To a six year old boy, the idea of using a map, compass and clues to find a cache of unknown items, hidden by an unknown person, sounds an awful lot like treasure hunting. And even though it had been repeated numerous times that there was not gold or valuables stashed inside, it's still a boy's hope that dad might not know what he's talking about, and there just could be actual treasure somewhere out there!
This was a full family adventure at Red Top, and Zane's short legs managed to keep up better than I had imagined. He insists on dressing as a firefighter when we go hiking, though I've no idea why, and wearing that hard plastic hat despite the sweat that soaks his hair under there.
It was a relief to find that first cache, and with little trouble too, because we has struck out on our last geocache effort last year. Jeannie was the one who spotted it, and the excitement opening it up was like Christmas morning. There were "treasure" in there that other hunters had left behind - info cards, colorful items, and small toys. My boys dropped coins in for their contributions, and then hid it as well as it had been before.
The place where we found this at is actually a spot that is loaded with memories for me. It is a small finger of land that reaches out into the lake. As a young(er) man some ten years ago, this trail was one that I hiked regularly with two good friends. One of those friends now lives in Togo, W. Africa, and the other has since moved to S. Carolina, but it was a good time in my life that is brought to mind, and being there reminds me of those friendships. It's also an important spot to me because it is one of the places that my now-wife and I used to come to on dates. There is a great view of the lake, the lights across the water, and we spent a lot of time there getting to know each other back then. I can see how, if a person grew up in the same place their whole life, certain places would be just soaked with memories, whether good or bad.
But, I digress...
On the hunt for geocache #2, Jack and Zane showed no sign of slowing up. Charging up the hill, it's their mother and I that are slowing them down.
This one was stashed in a spot we've walked past many times and just never noticed, I suppose.
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