A trip to the USA has always been on the bucket list so when we received an invite to visit Wayne Moore (Katarn1977) the planning started.

The first thing that happens when you plan a trip to the USA is that you start realising how vast the country is. Our initial plan of covering the whole country by flying in to Florida, across to Los Angeles, up to Seattle and across to New York was scrapped in minutes.

The second thing that happens is that you get completely overwhelmed with the number of caches that are available to find. Pocket Queries (PQ) along a route which looked like a short distance maxed out at 1000 caches every time.

Geocaches found on ChrisDen's USA adventure. 

As our final destination was west of Los Angeles, we decided to stick to the West coast only. To help with the plan we started a list of “Must do caches”. Seattle popped up on a regular basis so the start point was determined. The arrival date was determined by the date of the Geocoinfest Mega in Seattle. The caches we wanted to concentrate on were old caches, web cams, virtuals, challenge caches and caches with high FPs.

Top row: HQGT: Troll Droppings, Geocache (GCD), Future of Flight Aviation Centre. Bottom row: Heading through the used rail tunnel to Planet Ape cache: Mission 9: Tunnel of Light, Peace Arch, GC12 5/12/2000, Iron Horse. 

26 September: After landing in Seattle we picked up our car and made our way to the B&B. We were tired after all the hours in aircraft and at airports we did one cache for the day, an LPC (Lamp pole skirt cache).

27 September: First cache on the list was GCK25B – Geocaching HQ, and the HQ Geotrail. HQ is an interesting place with the HQ cache, a number of special TBs to log and a big display screen that zooms in on Google Earth every 90 seconds or so for the most recently logged geocache in the world. Amazing to see it jump all over the globe. In the afternoon we visited the Future of Flight Aviation Centre for a tour around the Boeing factory.

28 September: The next cache on the list was GCD – Geocache GCD, placed in June 2000 which was at the top of a mountain. The hike was easier than expected as the trails are well maintained. It was stunningly beautiful with tree colours turning to the oranges of autumn and magnificent views on both sides of the mountain. On the way down, we collected a nice series of Challenge caches. In the afternoon we visited the Space Needle and related tourist attractions.

29 September: The plan for the day was to do another hike but the legs indicated it would be better to have a day with less hiking so we visited the Museum of Flight instead. A fantastic display of aircraft including a retired Air Force 1, a Space Shuttle mock up and 100’s of historic aircraft. Of course, the visit included the series of lab caches. After finishing all the lab caches, you get the clue to find GC5GT6J – Spaceflight Academy, one of the few caches that have the “Partnership Cache” attribute.

30 September: The morning started off with GC7CX8F Geocoinfest Seattle 2018 Mega. There were loads of coins and trackables for viewing and on sale. We did not spend long there as the main target for the day was one of the rare Ape caches - GC1169 Mission 9: Tunnel of Light. This cache was placed in July 2001 and is at the end of an unused rail tunnel that is 3.8km long. A torch was needed but being a Sunday there were a number of people walking or cycling through the tunnel.

1 October: We decided that we need to pop across to Canada for a day as it was not too far. Another country for the stats, some interesting challenge caches and the first cache placed in British Columbia in February 2001 - GC1DD- Treehugger (BC's First Cache)

2 October: We had decided the next stop would be Portland due to the proximity to some historic caches. The day started with a visit to GCD65A Peace Arch, a virtual cache in no man’s land between Canada and the USA. A beautiful drive along the highway. We arrived earlier than expected (after stopping a few times to make sure we picked up a cache in every county along the way) so we managed to get to two of the must do caches - GCGV0P - Original Stash Tribute Plaque. This plaque is placed in the position where the first cache was placed and where geocaching all started. The second cache was GC92 - Un-Original Stash placed in October 2000. Nice easy caches to find.

3 October: Another hike. This time through the beautiful Oregon forests. The people that live here do not understand how lucky they are. The forests are fantastic places to walk, so large that you rarely see other hikers and the views are breath taking. Of course, there was a target or two. GC12 - GC12 5/12/2000 which is the second oldest cache surviving in the world, placed in May 2000. Along the same hike was GC17 - Geocache 7/21/00, another old cache. For us that was cache number 6 996 so we just had to do four more that day.

