Today marks my 22nd Geo-anniversary. I found my first cache on 8/7/02 but did not create my account until the next day. Four years ago I carpet-bombed Lake Wheeler Park where I made my first find with 8 new caches to celebrate my 18th. The following year I celebrated the day with 9 new mix-tape puzzle caches. Two years ago I hid 10 2-stage multi-caches to represent 20. Last year I placed an unusual Letterbox that could be found in only 3 stages if you were lucky, 7 if you were very unlucky (3x7=21). This year I circled back to the beginning of this tradition and have placed 2 traditional caches and 2 multis.
Who knew when I found that first cache in a tree stump it would lead to spending over 1/3rd of my life chasing after them, visiting all 100 counties in NC, all of the lower 48 states plus Alaska, and multiple countries to find even more caches. But even more importantly, I have met some of the most wonderful people all around the globe through this game.
The number 22 is considered a master number in numerology, along with 11 and 33. It is often associated with the concept of mastery and the ability to turn dreams into reality.
Within the tarot, the 22nd card of the Major Arcana is known as “The Fool.” This card symbolizes new beginnings, infinite possibilities, and a leap of faith. The Fool represents the journey of life, where the number 22 plays a crucial role in finding a balance between caution and adventure. (Sounds like a good day of caching.)
In mathematics, 22 is an even composite number composed of two prime numbers: 2 and 11. Its divisors are 1, 2, 11, and 22, making it a highly versatile and interesting number within the realm of mathematical calculations.
In the Hebrew alphabet, each letter is assigned a numerical value. The 22nd and final letter, “Tav,” represents the number 22 and symbolizes completion, perfection, and fulfillment. It signifies the final stage of a cycle and the emergence of new beginnings. (Finding caches is fulfilling.)
"22" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Some have considered it one of Swift's best pop songs. "22" peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified triple platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the lyrics, the narrator celebrates the experience of being 22 years old, inviting friends to dress up, hang out, and "make fun of [their] exes" after having gone through a heartbreak.
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. .22 caliber, or 5.6 mm, refers to a common firearm bore diameter of 0.22 inch (5.6 mm) in both rimfire and centerfire cartridges.
Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. It is his debut novel. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century. The term, which Heller coined, refers to a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations. For example, you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing.
None of these details are necessary to find my newest hides. I just like sharing some info about my motivation for hiding sometimes.
This year I have placed all four in Dix Park. For over 100 years beginning in the late 1700s, this land was part of the Spring Hill plantation owned by the Hunter family. Issac Hunter owned a tavern that was so well known that the Constitutional Convention met there in 1788 and mandated the new state capital be built no more than ten miles away. Later the plantation property became The Dorothea Dix Hospital; the first North Carolina psychiatric hospital, named after mental health advocate Dorothea Dix from New England. It was founded in 1856 and closed in 2012. In 2015 The City of Raleigh bought the 308 acre property from The State of North Carolina for $52 million. The plan is to create a world-class destination park that all North Carolinians can be proud of and enjoy. This one is placed in the tree line on the backside of the off-leash dog park. You will be mostly out of sight but the doggos may notice you if you're too noisy.
So come on out to Dix Park and enjoy a large piece of green space within walking distance of downtown. https://dorotheadixpark.org/visit