I sat on a Cholla Cactus

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At least I got these pictures!
I’m going to do the best I can to paint this story and mental picture as if it was an animated cartoon. Because I lived my life for about 15 minutes feeling like I had to be in some sort of fantasy fever dream. Either that or Bugs Bunny had chased me deep into the desert because I forgot to make a left turn at Albuquerque. Either way, cartoonish.
I wasn’t pooping. It was the middle of the night in Joshua Tree. I was taking pictures in the amazing Cholo cactus fields. The sky was crystal clear, and the milky way was shining in all her glory. I was taking pictures from the ground looking up, through the cactus. I was being very careful. I was doing a lot of sitting and laying in the desert to get the right angles. I was being very diligent, checking everything before I moved. It was pitch black, only light was my headlamp. I knew I had to be careful, so I was. One time I was not quite careful enough. I squatted down to check a setting on my camera. I sprung up, like I was shot out of a canon. Within a few seconds I noticed that I had a softball sized hunk of cactus attached to my left ass cheek. It went all the way through my shorts, underpants, and deep into my skin. Countless cactus needles were puncturing my cheek. I immediately knew I had a problem. I did not know what to do. I knew NOT to panic, and I knew that I was not mortally wounded, just a flesh wound. It was pitch black. I grabbed my underpants to try and pull everything away from my body. I could not, so many cactus needles had my clothes stapled to my body. As I started to pull a little harder, I realize this was not gonna be easy. All my playing in the woods and outside I have had a lot of stickers, bushes, thorns, spurs, briars, every imaginable natural thing stuck to and penetrating my body. I grabbed ahold of my clothes on both side of where the cactus bulb was glued. I started pulling and realized exactly how much cactus was stuck in me. It was painful. I would love to say that it was just like ripping a Band-Aid off, get it quick get it done get it over with. It took a lot of strength to pull that thing away from my body and that was only the beginning.
I’m standing there with two handfuls of my clothes and a giant cactus bulb wrapped in them, holding it out and away from my body once I finally got it out of my cheek meat. The elastic bands of my underpants and shorts were currently my biggest enemies. I then slowly started to take my shorts and pants down. There was no other way than to take everything all the way off. I was careful as I could be but somehow, I still panicked at one point and lost my grip on the elastic of my clothes. This caused the cactus ball to shoot straight in my knee and then ankle as I got close to being done. After I pried it away from my body for a second and third time, I finally get my shorts and underpants all the way off. Remember, this is happening in the middle of the desert, in the middle of the night. So now I am rocking nothing but a Donald Duck. Top only. I must walk about 10 minutes through this cactus field back to where I parked my van. I only saw one other person the whole time, and it was dark, so (hopefully) she had no idea I was Donald Ducking. I ended up with at least a handful of cactus spikes that I had to yank out with a pair of tweezers. They were stuck in such a way that even though I can get a hold of them with my fingers, I didn’t have enough strength to yank them out of my body.
All in all, I would definitely say worth it. A very valuable life experience. I now know the next time I photograph in a cactus field, in the dark, I do it naked. That way I will avoid getting cactus bulbs stuck in my cloths. Lesson learned, thank you Universe for the message. Most importantly I had a great time, a great memory, and hopefully made some fun pictures!

I started an album of this trip that I am updating regularly HERE.

I guess I didn’t take good notes these days, but I did get thrown out of Pebble Beach

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Day 53:
12,500 miles and counting.
Today I met Quincy, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
Saturday I was finally able to leave the residence inn in Sacramento. I’m going to head for a few of the high favorited geocaches and other unfinished Geocaching business around here. Then I’m going to finally make it to Yuba City. And then back out to the coast, hopefully finishing the day by Monterey.
I finished up everything I wanted to accomplish around Sacramento by late morning and I’m finally heading up to Yuba City now. I have danced around, and circled around, Yuba City for what feels like a month now. I have been within an hour so many times, and put off swinging through there, but today is finally the day. Between broken windows and broke down vans, Yuba City has just been put on the back burner for too long.
After that I routed to some unfinished business, hunting for Jeremiah’s Gold. I came away with the prize this time! If you care about that entire sage, you can read that here: www.jimmysellers.com/jeremiah
It was another fantastic hike, a hike so nice I did it twice. It was at Morgan Territory Preserve near San Fran.
At some point I could not drive any longer and I stopped to sleep.

Day 54:
Today I met Petey, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
I woke up at a rest area on I-5. It’s where I ran out of energy and daylight yesterday on my way to the coast. My next destination is Monterey which is about two hours from where I started.
Finally, this trip is back on track…for now!
My day started with a 10 mile walk around Monterey. I started around the lover’s leap area. I parked and started walking. I walked across the peninsula, and then took the coastline all the way back. I walked a giant, sideways, letter D. It was breathtaking the entire way. I followed a trail of geocaches, and other natural wonders worth looking at. After that, I went for a sit down dinner. I wanted seafood, and this is the place. I had a wonderful dinner at the Fishwife, and then I found some parking along the ocean. I took a shower, photographed the sunet, made new friends with a nice family currently living in the Monterey area, possibly my new press agent, and then settled in to see what the night sky looks like.
They looked great! I took pictures until I couldn’t any longer. Then I went to sleep. I got rousted out of where I was sleeping in the middle of the night somewhere near Pebble Beach. The kid was super nice, and I thought I was going to talk him into turning a blind eye for a few hours, but he apologized and said he couldn’t. I moved down the road another 20 minutes or so to a Safeway. That looked and felt very safe, oddly enough 🙂

