Caching around Osceola, AR - 8/2/2009

Being the hottest time of the summer (or thereabout), I don't like to go on long geocaching expeditions. However, I still had a geocoin from my Oregon trip to deposit somewhere and after hanging onto it for three weeks decided to put it back out. But where did I want to put it?


I don't like to move coins because I am always worried that they will get muggled after I place them. I didn't want to put it out in Memphis because too many of the recent converts to GOWT don't seem to have the necessary caching ethics instilled to ensure the coin keeps moving. I also wasn't looking forward to a JAG cacher picking it up. For these reasons, I decided to pick a spot in Arkansas to leave it.

I got up early Sunday morning, but ended up leaving late on my trip up towards Blytheville, AR. Most of the caches on my target list were in small towns around Osceola, but since I had a secondary goal of finding cache number 2700, I included Blytheville on my list of hunt spots.

My first stop was Gizmo's Birthday hide by Bulldog Duo (GC1R0TX). This was in a nice out-of-the-way cemetery that also had a nice memorial to war veterans. Since the cache was big enough to hold trackables, I left the coin here.

My next stop was Hampson State Park. This park has three caches in it that are all a short walk from the parking lot. Here is where the fun started... I failed on my initial attempt at Hampson Archeological Museum ParkCache by Arkansas State Parks (GC1CFDK) - the mosquitoes here were killers! I then went over to give Hampson State Park by LuckyoneinAR and Gabby01 (GCWW16) a shot and somehow managed to cut my finger on some glass. At first, I thought it was minor, but then it began to bleed a lot. I went back to my car to get my first aid kit and discovered I left it at home. I also left my paper towels at home, so there was little I could do to stop the bleeding and clean up the cut. I left blood everywhere - on the side of my car, in the parking lot, on my backpack, it even dripped on and soaked through my shoe.

No worries, though - I eventually got the bleeding stopped and did manage to find History Dwells Inside by kjw0169 (GC1AKYE) before heading off in search of medical supplies.

I found a few other caches - meeting my secondary goal of 2700 finds -before heading into Blytheville to the Wal-Mart pharmacy.

Once I got cleaned up, I hunted a few more caches in Blytheville before heading home.

Update: 8/11/2009 - It looks like it only took six days for someone from JAG to swoop in and take the coin. How did they know it was there? Hmmmm... ;-)