Alligator...it tastes like turtle and my Bass Pro Shop adventure

I spent the evening of the 27th at Bass Pro Shop.  It was all about geocaching for me.  Ted had multiple purposes for his visit.  When we arrived at the Portage, Indiana store we headed directly to the Marine section to look at the GPSs.  It was time to finally replace my ancient Magellan eXplorist 200.  Yes, I've been caching with VERY old technology.  It gets the job done, usually, but it was time to upgrade.  We are not retiring my little yellow friend, just not using it so much.
Before our shopping trip I read reviews on units and narrowed my search based on the amount of money I wanted to spend and what features I had to have. Once we started looking at the display all of that went out the window because Ted decided he wanted more, more, MORE! He wanted the Oregon 450 because of the screen size and the DeLorme PN-60 because of the accuracy and the marine maps(he fancies himself a fisherman). What reigned him in was the prices. The Dakota 20 at Bass Pro Shop was cheaper than the Dakota 10 at Dick's and the Dakota 20 was my choice. So, we decided to walk away and make the GPS decision.
Off to Islamorada Fish Company for dinner. We opted for an appetizer which is rare for us. I let Ted choose and he knew what I wanted, alligator. It's something I've always wanted to try. My husband is so wonderful. He would never have picked that for himself. The alligator was served deep-fried in a spicy breading (I'm guessing it was cornmeal) on a bed of field greens surrounded by a neon-green sauce (a very, very mild wasabi wannabe). With my first bite I felt that this alligator tasted like turtle. Some of the pieces were rubbery and not pleasant to chew. Someone needs help with their prep skills. Ted said, with the completion of that course, we were officially swamp people. Yay! From that point forward my meal was just okay. I wanted something light and their menu was not really light. Their salads are full of bleu cheese (Yuck!) and I wasn't seeing anything else I was drawn too. I ended up with less than exciting (dry) grilled lemon-pepper tilapia. Ted chose the popular Islamorada Portofino, blackened tilapia topped with grilled shrimp in a rich, creamy lobster sauce. He liked it until he ate his last shrimp and it had the vein. Our waitress was attentive and nice, she brought drinks and warm bread (a bread with sugar on top) right away. But, we'll probably never eat there again and I wouldn't recommend the restaurant. It's just not great. Our meal totaled $40 and change.  Surrounding the Portage store are a few other restaurant choices including Quaker Steak and Lube, Deli in Your Belly/Egg on Your Face, and Starbucks. 
As we ate we hashed out the GPS issue.  We quickly eliminated the DeLorme PN-60.  The screen was smaller than my eXplorist and Ted wanted something bigger.  The accuracy and marine card wasn't enough to keep him  interested.  The price was also the highest of the three we were looking at also.  So we were left with two choices,  the Garmin Oregon 450 and Dakota 20.  Both devices featured triaxial compasses, micro SD card slots, paperless geocaching capabilities, touch screens, and the availability of free maps (among their many features).  The Oregon had a bigger screen and cost $100 more.  We really had to decide if the bigger screen was worth paying $100 more.  I didn't think so.  I could see Ted wavering and I pointed out to him that he was already used to the smaller screen of the eXplorist.  We decided that we would purchase the Dakota 20.
With that, Ted headed out on his next mission...metal detectors.  I went to look for new hiking shoes.  I want Keens but they didn't have what I wanted so I went to find Ted.  I was lucky to find a bench on which to rest because I knew I could be there awhile.  Unfortunately, I felt like I was in fishing jail.

So, I waited and waited and waited a bit more. In the end we left without a metal detector. He will have to continue to use the one he has for now. I don't believe he'll suffer...too much.
We also saw some great fish at Bass Pro Shop. Unfortunately, I did not get great photos.

This fish really creeped my out.  There were several of his kind in the tank.  Those lips were really something to see.  Before we went to pay for our new toy Ted had one last item on his agenda.  He needed to visit the shooting gallery.  Now, I'm thinking that a place that must make as much money as Bass Pro Shop could have a free game for "kids."  But no, Ted needed 50 cents (several times).  Too bad I didn't have much change and they didn't have a change machine, boo hoo.