Day 55:
Today I met Nola, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
12,900 miles and counting.
I spent the entire day meandering south on the Pacific Coast Highway. I got almost nowhere. I ended my night in San Luis Obispo. I didn’t get very far south. But I did have a day full of amazing views, picture opportunities, a handful of short to medium hikes, I met some fun people, and I found a bunch of great geocaches. It was somehow a very uneventful, and overly stimulating day. I finished in SLO, just as the sun was setting. Sadly, it was very hazy, and there was no amazing PCH sunset to speak of.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

Boring, nothing happened, skip this

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Day 51:
Today I met Sammy, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
The only place I will be traveling today is .4 miles to drop my van off at the service center. Then I walked back and had second breakfast at my hotel. Not everyone has heard of second breakfast. I spent the entire day in my hotel room, catching up on real life stuff. Work, pictures, etc… I can’t believe how much time I spend in front of a computer in normal life. Hardly any for the past 2 months, it’s been great. If you really want to know what I did today in all it’s boring details, reach out, I possess a certain set of skills.
I think this is the first day in a couple months I have not found a geocache…there is not even one in this hotel parking lot…

Day 52:
Today I met Rebar, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.

The man in green

I woke up this morning in a hotel in Sacramento without my van yet. I slept as long as my body and eyes would allow me, before forcing me up and open. I got cleaned up, had a continental breakfast, and then got a ride to downtown Sacramento. My plan was to do a walking tour, like I do anywhere I’m at. Usually navigated by geocaches, because they always take me to the most interesting, funny, entertaining, and creative locations. I ended up logging about 10 miles around Sacramento.
I started in the old town, around the museums and the water. I did a walking tour of old town Sacramento. Very interesting stuff. Not crowded on a Friday morning. I looped there twice for various GC things. From there I made my way to the Capital and the capital park. I took in some history, some art, some heros, and some fun. About midday I got the call that my van was ready for pickup. Now I need to plan ahead and find somewhere to replace a couple tires ASAP. End of next week at the earliest, and hopefully latest, it being a Friday already. The fun never ends!
After that telephone call I made my way back to my hotel, got my van, picked up laundry, and will spend the rest of the day finishing up work stuff so I can get back to my roadtrip tomorrow morning! Back to the PCH, and onward south.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

Yosemite! I love it so much it’s my tire cover picture

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Day 48:
Today I met Roald, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
11,850 miles in counting.
I woke up at the Golden Gate Bridge rest area this morning. That’s two mornings in a row I woke up at the Golden Gate Bridge, nothing to complain about, I guess. Yesterday was such a fun and successful day, and completely unexpected for the things that I have planned, that I slept better, as long as my body would allow me. I woke up to the sun high in the sky, got cleaned up and got moving. The only thing certain is I have a campground reservation in Yosemite starting today, through the next few days until my van repairs on Thursday.
I toil with what to do and where to go and what route to take to get to Yosemite. Like every other day of this trip, I have changed my mind 100 times in 20 minutes. Originally, I wanted to go back and visit Jeremiahs Gold again. That final is going to haunt me forever, unless I find it. But I think I decided to head out towards Bodie and then work my way into Yosemite from the other side.
I drove East all day. The most beautiful area being Lake Tahoe, obviously. The weather was perfect, and the skies cooperated for me to get some of the most amazing views from above, down onto the lake.
My first real stop of the day was Bodie California. Bodie is an abandoned mining town, that CA maintains as a park. I made it out there about mid-day. I spent a couple hours wandering around, taking pictures, being unbelievably fascinated about this time period. This kind of stuff has always fascinated me. I know I say if I had one I wish, I’d lived back then, I’m wrong. But I wish I could travel back in time for a vacation. you know, kind of like a dude ranch? West World style. If anyone has connections with robots and AI, get in touch.
Since I was driving right past, I had to make a stop at Mono Lake on the way from Bodie to Yosemite. I first heard a mono lake in 2013, the first time I visited Yosemite. But I’ve never been here. Glad I made a little pitstop, it was the perfect time of day. The sun was behind everything and casting that beautiful “sun is setting” light.
Now into Yosemite where I will make my home for the next few days. I’m killing time, and giving my van a rest, before hopeful repairs on Thursday in Sacramento. I guess I just called 3 days in Yosemite “killing time”. More examples I’m the luckiest person alive. I’ve never driven over Tioga Pass before, I don’t believe. I’ve been to Yosemite a few times, but don’t think I ever left the park on the eastern side. That’s one of the more unbelievable passes I’ve ever passed through. I pulled over so many times to look and take pictures I lost count.
I love Yosemite so much. I saw a big brown bear wandering around shortly after I entered the park. Also, it’s the only place where I can enter the gates and think to myself
“Yay I’m in Yosemite!” And then I still have a 2 Hour drive to get to where I’m going in the valley.
What a great place.

