Last Week's Best plus some other quick notes!

The Best from the Last Week

Last Tuesday I attended the ever-popular 3rd Tuesday event.  Rick's Cafe was again the meeting place and plenty of geocachers attended.   Thanks goes out to Kim-n-Steve for once again holding the event!

On Thursday we had another AACC event.  The weather held off and we had a great afternoon at City View Park in Virginia Beach!  

On Saturday the 25th Nana & I teamed up with Lynne and Jim one more time.  This time we were knocking out finds, or at least trying to knock them out, on the peninsula!  

We handed out a few favorite points on the day:

GC6J88E - Hidden Grove - A very nice hide in the far corner of this park.  We wandered a bit before stumbling on the container!

Hidden by GEO CORD BUDDY

The other favorite point we handed out went to:

GC4AENH - Bones - another unique hide by gigiwoll - loved the hide so in addition to the favorite point this cache was also named as the winner of the "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day Award!!!

Upcoming Events !!!

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GC6M916 - AACC - July 14, 2016 - this time being held at the Great Bridge Lock Park in Chesapeake from 4-6 PM.

GC6HQ06 - The Opening Ceremony - being held on July 16th at City View Park in Virginia Beach from 9-10AM.

and of course, never forget our upcoming MEGA-event

GC644HX - 14th Annual GCHR Picnic.  Registration is still open.  you can click HERE to see my page for all sorts of information on the picnic including a link to the registration page!

Other notes

Nana & I are putting the final touches on the plans for our trip to GCBBA - Geocache, Canada's 1st Geocache.  All in all we have over 300 caches on our lists for the trip up, while we are there and of course, the trip back.  We made sure we had more caches planned so we never would run out of stuff to find!!!

Till next time!!!

Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!

Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!  

Just another GREAT!! geocaching day in Hampton Roads

It was early Saturday morning (9/19) when we left SNAP!!!-land and headed out to pickup our partner for the day - alara - yes folks - it has been quite some time since Team TNA has been out on the streets, seeking those ever-elusive caches all around the area.

A beautiful view

So after picking up alara and then stopping to fill our tummys, we set out on a very bright morning in Yorktown.  It is always lovely on the beach but the sun was trying to blind all of us as we gathered the information to answer the questions on the areas newest Eathcache located right on the beach.

Nana & I near GZ

We took our time through out the day, moving from one cache to the next, moving down our list.  Yes we did log a DNF, actually two - one at the beginning of the day and one at the end of the day.

There were also several caches along the way (s

ee the details below) that we wisely elected not to attempt.  If we arrive at ground zero (GZ) for the cache and find too many people loitering around the cache, we will usually bypass the cache as to not reveal it's location to other non-cachers.  It is always better to leave it for another day than to have the cache destroyed or moved by curious on-lookers.

I tried something new with GSAK the week.  I found a really nice MACRO that is supposed to generate a list for you that will be the shorter route.  Your run the Macro, tell it where to start the day and where to end the day and it automatically puts the caches in the optimum order (even using parking coordinates if needed) to cut down on running all over the place and to minimize your driving time.  It also prints out the list so you can keep notes on it and gives you the option to print a map.  See Macro "Cache Route 3".

Our List for the day:

answer are NOT here

1.  GC602XB - Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater - hidden by Fltravelers - the newest Earthcache for the Hampton Roads area - really simple and don't forget to explore the beach area and all the stores while you are the area.

DNF

2. - GC5JRPD - YT micro - hidden by jaimjaimison - yep - our first DNF on the day but reading the logs - we were, by far, not the only ones.

alara was having fun also!

3. - GC5JRQV - Abe is watching - another hidden by jaimjaimison - our 2nd find of the day came in less than a minute and we even considered going back to the previous DNF but decided against it.

4. - GC5TRVW - Burnt Ends - hidden by the coastalgypsies - this is a rarity, a regular (and I mean a real regular) in a small wooded area.  Real easy find.

Geocaching friends

5. - GC5VPMR - Sitting Duck - hidden by gigiwoll - gigiwoll has only hid 3 caches and I think everyone one of them is well worth your time to go look for.  this was a cute little cache and our only hesitation was the fact that a muggle had his car parked right in front of the NO LOITERING sign.  To top if off - the muggle was fast asleep with his feet hanging out the window - Wish I could have got a pic of his feet hanging out right in front of the sign.  Always think of those things after the fact.  Oh - the cache - well worth the visit (of course).

