2014 - The Year in Review

Didn't really think I would have much to blog about when I first thought of running just our stats for just 2014.  Then I ran them and learned a few things.

First the obvious stuff:

2014 was not a very good caching year for us.  We found just over 1000 caches, 1036 to be exact.

We cached  only 89 days which is partially the reason for the low numbers but also my health was less than lackluster 2014.

As far as the breakdown of our 1036 finds, 591 traditional, 275 mystery, 92 multi, 46 events, 6 Wherigo, 6 letterbox, 5 earth and 5 virtual, 3 CITO, 1 webcam and 1 Mega event.  Add to that 5 Lab caches, 18 Benchmarks and 167 Waymarks.

Nana & I took several trips during the year which accounts for the 9 different states we visited.   In late February we accepted an invite to Geo Fest in the Park just outside of Auburn, Alabama and had a terrific time meeting some old friends and making some new ones.  The Auburn area was gorgeous and we really enjoyed the event.

In July Nana & I went touring State Parks in not only Virginia but in Maryland and Delaware.  Along the way we picked up our oldest geocache for the year, GC2DC, Mason-Dixon-A3.  Originally hidden in  February 2001 we also picked up one of the most talked about travel bugs we have ever found at that location.  We carried it with us until the GCHR Mega-event in late August and everywhere we took it, cachers were not only amused but amazed.

We made two other trips during the year and both were for other reasons but we did manage to get in some minor geocaching while visiting colleges in Tennessee and Kentucky.

So, what one thing surprised me the most by running just our 2014 stats.  We never found a cache on Monday during the entire year.  Less than a handful Wednesdays also but absolutely no Mondays.  We will have to see if we can change that during the upcoming year.

We covered a good portion of the D/T grid including 3 5/5 caches!

We completed several different Geo Art projects during the year including: Final Approach (north of Greensboro, NC), Star Trek (Hampton, VA), Tobacco Heritage Trail (Brunswick, VA) and Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (also in Hampton, VA).  We also started but have yet to complete The Beaver Trail geo-art in Gloucester, VA.

Our major accomplishment during 2014 happened on March 22.  Nana & I successfully launched what is currently Virginia's largest geo-art.  SNAP!!!-land.  Located in Suffolk Virginia the art is composed of exactly 100 caches.  Since it was published on that March morning over 88 cachers have completed the entire series, some coming from several states away specifically just to complete the series.

Goals for 2015:
1) Find about 1500 caches (which will put us over the 8000 finds mark)
2) Attend at least 2 Mega-events
3) Find caches in at least 3 more states

We hope to run into some of you during the year.  Everyone please - Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!

Suffolk Nana & Papa

SNAP!!!

Happy New Year... and the WINNER IS......

First of all, we want to thank all you readers out there that take the time to leave feedback or drop us a note, an e-mail or come up to us at a meet n greet.  

2014 was a pretty good year for Pam & I.  We found just over 1000 caches during the year, finished # geo-arts {VTCC, The Tobacco Heritage Trail, Star Trek and Final Approach} and started one other one we have yet to finish.  We also visited 8 states, other than Virginia.

In late March, Pam & I published what is currently Virginia's largest Geo-art (or graffiti).  SNAP!!!-land contains 100 easy puzzle caches and can easily be completed in a 6 to 8 hour period.

So, enough of the small talk, let's get to the main reason for this blog.  In our second year of caching, while traveling back to Suffolk from a day of caching, we would talk about the best cache of day.  It didn't take long for this to develop into The "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day Award. 

The idea of a Cache of the year came to us in 2011.  We took each of the winners of the Cache of the Day and laid them all out and eventually came down to 3 or 4 best of the year.

In 2011 we took a trip to Pennsylvania and visited GC59AF: Thousand Steps Cache.  To this day both Pam & I think of it as our best cache ever and it was named the 1st SNAP!!! Cache of the Year.

The 2012 winner was in Smithfield, VA,  GC3PTB0: Smithfield's Porcine Parade.