Day 49:
Today I met Pierre or PeePee as he is affectionately known, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
12,270 and counting.
I woke up in a Yosemite valley campsite this morning. There won’t be a lot of miles today, because I’m in Yosemite and may not even move my little girl. I got up at about five and drove out to Valley View for sunrise pictures. It was a bit hazy, understandably. But beautiful for all the right reasons. Then up to Tunnel View. I watched the sun come up over the mountain and took some pictures. What an unbelievable life I have. I made conversation with lots of other traveling strangers. It was an amazing way to start my day. Then back to camp where I made myself a wonderful bacon and eggs and fruit breakfast. I think that’s the first time I’ve actually “cooked” a meal in my van. I’ve made a lot of boil in bags, sandwiches, dry foods. But I broke out the cooktop and whipped up some eggs and bacon.
My possible plan for today is to at least make a big walking loop around the valley. I can’t believe there’s still so many geocaches I haven’t found in Yosemite? I’ve been here twice before, both times since I started Geocaching. But there are just a whole lot of unfound geocaches. Lots of them found, but way more than should be unfound.
The way I had to get campsites in here is strange, but I’m just grateful to have them at all. I was in one spot for one night and then the next morning I had to move a quarter-mile to another site for the next two nights.
I did about an 8-mile walking loop around the valley. I got back in the perfect time to move my van from one site to the other. I still cannot believe there are so many geocaches that I had not found in two prior visits here. I walked a big loop. It was about 8 miles, a couple virtuals, whereIgo, very unique question mark in the middle of a national park, and earth caches of course. I had to move my mobile home from one campsite over to campsite number 69 in upper Pines. Hee hee.
I slung up my hammock and rested for a while, just taking in the sky. At the time of day when the sun was highest in the sky, a sunshower came through. Bright blue in one direction, and terrifying gray in the other. The drops were as big as quarters, they felt great in the blazing sun, and that smell of the ozone in a thunderstorm in the trees is delightful.
I finished the night with pictures on the famous bridge that looks into the valley. I set up there a good two hours before I needed to. That gave me the opportunity to have at least a dozen wonderful and meaningful conversations. Most notably I met the most fascinating person so far of the trip. A young fellow from New Jersey named CJ. He’s an inspiration to what we can be.
Then it was back to the campsite. I made a steak and mashed potatoes, and went to bed for the night.

Day 50:
Today I met Ozzy, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
12300 miles and counting.
I woke up in Yosemite Valley, campsite #69. Coolest part of the trip so far.
I had nothing planned. I had to drop my van off for service in Sacramento in 24 hours, so I had that long to play. I made myself a lovely breakfast at the campsite, eggs and bacon. I turned my back for 5 seconds to get my water and walk it to the picnic table, and a crow stole all 4 pieces of my bacon. That left me very depressed. Thankfully the delicious cheesy eggs fixed everything. I spent a while wandering around the campground, enjoying the sounds and smells, and chatting with tons of strangers. About mid-morning, I wrapped up everything, packed up nothing, and got on the road. I had a hike I wanted to do in Yosemite before I left. I parked at Tunnel View, and hiked straight up the side of the mountain, toward Glacier Point. Glacier Point is about 13 miles straight up. I only went about 2 up, almost 4 miles round trip. I found this awesome and old virtual geocache there. Thanks for brining me to this hike. Sadly, the haze was really bad today, and the views were all silhouetted outlines. Still amazing in its own, but different way.
From the park, it was time to get to Sacramento, I had a bed in a hotel waiting for me there. I took my time driving, enjoying the scenery along the Merced River. No picture opportunities today, sadly. I made it into the city, got Pervvie to a nearby truck wash, picked up some stuff at an amazon locker at a 7-11, stopped at the auto depot for more Pervvie liquids (she loves the green stuff), and finally checked into my hotel. Tomorrow morning I take my baby to the infirmary to hopefully find out what ails her.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

On to San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a Phillies game

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Day 45:
Today I met Xavier, or just X, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
I checked into and woke up at a hotel in Davis this morning. Not much geocaching will happen today. I need to catch up on real life work, obligations, and process through some of the pictures I have taken. I had to drop my van, Pervvie, off at La Mesa for a window replacement. I got her there 1st thing, and they were done by 11am. Amazing. I spent most of the day in front of the computer, but when I did venture out, I found a super cute doggie geocache, and I failed at 1 multi cache. Hopefully I will rectify that tomorrow. I did get a lot of other things accomplished today, including a nice chunk of catch up work.

Day 46:
11,700 miles and counting.
This is the day I checked out of the hotel in Davis California. I spent most of the morning and early afternoon doing computer stuff, pictures, blog etc. I have weeks worth of picture processing to catch up on, and I got a nice hunk done. On the way out of town I made a point to find some highly favorited and important geocaches.
My intent is to make it to the Napa old one, and then hopefully sleep at the Golden Gate Bridge. I started my day at a graveyard I finished my day at yesterday. I was wrapping up a multicache. Thank you to the CO for leading a blind guy in the dark. Are these wild turkeys always here because they feast on corpses?
I made out OK on my way out of the town of Davis. I spent a few hours navigating around a completely empty college town. It was the perfect day to drive wherever I want, whenever I want, and park anywhere I want. I found most everything I look for, but had a few disappointing DNF’s as well. Now I’m headed toward San Fran, with a stop in Napa.
My time in Napa went perfectly as planned. I jogged part of the way out, and all the way back, after finding the old ones along the skyline Ridge Trail. When I finished my jog back near parking, I had enough sunlight to do the multi nearby. That one was a lot of fun and very cute.
After that I started heading towards the ocean. It’s impossible to drive directly west at sunset, so I pulled over and had a pizza and some Dr Pepper. From there I drove to the Golden Gate Bridge and scouted out different overlooks. I found the perfect one and pulled in there for the evening. I took pictures throughout the night of a lit up Golden Gate Bridge. I then woke up pre-sunrise and got ready to take pictures first thing in the morning of the sun rising over/under the Golden Gate Bridge. Everything went perfectly. That pull off I slept at is a bit of a rowdy party area. Those kids, am I right?

