Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: Happy Anniversary, Geocaching!

TaGeez and I are on our way to Camp MiGO’s 25th Anniversary Block Party, and we knew we wanted to detour in the area for the new State Park cache.

If you haven't done these caches yet, there are spoiler pictures but no code words.

MSPGT2-SL: Pinckney Recreation Area GCAPW59

We arrived very early this morning to the sight of the beautiful lake. What an amazing mist hovering of the glass surface of the water! 

Quiet walk to the GZ, where we were eventually joined by a couple other Cachers on their way to the block party.

We stopped on our way to the next one for a little bit of fun in Hell! Hell, Michigan, that is! Here we enjoyed a Virtual and an Adventure Lab!

MSPGT2-SL: Waterloo Recreation Area GCAPW5E

The hardest part of the cache was the approach. Glad we targeted it from the road. Not much else we can see here unless you are into mountain biking!

Afterwards we headed out to Camp MiGO 2025 Block Party, where I claimed my 14,000th find!

Alas, after that we had to cut the day short with car problems so no Hayes RA for us today!

Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: Mid-Michigan Roadtrip!

 LOVE ❤️ LOVE ❤️ LOVE THE STATE PARKS SERIES!

TaGeez and I were in the area for the All Michigan (Quilt) Shop Hop and visiting whiskey distilleries. It was too late for one and too early for the other. So, time for us to geocache! We had a great time grabbing 4 more state parks - all in the middle of Michigan!

MSPGT2-NL: Lake Ann Pathway GCAPW40

We had a fear that we would revisit the same parks as the last tour, but this was another example of "off the beaten path" and "new to us". As we made our way to the GZ, we were transported back to a more rural time during Michigan's lumber days - unfinished roads, trees crowding our path, and nobody for miles!

Admittedly, this is NOT what we were expecting to find here! What a hoot!

It feels like extra efforts were made to hide really interesting or creative caches this round!

MSPGT2-NL: Mitchell State Park GCAPW43

We woke early in Traverse City and headed to Cadillac. Lovely area surrounded by lakes, and we started this adventure by communing with nature lakeside. 

Then we got down to business!

First, we headed down the wrong path. Then we found the right path, but so did all the skeeters! Finally, we found the container and had fun opening it up!

Then off to Burke's Waterfront Restaurant for breakfast! What a view!

MSPGT2-NL: North Higgins Lake State Park GCAPW44

We were heading from one quilt shop to the next on this gorgeous day, and we decided to detour here for the state park cache. Stunning weather - sun on our faces - such a great day to be out!

Quick find of the container right off the parking lot, but it took us a little longer than necessary to open it. I think we would’ve been faster if we had both hadn't been standing on the same side. Good fun! Great gadget cache!

MSPGT2-NL: Tawas Point State Park GCAPW4D

We had finished the North zone of the shop hop, which ended about 2 miles from here. We were excited to detour here to end our day.

Lovely walk down the trail, so many birds! We had a quick find at the GZ. Container was FILLED with ants! Wowwee! We signed very quickly and headed out. 

This is one of our favorite parks, and a beautiful way to end our adventure.

 

We wrapped the day by sitting lakeside and eating cherries before turning home.

Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: Dipping Our Toes into State Park Caches

I've lived in a number of states as a former military wife, but, ah! Michigan! What a gorgeous state! And the Michigan State Park GeoTour really highlights some of the best areas!

I will do my best to share our state park beauty without posting anything that's truly a spoiler. I will not share any photos of the actual code words. 

MSPGT2-SL: Lexington State Harbor GCAPW4Y

Today is the first day of the All Michigan Quilt Shop Hop, and TaGeez & I went to Imlay City. We had a lovely time exploring the shops and grabbing puzzle caches. But I was in need of seeing some beautiful, blue water.

We decided to turn to Lexington. Not only an area we love but the MSPGT2 geocache that we sponsored!

Nearby is a cute downtown with restaurants and shops, but one street over is the boat launch on the "sugar-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters". Perfect day to drive across Michigan's thumb for this drive.

We turned up with high hopes, and we found the cache immediately. Oh fun! We quickly had the solve at hand, but there was a problem… we couldn’t get the second lock to open.

What did we do wrong? We tried the puzzle again, tried the lock again, tried the puzzle again, went to lunch, came back, tried again, and left unsuccessfully.

Now, this cache is nowhere near home, so we turned around and headed back one last time. Someone else had just opened it today so it must work!

This time TaGeez entered in the code and snap! Unlocked! Looking confused, TaGeez kindly told me my answer was correct, but I wasn’t pulling g hard enough on the lock! DOH!

Lake Huron is cold, but it is beautiful. We enjoyed our beach-views at the cache, and then we decided to drove down the coast through Port Huron and Marine City.