Last year the winner was a WVTim cache.  GC44RDE - The Key is the Key.

So here we are, the moment of truth:

3rd Place: GC5CVD9 - NHT:  Symbols of the Cemetery - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA.  This is a very well put together Wherigo that teaches you about the different types of headstones and monuments.

2nd Place: GCA8E - Great Big Rock - hidden by 9ingers - located in Forsyth, NC.  This cache was hidden in May of 2001 and is well worth the visit.  A nice walk through a park and a short hike up a hill to a great location.

The 2014 WINNER of the

"EXTREMELY COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Year

GC4XD7M - The Hermitage Gardens: A Walking Tour - hidden by Prytz+1

located in Norfolk, VA

This is another really well put together Wherigo cache and it takes you on a great walking tour of one of Norfolk's hidden gems.

Congrats!!!

May everyone have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

As Always: Stay Safe & Keep Caching!

Suffolk Nana and Papa

SNAP!!!

"EXTREMELY COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Year - Top 10

Several days ago we blogged about our Yearly award and listed the top favorite caches of those we had found in 2014.

So, just to make sure everyone is on the same Page: Most days we go caching we award favorite points to those caches we find and like.  Most of those days we will find at least one cache that really stands out.  That particular cache will be awarded the "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day award.  At the end of the year we then look at each of those winners and come up with the overall favorite cache of the year which then is awarded the "EXTREMELY COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Year!!!

Past winners were:

2013 - GC44RDE - The Key is the Key by WVTim

 2012 - GC3PTB0 - Smithfield's Porcine Parade by Chihuahuak94me 

    Since we published the last blog, Nana and I had a long discussion and managed to whittle down the list to the Top 10 Favorite Caches.  Here is the top 10 list - in no particular order.

GC3N3Z3 - wild cat alley - hidden by bambie2 - located in Beaufort, NC
GC3RE6V - a mICRO iN tHE wOODS - hidden by altbiers - located in Chesterfield, VA
GCA8E - Great Big Rock - hidden by 9ingers - located in Forsyth, NC
GC4Q2TG - Hiding From the Pandas - hidden by Team Slug Jr - located in Gloucester, VA
GC4M9FD - Can't See the Lake From Here - hidden by 2CachingClowns - located in James City, VA
GC5C50C - NHT:  I think you know my brother. - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC5CVD9 - NHT:  Symbols of the Cemetery - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC5ACT1 - Norfolk's Historic Triangle:  Yellow Fever, 1855 - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC4XD7M - The Hermitage Gardens: A Walking Tour - hidden by Prytz+1 - located in Norfolk, VA

GC22V4X - SECRET AGENTS ONLY (MISSION 2) - hidden by MONTFAM - located in Currituck, NC

Congratsulations to those top 10 cache owners.  We will try to announce the overall winner around the 1st of the year.

As Always, Stay Safe & Keep Caching

Suffolk Nana & Papa

SNAP!!!

End of the Year

With Christmas just one more day away and the end of the year fast approaching, it is time to look at those caches we have encountered this year and loved.  We loved them so much we awarded them the "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Day Award.  Having earned that award in the year 2014 means they are all illegible for the ultimate award we hand out, The "COVETED" SNAP!!! Cache of the Year Award!!!

