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[mountainborn]

..

[cachemates]

mountainborn, we always enjoy reading your stories. You just have a way with words. Its like we were there. Kind of like reading a Geocaching Adventure Book. I think that State Trooper must live close by. His car is parked there most of the time. Glad you had an entertaining day.

[Gaddiel]

Most times the DNF stories are way more interesting than the others, huh? Thanks for posting this one!

[NatureFish]

Funny story! I had one myself recently involving camo making me stand out!

I attended a weekend-long event in Lancaster PA Dec 10th during a snowstorm. I had driven 1100+ miles, most of that following snowplows, attended the event and spent 14 hours in a 15-car wagon-train finding 60+ caches, been awake and dressed in the same warm comfy hunting camo for about 30 without sleep when, at 2 a.m. after the cache run, my partner decides we "must" go to the Washington DC National Zoo to see a new-born Panda Bear cub.

Huh.

Off we go.

Get there at 6 a.m., park opens at 7, there's already a line.

A foot of snow and folks are standing in line to see a bear at dawn.

Turns out that there was a special deal on - tickets had been sold out for months to come, but this particular morning the first 60 in line would get a ticket - to come back at a specified time during the day and spend 10 MINUTES looking through a glass wall - if the bear was awake and moving around his playroom, you got to see him - if not, tough!

Seems there were a few things my erstwhile geocaching partner, now sleeping soundly in the Jeep while I stand freezing in line - forgot to mention!

Now, I talk to everyone. I am a fairly outgoing fellow, so I talked to the line standers and, when a dude in a suit walks by, talk to him.

Turns out he's the Director of the National Zoo, and he's here early to conduct a private tour. We talk about this 'n that, and he invites me to join the tour.

Sure, I say, but I have to go get my partner out of the Jeep. No problem, he says, and sends three Parks Police off to fetch her!

Now, I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what was said, but the policeman who brought her back reports that upon being awaken her first question was "What's he done now!?" LOL - she's a District Attorney and I am one of geocaching's biggest cop magnets, so I suppose it was a natural question!

Anyhoo, he leads us to a room where we meet our other tour-mates: The Secretary of the Navy, a Supreme Court justice and his kids, 2 Senators and their family, two members of the Olympic Committee and two members of the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army!

Well now, I am not usually a bit self-concious but here I am in bib coveralls and a boot, flannel long johns and camo shirt and coat. Disreputable isn't the word! More like ragged!

I couldn't help but notice when he introduced himself that SecNav's overcoat cost more than my Jeep! I spent 10 years in the Navy, so meeting him looking like I did was especially, uh, fun!

Anyhoo - the Director sent two employees in to wake up this dang bear and bring him out, and allowed us to stay and play, visit and chat for an hour!

Quite a memorable experience - not for the bear, but because we looked like Junie Mae and Uncle Billy Don Dupree straight out of the hills!

Great trip though!

[arkansas_stickerdude]

OMG Now thats Funny!!!!!!! I just visualised that whole store as it was going on, and that sounds like a geocaching adventure. LMAO!!!!!!!