Day 47:
11,800 miles and counting.
I woke up overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. I took pictures of the bridge in the middle of the night and then woke up in time to catch pre-sunrise and sunrise at the Golden Gate Bridge. Everything went perfect.
Now my hope is to go into San Francisco proper and bebop around there for a while on a Sunday, before a Labor Day holiday. My hopes are the city will be abandoned and empty.
Immediately after sunrise I headed to San Francisco proper. I was going to come into the city and drive around until it aggravated me to no end, and I had to split. But I at least had to get started. It was so early and a Sunday and a holiday weekend I assumed that I had the whole place to myself. I started in one area of the most favorited geocaches, mixed in with some personal ones I wanted to find for personal reasons. Obviously I had to take my picture in front of the Fuller House. After that I parked at the marina. I hopped on my bike. I knocked off another five or six fun things in another cluster on the map, by bike. I was really on a roll. It was about that time when I needed to head to the piers, the busy place, the place that terrifies me. I checked if there was a baseball game. There was, and the local ball club was playing the Phillies. I don’t like baseball, but where I come from, everyone roots for the Phillies. I knew I had to go to this game, just to piss off people at home. They already hate me for this road trip. Now they can hate me b/c I saw their team play in San Fran. But then I decided not to do that, I would just keep navigating the city by van.
For what I think is the third time in this adventure, my wife has come to the rescue. Because of my go go go, I have to get things accomplished attitude and actions, I don’t do a lot of stopping and smelling the roses. I had this unbelievable opportunity dropped in my lap. I knew I wanted to walk around in San Fran. My wife told me I simply had to go to the ball game. So, I went back to my van, took a shower in the middle of a parking lot in the middle of San Francisco, put on 100% clean clothes for the first time in days, and I caught an Uber to the ball field. Wouldn’t you know my luck, I buy a ticket from a scalper off the street, and I still end up in the luxury club box area. So, I enjoy a nice gourmet lunch, then go out and sit through a few innings in the heat. Make really nice conversation with the old fella next to me. Then I wander the entire stadium top to bottom left to right, just to see what a baseball field is.
I got all my obligatory pictures and I moved on. Out front to the Willie Mays Hayes statue and then to start a walking journey around town.
I was looking at where I want to be on a map and thinking, I can’t do all that walking. That’s miles and miles of walking. I walk miles and miles and miles all the time. The difference is here I’m scared because it’s a city. It is safe to say that walking might be my favorite thing. It is also safe to say that cities are my least favorite thing. but I do know from historical fact that I can meet those 2 things in the middle, and have a glorious day. Everything will be paved? There’s no sticker bushes or wild animals going to try to kill me? Sounds like the perfect walking conditions, and for some reason I was still hesitant to walk 8 miles.
Even sometimes my idiocy amazes me as much as it does my wife.
Between the food and the Cheebah, San Francisco is the best smelling town I have visited so far.
I did so many amazing geocaches, visited so many amazing places for art, history, and fun, and got a lot of steps in. I almost robbed myself of that, because I am a laser focused buffoon.
I walked myself all the way back to the van, and took myself to the vista point off 101 at the GGB. That is where I will spend the night, and tomorrow will start to venture toward Yosemite for a few nights.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

