The Road Less Traveled[/caption]The Girl and I got out fairly early this morning for a geocaching run. August is the “31 Days of Geocaching” event and the objective is to get a 31-day string of finds. This sounds like fun to me and I can do some easy finds during the work week and then work a little harder on the weekends. So, I picked out three geocaches I’ve been meaning to find for a while and loaded them into the GPSr for a morning run. We stopped at McD’s so I could get a biscuit and some coffee… and, well, three oatmeal cookies. I ate my biscuit outbound and then we paused at the staging area for me to finish my coffee and share my cookies.
Then I let the Girl out and I grabbed my gear. My gear comprises a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack in which I carry my geocaching stuff and my small camera slingpack. I carry a quart of water as well. It’s a pretty good load, but manageable.
We humped it south 500 feet to get the first geocache, a Baily’s hide (always a challenge), found it, then turned around and headed north up the hill to the second geocache, then some more to get the third. I paused a few times on the climbout because the frickin’ road was steep. I can do it, I just have to give my legs a few minutes to dissipate the accumulated lactic acid.
On the way down from geocache White Tiger 3, the Girl and I paused for a few minutes under a tall old pine tree. I wanted a break before heading down the long hill and I wanted time to make a few images.
So, she did doggie things while I spent a few minutes with the water bottle, my thoughts, and my camera. It couldn’t be a much better day. It was warm in the sun, but the air temperature was only about 70F and there was a bit of a breeze at 6,000 ft. The shade of the pine was welcome.
The Girl jumped a lizard as we rounded the tree. I love it! She posed for me while I made the image. Then she gave up and wandered off looking for another lizard to chase.
I rested for a few minutes before we headed off down the hill. The climb pretty well blew my quads and I hate the idea of slipping on the gravel. So we took it easy, pausing a couple of times for other tail users. I like to make the Girl sit and wait for them to pass. Some folks are spooky about dogs.
I wasn’t ready, but a pretty young woman was jogging up the hill. She looked fit and strong and greeted us as she passed. She even spoke to the Girl, who’s ears perked when spoken to. I should have had the camera out and ready to go. It was a missed opportunity. Oh well…
We paused at Kings Canyon Creek so the Girl could get a drink. I had picked up an empty water bottle someone discarded along the trail. The top was already cut out, so I filled it and gave her a drink. She drank two bottles full.
The view of the old Borda Ranch was also interesting. It was a big sheep ranch at one time. I drove through that field a few weeks ago on my way down the hill from the other side. I could see the trail I used from the path.
Anyway, we gathered three geocaches this morning. I got a great workout. The Girl got a good run and lots of mental stimulation. It was a good morning.