Galena Bike Trail

I took on a few TC along the Galena Bike trail a week or so ago.  This was a very nice trail to take a ride on, for one, it's all flat. lol   But near the start of it was a small spring.  That I thought was really neat.

This spring looked like just water was bubbling up from the center.  As I was over here checking it out, another bike rider rode over to me and asked it there was any side trails.  Which I had no idea as this was my first time on the trail.

After reading about the spring and watching it for a bit, it was time to head on down the trail to look for a couple of caches.  This was a nice trail.  Most of it was pea gravel, which is nice to ride on.  The caches I was after where about 2 miles out, and I think 2 miles was the end of the trail.

My first stop was at a cache called Cabin Fever.  I don't know how woodsie found this but it was pretty interesting to see.  If you read my log on the cache, most of it was just joking around saying as I got close I saw this neon sign saying "Eat at Woodsies".  This rusted out "cabin" is barely standing, but was very interesting to check out.  It was just a one room cabin with what looked some sort of fireplace furnace, in the middle of it.

The cabin from a distance.

Inside the cabin.

After checking it out, I didn't stick around long as the sketters where eating me alive.  The rest of the trip, I was wondering who build this, and why.  Why would it be so small?  Questions that I don't think I'll ever get answered.

Then it was on to the next Terracaching, End of the line.  Again getting back on the bike trail, was quite a relief as I was able to out run the sketters, and biting flys.  This one was located near the end of the trail, which is where I ran into some trouble.  I had to do a second dose of bug spray cause the first coat was just like adding flavoring to me.  Which you know what I mean if you've ever had that burning feeling from using too much bug spray.  This area was neat as there was a picnic table, and a bench where you could watch trains go by on the tracks.  There is also a geocache near the TC as well, but I never was able to lay eyes on it, but the forest floor at spots was armpit deep, and I tripped over a few logs on the ground you couldn't see.  I found an old "cellar" type object here too.

When I finally found the Terracache, it was a sight for sore eyes.  A nicely stocked  ammo can.  I think all I got in the log book was my name, and the work sketters.  They where so bad over here, I didn't stick around long.  But I had a great time hunting these two, and again just wonder how he found that cabin.

Happy and safe caching!!!

Tape worm

Balltown, Ia

The whole family went out this past weekend to grab a few caches but we where going way north up to Balltown to see the "Million Dollar View". We had a pretty cool trip going up and back. And we worked it just right so we hit the view at sunset. You can't beat that here in Iowa. Also I didn't know the oldest bar and grill in Iowa was right next to the viewing area. Which I guess it had a fire last year and we found out it had just reopened.

The Terracache we where looking for was Having A Ball .

We didn't find the cache that day, but we had a good time exploring a part of Iowa, none of us have really been too.  Finally here a few weeks ago, I was up in the area and thought I would give it another shot, and wouldn't you know, it was like I knew right where it was at. lol  Sadly we don't have any mountians in Iowa, just a lot of farmland, so seeing a place like this is a rare treat.

Tape worm

4.5 Terrain Challenge

It's been a very long time since I've made a post and figured it was about time to start getting caught up.  I started working on this series of caches over in Boone, Ia and just south of there.  Since there are 9 caches in this series, and I have yet to finish it up, I'll just talk about 3 of them located in McHose Park.

This park is very deceiving but has some really neat hidden away things.  At first I thought this is going to be a piece of cake, but remember I had spinal surgery and the ravines where really testing me and I walked away that day in a lot of pain.  But I found this trail that lead near the caches so then I just had to climb down and up the ravines.  This is a pic of me standing down in the ravine.  You don't get the full feel of the 100 feet climb out of them though.

Then as I was going along I realized this trail used to be a old road years and year ago and ran into a spot where an upside down bridge was.  It was too early in the morning to get my feet wet and hike around with wet boots all day so I looked for another way to cross.

Also here was some neat river banks I saw that I thought really were cool.  Plus there is a disc golf  course and you have to toss the disc across the stream.

As I was walking along this trail I found a really odd thing.  It's hard to explain so I thought I would just show the photo of it.

I took a few to relax while I was here and examine it some.  After a bit of a break I kept going down the trail and I finally found a bridge that crossed the stream.  But on the way there I noticed across the stream a small tunnel.  So when I did get over to that area, I had to climb down and check it out.

After checking this stuff out I went and found the last of this series in this park.  I also grabbed a couple of other caches while I was in the park, but I just thought this whole hidden area that isn't visited by very many held some really neat and historic things.  I really just thought the best way to explain was to use photos I took.  If your in the are and have some time check these out.  I really had a good time in this park.  There are a few other caches in this park I'd like to check out as well.  Again, this was just the first half of this series.  I think I found 6 of them that day, before I just had to bail due to my neck.  I've been busting my butt trying to build my neck and shoulder back up to par.  My neck is doing great, but having a lot of shoulder problems.

Happy and safe caching!!!

Tape worm