Jimmy vs Jeremiah’s Gold: The Squeakquel

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The mission was simple, I’ve done it 1000 times. Actually, now I have done that 10 times. I put all my best hiking gear on, filled my backpack full of water and camera equipment, go for a hike, find a very specific geocache, and any others that fall along that hiking route. Not too complicated. Something that is right in my wheelhouse. Recently, in some foothills near San Francisco, I thought I met my match. I went to Morgan Territorial Regional Preserve to find a geocache dating back to the year 2000. One of the oldest in the country, probably the world. It was going to be a few mile hike round-trip. There were several other geocaches along that route, so I knew they would get my whole attention. I was moving right along, minding my own business, and Jeremiah shows up in my life. It is an entire series that culminates in a final puzzle, put out by a young brother that runs by the name of Jesse. Very little I like more than a puzzle. I did like all these ammo boxes that were lugged up here. 1 was the size of a coffin. Others were the size of a really big ammo box. And yet another was so big it had to come in by copter.
There were six or seven, each with a hint on where to find the final. I found one and immediately dismissed the bigger picture. It was just a traditional geocache I found, great, plus one for me. Then I found a second one. I thought to myself, I better take a look at this. So, I found one of the four spots of shade in the county, and I sat down for a few minutes to figure it out. The route I was taking to my ultimate goal, if I veered off of that just a little bit and doubled my original plan, I can get all of these! That’s not bad. doubling only goes from 3 to 6 miles, or something like that. Still no big deal. I decide that’s what I’m doing. I even study the Geocaching map and notice an empty area where I am hoping the final will be. That would mean it was put there strategically so that you could do this loop and wind up back at the final on the way back to wherever you parked. I got to about the fourth or fifth one and realized I had went the wrong way. I look to my right and realized I had to be 500 feet above where I was right now, almost straight up. I missed the turn to walk along the ridge line. I thought to myself OK, I wasn’t meant to find Jeremiah‘s gold anyway. I didn’t know about it until a few hours ago, I can’t be too disappointed.
I just had to accept the fact that this is where my quest for the gold ended. About 10 minutes later I kicked myself in the ass and said no, I got to do this. I walked backwards adding about another mile of uphill walking to get back to the ridge line. And then I walked along the most spectacular ridge line, stellar views, and some of the most unique trees I’ve ever seen growing out of rocks. If for no other reason I’m glad I double back for that. So, I was back on track! I had already completed the task that brought me here, now I was 80% of the way to a new bigger, even better task. I find the last geocache with the clue in it. I find one of those other spots of shade. I sit down and put the puzzle pieces together. I plug-in the coordinate numbers of where this geocache wants me to be. Oh bother. It is all the way back past even the farthest point I was all day.
On a normal day, that would be no problem. But this was a different kind of hot desert hiking that I wasn’t used to. It was over 100°. Completely exposed, no shade. I’m used to hiking in trees and forests. And earlier today I had put on another 15 or so miles of hiking. So I’m tired. It is rare that it happens to me, but I was completely wiped out and couldn’t do anymore.
I barely slept for the next few nights. All I could think about was not completing the task that I didn’t even know I had. Tossing, turning, lashing out at strangers, breaking things that I haven’t paid for yet, just a wreck of a human. I can’t believe how close I came to Jeremiahs gold, and it slipped away from me. I should’ve just grit my teeth and walked back. But I did not.
Sometime shortly after that, the young gentleman that owns these geocaches, and my new best penpal in the world, Jesse wrote to me to say hello, and that he was happy I had a great time finding all his geocaches, all the things that I would want to hear. Jesse went so far as to offer me a free “find” on the final puzzle. Quoting Jesse in his original communication with me, “Dr. Sellers: You seem really cool. Please help yourself to a find on the final puzzle, based on handsomeness alone.”
I was so flattered, but I knew I could not take that. I have cheated plenty in GC’ing, but only in the ways we all agree is OK. Plus, in the back of my mind, I thought I might still go back another day. I was going to be in the “area” for a bit longer. But I knew that was ridiculous to drive hours out of my way to do a hike I already did, but I’m not on any real itinerary.
It is very well known by my friends and family that I will go way out of my way, do almost anything, just to make 1 person laugh. I’ve done things like drive 12 extra hours, buy domain names, spend too much money, lie cheat steal, whatever it takes to make someone laugh or smile. My specialty is overdoing it for 1 person. I thought to myself, if I went way out of my way just find this one geocache, I bet that would make Jesse smile. But I just couldn’t fit it into my busy schedule. My calendar was wide open with nowhere to be any particular time at all. The one day I was going to go, I’m glad I didn’t. I have nothing but respect for Jesse. But I ended up having an amazing day in San Francisco. I did a walking tour, smelling the smells, and I even took in a baseball game. I had to because my Phillies were in town. I just kept meandering around the San Francisco area for different reasons a lot longer than I expected. Take pictures of the Golden Gate bridge sunrise one morning, middle of the night the next day.
Finally, I was done with San Fran/Sacramento area, and I’m heading to the PCH to pick my road trip back up! And wouldn’t you know, the optimal route to get from Sacramento to Monterey includes Morgan Territory Road! I had to do it, and I better take a picture because people are gonna think I’m a liar and a cheater. Mainly because I am 100% a liar and a cheater
Finally, the day came. It was 9 days after my initial discovery of Jeremiah’s Gold. These were days 44 and 53 of this mad road trip. I’m so glad I did not throw away those shoes and socks. They are definitely gone after today though. I took off walking after packing up my water and needed supplies. It is a very well defined trail system, easy to navigate. VERY up and down, lots of quick elevation. I jogged everywhere it was downhill or flat-ish. All in all, it only took me two hours round-trip. I got a message from Jesse later saying that I made his day and maybe even his year. Since then, Jesse and I have become best friends. I believe I am now godfather to his imaginary children. And I have even named him executor of my upcoming will.
I just love the amazing things that I accidentally get myself involved in, mainly because I try to leave myself open to all the nonsense.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

3 days of nonstop moving and shaking

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Day 42:
Today I met Twinkie, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
11,000 miles and counting
I woke up this morning in Arcata. I came to town last night and visited very old and great friend. We spent a few hours together while I interrupted their band practice, and I saw no practicing at all. I was looking forward to seeing some live music. Instead, they just hung out and did things Humboldt County people do.
After that I found a nice community center that was friendly for sleeping, and got a few hours rest. I was up long before the sun and moving south. I had quite a few things I wanted to get done over the next two days before I had to be in Sacramento on Thursday, so I need to get moving.
Obviously when given the opportunity to stay on a main road or detour south on something called Avenue the Giants, I must choose the Avenue of the Giants. That was a beautiful drive right at sunrise. It was still dark but every once in a while, a little light leaked through. Of course, everything was constantly befuddled with the clouds and fog and that is relentless.
My first destination the morning was going to be at Bovine Mountain for the Cow stash. It’s been a while since I’ve drove any insane Forest Road off-roading in the van, so it seems like this might be the place. I drove my baby Pervvie as far as I was comfortable with. I parked and did the rest by foot. It was 3.5 miles, and an hour fifteen, and zero shade. I jogged anywhere flat or downhill. Glad I parked her when I did. It got gnarly immediately. I’m used to going up and then down. This hike was backwards to what I was accustomed.
After leaving the bovine area it was time to head to the rabbit stash.
The rabbit hole was not a huge success for me. I got the old one, but I left with a few DNFs. I put in a lot of work too, so that’s a little upsetting.
There’s a good chance that with these clear skies this is where I’m going to clean myself up, have dinner, and plan to be to take pictures of tonight‘s night sky.
The night was amazing. The sky was crystal clear. There was a sliver of a crescent moon. That was gone quickly, and the milky way danced across the sky in front of my eyes.

