Even Assassins Have Birthdays

WE PULLED IT OFF!!!

 WHAT.A.HOOT!

Two weeks ago I received a message from the cAche ssassin (further called TCS) of San Diego. Half of Team Assassin, Ezio Cachitore, had moved to Troy and TCS wanted to surprise his buddy for his birthday. As my geocache was closest to Ezio's house, TCS wanted to know if we'd tuck a picture from a very special trip in there. TCS would send Ezio a bottle of Scotch, same as the one they enjoyed on their trip.

What fun! Well, TaGeez and I couldn't let it stop there. Let me introduce you to Even Assassins Have Birthdays GC76NPF.  It sounded like a good excuse for a party and a new geocache!

With very little time to spare, messages and calls went flying! The geocache contained a gift from TCS (an End-of-Days spinning geocoin and a photo album), a special logbook and lots of new toys for interested girls and boys! TCS even sent along Team Assassin stickers for the container.

I can't believe we found this great spot! Public enough not to draw suspicion being in the area but private enough to duck in and make the find.

TaGeez hiding it between the retaining pond and freeway

The big day arrived way too quickly. Ezio received his bottle of Scotch days before his birthday with coordinates on the label. Then the wait began. With the cache publishing the evening of June 15th, we had no clue if Ezio had visited or not. He didn't even know it was a cache - just coordinates on the label!

Mission from the Geocache page

TaGeez and I were in the area Thursday night, and I couldn't wait any longer. Let's go see if he found it! We happened to be standing at the opening of the geotrail when the email notification pinged and the cache was live. Ducking in, we pulled out the container and found....

FOUND! Pre-publication FTF. Not only did he grab his Birthday gift, Ezio left a signature item, 3 trackables, and an Assassin's Creed video (snagged by the post-publication FTF, Team Lareau).

Ezio left a great log!

I want to tell you about the time I almost was outgifted. I never thought it would happen to me. Not at this age. Beaten. Outsmarted. How did I get into this fix? How did it all begin? No, no, no. If I go back to the beginning that will take forever. 

Earlier this week, a courier enticed me with his suspicious looking container, if only I would exchange my signature. A 15-year scotch was revealed. What good taste, this one has! Conspicuously affixed where one might expect branding, a clue was to be discovered. GPS coordinates and vehemently urging to hurry. 

Use the key 

Miniature as it were, but nonetheless of great importance. Existing obligations made tardy my journey. Was it weeks that passed, or merely days of anticipation, rolling the key between fingers and pondering what fate awaited? Eventually, destiny allowed for a journey on one muggy, overcast June evening. In what one might describe as the La Jolla Business Park of Oakland County, fear instilled that perhaps some Katz desired new cabling and this key was merely weak protection for a plastic box in the MPOE. Abated quickly, horrible feeling, as approach to the GZ lifted one's spirits. 

HOW IN THE WORLD DID HE PULL THIS OFF? 

Yes, in a never-ending competition to do better by one another, the cachin assassin had managed to coordinate an exciting scavenger hunt halfway across the country through enigmatic finagling and a most honourable assistance from Team TaCat, cachers of a level one truly aspires to reach. Thank you both for making this the most wonderful surprise an assassin could never ask for. This was likely the most thoughtful thing anyone could put together for me and on such short notice, even more impressively executed. My hood pulled back to the cachin assassin. 

An assassin always pays his debts, and now this one owes you. 

The cache contents made me feel like the center of attention (normally avoided) but for such an honor so great, this time I reveled immensely. TB's swapped and a few assassin-themed swag items were placed for the first non-assassin to discover this cache, along with one of my signature bills. Happy birthday, everyone!

I was geeked to see an appreciator of the Assassin's Creed was the next finder. Loved seeing the cache on @Lareau67's daily Instagram post.  Great log, too!

Ezio added a sticker

Very fun adventure, and I'm looking forward to seeing the future finds.

Welcome to Michigan, Ezio!