July 20–24, 2020
Five days, seven states and more than 2,300 miles. CanisMinor, djpd1023 and I had found a fairly ambitious way to get out of the house in July 2020.
Kansas and Nebraska were our main targets, with GeoArt to work through and interesting stops along the way. But when I think back on the trip, one of my favorite memories is much less complicated: stopping at the Okoboji waterfront to relax and have a drink with the boys.
The pandemic had changed so much of everyday life. Geocaching still gave me a reason to get outside and explore, and the rural searches on this trip offered plenty of room away from crowds. There was a lot of windshield time too, but the company made that part enjoyable.
A Different Summer Plan
CanisMinor’s logs explain how the idea took shape. Our usual Midwest GeoBash trip had been canceled, and the goal became finding 1,000 caches during July. We gave that goal a very enthusiastic workout.
We traveled July 20–24, signing individually or as Team CDS: CanisMinor, djpd1023 and spierson82. By the time we returned, we had cached in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.
A trip built around GeoArt has plenty happening before the first roadside stop. The posted cache icons form pictures on the map, and puzzles can lead to the actual search locations. Part of the appeal is watching those pictures turn into smileys as the searches come together.
Kansas: Puzzles, Back Roads and a Windmill
Our first day included the 99 Problems series, with finds such as I got 99 Problems and this cache is 99 (GC4GRW0), and the Wagons West series, including 021 Wagons West (GC71C0B).
djpd1023’s account remembers ditches, high grass and puzzles he had enjoyed solving. CanisMinor’s notes also record the practical side of a big GeoArt outing: carrying replacement containers and log sheets, and helping with maintenance where it was needed. There was more involved than simply driving up and collecting a number.
Wamego supplied a change of scene at The Old Dutch Mill Virtual (GC83C3). The stone windmill stands in City Park, surrounded by gardens. With the town’s Oz references nearby, it was a pleasant place to spend a little time between the longer series.
I enjoy those changes of pace on a geocaching trip. A string of puzzle caches can lead to a local landmark, a photograph, and a place I might otherwise have driven past.
Nebraska: An Ambitious Couple of Days
July 21 brought us to Girls Rule and Boys Drool, with finds including Girls Rule 145 (Virtuous) (GC6CZ3M) and 006 - Boys Drool (Rugged) (GC7M0DD). My records show 395 regular geocaching credits that day. Apparently, a casual afternoon had escaped the planning process.
The number makes it sound very tidy. djpd1023’s log recalls a day of more than twelve hours, with ticks, chiggers and a few snakes adding their own contributions. The map could look pretty while the searches still required some effort.
The next day included The Hand GeoArt, such as "The Hand" Geo-Art 260 (GC7HR27), and The Dirt challenge series. djpd1023 remembers us taking turns with the searches and stamping, working through difficulties and replacing worn logs or containers along the way.
The challenge caches required an extra distinction. At "The Dirt" Challenge Geo-Art 038 (GC7KVQA), I found and signed the physical container but did not yet meet the challenge requirements. I recorded the visit with a note instead of a find. Six of my Dirt-series visits were notes, so they did not add to my find total.
Those visits were still part of the adventure. They just left me something to work toward after the road trip.
A Quiet Stop and a Favorite Adventure Lab
On July 22, The Holy Family Shrine (GCM97B) gave us another reason to slow down. The chapel near Gretna has a striking timber structure and glass walls, with a path through the gardens leading toward it.
My log calls it a beautiful place. Both companions were impressed too. After all the searching along country roads, taking time to appreciate that setting was an enjoyable part of the day.
On July 23, the Adventure Lab leading to With All My Heart Lab Bonus (The Final Chapter) (GC8N0C8) made an even stronger impression. I enjoyed the storytelling, the locations and the creative puzzle that brought the experience together.
I called it my favorite cache of the trip. CanisMinor and djpd1023’s logs are every bit as enthusiastic about the story and the way the experience was built. I will leave those discoveries for the next visitor, but this was one of the stops that stayed with us.
A Drink with the Boys in Okoboji
Later came the Iowa waterfront and Okoboji East (GCJB66) and Okoboji West (GCJB6J). These were Webcam Caches, so our job was to appear in the camera’s view and save an image of the visit.
The saved picture has the three of us beside the marina, with boats and docks behind us and a wave for the camera. It is a very good souvenir of the stop.
What I especially remember is taking a break and having a drink with the boys. We had covered a lot of ground together. It was good to pause by the water and enjoy being there.
We continued through Iowa on July 24 before finishing the trip. There had been plenty of searching, puzzles, local history and roadside scenery. The regular geocaching records alone added up to more than a thousand credits, with Adventure Lab locations separate from that count.
That is an impressive amount of activity to fit into five days. But a photograph beside the water, and the memory of relaxing with friends, explain why I enjoyed the trip better than the total does.
Field Notes
- Adventure: July 20–24, 2020
- Companions: CanisMinor and djpd1023; Team CDS
- Distance: more than 2,300 miles, from the original trip logs
- States with documented geocaching: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota
- Trip archive: 1,065 regular credited finds; Adventure Lab locations counted separately
- Busiest day: 395 regular credits on July 21
- Unqualified challenge visits were recorded as notes and excluded from the find count
- Standout experience: With All My Heart Lab Bonus (The Final Chapter) (GC8N0C8)
- Waterfront stops: Okoboji East (GCJB66) and Okoboji West (GCJB6J)
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