Keystone State Park

Ready, Set, GEOCACHE!

Mom and Dad Bukky visited us this weekend and we introduced them to the world of geocaching. They have been wanting to hike along with us at Keystone State Park for a while now and we all finally had a weekend of freedom to go explore. We took them hiking almost around the entire park today and those 55 year old people actually kept up. Honestly, I think I was more exhausted than either of them at the end of the day. 

We drove around the park first to give them a tour (we drove around too because Creed wouldn't listen to me about where to park the car). Then we set off on our geocaching adventure. 

I think it was a little difficult for Mom and Dad first because they had no idea where they were going which is not something they are accustomed to experiencing.  Mom kept asking for a map and I kept telling her we didn't use a map, instead we use a Garmin GPS. So now I think they are going to buy a GPS, finally.  

The first cache, The Big One Got Away!, was found rather quickly and was a good example for Mom and Dad to see so that they could understand what type of containers we typically are searching while geocaching. The only problem is that the log that we usually sign was soaking wet from the rain and we couldn't sign it. That's the one issue with geocaching is that the containers people use to hide the caches aren't always waterproof.  It's always somewhat gross whenever we open these waterlogged caches because the paper gets all slimey from the rain water and leaf decay. 

We took the Ranger Trail that runs throughout the park to the next geocache, Sacred Altar or Big Commode? (people pick some weird names).  Ranger Trail is a nice, easy walking trail that winds through the trees. Lots of great photo opportunities along this trail. This geocache was about a kilometer away from the first cache we found. Mom kept asking "Are we there yet?" which I suppose is a form of payback for all the times I asked her that as a little kid on the road. 

Mom Bukky had to find herself a walking stick so she could get some more traction while walking. That stick came in handy later when we went way off the trail and she was caught in some brambles, but more on that tidbit later. 

Mom was the first person to find this geocache and she used her walking stick to remove all the dead branches that had been hiding the cache.  I kept telling her to just grab it with her hands but she promptly refused stating that there could be spiders which I can completely understand. 

However, whenever she and Dad Bukky did open the cache though someone had placed a fake snake inside. So, the first thing they saw was the snake. Quite hilarious. This cache's original log was soaked with rain water as well but luckily some fellow geocacher before us had put a replacement log in the cache 2 days prior. 

On to the next geocache, Keystone Caching Caper Commemorative which was just down the road from the last geocache.  Dad and I found this one fairly easily. I made him grab it though because the top of the ammo can was covered in spider webs.  This geocache had some nifty stuff inside too! Dad really enjoyed the fake glasses that were hidden inside. 

 

Our next geocache, American Sycamore, was not one I had originally planned on taking the parents to visit but Creed decided it would be a good hike along the railroad. Thankfully no trestles were crossed and there were no trains threatening to run us over. Mom and Dad were adorable and held hands as they walked along

While I attempted to walk along on the railroad track. I only made it about half a mile before I fell off. This geocache took a long time to get to and once we got there we had to rappel down. Instead of walking back along the railroad we walked along the shoreline which was mostly rocks. Once we hit the sand, it was an easier hike. Dad and Creed skipped rocks across the lake while Mom and I sat down to take a break from hiking. We eventually made it back to the car but not before Mom fought with some brambles that had caught up around her legs. 

All in all, it was a great geocaching adventure.