Top row: Troll - On the West Coast, Babe, Arch Rock EarthCache, Along the Big Sur. Bottom row: Katarn1977 and ChrisDen, a nutlady cache, Sequoia Tree, FEE FI FO FUM.

4 October: Our trip south had to continue so we headed down the main highway until we got to Albany (still in Oregon) where there was a series of 25 challenge caches that gave good D/T ratings. We managed 21 before we decided to call it a day and head for Florence on the coast and then South to Coos Bay.

5-6 October: We were now on the famous Route 101 that runs down the West Coast. The views of the ocean and rock formations were beautiful. Along this route we concentrated mainly on Earth caches and virtuals as there was just too much to see. We broke away from the 101 to Yuba City to grab GC5F – Yuba City which was placed in September 2000. On the way to Yuba we went though some awesome redwood forests. Those trees are massive. We also saw the biggest Blue Bull at GCJRKX – Babe. Not sure he would like to be called Babe.

7-8 October: From Yuba we headed directly for San Francisco. We did some very interesting Earth Caches on the various faults running through the area. What we found amazing is that one of the Earth caches took us to a street where you could see the cracks in the tar and pavement where the fault was. No more than 20 meters away a new house was being built. Why?

In San Francisco we did 5 caches, which in total have over 2 000 Favourite Points. These included GCBD0A - Laughing Sal's and GCMKWT – At the Pier.

9-10 October: After staying with geocaching friends on the 9^th we were on our way south again the next day. This time to follow the 101 through the famous Big Sur. A really awesome drive. Similar to Chapman’s Peak but bigger and better. (How many times did we hear that in the USA). We overnighted in San Luis Obispo, a lovely town with a great series of challenge caches.

11-13 October: Our route now took us inland to Bakersfield which would be our base for the remainder of our visit. Another interesting challenge series on our way before meeting up with Katarn1977 who would be looking after us. Those that know Wayne will understand that looking after us would mean rushing off immediately for (amongst other caches) an FTF, a power trail of 75 caches the next day followed by an American barbeque to meet the locals (and we thought we would have a rest after all the driving).

The power trail was a new one for us. It started at GC7FPPN - Old River Trail #1 and continued along the Old River Road for 24 km. On the shoulder of the road are poles that are about 1.5m in height. The caches are placed in the top of the poles so you can stop next to them and reach out of the car window to retrieve them. The quickest way to get 75 caches in a short time!

14 October: Just north of Bakersfield is the Tulare county. The caches in this area are placed by a local nut farmer appropriately named nutlady. Her caches are awesome. Before entering this county, you need to stock up on FPs. You will need them for almost every cache. It is a pity that Tulare is off the beaten track and her caches do not have a lot of finds. Despite the remoteness of the caches she is ranked in the top 25 for the greatest number of FPs in California.

15-19 October: We spent a few days doing some local sightseeing and caching. A great series of How to Geocache by elrojo14 and a series of challenge caches placed by the local cachers under the joint name of KernCountyChallenges. We also did a short trip to the Sequoia National Park and did the Trail of a Hundred Giants. A walk between some massive Sequoia trees with a few caches including GC5E9NT – FEE FI FO FUM.

Clockwise from top: 1000 caches in a day geomobile, Route 66 bridge, 1000 caches in a day team, Route 66.

20 October: On our arrival in the USA we were reminded that one thing we had discussed with Wayne in South Africa was finding 1 000 caches in one day. The route was planned and the day set. We left Bakersfield in the evening of the 19^th for Barstow so that we could start the Route 66 series at midnight. Four to a vehicle so we had a driver, a log stamper, a fetcher and one resting. Fifty caches and then rotate positions. The first cache at a second past midnight was GC3KCP4 - -005-Route 66. We battled a bit in the dark but once you get going it gets much easier. The vast majority of the caches are film containers under OPOR’s right next to the road. We replaced a fair number as the hot desert sun is not kind to plastic containers. Thanks to the the "1 000 in a day" team Katarn1977, sharlebear, rrtim1, pablo0699 and catsimmie.

After the 800 odd caches in the Route 66 series we branched off onto the Highway To H.E.L.L. series. There are over 3 000 caches in this series but we stopped after we had passed our target of 1 000.

