in one of the very first places that I looked. I got the coordinates to the second stage from the first and then headed on over. The batteries in my GPS were just about dead and with all the tree cover I was having a hell of time getting a good lock on ground zero. No matter what I did my GPSr kept on wanting to point me into the poison oak. Although the cache description said that no bushwhacking was required to find the cache my GPS kept telling me that I was going to have to. This cache made me extremely happy that I am not affected by poison oak because I am sure I walked through tons of it.

After looking for about 20 minutes and not having any luck I decided to just start looking all over the area since my GPSr didn’t seem to be helping much. By now it was starting to get dark, I had a few muggles pass by me and they seemed a bit suspicious of me as I looked around.

To make a long story short, my GPSr finally gave me a decent bearing and then I found the cache. It was dark out by the time I was signing the log and of course a muggle came by with his dogs just as I cracked open the ammo box. So I am sitting there with my flashlight, signing the log, ammo box sitting next to me when this muggle comes by with his two dogs. The dogs are barking at me like crazy and their owner is looking at me funny. I tried to be as friendly as I could but boy did I feel exposed.

Official Geocache Page

After DNFing on the last two caches I was really hoping that this one was going to be a success and thankfully, it was. Actually, this one was pretty easy. I found the cache in the first place that I looked. It was a nice little spot that I had never seen before and the reason for the cache was to show you the new firehouse that has been built across the street. I took a picture of the fountain that is right near the cache as well as the firehouse.

Official Geocache Page

I love these rock parks that are scattered throughout Berkeley. I love climbing up and around on the rocks, it makes me feel like a kid again. I got lucky with this cache. My sixth sense kicked into over gear and I walked right up to this one. I really enjoyed this park and it was nice to relax up on the rock and take in the amazing view.

Official Geocache Page

After struggling to find Grotto Rock Park it was nice to have this easy one to follow up with. Between the good given coords and the name of the cache this one was easy to find. I love that there are all these little trails scattered throughout Berkeley that I am sure many people don’t even have any idea exist.

Official Geocache Page

I was sitting at home today and feeling the need to get out so I decided I was going to tackle some of the caches that were in my neighborhood. I had walked up the stairs that this cache his hidden near several times in the past, in fact I have walked past the actual hiding spot many times.

I had something kinda funny happen while I was on my way to the cache site. I wasn’t able to find parking real close so I had parked down the street a bit and as I was walking up to final coords I heard a female voice say “excuse me”. I turned around and there was a very cute young woman in her car. She asked me if I knew how to get to such and such address. I told her I didn’t but that I could find out! I entered where she needed to go into my GPSr and then let the GPSr show her, turn by turn, how to get to her destination. She sure stopped and asked the right person for directions.

After doing my good deed for the day I headed up to the cache site. I was looking all around ground zero and I couldn’t find a damn thing. There didn’t even seem to be any likely places for it to be hiding. I finally decided to break out the Treo and see what was going on, it quickly became apparent. Although this cache is labeled as a “Traditional Cache” it is more like a “Multi-Cache”. The given coordinates bring you to the base of the stairs and then in the cache description you are given instructions on how to actually get to the cache itself.

I walked up the stairs, which are quite nice looking, up to the final cache location. I had to wait out a family of muggles at the final location but they didn’t linger. The cache is hidden in some bushes and some gardening had recently been done to the bush and the cache was clearly visible. I grabbed it, checked out what was inside, signed the log and then put it back, trying to hide it a bit better since the bush had received a hell of a haircut.

Official Geocache Page

By the time I was done finding The Proposal the sun was starting to go down and from what I have read about the Albany Bulb is that it can get a bit sketchy at night. I had done all the caches out on the bulb so my timing was perfect. I did notice that I had missed one on my way in though so I figured I’d have time for one more.

This one quite close to the parking area, so a nice easy walk, and it’s not far from the main trail. I was pretty beat by this time, I had been out exploring the bulb for a few hours by now so I was happy to find that this one close to the trail and there was a nice “chair” right near the cache. I found the cache quite easily and I was then able to sit down and watch the sun set. It was a very nice ending to a great day of caching.

There is still one cache out on the bulb that I haven’t found yet so I will be going back. I hope to bring my camera the next time and get some pictures of the area, it’s really a neat place.

