Glimmerglass State Park - Cooperstown, NY

 0611-1325 42.78672, -74.86205

I arrived with plenty of time to set up in campsite 37, a space off by it's self across the road from the main campground, them go see the covered bridge and try to solve the field puzzle cache. Next thing I knew, I was bushwhacking my way to a Letterbox cache in the woods. There was more, but I decided to save them for next day after my visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

The next morning I took a really nice shower, but on my San Diego Padres gear, packed up and drove the 8 miles south to Cooperstown.  I parked at the trolly ride lot, but found out the trolly does not begin until Saturday. Good opportunity to get some steps in, it was about 3 kilometer walk to the museum. The first thing I noticed is the town was much more humble looking than I expected. I was prepared with MLB influenced hoopla and hype. There was banners for the upcoming inductees, but not a lot of MLB extravagance. The town has been kept small, historic and simple.

The museum is 3 stories of a lot of memorabilia with the plaque room on the first floor. I started on the 2nd floor, watched a 17 minute introduction film, then wandered through the many exhibits, finishing in the plaque room. The plaques are arrayed, grouped by years, so I started at the beginning and took my time, stopping at Tony Gwynn's remembering how he evolved into "Mr. Padre" in which there will never be another like him.  I spent 2 hours in the museum then went to find the various hides. 

There was a real nice Adventure Lab with a puzzle bonus cache. Now this is was I really like about geocaching, it takes to some spots that you might never have a reason to go and see. The bonus took me almost out of town to a really cool stone bridge. The cache was a baseball bat hollowed out at to top. 

That left me on the opposite side of the tow, so I had a nice stroll back to the RAMVAN, where I made a sandwich and a coffee before I went back to the campground. 

I stopped at the park entrance to get the first stage of a 2 stage multi-cache.  The first stage was a small Tupperware painting to blend in with the block wall right in front of the office window. What I found was a laminated written note " go inside and ask for the final." Inside I showed them the note and the reached under the counter and handed me a ammo box.

I signed the log and the ranger gave me a cool coin trackable. Apparently there was a cache challenge in the area and this was the last of the challenge. So you win a coin. 

I had the whole afternoon left to get on Jaguarundi and go after some more hides.  I rode as far around the park as the trails would take me. Returned to camp to plan the next days journey. Not all who wander are lost 😃

GGSP Cooperstown shared album

Sterling State Park - Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York

 0608-1035 41.92143, -83.34221

I stopped at the Welcome Center rest stop just across the state line, but could not find the cache. But I did complete the questions about Michigan Rocks and got credit for a Earth Cache to get the Michigan souvenir.  I arrived at the RV Park, which was all open and rows of RVs. Most were trailers with boats.  I did not set up, I took off to find the geocaches on the beach,

which turned out to be a real long walk and I could not find either of the caches. No worries, there are three more on the bike trails, but I later found out that area was closed. I went in through the barricades but was run off by a guy on a earth mover. 

When I got back to the van it was covered with these big mosquitoes looking fly which turned out to be Mayflies.  They were really not a bother, they didn't bite, but there was so many. I put up the mosquito net across the door to keep them out of the van.  I got them off all the bins I took out of the van and got everything inside.  In the morning they were still there, but they were not alive. It's like they just dried up. I was up early and went and took a well needed shower, when I returned most if the dead ones had blown off replaced by new ones. 

 I spent the rest of my time planning my trip east through Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. 

I found a place on the Pennsylvania coast called Presque Isle State Park. There is a monument about the Naval battles in Lake Erie. I Had a good time taking the walk getting all the answers to the Virtual cache questions about Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry. 

Not knowing how far I was going to drive, I continued east into New York through Buffalo andI plan to stay the night for free at a rest stop or another Crackle Barrel.  The first "Service Station" , not really a rest stop, there is a gas station and a Dunkin Donuts but there was a sign saying no overnight parking 4 hour limit. So I headed down the road and found another one. This one was partly under construction, but there was no sign so I decided to stay and see if someone tells me to leave. Soon there was another Van, a truck and camper and semis parked for the night. 

The next day I decided not to pay the turnpike tolls and take the scenic route through the Finger Lakes. I stopped at Canandaigua Lake, Seneca Lake and Skaneateles Lake. Passing Farms and small towns, just enjoying the drive. Before I new it I was pulling into Glimmer Glass State Park (Otsego Lake) - Cooperstown, NY. 

Photos of Michigan 

Photos of Michigan to New York

Miami Whitewater Forest Campground - Harrison, OH 45030

 060725 39.257210, -84.749373

I cached my way through Kentucky, stopping in small towns and earning a new souvenirs. Northwest into Indiana briefly then arriving late into the Miami Whitewater Forest Campground north of Cincinnati OH.

Campground was crowded, being the weekend and the sites, a mix of tents, truck campers and RVs were close to one another. Still it was a nice park with plenty to do and they had geocaches in the park. I was up early in the morning and went on a wonderful rainy hike and found 3 Ohio caches. 