MSPGT2-SL: Island Lake RA GCAPW4R

Several days later found us at Island Lake Rec for the MSPGT2 - Southern Lower Edition Kickoff GCB78ZM. Again, we were blessed with good weather. We hang out with friends, snapped pics of the Sandhill Cranes, and then group cached the nearby State Park cache. 

After a work-filled winter, it felt great getting out into the parks again!

Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: New Caches have published!

Yesterday was a glorious day! Not only was I off work, but the Michigan State Park GeoTour caches published! It's not one but three geotours spanning upper and lower Michigan!

• MSPGT2 Southern Lower Peninsula Edition (GT4F6)
• MSPGT2 Northern Lower Peninsula Edition (GT4F7)
• MSPGT2 Upper Peninsula Edition (GT4F8)

Complete the series for a Geocoin, geocoin inserts, and virtual souvenirs. But, more importantly, complete the series to see some of the most beautiful views Michigan has to offer!

Official Passport

So, when the caches published, I had hoped for one first-to-find (FTF), but we were able to score three!

MSPGT2-SL: Milliken SP and Harbor GCAPW53

I love downtown Detroit, and I was lucky enough to get FTF on the Detroit cache in the first series. After dropping off TaGeez at work, I headed south for the adventure. 

Ferry, Ambassador Bridge, and Ren Cen

This is the first time all gloomy week the sun was out so I made sure to enjoy my time on the Riverwalk. I'm so glad this series will bring more visitors here. 

The Detroit Riverwalk has been voted the best riverwalk in America by USA Today for the third year in a row.

Detroit Riverwalk

This cache was an easy multi and a nice, well-hidden container at the end. Don't overthink it! This was my first FTF for the day! What a view, eh? 

Lighthouse and Freighter

Afterwards, make sure you visit the nearby harbor, Michigan Outdoor Adventure, carousel, and Belle Isle for a full-day adventure!

MSPGT2-SL: Maybury SP GCAPW50

I picked up TaGeez from work, and I told him I was itching for an adventure. It's the beginning of a holiday weekend, and I feel like I had been working all my week off. He suggested a nice leisurely stroll through Maybury State Park as that cache had been unfound to date. 

Turns out it was a lovely day, and the park wasn't very busy. We parked close to the trailhead, and we decided (FTF or not) that we were going to take our time and enjoy the experience. Now, we did a similar puzzle like this before - with these very same signs in this very park - so we knew what to expect. It was a pleasant walk with passerbies smiling at us, birds making a racket, and squirrels darting underfoot. It wasn't long before we had the final solution in hand. Then, an easy walk to the final.

Second FTF for the day!

MSPGT2-SL: Highland RA GCAPW4P

"Hey, did you know that Highland hasn't been found yet?" We're assuming it's because many of our friends are either vacationing out of town or at GeoWoodstock.

We detoured this way (OMG! The traffic!), and we were resigned to the idea that someone most definitely will get here before we can reach the park. We pulled in, though, and the park was very quiet & peaceful. I spied Sandhill Cranes, nuthatches, Bluejays, ducks, and Canadian Geese. 

I was enjoying its bucolic beauty as we strolled to the cache (engulfed by the amazing smell of the Autumn Olive bushes) until TaGeez exclaimed, "Oh, look! A 🐍!” Then I stepped up my game to this fabulous cache.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but it is this type of care in cache creation that sets this geotour apart from many others we completed. LOVED this container! Even better? The clean log inside that made for our third FTF for the day!

☼

Thank you to everyone who had a hand at the creation of the cache and the MSPGT2 series - we really look forward to all the future finds!

Belmont County Bigfoot GeoTour

 

ShelleyJean and I received our coins and t-shirts for completing the 23 geocaches and 11 adventure lab stops of the Belmont County Bigfoot GeoTour GT4DD! It was a good adventure in October - our second time doing a Belmont County tour - even if the weather was a little trying.

Mansfield Mickey Mouse

Our three-day trip was bookended with several Roadside America-like stops, which lent an air of adventure to our journey. After grabbing a few new Ohio counties (lots of Amish riding bikes up and down the hills), we reached Mansfield and the famous Mickey Mouse! We found him!

The cache page had an interesting tidbit about the "Mansfield pictographic icon" and a link to short video regarding it's history.

Mickey in Mansfield Virtual GC9P8CB

cache seen nearby

Birthplace of General George Custer - New Rumley

As you can see, sunny pictures! The only dry portion of this trip. We were enjoying the winding country roads along Ohio's eastern border when we happened up the birthplace of General Custer. Quite a nice little history here and worth the stop.

LOVE THIS SIGN!

General Custer Virtual GC9P700

Custer's First Stand GC7M0DA

With 23 geocaches, we were anxious to reach Belmont. The local tourism board did a very nice job last time so what do they have in store for us this time? First stop, a stunning view and....