Official Geocache Page

There is a very nice story behind this cache. I won’t repeat the whole thing, if you want to read about it just click the official cache link above. To sum it up though a geocacher proposed to his wife at the spot that the cache is hid at. This guy is a very active cacher and is famous for getting first to finds. So he hid this cache, with the ring inside and then dragged his then girlfriend along with her. They find the cache, she sees the ring, he proposes and a happy ending for all.

This was a nice little hike from my last find and again I was walking over lots of rocks and stuff which was fun. I passed right by the “Castle” that is out on the Albany bulb and I of course had to check it out. I tried taking some pictures but the crappy camera on my Treo took pictures that aren’t even worth posting. The castle is quite neat though and I suggest you take a peek at it while you are out there.

After checking out the Castle I headed over to find the cache. I got lucky with this one, my GPS was spot on and took me within feet of the cache and then the cache was exactly where I thought it was going to be. I was hoping to find another diamond ring inside but I had no such luck I did sign the log though and enjoyed the view of the San Francisco bay.

Official Geocache Page

This was a fun little multi cache out on the bulb. The first stage was pretty close to Stay on Target and walking from it to this one you get to see a really cool art piece which I have posted on the left. Unfortunately, all I had was the crappy camera on my Treo to take pictures with but it’s better than nothing.

The first stage of the cache is to find a rock that has the old Geocaching.com logo painted on it. This rock also has some digits painted on it and with the information on the cache page you can figure out where the second and final stage of the cache is. This area is really neat, there are lots paintings and stuff and it has a very carnival like feel to it. One of my favorites was the Wheel of Life which I took a picture of.

The coordinates bring you over to the other side of the bulb. I don’t know if it was just the route that I took or if you any route you take is going to be like this but I had to work my way over some pretty rough terrain, making my way across very large rocks and stuff, it was actually quite fun but this may not be a cache for little ones. The final stage is also near a prominent landmark on the Albany bulb, the Castle!

I found my way over to the final coords and was a little stumped at first trying to find the cache but then I remembered the hint and spotted it. I signed the log, sat down for a bit and enjoyed the view and then headed on over to find The Proposal

Official Geocache Page

While I had been walking around the bulb I had noticed a bit of industrial junk and large chunks of concrete and little hints of artsy things here and there but nothing prepared me for what I found at this cache. Apparently, the Albany bulb used to be a dump and then sometime during the 80’s or 90’s artists started going out there and turning this junk into art. There are parts of the bulb that are just covered in public art and it’s really cool. This cache is located in what is known as the “The Amphitheater” which you just have to see for yourself, my crappy cell phone pictures really don’t do it justice.

I really enjoyed this cache, it was probably my favorite of the day. I had no idea that this place existed and I was really happy that I had discovered it via Geocaching. I took a few crappy pictures of the area with my cell phone (I really need to remember to bring my camera more often), take a look.

Official Geocache Page

I had solved this puzzle cache which was created by my brothers father in law, Charley, after a lot of hard work. After I had done it I talked to my brother and told him about it and encouraged him to give it a try. I also contacted Charley and he asked me to let him know when I was going to get it because he wanted to be there. My brother cracked the puzzle as well and then we tried to work out a time that we could go and get it together. Unfortunately, Charley couldn’t be there so it was just myself, my brother and his two kids.

My brother and I headed up towards where the cache was hidden. Kyle and Amanda, my nephew & niece, wanted to help of course so we all went hunting. We found the right area and we were poking around and then I spotted the cache. Being the awesome uncle that I am I held back the stuff hiding the cache and then let Kyle “find” the cache.

This puzzle isn’t as hard as it first appears to be. I know that when I first read it my head was spinning and I thought there was no way I’d be able to figure it out. Then one day I was hanging out with my friend and we took a look at the puzzle and decided to see if we could crack it. We didn’t crack it together but right before I left his house we figured out the key on how these things work.

As you read the cache page and the pages it links to you will learn everything you need to, the key here is that every word can be written in three different ways in morse code. I will provide you with an example of what I am talking about. I will be using the word moesrealm in my example.

This is how you write Moesrealm in morse code, the X’s are between the letters:

- - X - - - X . X … X .-. X . X .- X .-.. X - -

Here are the three ways that Moesrealm can be spelled in morse code using trigraphs.

That should be enough to get you going if you read the puzzle page thoroughly. I don’t want to give you too much info. If you do need help solving the puzzle feel free to let me know and I’ll try and give you a hand.