Signal on High and Low: Snag the Tags

Our last coin published today!

HQ teamed up with SnagtheTag.com to sell a series of HIGH and LOW Signal coins in a parallel game to geocaching. Over the Winter, "Hiders" buy Rover and/or Submarine Signal geocoins and hide them around the world for others to find AND KEEP!

TaGeez and I decided to invest in the community and buy a packet of each to hide (each packet has 3 Signals - 1 to keep and 2 to give away). Each Signal is in two pieces that magnetize into a single unit - you hide Signal and the finder will redeem for the rest of the coin. 

And, typical to us, we went all out and had a great day of fun! Releasing our coins every few weeks, we try to hide Rover Signal (HIGH) near height and Submarine Signal (LOW) near water. 

We hid our first coin in Alabaster, Michigan, along Lake Huron. We had spied this historical marker while doing the US 23 geotrail with ShelleyJean and afishoutofwater. 

Signal of Alabaster

Lucky us our first finder was thrilled and wrote a fabulous response. 

That inspired us to hide our next hide "on high"! Early December found us in Midland, MI and in Dow Park near downtown. Brrrr... the cold off that water was paralyzing!

We included my path tag in each packet!

We found this cool hiding spot overlooking the Tittabawassee River

Signal Soaring in Michigan

We enjoyed spreading out the geocoins to give as many Cachers across Michigan a chance. Time to hide closer to home at Milliken State Park. On the Detroit River, time to hide another Submarine Signal!

Signal and the Freighter

Seen nearby

Again, another fun reaction - we were so happy to make somebody's day!

Admittedly, the last one caught us off guard. We knew we had until the end of January to hide it and knew it was the end of January, but we didn't think to rush to hide it. Luckily, the Admins to the game sent out a reminder so TaGeez & I rushed over to Carpenter Lake Preserve. Sadly, such an overcast day so this picture wasn't as fabulous. 

Signal on High

Luckily the finders found it before the big snowstorm hit! TheBlueDogTeam sent me a really nice note when they logged my pathtag about finding one of my hides (Uncle Julian) and seeking out some of my favorites listed on my profile.

All in all it was a fun experience, and I'm really glad we participated. Great way to start a re-energized geocaching year!

Gone Fishing - TBHoA Winner!

Congratulations to TaGeez (Steve Gooden) and Muggle Larry for being awarded the coveted TBHoA award for Gone Fishing! Time to restock!

https://coord.info/GC55A66

Reach the Peak: Kilimanjaro

TaGeez and I had a glorious day finding puzzle finals along Michigan's backroads to complete this month's "Reach the Peak" challenge. Favorite stop was this quiet historic Farmer's Creek Cemetery outside of Hadley.

And Reaching for the Skies!

Our last full day in Florida was TaGeez's choice, and we headed off to Kennedy Space Center. The original adventure game - space exploration! We arrived bright and early...

 

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Check out the matching shirts!

... and spent the entire day exploring the entire complex!

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

WOW! So big! And this was from a distance! Luckily being so early in the new school year but right after the holiday meant few visitors and school groups. 

Entrance and Rocket Garden

Rocket Garden

Our entry tickets pretty much covered every exhibit - we didn't miss a thing. We even explored Heroes and Legends twice.

Heroes and Legends Exhibit

Heroes and Legends

Really cool is the shuttle bus to the Apollo/Saturn 5 Complex. Sitting in air-conditioned luxury and watching a cool video, we passed both the Vehicle Assembly Building and the crawler-transporter. We also passed wildlife, giant turtles, and the famed Eagles nest.

This picture doesn't do the scale of the VAB justice. Fun facts from the NASA website: 

• The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, is the only facility where assembly of a rocket occurred that carried humans beyond low-Earth orbit and on to the Moon. For 30 years, it also served as the final assembly point for space shuttles to external fuel tanks and solid rocket boosters.
• One of the largest buildings in the world by area, the VAB covers eight acres, is 525 feet tall and 518 feet wide.
• The VAB high bay doors are the largest in the world at 456 feet high and take about 45 minutes to completely open or close.
• The building is home to the largest American flag, a 209-foot-tall, 110-foot-wide star spangled banner painted on the side of the VAB.

Vehicle Assembly Building

And just as cool were the two crawler-transporters parked next door. More than 50 years old, "The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB."

Another fun fact: "The crawler is the size of a baseball infield. The crawler's top speed is one mile per hour loaded and two miles per hour unloaded."

crawler-transporter

The Apollo/Saturn 5 was worth spending half a day!

Apollo/Saturn 5 Center

Apollo/Saturn 5 Complex - Moon Tree Garden

Most exhibits start with a video. This simulation for launch was real-time. Seeing all the systems activate at their proper time - how did they do this back then? 

Apollo 8 and the Firing Room

Saturn 5 Rocket

Fisher Space Pen Exhibit

Apollo Treasures Gallery

Back on the bus to the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit. Again, it started with a video and, at the end, when the video ended, the screen went semi-transparent and this beauty became visible through the fabric. It was magical!

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Solid Rocket Boosters for the Shuttles

Lovely day coming to an end. Between the walking and the heat, time for another quick stop at the Heroes & Legends exhibit (and, of course, the gift shop) as we exited the park.

Heroes and Legends Exhibit

It was an amazing day! We were a little surprised that KSC did not have a virtual or an adventure lab, but we found those in nearby Port Canaveral and a webcam to boot!

Pt. Canaveral Webcam Cache GCJT79

Let's wrap our last day in Florida with a coastal drive south to Cocoa Beach and Mexican for dinner. 

Cocoa Beach

Dipping Our Toes in Warm Water

Two webcams and a dip in the Gulf of Mexico? Yes, please!

Family commitments done, TaGeez and I found ourselves with a free afternoon so we hopped into the car and headed to Gulfport - a new first! I've never been to the Gulf of Mexico! Our first stop was one of four webcams on this trip - sweet!

Gulfport Marina Webcam Cache GCKRPM

Next we cruised up the Gulf Coast to take in the tourist sites including the "chicken church" on Madiera Beach. Yes, my kind of Virtual!

Chicken Church GC7B7DF

We saw that chicken church was next to Caddy's, a local institution and favorite hang-out of a favorite friend, employee parking lot. So, TaGeez, crab cakes while overlooking the water? 

Front row parking spot, immediate seating on the balcony overlooking the water, and not a care in the world. Truly, the first peaceful, carefree afternoon in many months. No wonder SJ loves it here!

We do that "old people thing" - sitting on the same side of the table

View from our balcony seat

To cache or not to cache? This afternoon the choice was easy - walking along the sand in the direct sunlight, picking up seashells and videoing birds on the beach. We've missed so much of the year and the water lapping on our tired legs made us feel human again.

After living and loving the Great Lakes, wading in the ocean waters outside Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina, the Gulf waters were SO calm and SO warm. Have you been? 

We hit the souvenir shops to find SJ a postcard from Caddy's, but they didn't have any. So, SJ, here you go!

Quick stop at John's Pass for ice cream, souvenir coasters and a quick laugh, and then we had to turn east. We will be spending tonight in Orlando before heading to Kennedy Space Center tomorrow.

scary bug a rest stop

Final stop is Orlando's webcam - luckily we grabbed it before it was too dark. 

Park Avenue Webcam GCBFE3

Then into Orlando heading to our hotel, we could see the neon lights of amusement parks nearby. It was fun seeing the traces of "the mouse" alongside the highway - such as mouse ear-shaped poles supporting the power lines.

Hard to believe we only have one full day left in Florida. More tomorrow!