Day 43:
11,300 miles and counting.
I woke up this morning after taking night sky pictures over the ocean near the San Francisco Bay where the rabbit stash is. Last night was amazing. The sky was crystal clear. There was a sliver of a crescent moon. That was gone quickly, and the milky way danced across the sky in front of my eyes. I was up until about 3 AM taking pictures of the Milky Way over the ocean. I have a feeling this could be some of the best photos I’ve ever made. I’m very excited to process them. Update after processing, these are 100% definitely my favorite pictures I have ever made.
My plan today was to continue to circle around San Francisco area. Hopefully I don’t have to enter the city proper at all, but my goal is the rest of year 2000 geocaches that lay nestled in the San Francisco area. My ideal plan would be to make a big loop south on the coast and then come back up and around the city, and then make it to Sacramento by tomorrow night. I don’t think I have nearly enough time for all that, but knowing me I am going to go as hard as I can until I run out of steam, or the wheels fall off.
I made my way to Stinson Beach and then navigated into the forest for the firestone hide. I guess I got here too early for everything, thankfully the one main gate was open, but everything else was still closed. I parked much farther away than I had planned, but that gave me the opportunity to go for a sunrise stroll. I can’t imagine this is what it looks like here every sunrise?! Above the clouds? Yet so low in elevation? I don’t even understand how to explain the climate and skies here.
After I wrapped up at firestone, which I loved! It was time to keep heading south and down to the dog poopy one. Another old hide that happens to be a multi.
Another easy to drive, and wonderful trail system. Not like most of the year 2000 geocaches I found on this trip.
I had a very successful loop around the open space where born free is located. It was shade off and on, thankfully. I made good time and found everything I looked for. Lots of two thousand’s I am finding today. Also walking in a lot of parks which is the greatest thing ever.
I made my way to Igor next. I’m hoping when I get there it’s a place I can stay for the night. It is not, they have an actual gate. So, I ended at the nearby WallyWorld.
Now that I proofread this day, this was quite a successful day of checking things off an imaginary to-do list! I am so proud of myself right now.

Day 44:
11,700 miles and counting
Woke up in a Walmart parking lot somewhere near San Jose. I intended to sleep at a park last night, but that park closed and had gates. So, I went to the always safe backup plan, WallyWorld. I started first thing in the morning to find a multicache and a WebCam nearby and then off to Igor from 2000.
Today ended up being a pretty big day for me. I hiked at least 15 miles overall, with some pretty serious elevation changes. I saw some beautiful scenery that looks like another planet compared to where I come from.
I say it all the time, and I stand by it, the trails feature is worth the price of premium alone for Geocaching. I was planning to be at Igor when he opened, but I was about eight minutes late. Thankfully the gates were open, I parked, and I jogged out to Igor and back. A beautiful first thing in the morning jog to get my blood flowing, my day started perfectly.
From here I will drive over to the mother of dragons hide.
I am in a different part of the world from home. I’m in a part of the world where this morning in the coffee shop, I was eavesdropping on, and then interjected myself in a conversation. The conversation was amongst the employees. The lady was making suggestions for nice places for her coworker to go with a new girlfriend on a day trip. That suggestion was Yosemite. That’s right, Yosemite. I’m in a part of the world where people take Yosemite for granted as a potential day trip. Nothing like where I’m from. The answer to that question would be, hey why don’t you take her to the Strausburg railroad and play putt putt.
I made a nice long jogging loop out of the dragon ball hide, and found all those on that loop that I looked for. What a beautiful park! Golf course nearby looks great too, it almost makes me wish I brought my golf clubs on this road trip, but not really.
Now to go check out what’s going on with this world famous lightbulb?
From there I’ll head to the survival cache just north of here.
I think the survival part is surviving Morgan Territory Road. Boy that road is a lot of fun! I parked at the trail head and proceeded to start walking and looking for hidden treasures along the way.
I would have made a lot better time on the survival cache hike had I not had to stop countless times and pick ouchies out of my socks and shoes. I don’t wanna throw these shoes away, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
So much poop everywhere, yet I saw absolutely no animals who made it.
I thought I might have bit off more than I could chew here, but I am not choking to death, and I survived to sit here and type this.
These ridgeline tree clusters or nothing less than beautifully fascinating.
I did not know anything about this Jeremiah’s Gold geocaching series until I got here. I assumed it was something for locals, and it was not on my radar to complete. I didn’t even know about it. At least now I have the final coords for the slim possibility that I’m never back here. I guess the way I traveled the route would require me to have done 2 loops to get this final. I was very tempted, it was hard not to, but I did not, I was close to my end.
Without a doubt this hike around this preserve is in the top 3 or 4 hikes that I’ve done so far on this road trip.
I scrapped a couple other things that I plan to do today. I’ll follow up with them over the weekend hopefully. But right now, I need to get to Davis, through Stockton and Sacramento. Perrvie’s van window repair scheduled for tomorrow, hopefully this time it will happen. I am staying in a hotel in Davis for at least the next 2 nights. So not much will get done for geocaching.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