Here are the caches in the running for the award this year:
GC32DG3 - You've Been Mugged - hidden by Oceandrive2004 - located in Alamance, NC
GC3N3Z3 - wild cat alley - hidden by bambie2 - located in Beaufort, NC
GC568W2 - THT01 GeoArt - hidden by ththider - located in Brunswick, VA
GC4XY5M - OGL 1.5 Mile Run - Gold Award! - hidden by Prytz+1 - located in Chesapeake,VA
GC1BKG5 - Pointless Roads #1 - hidden by nemisis83 - located in Chesterfield, VA
GC3RE6V - a mICRO iN tHE wOODS - hidden by altbiers - located in Chesterfield, VA
GC22V4X - SECRET AGENTS ONLY (MISSION 2) - hidden by MONTFAM - located in Currituck, NC
GCA8E - Great Big Rock - hidden by 9ingers - located in Forsyth, NC
GC2NA1G - Blast from the past. - hidden by firemanbrad - located in Fulton, GA
GC4Q2TG - Hiding From the Pandas - hidden by Team Slug Jr - located in Gloucester, VA
GCQ7E9 - Blanche's View - hidden by FeatheredFriends - located in Guilford, NC
GC4M9FD - Can't See the Lake From Here - hidden by 2CachingClowns - located in James City, VA
GC55KEH - Don't Let This Birdhouse Send You to the Nut House - hidden by Kemallor - located in Newport News, VA
GC5DV21 - JUMP - hidden by gigiwoll - located in Newport News, VA
GC592BP - Forest Lawn Memorial CITO - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC5C50C - NHT:  I think you know my brother. - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC5CVD9 - NHT:  Symbols of the Cemetery - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC5ACT1 - Norfolk's Historic Triangle:  Yellow Fever, 1855 - hidden by cameramoose - located in Norfolk, VA
GC4XD7M - The Hermitage Gardens: A Walking Tour - hidden by Prytz+1 - located in Norfolk, VA
GC40F5B - This Old Magnolia (A geoFITguy 1K Cache) - hidden by Hunster - located in Pitt, NC
GC56X01 - Ammunition #9 - hidden by TheCuppFamily - located in Virginia Beach, VA
GC4MEY5 - Bamboozled - hidden by AllstarSS - located in Virginia Beach, VA
GC53ZA0 - Duck Duck Cache - hidden by Mikey2times - located in Virginia Beach, VA
GC54YTN - Just hang in there! - hidden by Lacey1961 - located in Virginia Beach, VA
GC31ZH7 - Something is Going on Here - hidden by vabikerider - located in Virginia Beach, VA
GC54205  - Lego My Signal - hidden by GoodSunCachers - located in York, VA
GC51B0N - Sometimes you feel like a nut - hidden by dowjr - located in York, VA
GC5ERPB - ST #61 The Final Frontier... I Mean... Cache - hidden by Kemallor - located in York, VA
GCNP18 - Turkey's Delight - hidden by 5 Lost Marbles - located in York, VA

During the last few days of the year Pam & I will be looking at each of these caches trying to whittle this list down to the top 3 and finally settling on one final cache.  We will announce the winner shortly.

As Always - - - Stay Safe & Keep Caching

Suffolk Nana & Papa

SNAP!!!

Keep Hydrated When Hiking/Geocaching

A little over a week before I was one of many friends worried about a fellow geocacher on a good length hike (8.1 miles).   Just eight days later it was me, Papa SNAP!!!, that ran into trouble on a geocaching hike through a local park here in Hampton Roads Virginia.

Although this park had been on our “to do” list for quite some time, I had not planned out the day as I usually do.  We gathered up the supplies and off to the park we went.  I did some quick calculations in the parking lot and decided that two 16 ounce bottles of water should be more than enough to keep me going.  I knew the hike would be somewhere around the 6 – 6.5 mile length and really didn’t want to carry the backpack.  I easily fit 2 bottles of water into the waist bag and off we went.

 Almost 4 hours later I hit a wall.  I really don’t know who placed that wall there but there was no getting over it.  The last half mile had been a task.  Walk a short ways, rest a bit, walk a little more, rest.  Then the wall appeared and I knew I would not make it.  I still had a sip of water left but I had rationed it as far as I could.  Nana was a real trooper as I told her to leave me there and to go get help.  I was actually beginning to feel a little better when the Park Ranger pulled up to check me out but he insisted on calling the EMTs before he gave me a lift back to the parking lot.  The EMTs ended up being my saving grace because as they hooked me up to the monitoring equipment things were not good.  Long story short, I ended up in a hospital for two days recovering from my kidneys shutting down from severe dehydration and my heart had experienced a bad interaction between my blood pressure medication and the dehydration I was experiencing.

