Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Door County Geocaching Challenge

As you may know, we vacationed in Door County, Wisconsin last month. (Click on any photo to enlarge.) We did some geocaching, but I just haven't had the time to post about it. Cliffs.jog (Would you like some cheese with that whine?)

One of the caches we did attempt was the Door County Challenge - a series of four, increasingly difficult geocaches in Ellison Bluff County Park. After a picnic of cheese, smoked whitefish, and fresh fruit we decided to tackle the Door County Challenge. The first stage is rated a 1 - 1, but after a mile walk, I began thinking that a 1 - 1 should be right in the parking lot. But anyway . . .

The coordinates for the second stage were recorded on the first, so we started in search of that one. As promised, the second stage was a bit trickier. We bushwhacked through the woods quite a ways, then found the cache hidden under a natural cleft in the rocks. In spite of the tree canopy, the GPSr was right on target. Whoever found this little hidey-hole out in the middle of the woods is to be commended.

We entered the third stage coords, into the GPSr, and struck out through the woods in search mode.

There are very few places in the Midwest more beautiful than Door County in June. Tourists from across the world come here to relax and enjoy the unspoiled forests and deserted shorelines. We trekked through stands of white pine and hemlock trees, hardwoods, and everything in between. Panaramic View Birds were singing and spring was giving way to summer. While the breeze was from the east, we could just feel its cooling affects, and every time we ventured near the bluffs west of us, were were treated to fantastic panoramic views of Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

And that's just where our GPSr was leading us. Right to the bluffs over-looking the lake. It became obvious that the third leg of this geocache was far below us, on the shoreline. I could see where other geo-seekers had climbed down the rocks, but we would not make the climb. Bad weather was approaching - and fast. We decided to play it safe and head back to the car.

Oh what clever people we are! By the time we reached the parking area, it was sprinkling. By the time we made it back to the main road, it was storming. Rain. Wind. Hail. No kitchen sinks, though. No cats and dogs.

Door County geocaching had not disappointed. We were thrilled to get two of the four stages. Geocaching is always better when you don't have to go back to work the next day.

The Approaching Storm

The Approaching Storm

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