Archive for March, 2008
Monday, March 31st, 2008
SH01D4
Here is another shutterspot for you to seek. Locals should have no issue recognizing this. A famous spot, good shopping, and lots of activities. It’s interesting as the statue is imported.
Anyhow, like other spots, the idea is to get yourself to the exact spot these three photographs were taken. Once there, you should be able to triangulate to the spot. Because each GPSr is unique, you are provided a 100 meter leeway. Certainly that should prove no issue if you are there.
Disguised coordinates:
39° 35.694N
75° 17.871W
In order to help encourage folks to actually visit the shutterspot instead of merely using Google, I ask for a photograph of you at the spot to be included with the find log.
While the spot is available 24/7, you may have more fun on the weekends.
Posted in GPS Games | 2 Comments »
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
SH01D3
This is the latest shutterspot I have submitted. I have wanted to create a spot out of this for some time, but it seems like every time I go here, I don’t stop and do the necessary legwork. I took the time on this blustery morning to get the needed information.
For those who are unfamiliar with shutterspots, it’s a GPS game. It’s sort of like virtual geocaching, but it turns the experience on its head. Instead of providing coordinates to go find a statue, plaque, etc., photographs are published. The player needs to report the coordinates of the spot. All the photographs are taken from the same exact location. The challenge for the players is to find that exact spot. Players are provided a 100 meter grace.
The shutterspots web site post disguised coordinates for the spot. That is so you know whether you are looking for something here in New Jersey or in Australia! The disguised coordinates are within 10 km of the actual spot. Just remember, 10 km is a lot of ground to cover.
So, dear reader, here are three photographs. Can you find the exact spot I took these photographs? If so, go there, take the coordinates and a photograph of you with Mary.
The disguised coordinates for this spot are:
39° 42.382N
75° 26.368W
Posted in GPS Games | No Comments »
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
While in a downtown store this afternoon, I heard two customers talking politics. One said to the other:
Bedouins are Arab hillbillies.
Classic!
Posted in Politics | No Comments »
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
If I told you all that went down it would burn off both your ears
Sigh . . . I have been geocaching for six and a half years. Until today, I have never had an issue. Today that changed. I was attacked on my way in to a cache this morning.
There is a small WMA that has a cache in it. It is an old campground nestled next to a stream and someone’s home. I pulled in off the main road. I did not believe the road would go too far back when I drove in and there was a fairly large puddle so I stopped and pulled over to the side. I got out and began heading in to the cache.
There was a bunch of dogs at the house barking. It wasn’t long before two of them jumped a stream and chased after me. I grew up with dogs and am used to dogs barking and following. It quickly became apparent, however, that the dogs were not just going to be following. Both boxers came on me and began nipping. Then they were jumping up and trying to bite me.
Then these dogs attacked. It wasn’t long before I was on the ground and they were doing their best to get me. I got to my feet and as the larger one came at me again, I kicked her. She was not happy. She came back. A couple times the dogs were able to split and get me between them. I tried like the dickens not to have this happen, but I was running out of steam.
I eventually pick up a log to use as a weapon. More they came at me. I began yelling for help. Prior to this I used to say I have been scared just once in my life. That instance was just circumstances; more prejudices than anything and nothing happen. Reason could have always prevailed. There was no reason with the dogs. They kept attacking.
I tried moving back toward the truck. It was slow going and I continued to call for help. Eventually the lady who owns the dogs came. She kept saying everything was all right. Yet the dogs were still advancing on me. Funny how it was all right in her book. She did get them leashed. I felt better then. I began to take inventory of my wounds.
She indicated I wasn’t supposed to have driven there. I asked if this was public and she agreed. She said there was a sign. There is a sign, but it does not forbid entry or vehicles; it states it is public land.
She took the dogs in and came out with some juice. I refused. She said I looked pale. No kidding. She stated she had called the state police and then said they take forever to show up. She went in again to check on her ailing husband. I called the state police at that point. As I told the woman, I thought it was important to have a record of what happened just in case something were to occur. They arrived within 10 minutes out of Cowtown.
The lady indicated her dogs were wrong and this all happened on public land. That was good. She wanted to make a todo out of me hitting one of the dogs with a log. I corrected her that it was my foot, not a log. The officers quelled this by stating that I was being attacked and any reasonable person would defend himself. So, for all of you who think otherwise, I have now been deemed reasonable. 
I’m okay, I think. My right foot hurts. That is where the dogs got me, but I think the tightness is from either kicking or stumbling on something. It doesn’t feel like an infection. I refused medical help at the scene.
Looking back it seems somewhat comical, but I know I was very afraid for a couple minutes. Dogs should be leashed.
Like all travesties, caches should still be found despite the intervening circumstances. After all the commotion and the state police leaving, I hiked out to find the cache.
Posted in GPS Games, Geocaching | 2 Comments »