Now that I am back at home recovering and getting my strength back, I “googled” “How much water should you take on a hike?”  Most of the websites I looked at said 64 ounces of water for a day-long hike.  Granted, everyone is different, and I for one sweat more than anyone else I know sho I would guess I should take more.   One site I looked at said a half litter (~16 ounces) of water for every mile you hike.  Guess I was off by quite a few bottles.  The hike I had planned was supposed to be about 6 miles but my fit-bit said I walked over 10 miles that day.  Guess I spent more time looking for caches than I had planned!

Yes, I am home now and Yes, I am OK (or at least as OK as I used to be).  Bottom line is pre-planning and, of course, drinking plenty of water.  Please do not go through what I just did - - take plenty of water on your hikes!!!

Special Thanks goes out to my lovely wife (Suffolk Nana or the "SN" of SNAP!!!) of 35 plus years (36 is coming up really fast).  I know it was really hard for her to leave me sitting there and go get help but I do not honestly know where I would be today if she had not left me there to go get help!

Please – Stay Safe (drink plenty of da water) and Keep Caching!!!

SNAP!!! – Suffolk Nana & Papa

Some more... Best Caches of GCHR

Are you coming to the 12th Annual Geocaching Hampton Roads Picnic ?

Do you plan on staying more than one day to do some caching in the area?

If so, then this list might help.

Here are the top 5 caches in every South-side city in the GCHR area

(based on percentage of favorite points to finds).

