Posted this in the SJ Geocacher's forum about my 'adventures' in my search for this cache. It's long so I'll have to break it into two parts:
Part one: Another riviting tale of SJClyde the Bonehead.
I believe that I've admitted being a bonehead to this group once before. . .
"April's Balloon" geocoin (PCCD3T) has been tempting me for the past few days, so I decided I'd attempt to find it after work. Found a couple of other caches not too far from work and used them as a 'warm-up’.
The first was a virtual cache, "The Oldest Living Cache in South Jersey" (GC98F). This is only a mile from my office and didn't require the GPS or searching. I'd been here on a road rally last October and eaten at the diner across the street numerous times.
The I went to "Joel" (GCXQXB). Bonehead's adventure begins. Parked on the Salem side of the bridge instead of the Pennsville side. (RTFDB*) Not a problem, it's not a long bridge and the weather was perfect for a walk. Get to the parking lot and search. Took a while, but finally found it. Open it up to sign the log and realize that I'd left my pen in the car. Again no big deal, I had to go to the car anyway. Drive back to the parking lot, sign the log, replace the cache and head off to Gamblers Express.
No problem finding the bridge. Park about 0.25 miles from the cache and wander back to search. Walk the pedestrian bridge from end to end and don't find it. Tell myself that it wouldn't be on the roadway bridge, but since I know I'm a bonehead, I go over there anyway and check it out, end to end. Not on the roadway bridge. Back to the pedestrian bridge. Crawl along the edge looking at the inboard side of the I-beams’ web. Repeat on the other side. Still no luck. Start walking side to side staring down at the cracks between the planks. Ain't there. About ready to jus give up, but I wanted that coin. Look again and finally locate the cache! Woohoo!!
Open it up, find the coin and I'm a happy camper. Take the log out to sign and . . .wait for it . . .you guessed! the pen is back in the car! Again not a problem. Still a nice afternoon for a walk, and I had to go back to the car anyway. Drive back and park on the shoulder of the bridge, grab the pen and return to sign the log. If I wasn't such a bonehead that'd be the end of the story.
Since I was only going to be a moment, when I was leaving the car I turned on the 4-way flashers, left the keys in the ignition and . . .yeah I'm giving this one away. . .lock the door as I'm leaving. My typical modus operandi when I leave the car is to open the door and hit the electronic lock as I let go of the latch. Annoys the heck out of Mrs. SJClyde, as she's often half a step slower and doesn't appreciate my locking her door. I've done this trick before and since I'm somewhat trainable, I've kept a spare key in my wallet. Reach for the wallet. . .right again. . .the wallet is on the passenger seat where I left it after paying for gas.
Fortunately, I have my cell phone. Give the Mrs. a call and as cell phones are wont to do, it disconnects mid call. Call again and explain my plight. She doesn't know where the heck I am. Explain how to get directions off of Google Maps. And wait. (Did I mention that I'd left the headlights, radio and car's GPS on as well?) As I wait, the radio dies, the headlights dim, but the GPS stays on as does the handheld (which I thought was supposed to turn itself off if there was no motion for an extended period.)
Continued next post!!
*Read the F--- Description Bonehead
[This entry was edited by SJClyde on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 2:12:25 PM.]