We were at the VanAndel Museum for the launch of their newest
exhibit, MAPS, on February 2, 2008. They had some great exhibits
along with the MAPS. Search and rescue dogs, letterboxing, and
geocaching.
Our oldest had a basketball game at 2 pm so we started working
our way from the third floor to the first via the elevator. We went
into the elevator and headed down. However, the doors did not open.
The elevator went up and down for a bit making us all a little bit
motion sick. We pressed the emergency button and were connected
with someone. This person didn't seem to have a clue where we were
located at after asking the initial questions. So, The Conman got
ahold of DeRock and the Psychic Cacher on the phone after many lost
calls just so he could let someone there at the museum know of our
little predicament.
The fire department showed up and quickly had the outer door
opened. We told the kids we would be out real quick. However, we
waited and waited and the inner door did not open. The fire
fighters came in from on top trying to get the door opened. Sent us
up and down a floor to see if it would help. Turned the power on
and off - still nothing. They finally said the GRFD rescue squad
had been disbanded and they didn't have the specialized knowledge
to get us out. However, the OTIS elevator guy was on his way - only
45 minutes away.
We played "I spy" and "I'm thinking of an animal" with the kids
and that help occupy their thoughts and kept the anxiety levels
low. Towards the end the heat in the elevator was beginning to get
quite warm and uncomfortable. Of course - being close to 3 pm by
now - we were all really hungry. The fire fighters asked every so
often if we needed anything and towards the end we said "PIZZA"
every time. I think they thought we were joking. We were quite
serious. Stomp on it. Squash it. Just fit it through the door!
Finally the OTIS elevator guy made it there and had the door
open in under 30 seconds. As the door opened I was amused to see
what specialized tool he was using to get the door to open --- a
snowbrush! He simply used it to turn a pulley - the same pulley the
fire fighters tried to push as well. The elevator guy said that the
angle made all of the difference.
Finally out we were ushered into the nearby volunteer office
where we were given some food and drink. Everyone had a chance to
sit in a nice cool room and the kids now have something to talk
about for quite some time.
Our youngest boy sat outside in the hallway telling people not
to take the elevator because it was stuck. Our oldest told Deane
that there were five words that he couldn't tell us, "I have to go
pee"!
Logging requirement
To log this cache you must tell about us your worst experience
(it doesn't have to be caching related). Logs without that will be
promptly deleted