The Great DC Adventure: The Trackables

A major part of this adventure that can't be overlooked is the trackables. They definitely added a layer of fun to our road trip!

They are called 'Travelers' 

One of our first stops on the first day was WVTim's TB Hotel Extraordinaire where we dropped off almost a dozen visitors from Detroit. Safe travels!

Can't forget this little guy!

This little ghost has traveled with me to all the Virtuals over the last few years. Funny thing is? This is not actually the geocoin. The original coin is now a Virtual coin lost behind a Virtual in Cleveland, OH. Lucky I found this replica pin to take its place.

Jug Bridge GCGCRN

Can you spot the geocoin?

As one of my only souvenirs of the trip, I bought this Zero Milestone geocoin. It's sole mission was to visit the very cool Zero Milestone Benchmark, located between the White House and the Washington Monument. Every time I hold it I will remember TaGeez's warm hand in mine and the rain wetting our faces. Can you spot it?

Mile Zero GC2E52

A toast to Capital Hill

Right before our trip, both TaGeez and I received our Tin Cup Trackables in the mail. Mine took a trip to DC and back and is now in Germany. TaGeez said whiskey is one way to make politicians more palatable.

Capital View GCDE1

Also in my pouch is my United States Capital Benchmarks Geocoin.  On one side is Freedom, the lovely lady adorning the Capital dome. I dipped this coin at each geocache on this adventure!

On the back are three of the most well-known benchmarks on the Hill. This one is HV2019, located at the Southeast corner of the building. We searched and searched (under the increasingly watchful eyes of the local constabulary) but couldn't find it. The coordinates led us near the sidewalk, but the description made it seem as if it was closer to the building. 

Finally, we approached the Capital police, guarding this corner, and asked if we could take a peak near the steps. They were nice but very watchful. Imagine their surprise when we found it tucked between the wall and the steps. All the years they've guarded they never knew it existed! They even pointed it out to others! Watchful, eh? 

On an adventure of their own!

Not wanting this adventure to end, TaGeez and I brought personal trackables to DC for release. His, obviously, wants to visit  military Memorials and Monuments around the world.

Uncommon Valor TB6D331

He bought the keychain at Arlington National Cemetery and released his trackable to a newer cacher we ran into at the Delaware border. 

Mine wants to visit state capitals and capitals around the world.

Our Nation's Capital - DC Adventure TB4WX87

And I released it at the Burke Park Stash GC175 to new geocaching friends we met there. Safe travels!

Mission completed!

And speaking of trackables with missions, this was the sweetest of all!

Travel Bug Origins - United States had a mission to visit an Honest Man. CITOcacher, a Detroit friend, knew we were heading to DC so she made sure we had it in hand. It was fun stopping for pictures along the way. This was the first trackable mission we helped to complete! Honest Abe is exploring Philadelphia now!

View of an "Honest Man" GCEB2

There are a million trackables in the world, each with a story to tell... I'm glad we were part of their stories!

New TB Rescue Site

Took this off the Project-GC.com newsletter:

As mentioned in the last newsletter, and on Facebook several times, we have began to work on something called TB Rescue. The idea comes from http://www.tb-rescue.com, which is a service that was shut down last month. After a week of development with parts of it being working double time we finally have it in a working state. It took us about 3500 lines of code to bring it together, but it's finally looking quite good. 

The concept is as follows: 

An owner of a trackable notices that their trackable has been stuck in the same geocache for at least 4 weeks. Being worried about it being lost or that just too few visits this geocache he or she creates a rescue mission at Project-GC.

Under the Tools menu, click Rescue Map

Users of Project-GC have earlier added Watch zones, ie areas where they want to be notified by email if there is a new rescue mission. If there is a watch zone where the geocache with the trackable currently is, all owners of those watch zones will be notified.

Cool stats on the right side

Those having the watch zones (called rescuers) can then act upon the email about the new mission. They are encouraged to log a note on the rescue mission (at Project-GC) saying that they will go there to take a look. If they do not find the trackable in the geocache they should log a DNF on the rescue mission (again, at Project-GC). After 3 DNF logs the rescue mission will automatically be canceled, since it's very unlikely that the trackable exists there. 