We had a great visit to Bass Pro Shop.  Hmmm, what do we need from Cabella's?

Cache Depot

This cache was one we visited on two other occasions. Once it was winter and because of the fresh snow you couldn't see what you'd be walking on to get to the coordinates. We put it out of our minds. One night we were shopping nearby by and thought we'd take a look. As we approached the cache site we realized it was too dark and we didn't have a flashlight.
Finally, yesterday we made it there without snow (good thing for late July) and in the afternoon. Ted headed out with the gps while I started changing from sandals to hiking shoes. I had one shoe on and I had just put my second sock on when I heard, "I've got it!" I looked up to see Ted walking toward me, cache in hand. Not, necessarily a park and grab, but close.

Short Circuit

Last year, when we began geocaching, Ted and I attempted this cache. The parking lot was busy and muggles were everywhere. We walked away without really getting a chance to look. Since that time Circuit City went out of business and the store stood empty. We never thought to look for the cache. A few weeks ago my friend asked me to take her caching and this site was near the restaurant where J and I would be dining. I was exciting to see it was still active. J and I never got to the cache but Ted and I managed to get there. Now, there is a dumpster nearby. Circuit City is being remodeled into a buffet. No one was around and Ted jumped out to investigate. He looked at the Handicapped Parking sign. It was the only thing near the coordinates. He even looked down the pole. He looked up at me and shrugged as he headed back to the car. It was then that I saw a very slight movement. The sign moved! I called out to him to stop and move the sign. Ted looked at me as if I had two heads but he turned and tried to move the sign. Ta da! The sign pivoted upwards by it's top bolt revealing a magnetic nano! I signed the log and Ted replaced this VERY clever hide. We are so excited with this cache find. It was one of those that made our day because we may not have found it had I note seen the very tiny movement of the sign.

Wally Skirt

After dropping off my first travel bug we thought we would grab a park and go on the way home. I knew of one right in our path, Wally Skirt. I set my go to point and we were off. As we approached the coordinates we were torn, Chick-fil-A or the cache. Well, a quick look at the clock let me know that we had time for both and while we still had light, cache first.
This cache is in the Walmart parking lot. I like Walmart for some items, but I do not like this Walmart. It is small and they do not carry some of the products I want them to carry. I stop here occasionally on my way home from work.
We quickly grabbed this little cache and headed to my favorite fast food restaurant. This was the night I discovered Chick-fil-A sauce for my nuggets. I love that stuff. I wonder how long they've had that?!

North of the IRISH Travel Bug Pep-Rally

We decided it was time to find a place to drop off our travel bug, Jeremy O'Lanigan. We knew we wanted the cache to have a connection to Notre Dame, after all, Jeremy was Irish and trying to find his way to Ireland. As I checked the caches on campus I discovered they were micros and nanos. They were not going to work for a TB. Then I saw North of the IRISH Travel Bug Pep-Rally and I knew that was the place for Jeremy.
First we thought we would take him for a couple of photo ops. Our first stop was Fiddler's Hearth in downtown South Bend. Fiddler's is known for their welcoming setting, Irish food, and live music. In the winter the fireplace is warm and inviting, in summer eat outside and enjoy entertainment on the patio.
We continued north to our next destination. I was excited with plans of where I'd like to take Jeremy's picture. I was/am also acutely aware that I was referring to the TB as Jeremy and I was taking pictures of a little leprechaun.
Notre Dame stadium loomed in front of us. Because of the angle of the sun I could not get a nice picture of the stadium name. But, Jeremy saw Knute Rockne without squinting his eyes.












What did Jeremy see over my shoulder?








It was none other then that famous library and the mural known as Touchdown Jesus. He posed quickly before we headed off of campus.



