Geocaching (Upper Downtown, and Wal-mart)

May 10, 2007

I couldn't think of an slightly humourous title for this blog because as far as geocaching goes, this was definitely one of our easier days and relatively uneventful days. The general location was Queen's Park and University of Toronto, just north of where we were on May 1, 2007.

The first find (First Post - Toronto) was easy, but it actually caught us a little off guard because all Anne could remember about the general area was that a "plaque-map thingie" there, and I was pretty sure that Anne had already memorized and photographed anything worth taking a picture of at Queen's Park. We took pictures of the brass cap that corresponds to the co-ordinates on the map and plaque. Apparently, they did this at all the provincial parliament buildings.

We were a little stuck by the second virtual cache (OPO), as I had forgotten to download it to my GPS. I had to call ptwoferret to get the co-ordinates from the first cache. Then I turned around, looked at the first cache again, and realized that it was the same cache. "OPO" was short for "Ontario Post One", the official name for the brass cap. The only difference was the questions being asked. 2-for-1!

The next cache was (at least according to the map) at the north end of Queen's Park. The only problem was that there was nothing at that location but a light post. We crossed the street on a hunch, and found it there, a historical sign for the "Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies" (part of the University of Toronto), written in English, French, and Latin. We had actually being here during TorGame, but back then, the sign wasn't important.

The last cache of the day was "Philosopher's Walk" on the University of Toronto campus. The hint indicated that we would not be able to see the cache and would have to feel for it, while sitting on a bench. Who knew there were so many benches, all in one area? The other half of the clue talked about celebrating "a new Ph.D.", and there was only one bench there that fit that part of the clue. Of course, it was the last bench we looked at, as we had to wait for the U of T tour group to leave.

As we started searching, I can just imagine someone watching us from nearby thinking, "Help! Security! There's a sicko couple here with a plush pig feeling up the furniture! Oh God! Now, she's eating a banana!"

Actually, we were about to give up, but the banana seem to re-energize Anne. Sitting to the side of the bench, her eyes actually found it. It helps to changes your perspective sometimes.

May 11, 2007

We want back to Wal-mart again. I think our excuse this time was to pick up some photo CD's that we had dropped off. We went back to the exact same spot we had been searching, and found it quite easily. It was hidden between two bolts, so we didn't see it the first time, but this time around, Anne got a little touchy-feely and found it with ease.