The Journey to 100...

     So we began the day with 95 caches under our belt. We had tried to get to 99 the night before, but with our recent "meeting ups' with the local PD (that's another story), we decided to call it quits at 10:00 pm. So the following day... beginning with 95 caches, and we head out after Daniel got home from work.

Daniel with the Muel @ Yo Banana Boy

     We leave about 4:30 pm and found #96 "Yo Banana Boy" by Jac0b at 4:48 pm. Daniel decided he wanted his picture with the mule. Now that I think about it... "What am I? Chopped liver?" Oh well, He had fun!     Then it was on to #97. We went down the road a little ways, only to realize the the next cache, "You Lift Me Up" by Jac0b, was the other direction just at the end of the road. Made a Uey, and grabbed that one, signed the log, and replaced the awesome container back where it, most probably but maybe not, fell from.

Jamie found #98, Welcome to American Fork 4

(A terrible picture btw)

     We saw that there was a cache by jbj1, Dan's uncle, that was close by, and decided to grab that one for our 98th cache. We knew it was going to be in this pole, "Welcome to American Fork 4" by bjb1, but didn't see it at first. I don't think the owner placed it exactly where we found it, a mere 10 ft up the sign in the hole. Daniel had to actually climb the sign to grab it. Jumping just wasn't getting him high enough. Anyway, grabbed the cache, signed the log, and snapped the picture. #99, here we come!

We were so excited that I look like a dork,
and Daniel had to sneak a kiss,
just as I snapped the picture

     We kept on trucking down the road, or maybe you would call it "carring" seeing as how our cache-mobile is a 2007 Ford Fusion. Any who... #99, "Manilla!" by Jac0b, was waiting for us just around the bend. Another sign, but this one had some pretty flowers and an interesting tree behind it. The tree was more important than just a visual stimulator, it held the cache! We grabbed the inconspicuous container, signed the log, replaced the cache, and decided we wanted yet another picture of our caching Journey, #99.

     Journey had fallen asleep before we even found #96, but was beginning to stir, as the cache-mobile left the scene. Cache #100 was just calling our name by this time. We had already picked which one we wanted to find for the Milestone, and Journey being Journey, knew her cache was coming up next! What better cache for her to find for our 100th than a hide named, "Girly Girl" by slabrum.

     As we pulled up to the curb (caches that give you curb side service are perfect for 3 year olds), Journey yells, "The treasure box! I wanna find the treasure!" She unbuckles and I let her out of the car. Dan comes around the side of the car with the cache-bag in tow. I believed I had already spotted the cache's hiding spot, but wanted Daniel to help Journey open it up. 

     Sure enough, Daniel removes cover and says, "It's just the ____. It's not here." I told him to look a little closer. (I had seen a cache style similar to this at a hiding place I had found with my mom, cachnsam, last year in St. George called, "Dora's House" by Ron22357) He giggled a little as he removed the camouflage, and revealed the cache container.

Journey finding her "treasures" inside the cache

      Journey was excited and wanted to see what the treasure box held inside. And boy when she did... She was oohhing and awwwwwing every time she pulled out a new trinket.

Journey loved everything she saw inside

Her little arm hit the bottom, but she was still pulling stuff out.

     Journey finally decided on trading her favorite kaleidoscope for a package of "Girly" rings. She grabbed me a Hello Kitty book key ring and I put in a prince frog finger puppet. Daniel gave up his trade to Journey so she got a bracelet and traded it for a jump-rope.

Journey had so many trinkets to choose from, she was in "treasure heaven"

We replaced the cache as we found it, a must when geocaching, and got back in the cache-mobile. As we were driving away, Journey was putting all 5 plastic rings on one hand, and Daniel and I were high fiving and reveling in the fact that we had just found our 100th cache. And we still had a day to go before our 1st Geocaching Anniversary.

     All in all, we had a great Journey to 100. Our geocaching experience thus far has been rewarding due to the time we spend together as a family. Yes, Daniel and I take short micro hunting trips without Journey, but as she is getting older and more into the hunt itself, she has been coming with us more often. Even on those trips where all we find is a log and a itty bitty teenie weenie little cache, she gets excited about finding something that was hidden.
     Our next milestone, 100 caches in one day, will put us over our 200 cache mark, and is waiting for us just on the other side of this week (hopefully)! We plan on taking on Jac0b and PeanutsParents' "Power Trail" they recently placed around and south of Utah Lake. But until the weekend, Happy Caching...

Geocaching awaits, and you can always add to your Journey by visiting Geocaching.com