Scroll down to see the map of your zone and TB's in need of help

Examples of trackables in need

Instead, if the rescuer actually found the trackable, he should bring it with him (or her) since the rescue mission owner wanted it to be rescued. He/she can then log a found log on the rescue mission to show that he has it. Besides this, he should grab the trackable using Geocaching.com. The log at Geocaching.com will be used to automatically close the rescue mission with the status Completed, and the rescuer will be marked as the one who completed the rescue mission. 

If you have any trackables that seem to be stuck, feel free to create your rescue mission using our TB Rescue tool.

Create a mission under My Missions (menu option or tab)

If you feel like becoming a rescuer, go to the same tool to add watch zones for the areas where you would like to be notified.

Scroll down to the map. Select your zone if you're willing to be a watcher

The system has only been live for a few days, but there are already over 100 rescue missions created, 230 users who has created watch zones, and almost 2 million km² being watched.

I've signed up! 

Michigan TB Hotels: Big is Beautiful

TaGeez and I had a fabulous Saturday exploring western Michigan with RayQix, PaRaDiz and Kachehuntr. High point was knocking off some of the fabulous Large travel bug hotels along US 12 (Michigan Avenue). Is there anything more exciting than a large geocache out in the open????

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*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*

*YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! PROCEED WITH CAUTION!*

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The first stop on Saturday was BIG Orange! This granddaddy of a TB hotel is located in Niles, Michigan (near the Indiana border). Thank you, MaxB on the River for your warm welcome.

Big Orange Travel Bug Convention Center GCK8ZV

Heading east towards Sturgis you can't pass up this beauty outside a concrete company! We eventually let TaGeez out... he was hoarding the travel bugs.

BLOCKHEAD GC3PZQ6

And onto Brooklyn where we found this hotel packed with dozens of travel bugs! That explains where they all disappear to!

PaRaDiz and TaGeez spotlighlighting
GeoPig's Bug Spa 2 GC4Z1C5

That was a fabulous trip, but when you talk travel bug hotels in Michigan you can't skip the most famous one, A Crappy Cache, just outside Kalamazoo. Not kidding - there is so much to read and do in there!

WikidKriket enjoying the log book at
A Crappy Cache GC35T4T

If you head further North, you will find this gem on Old Mission Peninsula outside Traverse City....

Old Mission Inn and Out GC14RW0

... after passing this fun one on the way.  Not only was it highly organized, but it had a very tricky lock mechanism to gain access.

US127/I-75 4-Mile Road Exit TB Hotel & Spa GC4EGN4
External 

US127/I-75 4-Mile Road Exit TB Hotel & Spa GC4EGN4
Internal

On the east side of the mitten you will find JLieb's pride and joy sitting in a community garden.

What's Bigger Than a Large? (TB Hotel) GC4M0ME

And heading west after driving through the upper peninsula is a darling hotel in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  Ok, I know it's not Michigan, but this was so well crafted. The sliding drawer is on casters and glides out so easily. There was a lot of love here!

Mom's TB Hotel GC3TWMZ (Wisconsin)

But I have to admit my new personal favorite is practically in my backyard. Sisters Inn (Law) TB Hotel GC66YFH is 2 miles from my house.  Hidden by two relatively new cachers (sisters-in-law), TaGeez and I had the pleasure of claiming First-to-Find on it.

Sisters Inn (Law) TB Hotel GC66YFH

Both the exterior and interior were class pieces of work.

Keys for each room in the Hotel

Each room handpainted and ready for occupation

Close-up view of the lobby

Now this doesn't cover all the fabulous trackable hotels in Michigan (like Gone Fishing TB Rest Stop GC55A66 or I-275/M14/I96 Detroit's Rough TB Prison GC180W5). But these are some of my personal favorites. If you make it to Michigan, add them to your bucket list!

Lock Those Trackables!

Ooh, good tip from BSW2010 today.

We now have the ability to "lock" our trackables! If someone is posting phony logs or you want to stop logging on a trackable, you can select Lock under the Actions applet.  After clicking Go, you will navigate to a page confirming your selection.

If you change your mind, you can unlock the trackable, too.  Here's Geocaching.com's official policy.