We are always asked how one can do a cache every 161m from midnight until the early afternoon. You can do anything as long as you make it fun and have people around you that are in the same mode. As the energy of one of the team members lagged another would get going. Nobody slept and even towards the end we had the reserve jumping out of the vehicle to see if they could find the cache before the designated “finder”. After we had completed the target, we drove in the group vehicle to Barstow and booked into the hotel. The rest of the team drove back to Bakersfield. The first time Denise has slept from 6pm to 8am the next morning. Final total for the day 1 009. Thanks Katarn1977!

Clockwise from top left: Welcome to Las Vegas, Geology of the Grand Canyon, caching en route to Yosemite, walkin' the plank, The Nose of El Capitan. 

21 October: Barstow is 2 hours away from Bakersfield in the direction of Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon so we continued in that direction. Las Vegas has a number of caches, most of which we did during a walk down the Strip. 8 caches with a total of over 5 000 FPs. Pays to have a cache in the right location. GC729A - Welcome to Las Vegas has over 1 500 FPs!

22-24 October: From Las Vegas we visited the Grand Canyon. A really breath-taking place. It is just so massive that our photos do not tell the story. We spent a day walking along the rim as far as you are allowed. The place is crowded but most catch the busses from viewpoint to viewpoint so the path along the rim is fairly deserted.

We did a very informative Earth Cache GC6GVQZ - Geology of the Grand Canyon. Earth caches are not everyone’s cup of tea but it still amazes us that such an informative cache has less than 100 FPs compared to a Virtual next to it that has over 250 FPs (or a Welcome to Las Vegas sign virtual that has over 1 500 FPs).

25-27 October: Another few days doing some local Kern County caches while we caught our breath again. This included the KCC Reverse Wherigo Geoart Series of 31 caches in nearby Taft and some interesting puzzle caches placed by skinny.p, Tung8 and the more familiar names of Spesbona and jtomcat16.

28 October: We were off for a quick trip to Yosemite. A long drive to do in a day but we were glad we did it. At the end of the day the drive through the tunnel and out into the Yosemite Valley at GCG2AD - Out of the Darkness, into Yosemite Valley! Must be one of the most memorable moments of our trip. Again, a view that cannot be captured with a camera. We also spent a short time spotting the climbers on the world famous El Capitan, largest monolith of granite in the world. The best view point of this massive cliff face is also the location of a virtual cache, GCHYQ7 - The Nose of El Capitan.

29 October: We were now reaching the end of our trip so we made another trip to Tulare to grab as many nutlady caches as possible. Managed 29 for the day added to the 30 done previously. We handed out 40 FPs on these caches.

30 October: Today it was time to leave Bakersfield and start the trip back home. The Kern County (and Tulare) caches are an awesome group. We were welcomed into the community and were sad to leave our new friends. Thank you.

We did a few caches on our way to Los Angeles airport, mainly Earth caches as you cross a number of faults, including the San Andreas fault, on your way. Not much sightseeing as LA is just a busy congested city.

Burj Khalifa a virtual reward, The "Drudenfuß" at the Beach.

1-3 November: We lost most of a day on the flight back to Dubai and arrived too late at night. The next day we were lucky enough to have a sponsored trip to the 148^th floor viewing deck of the Burj Khalifa. At 555m above ground level the skyscrapers of Dubai looked like small buildings below. GC7B7FV - Burj Khalifa a Virtual Reward. Thanks kids!

We just missed an FTF on a beach in Dubai (GC7YYQ8 - The "Drudenfuß" at the Beach!). It was grabbed by a local while our taxi was taking us the long route to the GZ. It was still at a great location so we spent a bit of time there. Pity we did not have our swimming costumes.

4 November: Time to go home. A daylight flight so we grabbed two caches in Dubai before leaving and arrived in Cape Town in time to do a cache to set the longest distance between two caches in one day – 7 676km.

The end of an unforgettable trip which can be summarised as follows:

6 Weeks

3 Continents

4 Countries

51.6 hours in aircraft covering 25 334km

6 750km in the hired car

303 km of walking and hiking

Highest altitude - 2 147m

1658 caches

Total cache to cache distance – 51 475km (Starting at PE and ending in Cape Town.)

Cache statistics:

 Article submitted by ChrisDen

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