Notre Dame was founded by Fr. Edward Sorin in 1842. A visit to the Notre Dame campus is one rich in history. The campus also features the Snite Art Museum, the Basillica of the Sacred Heart, and the lakes. There are tours available in the Basillica and a visit to one of the University's books stores will offer souvenirs at a variety of prices.
We once again turned north to find our final destination. I had an idea where we were going which helped me, but not Ted, who was driving. I forgot to tell him when to turn which meant having to turn around. That also meant he took the gps. I can't stand it when he drives and looks at that thing! We found the right coordinates and when Ted looked up in the yard he was in shock. He couldn't believe he could see the cache from so far away. We entered the yard and opened the largest geocache we had ever seen. Ted was excited to find lots of Notre Dame swag. He grabbed a golf towel and we were dropping off Jeremy. After log signing and picture taking we left our little friend and headed to one more cache on our way home.

NMC Park-A-Lot

For Michael's second cache we headed to our church. We were tickled to learn that there was a cache hidden in the parking lot area. Michael left the gps in Ted's hands this time and stuck out on his own.

For some reason the gps seemed to take us to a location that would be an impossible place to locate a cache. Michael stuck out to look at something in the grass and what happened next has provided many laughs in the ensuing days. He was walking in a bit of tall grass about 30 yards away when suddenly we heard him yelling. Ted and I looked his direction in time to see him running wildly across the lawn. I had never seen him move so fast. Michael's eyes were wild, his hair was flying back and as he moved he pumped his arms fiercely and ran as though he were high-stepping. It was quite a sight to behold and, unfortunately, over almost as soon as it began.
"Something," he panted, "was in the grass!"

I was already laughing. He thought it was a turkey. He glanced over his shoulder, as if it may be right behind him. Ted jovially exclaimed, "Well, let's go check it out!"


Off we all marched, back across the lawn. Michael now making a wide circle around that tall patch of grass. Ted, who fears nothing, headed straight into the offending area. I stopped to watch and Michael meekly followed Ted at a "safe" distance. Very quickly Ted's rolling laughter started. The "turkey" that scared Michael witless was a duck sitting in the grass. Ted said she didn't even move when she saw them. Michael was embarrassed, poor guy. When he later recounted the story to his parents he was very good-natured about the incident and laughed.

We quickly regrouped and headed back to the hunt for the cache. Apparently all of the activity helped and we were right on the cache. Number two for the night. All of the excitement had made us hungry so we decided to find something to eat.

Nappanee Missionary Church was founded in the late 1870s. It was originally located near the center of Nappanee. The church moved to it's current location in 1981.

Shed a Little Light

We invited our luvey Michael with us to go geocaching on this Sunday afternoon. We had big plans but were willing to settle for whatever happened. We drove to Elkhart County to pick Michael up and decided to head to the southern part of the county to seek caches.
Our first stop was in the rear of a recreational vehicle manufacture. One of every two RVs on the road today was manufactured in Elkhart County, Indiana. The boom in RV manufacturing in this county dates back to the mid 1930s. It ebbs and flows with the economy but is always present on the landscape. Elkhart County is rich in skilled labor because of this type of manufacturing. Newmar is one recreational vehicle company. The company began with 6 employees in 1968. Today, it employs more than 900 people. The Newmar facilities cover over 144,000 square feet! If you visit the area, tours of the Newmar plant are available twice a day, Monday through Friday.
Michael was excited to get going when we got to the cache zone. Ted was eager to teach him how to use the gps. Between the two of them we finally zeroed in on the coordinates. Michael figured out right where to look and found his first geocache. He was ready to go to the next one after that!

Best Cache Ever

On June 26th Ted and I prepared to leave Onalaska,Wisconsin and return home. We were in town to visit Allergy Associates of La Crosse. This world famous allergy clinic has been saving my life since I was a kid. Now, they are curing my husband's allergies. As a child I saw Dr. David Morris, founder and pioneer in the field. Today his daughter, Dr. Mary Morris is continuing her father's great work.

La Crosse is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. If you like outdoor activities LaCrosse County is the place to be. There is hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and more. My husband can not get enough of the views.