I drove all the way across CA, to drive back across CA

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Day 40:
Today I met Sandy, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
I woke up in the most perfect location after sleeping along the PCH. I got up, rub my eyes, stretched, brush my teeth and got ready for another day. I wasn’t sure where I was heading yet, but once I started looking and thinking about it my brain was racked with decisions and choices. I think I changed my plan 100 times over the course of 30 minutes. I even turned around from where I was heading , and then re-turned back around around. I know I have to land in the northeast corner of California at some point. That’s about six hours from where I was. So, I think right now my plan is to head there, backtrack, hopefully for the night at Crater Lake, and then back out to the coastline immediately after that.
Everything turned out as planned, even better actually. I left the coast and head inland. I passed through Veneta Oregon. Home of the Oregon country fair. I’m an East Coast person, but that fair holds a lot of amazing memories of my adolescence. I used to spend two weeks each year out here with friends in Eugene, around the country fair. I did that for four or five of my most formative life years. I had to stop in. Luckily there were a couple of geocaches that brought me exactly where I wanted to be. I think the best memory I now have of the Oregon country fair is driving my van all over the empty fairgrounds, at the end of August, a month after the fair. Seeing all the permanent hippie dippy structures and signs, with nothing else around or nobody else around, that’s a memory I’ll have forever. It put a giant smile on my face and still has me giggling.
Vitreous here I come. Most of the morning I drove through the forest of southern Oregon making my way to Northeastern California. Vitreous falls into the category of things I’m looking for on this trip. Only by one single day, but it made the list.
I pulled up to the diesel pump and parked next to this guy with unbelievable log cabin on a pick-up style RV. We got to chatting and he said “I guess we’re heading to the same place?”
I thought quickly. I’m driving about 14 hours out of the way to find one geocache from the year 2000, so I doubt it. But I simply answered, “Doubt it, where are you heading?”
Burning Man he said. OK now maybe I’m going to burning man for a day. I found out later, the guy I met buying diesel is a bit of an internet celebrity: Truck House Life https://www.youtube.com/c/TruckHouseLife
I made great time and found Vitreous and one of it’s neighbors. I chatted with some ladies that were finding obsidian ‘needles’. I got an interesting education about that. Then it was time to boogie toward Crater Lake. I made everything in perfect timing somehow. As I got into the park and did the ring road, the sun was setting. Every corner presented a new sunset view. It might be the most epic sunset I have ever seen. I shot it from many angles. Then I found a pull off to call home. The sky is crystal clear. I parked, ate, and got my camera set up in perfect time to catch the galactic band passing by. So unbelievably amazing.
I set up camp and had a giant pull off all to myself all night. It was a perfect southwest facing view. I was able to photograph the stars in the Milky Way and the galactic band all night with crater Lake as the foreground. It was hypnotic and mesmerizing.

Day 41:
10,700 miles and counting
I woke up in crater Lake this morning. I have no idea how I got here, but I’m sure glad I was here. I got here just before sunset last night. So, I had to race around and take photographs from different angles before I lost the good light. Then I set up camp and had a giant pull off all to myself all night. It was a perfect southwest facing view. I was able to photograph the stars in the Milky Way and the galactic band all night with crater Lake as the foreground. It was absolutely hypnotic and mesmerizing.
When I say I woke up in crater Lake, I was awake most of the night taking pictures. But I had to be ready for the sunrise. I was! I made it around to the other side of the lake around 6 AM to catch the sunrise pictures from there. After that was done, I then took the time to drive the rim Road and investigate each of the virtual and earth caches around the lake.
After all those tasks were complete it was time to clean up for the day and make my way back to the coast. I spent all day yesterday driving from the PCH, inland, to Northeastern California, just to turn around today and head back to the PCH to continue my journey south on that.
Crescent City is where I will pick up the PCH again. I will travel south from there, hopefully stopping around Eureka. I have a very old, dear friend that lives there. He used to be the front man of a very famous rock and roll band back in the 90s. I don’t want to say much more and give away this persons location.
I continued south, keeping the ocean on my right for the entire afternoon. I had to be in Arcata around six. I leisurely drove and stopped for random tourist options, and mostly non-traditional geocaches.
Boy those redwoods sure are impressive.
I caught up with an old friend for a few hours, had a blast, more fun than I deserve. It almost makes me wish I could live a normal life. Then it was to a nearby community center and tuck myself in for the night.

Here is my longest and probably best time lapse so far. Around 400 images:

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

I’m a 71 year old Goonie

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Day 38:
Today I met Reggie, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip.
miles and counting.
I woke up in a hotel in Bellingham, and soon departed for Astoria.
After getting very little accomplished in the last two days, and being grounded at a hotel in Bellingham, I am back on the open roads. I got a start early in the morning. Before I left town, I filled Pervvie up with her favorite liquid diesel, topped off her freshwater tank, and found a truck wash where a couple of enthusiastic young men really gave her a great bath. They did not forget her undercarriage. They really gave her undercarriage the business. I haven’t been in a clean rig in weeks now. So refreshing.
Time to start heading south with today’s destination to be Astoria.
I traveled south on the interstate 5 corridor, only stopping for tinkle breaks and a few of the highly favorited geocaches.
Thanks to that I got to see some really fun and funny things. I spent about 45 minutes hanging out inside of a bathroom. While that’s not unusual for me, as my friends and lovers will testify, it’s rarely that I have to figure out how to escape one.
I got myself to Astoria safely, and did all the things that a little Goonie baby should.
I wandered around Astoria for a few hours. I had a burger, fries and a malt at the Custard King, because it’s 1968. After that it was time to get out to the coastline and start heading south. A couple of stops I wanted to make were also stops for the Goonies Adventure Lab. How convenient. That AL ended up being my all-time favorite adventure lab yet. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. It was misting and very foggy. You couldn’t barely see 100 yards ahead. There’s still some kind of beauty to that ugliness.
I made my way through Seaside and kept going south. I finished at Canon Beach. This is where I will spend the night. Before turning in, I wandered around town, in the dark, by use of headlamp. I took some amazing pictures of the beach and Haystack Rock, lit up by the natural moonlight. The legend is that giant rock helps lead to the Rich Stuff.
Unfortunately I can’t stay in Cannon Beach. But the officer was kind enough to tell me exactly where to go, a few minutes down the road. Wonderful place. Wonderful police officers.