BCBFT: Piedmont Lake Marina GCAEGDG

we found Bigfoot! Literally. Ok, this is going to be a fun tour!

Belmont County is stunning, and we never lack for wildlife. The county is located along the Ohio/West Virginia border, divided by the Ohio River, and peppered with beautiful rolling hills. 

BCBFGT: Zion Retreat & RV Park GCAEGD6

We ended our first day with the last sunny cache, a fabulous dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse in St Clairsville and then check-in to Wingate by Wyndham (highly recommend - nicest of the 3 hotels we've experienced in St Clairsville). 

BCBFGT: Belmont Classic Cars GCAEGCC

Next morning found it pouring outside. It was a persistent, cold drenching for the next 24 hours or so. And throughout the day, it was almost blinding. Hard to appreciate the sites when you are squelching across open fields, tucked down into the hood of your raincoat, but we still enjoyed some fabulous views and new birds.

BCBFGT: Fox Shannon Park GCAEGBP

Barkcamp State Park

Funny story... even with all the rain, we didn't have enough water for this gadget cache so ShelleyJean had to return to the car while I stood plugging the pipe!

BCBFGT: Don't Get Wet GCAEG8G

We made our way steadily through the Bigfoot caches and labs throughout the day. Many of the labs revisited the cache sites from the last tour so we were on familiar ground.

BCBFGT: A Dam Fine View GCAEGC7

BCBFGT: Ranch Hand Bigfoot GCAEGCN

BCBFGT: Blaine S Bridge GCAEGB6

Waterfall under Blaine S Bridge

After a little incident at the Fat Apple, we found ourselves unexpectedly in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was a fascinating little community situated on an island in the Ohio River. 

"Wheeling Island has flooded many times over the years. The corner of the building stands as a monument to this." 

The Flood of Wheeling Island Virtual GC9P4WE

Returning to Martins Ferry in Belmont County, we headed up! Up! Up!

BCBFGT: The View from Kirkwood
Heights Overlook GCAEGDT

Ohio River and West Virginia

Now that we've cached west to east, it's time to head south along the river road and the Ohio River. The Great Stone Viaduct was on the tour last tour, and the town really spent the money here. Unfortunately, for us, the cache was on top and, with the downpour, the gates were locked, which caused a little back-and-forth with the Tourism Board. I'm curious to see if it'll be locked for safety over the winter.

BCBFGT: The Great Stone Viaduct GCAEG9H

WE DID IT!

With the completion of the tour, we headed over to the Hampton Inn in St Clairsville to grab our official trackable coin and then back to the hotel to dry out!

Belmont County Bigfoot Geotour GT4DD

Day 3 found us heading back home, going the long way to grab a few more Ohio counties. We came across this little guy running down the center of a country road. He moved aside to let us pass and posed for a few pictures. 

Little Church (SQ) GC59RH7

Wreckage Site Number 3 of the Navy Airship U.S.S. Shenandoah

As we were driving down US 77, we saw a sign along the side of the road a sign in the middle of the field that proclaimed it to the the crash site of the USS Shenandoah. What? There's no way to stop and look so we kept toddling along. Later, we came across wreckage site #3 (there were 3 in total). 

We stopped to pay our respects and read the history on the markers. This new bit of history was a complete shock.

The sign includes this very sad story about Lt. Commander Zackary Lansdowne. 

"Fourteen crew members, including Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lansdown, perished in the crash. Ironically, this Midwest flight of the Shenandoah was to have been Lansdowne's last flight: he was scheduled to report for sea duty in the fall of 1925 to meet the requirement for promotion to the rank of full commander."

Luckily, 29 crew members survived. 

 

The Big Muskie

Further down the road was a surprise for SJ - she loves Roadside America as much as I do. Little did she suspect when she turned off this winding road and into a tiny park that a behemoth was awaiting us!

Big Muskie was the largest coal mining dragline excavator to ever exist! 

The Big Muskie GC3YPMJ

Last big stop for the day was the George Hutchins covered bridge in Fairfield County, OH. Fairfield County claims to have the most covered bridges of any county in Ohio. This one had an ammo can cleverly hidden in the siding. And, with that, I left the last of the dozen+ trackables we brought to Ohio.

George Hutchins Bridge GC7JG2W

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Kudos to Belmont County Tourism for the enjoyable adventure! Good stops, fun caches, very responsive staff.  With the completion of the adventure lab, we solved for the bonus cache, which included instructions on redeeming for the souvenir t-shirt (oh so soft!). 

Adventure Lab t-shirt packet

In addition to the GeoTour geocaches, side caches, Virtuals, and several adventure labs on this unplanned adventure, we scored 11 new Ohio counties, 1 official GeoTour geocoin, 1 adventure lab t-shirt, 1 geocaching.com souvenir and many wonderful new memories with my geocaching buddy, ShelleyJean. Priceless! 

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