Minnesota 150th Anniversary Coin - State Park History Challenge Quest TB

We found the Crow Wing cache first thing this morning after spending the night in the park in Site #14. We haven't been back to this park since May 2003 when we camped here and completed the Hiking Club Trail. We had to be a little sneaky because there was a couple fishing nearby but it was nice to have such a short hike to and from this cache. Enjoyed the bright full moon last night!

State Park #40!!! First of four state parks this weekend. This park has some great memories. We were here in September of 2002 and camped and completed the Hiking Club Trail and toured the Lindbergh house and museum. Then we came back on August 17th of 2005 for a four-night camping outing. (Can't believe that was almost three years to the day!) During that trip we explored the park again, went on a canoe ride on the Mississippi with the park naturalist, and toured the historic buildings and sites of Little Falls.

The hike to the cache was nice and peaceful though the bug spray was necessary. We were able to get within about six feet of a 'dinky' downey woodpecker as he sat on a sign post looking for bugs. Then a wild turkey ran across the trail ahead of us! Enjoyed seeing the cattle and curious heifers in the pasture near the cache.

We dipped our little geocoin in this cache and then headed on to spend the night at Crow Wing State Park.

Heading north for a long weekend to a few more state parks.

Happy Dance!!! Today at 5:15 PM we completed the Southern Region for the Minnesota State Park History Challenge. Twenty-five southern region parks visited, 25 hikes completed, 25 "here it is" moments, 25 pictures of the state park entrance signs were taken, 25 hundred noxious plants were avoided, 25 hundred (give or take a few) miles were driven, 25 thousand mosquitoes and deer flies were swatted, and 25 million memories were accumulated!!!

This was also the final cache of a two-day, 604 mile, 16 out of 17 caches found geocaching trip.

Happy Dance, Happy Dance!!!! Our little coin was with us as we found park #25 of 25 of the Southern Region Parks!!! On the way back to the car we saw a little gardener snake only about seven inches long. That little guy sure could defend himself!!! He coiled up and was jumping up at us with his mouth wide open! Of course at only seven inches long he could only manage a jump of about one inch!!!! We watched him for a bit and then we all went on our way.

On to the Southern Region Final!!!