Day 39:
9950 miles and counting. Today I turned over the 10,000 mile of this road trip!
Last night I got rousted out of town by the police where I tried to sleep 🙂
I misread the sign and thought I could stay overnight. The officer informed me otherwise. We had a wonderful conversation and a few laughs, and I moved on down the road a few miles. I woke up near Cannon Beach Oregon. I stayed up late last night photographing Haystack rock and the waves lit up by the natural moonlight. It was a ton of fun.
I stuck around where I woke up for a little while, wandering around and talking to some new friends. A lot of people just like me, wandering aimlessly, were all gathered together at this rest area on the coast of Oregon. Who would have imagined? So I took the time to chat with every one that would chat with me. It was all of them. I even parked right next to another BEAST! Once I started heading south on the PCH it wasn’t long before I was at the Tunnel of Fun. This geocache deserves it’s own entire entry, and I am sure someone has already done it. Duck Duck Go there if you want. That tunnel was so much fun I did it three times. Once because I had to, the second time because it needed a replacement log, and the third time so I could do it with a friend of mine on FaceTime. I would have done it 7 or 8 times if more of my knucklehead friends answered. People back east are not happy about how much fun I’m having.

View from inside the Tunnel of Fun

After a bunch of random pull offs and photographs it was time to head inland a little bit and find out about Hembres Ridge.
Today is the day I hope to finish up the continental portion of the cache across America series. Once I find Oregon, I should have 49 of the 50. Hawaii being my last. I guess I just hop on a plane right after?
I continue driving south on the PCH, stopping often, taking pictures, making new friends, and thanking the universe for my life. I finally made it to the parking area for Cache Across America, Oregon version. it wasn’t dark, but I was running out of daylight. I dashed up the hill, made the find, took my pictures, gave myself a high five down low, and went back to my van. just then another guy named Derek, with the exact same van I have pulled in. We talked for a long time, laughed and made fun of other people neither of us knew, swapped road trip stories, and I listen to him about how he pilots his own propeller glider? The video was insane! Derek also let me play with his dog.
I decided that’s where I would sleep for the night, so did Derek. I bed down for the night and reflected on one of the most amazing days of my life driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.

THE Hike I planned this trip around!

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Day 36:
9600 miles and counting.
Today I met Zap, hands-down the coolest dog of my trip. Today was also THE day I was looking forward to when I left home for this roadtrip. This hike to Monte Cristo in Washington PNW. It is about 8 miles out to an abandoned gold mining ghost town. I KNOW! That is so many amazing adjectives! This was before I had any idea of the insane and amazing things I would accidentally get myself into.
This morning I woke up at Monte Cristo trailhead. I got started just before sunrise with my headlamp. I wanted to be on the trail and see the light as it rose, and hope for that Pacific Northwest beauty and glory.
I can always tell when I’m the first person through a trail each morning. I’m the one that gets the pleasure of eating all the fresh cobwebs. I walked and looked for all the geocaches on the way out. A few had to wait for the return trip, I knew the sun would be up by the time I walked back. The walk was great. It was an old railroad, lots of it along a river. All of it through the giant trees and forest.
I made it out to Monte Cristo, put my name on the geocaching log, and was on my way back to the van just before 9 AM. The sun was finally coming up over the trees, it was exactly what I wanted.
The Monte Cristo hike in Washington state is the thing I looked forward to most when I left home over a month ago. Of course, I did not realize I would be on a JetSki in slot canyons.
I got back to my van, made breakfast and then head back down the mountain a bit to visit the ice caves. I had no idea this existed until late last night, when local Mr. Ford, told me about this trail. I am glad I went. That was an amazing experience! I went uncomfortably deep into an ice cave, even for MY idiotic standards.
I met a family today who did the ice cave hike for their sons sixth birthday. I’m pretty sure for my six birthday I got a beating.
Try as hard as I might I was unable to find a way to penetrate, and get to the traditional geocache up here at the ice caves. I’ll have to settle for the two earth caches, but nothing feels like accomplishment the same way as writing my fake name on litter in the forest.
After I left the ice caves and the picnic area, I started to head back towards civilization but before I did, I found a beautiful spot along the river. I slung up my hammock, put on some mellow tunes, and took a few hour nap in the shade, along the river. That is not like me. It took me quite a while to wind down and allow my brain to except the fact that for the next couple of hours, I was not going to accomplish anything. Very tough for me.
After a nice nap, pack up minicamp, and head into Bellingham for at least 1 night.

Day 37:
I woke up in a hotel in Bellingham. The repair I had scheduled on my van window is not going to happen. So, I have hung around north eastern Washington for an extra week, with no payoff. Well, I did have the payoff of an amazing week outside and having fun! I saw a rain forest, I slept on the beach, I hiked to Monte Cristo, and on and on and on.
But today will be a dead day. I will spend the day catching up on real life stuff, while I have a hotel room and internet access. Hopefully catch up on my photo processing, and diary entries.
About mid day I finally went out to tour Bellingham, and complete my geocaching duties. I stopped by the webcam, a few virtuals, and a couple of whereigos and letterboxes. It was just a quick trip around town for a couple hours. After that, back to the hotel to keep working. Tomorrow I am back on the open roads, I think my destination will be Astoria. I am feeling a little Goonie, so it seems appropriate.

I did start an album of this trip that I am updating as I process. HERE.