6. - GC5PFXK - How the USCG Helped End Selective Availability - hidden by everplaid - another cacher that has some great hides.  A very simple puzzle and a very easy find.  

7. - GC2A496 - This little piggy went Wii Wii Wii Wii - hidden by Chihuahuak94me - Nana & I have been trying to find this cache for years but every time we come here there is a car with a muggle in it parked right at GZ.  Today, same thing, in fact, we think it was the same car as last time!  No joy here!

8. - GC5X5ZX - Squirrel - hidden by diamonddragon1 - We allowed ourselves to think to hard on this one - which made us wander around for far toooooo long.  Once I stopped thinking and just stood back and looked at the area for something different - there it was!

9. - GC5J6RV - The fungus among us - hidden by gigigwoll - yet another great cache.  This one got a favorite point from us!

10. - GC5WCA6 - Comb Bay Park #1 - hidden by Ramblin Roses 3.  Quick find for experienced cachers.  newer cachers - try not to make it so hard - look for the obvious!

11. - GC5MRVW - Read between the lines - hidden by bigpapa92 - Another cache we skipped because of an event going on very nearby.

12. - GC5HZ41 - Fle house - hidden by coastalgypsies - another very simple Park N Grab (PNG).

13. - GC62P97 - Northhampton Presbyterian Church III - hidden by Grandpa Gene - really enjoyed the short walk to GZ for a very quick find.

14. - GC5RY81 - After-Dinner Mint - hidden by kajots.  Just another simple Park n Grab.

15. - GC5VQ17 - Ozymandias, King of Kings - hidden by Grandpa Gene - decided to walk to GZ instead of driving but it was a nice walk.  We made the find quickly but this is another one that could confuse a newer cacher.

16. - GC61WJZ - Me - I gotta Home - hidden by Grandpa Gene - just another really quick park n grab.

17. - GC5Y6A8 - Sleep between Red Court hidden by Mipe7 - believe it or not another quick Park n grab.

18. - GC5VRX0 - Green Cones behind Red Circles - hidden by Grandpa Gene - we actually spent several minutes here before making the find.

19. - GC52X0G - Two Sides of the South - hidden by Grandpa Gene - we could have spent far too long here but got really lucky right off the bat.  Loved the old armory.

20. - GC5Q7EE - Buzzkill - hidden by elisachristine - neat idea at a really neat old cemetery.  Thanks for bringing us here.

21. - GC5ZADX - Just lookin' fur a home - hidden by Grandpa Gene - muggles parked right at GZ - maybe next time.

22. - GC5DNK2 - VASCIC Trail MP 0.6 - hidden by chrbundr - our 2nd DNF on the day but it was not due to anything other than tired eyes.  We tried far quite a bit.

At the end of the day we ended up with 17 finds and 2 DNFs.  Yes we skipped some others but we will be back!!!

We awarded two caches with favorite points but both of them were owned by gigigwoll:  Squirrell and The fungus among us.

At the end of the day when such conversations take place.... The fungus among us was named as the WINNER.  The winner of the "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day Award.  Congrats!

We have updated the 2015 Winners of the “Coveted" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day Award  page and it can be reached by looking to the right side of the page (when at the top).

As Always...

Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!

Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!

Top 10 Caches in Hampton

With the 13th Annual GCHR Picnic fast approaching, I figured I would put together several lists detailing the best caches around the area.  Today's list will be the best caches, based on favorite points, in the City of Hampton.

The red dot (next to the "Y" in York) is the approximate location of the picnic.

For more information on the picnic - click here

City of Hampton – top 10 caches based on favorite points earned:

1.    GC2V4ED – From Her Bedroom Window II – 36 favorite points - hidden by GrandpaGene.  A cute cache located in a nice neighborhood.  Located just 14 miles from Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: A very nice neighborhood cache located in a cachers front yard.

2.    GC1JVMX – You’re gonna put that where ???? – 33 favorite points – hidden by

 tax-man.  This amusing little multi-cache is located near a medical facility and is approximately 12 miles from Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: An amusing multi-cache!

3.    GCGM7A – A Grand View Cache – 29 favorite points – hidden by CraZy Cache.

This is Hampton’s oldest active cache and is located a nice walk down

the beach from parking which is about 16 miles  from Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: Be prepared to really enjoy a nice walk down the beach!