After my coffee, I took off heading into Indiana quickly finding my first cache and then on to a nice graveyard virtual cache about Vivian's Doll house, Sad but well done. It was in small town Connersville IN. To get credit for the cache you have to name at lease one thing inside the doll house. I answered; Coal/wood stove, Tricycle and wagon with Vivian on the side, Bed, Chest/trunk, Baby doll and lady doll, Portrait and Tea set. 

I continued on north back into Ohio en route the shores of Lake Erie in Michigan. 

Additional Photos.

Panther State Forest - West Virginia

 060625 37.44775, -81.87643

Heading north through North Carolina and Virginia, on course for the Virtual Cache HBC..Who? just over the border where the 77 freeway ends near Bluefield WV. After driving all day I had a nice walk around the campus of  BLUEFIELD STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE which earned me the West Virginia Souvenir. Todays camp is Panther State Forest, a remote location some 60 miles in back country road that winds through coal mining communities. 

"Take me home country roads" Narrow tree covered, sometimes only one car wide roads along rivers and creeks where in some places the asphalt has been washed away. I finally arrived and check in with Ranger Sam at the camp office. Sam proceeded to had me a pile of magazines, brochures and flyers, oh and a map. He said he would bring
some fire wood up when he closes the office. The campground the was just a row of about 7 sites just off the road nestled on Panther Creek. I got set up and Sam stopped by with the wood. It was very peaceful with the sound of running water and thousands
, millions of Cicadas. 

After I ate dinner, grilled chicken with salad, the sun fully set, the fire flies came out. Hundereds of them dancing through the air, it was quite the show. Just as I was wishing I was staying more than 1 night, the rain started and it was a down pour! 

It rained all night through the morning. Having no internet, I packed up and headed to the camp office. I wanted to see if the rain would stop long enough to hike the overlook trail. But Wifi was down and the ranger on duty said the rain will last all day. So I headed back out the way I came in until I got a cell signal and mapped directions to Pikeville Kentucky to earn my next state souvenir. 

👀photos

Kings Mountain South Carolina

 0604-060625  35.14947, -81.34722

I had an uneventful drive from Alabama to South Carolina "In my mind I'm going to Carolina ....." -JT a state I have never been before.  I was able to get the State Souvenir at the South Carolina Welcome Center Rest Stop in Fair Play SC. Only 12 more states to go! The campground was not very full, and the ranger station was closed when I arrived. There was nice tree cover at my site that let in just enough sun light and break the wind, which was picking up. 

The light rain turned into a down pour over night and it was rainy for the rest of my stay. Everything got wet, but I figured I need this in preparation for camping in Washington later this summer. So I went on with my adventures. I was up early the next morning, broke camp to go get a North Carolina cache. I was real close to the border, so I looped around and pulled into the North Carolina I-85 Welcome Center Rest Stop and earned the NC State Souvenir! Returned to the campground and checked in to the office.  After getting set up again, I pulled out my NW rain gear and set off for a bike ride to the

Kings Mountain National Military Park, about 3 miles down the road. The virtual cache at the park, called Furgeson's Folly, has you take the 1.5 mile walk around the battle site and answer 8 questions about the battle between Patriot Forces commanded by Col. William Campbell and the British Forces, commanded by Patrick Furgeson who fell in the battle. Ever wonder if Furgeson had won? 

I returned to camp and hunkered down in RAMVAN. The rain continued until the next morning when I set off for West Virginia. Until then, I leave you with a link to photos of Kings Mountain. 

 

Pell City, Alabama

 0602-060425

Moochdocked at Carla's for 2 days. I was able put a dent in the local cache population, catch up on Laundry and spend time with my daughter and her special someone! 

Thanks for cooking me a hot meal and the father's day card. 💛

Photo's of my visit

Monahans Sandhills State Park

053025 31.61885, -102.81198

I left Veterans Park, 4363’ elevation , head up the west side of the continental divide and down the east side on route to Monahans  TX elevation. 2729’ Funny to think of it that way. 

I arrived at the Sandhills State Park just before the Park Office closed for the day at 1630.  Ranger Phil checked me in and said he was a AK (procures, receives and issues supplies, materials, parts and equipment for Navy Aviation) in the Navy for 5 years.
We swapped a couple sea stories and he gave me a free park sticker. It was free because the S is missing from Monahans, so they can't sale it. As he was locking up, he told me about the Geocache in the park. As soon as I found my space and parked, I took off on the Jaguarundi 🚲 in search of the cache which ended up a 1000' walk up and down the sand hills, like a beach! I continued to ride just outside the park to find another one. I had to wait for the office to open up in the morning to get the answers for the Earth Cache. 

I got back to the van and got set up. I have been using traction boards to level up the van. I cooked dinner and watch the Padres game.  The day use area had groups of kids using saucers to slide down the sand dunes. I had fun watching them as the sun set. My space pointed north, so in the morning I had a good view the sunrise. 
I stopped at the park office on my way out to get the answers to the Earth Cache. Talked Geocaching with the Rangers and got on the road heading east. 