Virginia Beach

1.  GC4TABG - The Nose Knows - hidden by steve-n-kim - 81% (Multi)

2.  GC4JXYB - Signals  - hidden by drakeotemy - 78% (Puzzle)

3. GC389YR - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - hidden by southtexas - 74% (night cache)

4. GC4TTGR - The KEY to Happiness - hidden by steve-n-kim - 72% (puzzle)

5. GC4R264 - B.Y.O.B. #2 Connect Two - hidden by CachinCousinz - 71%

Chesapeake

1. GC190EK - EVIL - hidden by Frogman83 - 68%

2. GC37AQ2 - The Dark Side  - hidden by southtexas - 67%

3. GC4R8BR - Frankencache - hidden by The Mad Scientist - 66%

4. GC2C7GF - A Cryptex Trading Cache - hidden by ARONK76 - 62% (Puzzle)

5. GC4XVBD - OGL 1.5 Mile Run - hidden by Prytz+1 - 59% (Wherigo)

Norfolk

1. GC51KMT - Forest Lawn: Meet the Residents - hidden by cameramoose - 74% (Wherigo)

2. GC44DXW - NFWC  - hidden by drakeotemy - 72% (Puzzle)

3. GC4Z6KA - Escape from Norfolk - hidden by Prytz+1 - 68% (Wherigo)

4. GC4XD7M - The Hermitage Gardens: A Walking Tour - hidden by Prytz+1 - 60% (Wherigo)

5. GC360WK - In Plain Sight: 15 to 51 for Litech - hidden by Willcoje and Xckarebear - 57%

Portsmouth

1. GC36J27 - Revenge for 302 - hidden by HuffinPuff - 52% (Premium)

2. GC36JHM - Are you kidding?  - hidden by ny311fan - 43% (Premium)

3. GC2Z3RY - The Meatless Steak - hidden by Carole & Tucky - 31%

4. GC8880 - Cradock Cache - hidden by Seth! - 15% (Multi)

5. GCH83K - Cannon of the Presbyterian Church - hidden by ATLas Carva - 9% (Virtual)

Suffolk

1. GC44PNY - I Can't Find My Finger - hidden by southtexas - 70% (Puzzle)

2. GC4FR3R - SNAP 108 - $m@rt Phone Video Cache  - hidden by SNAP!!! - 70%

3. GC44PQW - Something to Chew On - hidden by steve-n-kim - 59% (Puzzle)

4. GC302K3 - Usta B #13 - No Dumping Allowed - hidden by kan1stv- 54% (Multi & Premium)

5. GC3611F - Log It! - hidden by toystory2 - 50%

Isle of Wight

1. GC3PTB0 - Smithfield's Porcine Parade - hidden by chihuahuak94me - 72% (Puzzle)

2. GC47DE8 - Head To The Point - hidden by Ioannes Cornu, Muskrat1337 & Holliehp  - 39%

3. GC3ETZ9 - Historic Fort Huger - hidden by GreatScott - 35%  (Multi)

4. GC1WQAD - Bronze Statues Hold The Key - hidden by chihuahuak94me - 33% (Puzzle)

5. GC2NYVE - Off The Beaten Path - hidden by muskrat 1337 - 28%

Best Geocaches near the upcoming picnic

With the 12th Annual GCHR Picnic fast approaching I know plenty of people will be heading this way to not only participate in yet another great MEGA-event put on by GCHR (Geocaching Hampton Roads), but also to grab some great caches that we have here in the area.

So in an effort to make things easy on ya'll - here is a list of some of the best caches in the area:

Favorite Caches on the Peninsula

Based on percentage of favorite points

(Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, York County, Williamsburg and Gloucester)

96% - GC55KEH – Don’t Let This Birdhouse Send You to the Nut House – A fairly new cache with an amazing 96% favorite rating.  A short drive south of the park will put you in the vicinity of this amazing cache.

90% - GC44NEP – The Colonial Treasure – a tour of local history awaits you at this cache.  An amazing 90% favorite point rating.  The start of this puzzle/multi-cache is in the heart of colonial Williamsburg but the tour provided by this cache will take you to various historic places around the peninsula.  Be prepared to spend at least half a day (minimum) completing this cache.

82% - GC4Z16X – Hanging Out in the Woods – this unique cache is a short drive from Newport News Park.  Can be completed in less than an hour.

81% - GC1YBHP – The Rune Stones of Harwood’s Mill – a complex puzzle cache that more than likely will take you more than a day to complete.  Located very close to Newport News Park.

68% - GC4GN2M – Limberakis Gerakaris– This tough puzzle cache features and amazingly scenic walk to get to the final.  The start of this puzzle/multi-cache almost an hour drive south of Newport News Park but is still on the peninsula.

68% - GC42D4J – Saga of Thorvald Erikson – A well thought our puzzle/multi-cache that will take you on a tour of the grounds around the Mariner’s Museum (Noland Park).  This cache can be completed in a few hours.

67% - GC34RA8 – Raiders of the Lost Ark – one of four Indiana Jones themed caches located near Newport News Park.  This cache can easily be completed in an hour or two.

59% - GC3A5X2 – The Last Crusade – Another of the four Indiana Jones themed caches located in or near the park.  This multi-cache starts very close to the mega-event. 

54% - GC52EER – VTCC#21: Final– this cache is the final of the Virginia Tech geo-art located just south of Newport News Park.  If you have done your homework and prepared, the entire geo-art can be completed easily in less than a few hours.

48% - GC3TQ28 – Larry’s Handiwork – a rather unique cache located just off the hiking/biking trail in Newport News Park.  This cache can easily be completed in an hour or two.

45% - GC44HME – The Signs of U.S. Route 17 South, Grafton, VA – a unique puzzle cache located a short drive away from Newport News Park.  This simple puzzle cache can easily be completed in less than one hour.

45% - GC29RNC - Camp Patrick Henry – A nice puzzle cache located just south of Newport News Park.  This could be a fast find if you know what you are doing!

43% - GC42B9M – Hysterical – a rather unique cache located at the back of a local business.  This cache is along route 17 across a toll bridge in Gloucester County.

43% - GC3VJRV – Huntington Heights – A unique cache that should be a park n grab.  This cache is located south of Newport News Park.

40% - GC51B0N – Sometimes you feel like a nut – a unique cache that shouldn’t take too long to find.  This cache is just a short drive from Newport News Park.

40% - GC1RH2Z – MiNd GaMeS – A very good puzzle cache located a short distance from the park.