4.    GC52EER – VTCC #21: Final – 28 favorite points – hidden by Kemallor

 & cacheNquilt.  This is the final cache in a small 21 cache Geo-art located

 about 12 miles from the park.
Note from SNAP!!!: The last cache in a nice series!

5.    GC4Z16X – Hangin out in the Woods – 25 favorite points - hidden by royopokee.

A very nice cache located a short walk through some woods is located 

approximately 9.5 miles from Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: A short walk to a very nice find.

6.    GC3XVN0 – Scabbers goes golfing – 22 favorite points – hidden by Jerseyjaky1.  A traditional Cache with a unique camo.  Approximately 10 miles from Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: Nice location quick cache

7.    GC4ZAD2 – Paddlers Paradise – 19 favorite points – hidden by paddlersparadise.

This amusing cache is not hard to find.  Located approximately 12.5 miles from

Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: Very, very nice cache.

8.     GC2X218– Lows? – 16 favorite points – hidden by irish.redneck.  

Close parking awaits you as you go for this cache approximately 13 miles from

 Newport News Park.
Note from SNAP!!!: Don't let first impressions scare you!

9.     GC4GN2M – Limberakis Gerakaris – 14 favorite points – hidden by Buffalo113.  Another difficult puzzle rated at a 5/3.  Tricky but solvable and takes you for a nice walk on the beach!
Note from SNAP!!!: A tough puzzle but a great location!!!

10.   GC2FN3B – This Factory Rocks – 13 favorite points – hidden by Ibwacko and adopted by GeoMunster1313.  Would you believe this is a Park n Grab?
Note from SNAP!!!: Could be trouble here - might be missing!

Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!

Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!

1 Day, 6 hours, 1 find - what a great cache!!!!

One of the main reasons Nana & I got hooked on geocaching was the places it takes you and the things you can learn.  Saturday, July 27th, we were part of a group of 11 cachers that had the opportunity not only to tour several historic locations, by the end of the day, we also found the cache!!!  The cache in question is GC44NEP - Colonial Treasure.

The CO (cache owner), Scottish Calvaryman, has several interesting caches in the area that have themes patterned after different Indiana Jones' movies.  This particular cache is patterned loosely on the movie National Treasure.

Without giving to much away, we started out on downtown historic Williamsburg at about 9:30 AM.  We quickly figured out which of the historic sites we needed to visit and then spent some time touring the grounds of the site trying to gather the information we needed to solve the puzzle for the next stage.  It took some help from one of the volunteers at the site but we eventually managed to finish our calculations and set off down the road to another historic site.

At this point in the story I will tell you that there is quite a lot of driving involved with the puzzle cache but the time spent going from one site to another was well worth the time.  This is explained in the hint on the cache page.

A short time later we were at another historic site and quickly confirmed we were at the right location.  That being said, knowing you are at the right location is quite different from figuring out the puzzle.  This stage took us the longest but once we stumbled our way to a solution we all gathered back into the vans and set off once again to another fantastic historic location.

The third location was full of history and some of our group got distracted by all the history as the rest of us finally wandered around until the solution presented itself.

Back into the vans and off to the final stage of this cache.  At the start of the day we figured we would have at quite a hike to the final location but we located a place to park far closer than we had even dreamed we would.   11 geocachers wandering through the woods, jumping small creeks and dodging the ever-present spider webs we have all grown to love.  The final cache revealed itself slowly but we did manage to make the find a mere 6 hours after starting out.  Now to be honest there was an hour lunch break in there along the way.

6 hours for one find may frustrate some cachers but his cache was well worth the time.  I can only imagine all the work that went into creating this cache.  Historic locations, fantastic scenery and a great chance to learn facts about history - - - what more could you ask for on a summer afternoon.

As always - State Safe & Keep Caching!!!

SNAP!!! - Suffolk Nana & Papa

GCHR 11th Annual Picnic - August 31st, 2013 - GC42NJJ - A MEGA-event

Every Labor Day Weekend for the 11 years GCHR (GeoCaching Hampton Roads) has held their Annual Picnic.  Last year (2012), the event became a MEGA-event making the picnic Virginia's first ever Mega-event.  This year, 2013, GCHR once again is planning another great event, hopefully, to meet and exceed last year's totals of fun, excitement and attendance.  Vendors are returning again, and new vendors are planning on attending.  The staff and volunteers of GCHR are deep into planning and if the planning meeting that I attended yesterday is any indication - fun will be had by all!!!

