1st cache: OUT of the GROTTO by PARKERPLUS

This one was a little sneaky because I forgot an all important tidbit about the cache. We found it pretty easily though - just couldn't get to it. Luckily, Dave, being the "tool using mammal" he is made use of a forked stick to retrieve the booty. It was in a cool container - a plastic cigar tube. Heehee. TN/LN/SL. And, of course, Faith found some new plants to take pictures of on the way back to the car.

2nd cache: Somewhere by Babslover

Hot. Ugh. Hot.... That didn't keep us from this cache however. Who would have known that these cool woods were a part of that park? Once inside we zoomed in for the cache. Or so we thought. We walked up and down this fallen tree and couldn't figure out where it was. The cool mushrooms growing on the log, crying out for their picture to be taken, didn't make it any easier for us to find the cache. Finally I (Faith) took the GPS, and very slowly walked around the tree. Bingo. Right in front of me. Right in plain sight. DOH! That's one of the funnest parts of geocaching :) Truthfully, the cache was wrapped in camo tape and blended right in to its location, making it not so obvious in the shadows. Took - neat Darth Vader Lego dude; Left - snazzy short pen (perfect for mini caches); SL

These were interesting woods and we plan on coming back when we have more time (and when it's not SO hot!) to explore them properly. Thanks to Babslover for showing them to us!

closeup of mushroom cap
by Dave

unknown mushrooms by Dave
(click to see 1600x1200 wallpaper)

3rd cache: Brookhollow by Neuman

We parked at the Post Office as another cacher suggested in their log. This made it an easy find. To get to the cache, you have to trudge through some flower beds, some brambles, poison ivy and a thicket of vines. Nothing out of the ordinary for South Texas though ;) It was a neat cache - how it was suspended. Took - tiny Tie Fighter guy; Left - pink wiggly snake; SL

Almost 4th cache: White Oak Bayou Cache by Team RoLo

I had printed out maps before hand because I saw that the path to this cache involved suburb navigation. Dave and I drove around and around and around trying to find a suitable place to get to this cache. We finally gave up because we didn't feel right messing around so close to houses in a suburb area like that - after all geocachers are supposed to be kinda sneaky in acquisition anyway. We definitely decided that this type of cache location is not for us. It's too hard and frustrating if you aren't familiar with the area and have no clues as to where to park! [OK... end of rant ;) ]

Update: When I went back to the cache page to log the visit, I see there's a hint. Was it there before? It would've helped to have that the day we were out that's for sure. My silly PDA file that I got didn't have the hint... Oh well, maybe next time.