Photos of Monahans Sandhills State Park

Veteran's Park - Lordsburg NM

 052925 N32° 20'0" W108° 43' 16"

I found this place on 12/23/24 on my way home from Alabama. There is a cache in the tank at the entrance. Easy access just pull into the end spot with table canopy and grill. Flat hard packed dirt/ gravel very level. Only two other campers here. There are no amenities, I did see a water spigot but it might be for irrigation.  I took off for a walk in the open fields across the street. More campers arrived later when I was cooking my dinner, but the place was far from crowded.  Nice peaceful over night.  Veteran's Park photos

Geocache Safari 2025

052925  I had a notion to travel every summer to get out of the heat in Sun City May - Sept. In May I spent 22 nights in the GeoVan, Today, I am starting a trip to find a cache in all U.S. 50 states,

I have 13 left: 1 South Carolina, 2 North Carolina,  3 West Virginia, 4 Kentucky, 5 Ohio,6 Indiana, 7 Michigan, 8 Massachusetts, 9 Connecticut, 10 Rhode Island, 11 Vermont, 12 New Hampshire, 13 Maine. My plan puts me in Maine on 6/15/25 and between Michigan and Connecticut, I'll visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Once I get to Maine, I am pretty sure I will visit Canadian Provence's: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, Quebec and Ontario. I will see how I feel once I get to the Ottawa area, continue across Canada or back into Michigan and take route 66 towards home.  Here is the link to my google map

Moochdocking on Bocaw Street

 051825 

After playing baseball, a little geocaching and a long game of Battleship with Sawyer, I decided just to stay there. Now I could have stayed in the house, but this was my first time camping on the street. Lisa also had me scared telling me how her truck was stolen ( I hope you get it back in good shape). I had an uneventful nights stay. Everybody had school or work in the morning so I took off to Lake Murray for a nice walk, after topping off my water tank ( thanks you very much). The Osprey was at their perch 

Camp Kumeyaay Lake Campground

 051625 - 051825 32.8397, -117.0332

I enjoyed my stay at this small park.  At first I was taken back with the noise and the number of people nearby, but soon I found it was nice to have neighbors and hear them having such a great time. Most of all I enjoyed getting picked up and having a great time with Riley (and her parents).

Here are the pictures I took. Here is my Campendium review:

Visiting the area to attend my Granddaughter's 8th birthday party. The sites are pretty close together and there is a trail going through the center of the park, connecting the sites, so you can expect frequent food traffic through the sites. This would make a good Boy or Girl Scout campout. Most of the campers were tenting but there was a few other small vans, truck campers and class C.  Plenty of nature, but not a place to get away from the hustle bustle. What I liked most was the easy in and out while I went visiting. The gate is kept open, even though they may look closed after 8pm. If you have to go through late, use the exit gate. 

I did take time to walk the lake and the numerous trails. This is a popular area on the weekends and the campground is only open Friday and Saturday nights. The restrooms were kept clean and the showers worked great. 

Lake Cuyamaca County Park

 051325 - 051525 Lake Cuyamaca County Park - Chamber's Park Campground RV Site #19 

32.990792, -116.578829

Arriving right at 1400 on Tuesday May 13, cold and windy, I didn't need any directions finding the campground. There was one other camper and a group of tents down by the lake shore. The office was closed with a note to take to take my space and return in the morning. I parked, but did not set up. Instead I notices there was 2 new, well new to me, geocaches so I put on my warm coat and took a walk. Not much has changed with the lake,

soon I was walking by the bank where fishing with my kids, early 90's, they caught their limit and we had a nice fish fry. I remember I didn't fish because I was to busy taking fish off their lines and getting hooks back in the water, what a nice memory. Continuing around the east side of the island and across the bridge I proceeded to find the small hides. By the time I got back the westerly blow had eased to a moderate wind, so I re-parked and finished setting up. Dinner was grilled chicken salad.

The next morning I took off on the bike around the lake to check in at the tackle shop, complete an Adventure Lab and go after some more caches. Even though it was still cold and windy, the sun came out and turned out to be a beautiful morning.  The Anglers I talked to said the trout were not biting, but they did get an occasional catfish. The clouds and wind returned in the afternoon, I hunkered down inside and took a nap. 

Thursday morning I left the campground in the morning and parked on the south end of the lake. I rode up the jeep trails going after some more new hides. The last time I was in this area was March 2013 with Dan & Lisa we hiked up the Middle Peak trail. It still showed the devistation from the Cedar Fire, the largest of the 15 fires, began on October 25 2003 when a hiker lost in Cleveland National Forest sparked a fire in a desperate attempt to be rescued. In just 14 hours, what started as a relatively small blaze quickly swelled into a 28-mile-long conflagration, driven by the destructive power of the seasonal Santa Ana winds, and crossed into Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.  Today there is much new growth, very green with spring flowers, parts of the trail are over grown.  (https://www.americanforests.org/article/regrowing-a-forest/)

👀Photos👀

Southern Bald Eagle

I stopped on the trail looking for a geocache and I heard this screeching. Looked all over for some kind of creature. Then when I was signing the log, I heard it again - like right in front of me. That’s when I saw the Bald Eagle. Stayed there for a long time, the Eagle giving me the eagle eye. Finally it took off to another tree top 🦅 N 32 59.192 W 116 34.229