I have been compiling lists of top caches in the area for the event.  So as an intro into The Hampton Roads area - here is some information that may assist you if you are planning on coming to the area for the picnic.

The Hampton Roads area

Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia. Hampton Roads is notable for its large military presence and its year-round ice-free harbor, and hundreds of miles of waterfront property and beaches, all of which contribute to the diversity and stability of the region's economy.

The water area known as Hampton Roads is one of the world's largest natural harbors, and incorporates the mouths of the Elizabeth River and James River with several smaller rivers and itself empties into the Chesapeake Bay near its mouth leading to the Atlantic Ocean.

The land area includes dozens of cities, counties and towns on the Virginia Peninsula and in South Hampton Roads. Some of the more outlying areas from the harbor may or may not be included as part of "Hampton Roads", depending upon the organization or purpose. For a commonly used example, as defined for federal economic purposes, the Hampton Roads metropolitan statistical area (MSA) additionally includes two counties in northeastern North Carolina and two counties in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula. Officially, the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA has a population of about 1.7 million, the 36th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The area is steeped in 400 years of American history and hundreds of historical sites and attractions in the area draw visitors from around the world each year. The harbor was the key to the Hampton Roads area's growth, both on land and in water-related activities and events. The harbor and its tributary waterways were (and still are) both important transportation conduits and obstacles to other land-based commerce and travel. Creating and maintaining adequate infrastructure has long been a major challenge. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) are major harbor crossings of the Hampton Roads Beltway which links each of the largest population centers of Hampton Roads. In 2007, the new Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (HRTA) was formed under a controversial state law to levy various additional taxes to generate funding for major regional transportation projects, including a long-sought and costly third crossing of the harbor of Hampton Roads.

The MSA consists of these locations in Virginia:

• Gloucester County
• Isle of Wight County
• James City County
• Mathews County
• York County
• City of Chesapeake
• City of Hampton
• City of Newport News
• City of Norfolk
• City of Poquoson
• City of Portsmouth
• City of Suffolk
• City of Virginia Beach
• City of Williamsburg

The MSA also includes the following locations in North Carolina:

• Currituck County
• Gates County

The Best Geocaches in Hampton Roads

Over the next few weeks I will be generating several lists.  Each list will detail the best geocaches in each city in the Hampton Roads and surrounding areas based on the number of favorite points these caches have earned.  The main reason for these lists is to assist all visitors that may be coming to the area not only for the summer but also for the 11^th Annual Hampton Roads Picnic.  Of course all the local geocachers are more than welcome to use the lists also.

So I suppose the first question will be: How come my cache is not on the list?  I am creating these lists straight from Geocaching.com using GSAK to sort out only those caches in each city with the most favorite points.  I plan on putting out a list for each city in the area i.e., Newport News, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Hampton, etc plus a list for York county and one for within “X” miles of ground zero for the picnic.

Favorite Points, what are they?  If you are a premium member on geocaching.com you earn 1 favorite point for every 10 caches you find.  In turn, you can award these points back to those caches that strike you as interesting, or to just say “Thank You” to a cache owner who has placed a cache that you really like.  As some of you know, most days Nana & I go out caching we award a favorite point to each cache that take us some place interesting or teaches us something new.  It could be the scenery involved around the cache, it could be a historical cache, or it could be it made us fall on the ground laughing.  Whatever, you can award favorite points to any cache you have found.  Additionally, Nana & I usually pick one really outstanding cache for that day and award it the “COVETED” SNAP Cache of the Day Award.   Not only does it get a favorite point but all winners of the award are listed (by year) on our blog: SNAPgeocaching.blogspot.com

Another use for favorite points is you can filter for particular caches in an area.  Nana & I recently took a trip up to Harrisonburg, VA.  As I was getting our list of target caches ready for the trip, I searched a 20 miles radius of Harrisonburg and selected only those caches with 10 or more favorite points!  

By creating these lists I hope to help those coming to the area find the Best Caches in the Hampton Roads area!!!

Stay tuned…

As Always – Stay Safe & Keep caching!!!

SNAP!!! – Suffolk Nana & Papa