While eating breakfast I asked Ted if he wanted to grab a cache on the way out of town. He was agreeable so I connected to the internet and used my Geocaching app from Groundspeak inc. to find the nearest cache. .31 miles away! Why, we were practically sitting on it. So, off we went. As soon as we got out of the car to start walking muggles drove up. We were basically in the middle of no where (huge parking lot). There were no cars anywhere except ours. They just stared at us. So, we stared back until they drove away. This was one of those caches where it was pretty obvious how you were going to find it, you just had several choices. I found the cache! Two in a row for me!!! This thing was full of travel bugs. We chose a little leprechaun who wants to get to Ireland. Perfect, I think, since we live so close to Notre Dame, home of the Fighting Irish. So, we're going to take him to visit the university and them move him to a TB hotel that we think holds promise for getting him to his destination.

North of Decorah

Ted and I visited this beautiful cache site after a wonderful day in Burr Oak, Iowa. We were in Burr Oak on June 25 for Laura Ingalls Wilder Days. The weather was beautiful (although a little sun would have been nice). It made for a great day spent outside. The morning was spent shopping and spending a lot of money in the visitors center. Burr Oak's visitor center is located in an old bank. Not only will you see information about Laura, but also a display about the robbery the bank. I'll be honest. I didn't look at the display. There were too many people and it is a small area. The robbery was in 1931 and was the first bank robbery in the county. The bank robbers locked the employees and patrons in the bank vault before they left.
Next we attended a presentation on one-room school houses by Sarah Uthoff, a fellow member of The Laura Ingalls Literary Society. Sarah has a wealth of knowledge to share on this subject and did a great job making her presentation interesting to adults and children. Listen to Sarah on her radio show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/trundlebedtales or follow her on Twitter @Trundlebedtales.
After chatting a bit with Sarah, Ted and I had a quick bite to eat at the food tent. For less then $5 we each had a hot dog and a drink and I had a brownie. It tasted great, too. While eating we listened to The Bread and Butter String Band. They played classic fiddle music. Pa Ingalls would have been proud. It was great to listen to some of the older people enjoying the music. When a new song began there was always a happy murmur throughout the crowd and someone always said, "I love this song."
As soon as lunch was over we moved on to tour the Master's Hotel. This is the first home the Ingalls family lived in upon their arrival to Burr Oak. The entire family also worked in the hotel. Our tour guide was a 15 year-old girl from the area. She had a great personality and made the tour enjoyable. Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum
The tour ended in time for us to see the end of the pie auction and then the highlight for many, the announcement of the Little Laura and Little Almanzo winners. It was great to hear the kids read their essays and see all of the girls and boys in their costumes.
Throughout the day I was struck by the "small town feel" of Burr Oak. I loved being back home in Iowa. I truly believe people are more welcoming there. Or, is it there that I am more receptive of the kindness of others?
This was actually our second visit to Burr Oak but Ted didn't remember being there before which made it entertaining for me. He kept looking at me and saying, "Are you sure we've been here before?" No amount of reassurance helped. Nothing I said triggered memories of our first trip through with our nephew Brad, maybe, seven years ago.
Before returning to Wisconsin for the night we had time for for a cache. I grabbed my geocaching bag out of the trunk and took out my GPS. The nearest cache I had entered was North of Decorah. We seemed to approach it very quickly only to discover we really weren't nearby. I had done something wrong. So, we stated looking at the degrees and minutes and followed the coordinates.
We ending up at a business and there were several people there including two women we had seen in Burr Oak. After some discussion about how far we thought we were going to have to walk for this we set off on our hike. The trail was lovely (and groomed). The terrain is very easy for walking. When we reached the exact coordinates Ted was sure he was going to find the cache. As we were walking around a truck with a worker drove by. I wonder how many cachers they see at this location. I thought where we were looking was too obvious so I walked away to an area I saw a few feet away and immediately found the cache. We moved to a convenient bench to check things out, sign the log and take pictures. The truck returned while all of this was going on. Again, I wondered. We returned the cache and set back off for the car. This area has lots of wildlife and the walk is enjoyable.