Had the chance to discover the “Blue Footed Boobie” geocoin while discovering geocache “Duuuuukes!” while in Harrisonburg on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010.
Ships of the Cache
Boldly going where no geocacher has gone before!
I.K.S. VALHALLA: “Conquest of ‘Duuuuuuukes!’”
N 38° 25.866 W 078° 52.555
Pathfinder Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,09,04
Romulan ships were flowing steadily along the intersecting travel routes as well as others passing by on foot so stealth was utilized in our search for outpost “Duuuuuuuukes!”
Considering we had ‘business’ that brought us into the region, it seemed a good time to seek out this one.
Discovery was made straight away with this marking a glorious ending to what until then had been a very stressful day.
Qapla’ !!!
– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. VALHALLA
The Order of the Pathfinders
and the Klingon Empire
I.K.S. PATHFINDER: “Zeek’s Cache”
N 38° 12.710 W 079° 01.471
Pathfinder Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,08,21
When outpost “Zeek’s Cache” turned up in intelligence reports as a possible first contact mission, something told us that there would be others who would have already beaten us to that honor, however .. We joined a delegation from the Federation and went out in search of this one anyway.
Although the glories of the first to find were denied us, the glory of marking the find was not!
Qapla’ !!!
– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinders
and the Klingon Empire
Spying Geocachers @ Work
This morning found me feeling drained and lacking energy, but when I was on my way out for the first time … I spied geocachers searching for “Beware the Romulans @ The Mall — Take II.”
And suddenly the world seemed brighter and I more energetic.
One of the reasons I hide caches is because I want others to enjoy the sport as much as I do and to see this happening is a good feeling.
THE-PATHFINDERS: “VICTORY AT LAST!”
VICTORY AT LAST!
The quest for geocache “The Glorious Cause” has been one that my wife and I have had in our hearts for some time.
In fact, my wife says quite quickly that it was trying to solve this mystery the first time that caused her to want to take up the sport.
As a person who works with science each day in the lab at the local hospital, she enjoys the challenge of mysteries and unraveling those mysterious.
The first time we went looking for this one, it was when we first entered the sport and were much less experienced.
So the time finally came for us to take up this challenge once more.
On our way to the cache location at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton, Lee reviewed the information at some length — especially the hint.
She felt there was likely more meaning in the hint than what one first sees as surface value.
Her line of thought caused me to realize where the cache was hidden and on our arrival … I immediately found it.
However, I chose to say nothing at the time as I wanted my wife the chance to work her way to its hiding spot on her own.
As Lee began her search, I took time to follow our 3-year-old, Abi, around the cemetery as she found acorns and placed them in a basket she brought with her.
Going back to the beginning of the puzzle, she solved the puzzle yet again and began her search anew.
One searching for the cache location using the new coordinates from the solved puzzle, she followed the compass of the GPS back and forth as it bounced around off the trees.
The bounce effect became slightly frustrating but in the end she found the cache herself as had I.
For us, this is likely one of our favorite caches with a large smiley marking a find that previously had eluded us.
— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories
- – – – – – – – – – – – –
“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.
I.K.S. Pathfinder: “What a GLORIOUS CAUSE!!!”
Gen. Huntar holds in his hand the weathered log for outpost “The Glorious Cause.”
————————
N 38° 08.955 W 079° 04.510
Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,08,28
The desire to find outpost “The Glorious Cause” has long been within the beating of our warrior hearts as it is a challenge that has called to us for some time.
And this was not our first journey to this place, but I will say that we were less experienced when last we made the attempt.
What better outpost to find than one which honors warriors of the past?
Our science officer applied her training and skill to the challenge with her wisdom leading us to the outpost which most definitely still remains where clues pointed.
To the owner of this cache, we say to you that it was an honorable quest you set for others to complete … an honorable quest with a worthy goal as we made sure to salute those of the past before departing.
An added note is that we indeed logged our visit, but the log has been weathered by the elements and needs replacing … likely the cache as well.
QAPLA’ !!!
– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. THOR’S HAMMER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire
THE-PATHFINDER: “Even Simple Things Can Be Enjoyed”
Even Simple Things Can Be Enjoyed
Even though this week has marked our return to the sport of geocaching, not all adventures are to be found in a hidden geocache or even a waymark.
Sometimes the adventure is found simply in enjoy the moment and living it.
After a week with house guests, we felt it good to do things one particular Saturday that our 3-year-old daughter, Abi, would enjoy as even though she had some fun herself during the week previous, Abi still was living life to the schedule of others.
And we are very proud of how well she adapted to the changes in schedule and routine during the week we had visitors.
So on this one particular Saturday in August, we loaded her up in the mini van and set sail for Gypsy Hill Park.
Abi had a blast feeding the ducks, geese and swans.
She also relished in a ride aboard the Gypsy Express.
But the most energy she expended was up the hill on the playground where she ran, climbed, slid, and much more.
And even we here parents had fun, enjoying the simple moments of being together as a family.
It makes me think of why I chose the persona of “Klingons” to represent us while geocaching.
For me, the fictional Klingons (those true to the ways of Kahless) are about not just honor, but also about living life while making the most of it.
They are a passionate people unafraid to live life, enjoying that life as they adventure through it.
Why not enjoy this life while doing so in an honorable way?
After all, if we rush through life and rush through the adventures … we will never realize all that we are truly missing.
— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories
- – – – – – – – – – – – –
“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.
More Than One Visits New Cache
Taking a moment to share a log entry posted by someone who found one of our newest caches as I found it interesting and can see it in my mind’s eye. 
Location: Virginia, United States asmirnov found Klingon Outpost I-81-S (Traditional Cache) at 8/28/2010 Log Date: 8/28/2010 Found with Francis on our tour of Southern states. Stopped at the rest stop and decided to check the iPhone app if there happened to be a cache nearby - and what do you know. Just placed yesterday. Thanks for a welcome break. There was a cute little (and scared) possum few feet from the cache that decided to climb the tree - it was quite scared of us. TFTC
I.K.S. Pathfinder: “From Swans to Trains”
Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,08,28
Figuring the crew was in serious need of what the humans refer to as shore-leave, I had helm set course for the Gypsy Hill Park region of the Staunton System.
For sport, we beamed down near something referred to as a “duck pond” where we faced fearsome beasts called swans — winged creatures that to me seemed more along the lines of dragons.
Long necks allowed their heads to snake between bars and snap all around my brave warriors and I, but bat’leths kept the fearsome beasts at bay!
Our battle was glorious and will be the stuff of legend as Kahless himself was with us!!!
Following the battle, I decided we needed to secure transit on a local ground railway, but how does one stop a train?
How about with a disruptor?
We were able to “secure” passage without problems.
– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. THOR’S HAMMER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire
INTEL: Gemini Stars of the North Geocoin – 2 coin set for Preorder
The above coins are currently available for presale at CoinsandPins.com … of which the Empire has already placed an order of its own.
You can find out more about them here … http://www.coinsandpins.com/geocoins/presale-geocoins-and-pins/gemini-Stars-of-the-north-geocoin-coin-set
This set contains one polished nickel and one polished gold coin.
This coin set is for presale only. You must click on the check box to agree to the presale terms or your order will be canceled. Click here to read the terms: Presale terms
Castor and Pollux were twins in Greek mythology. They had different fathers therefore making one mortal and the other immortal. After Castor died, Pollux asked Zeus if Castor could also be made immortal so they could stay together. Zeus did this by transforming them into the Gemini constellation.
The two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation were given the names of Castor and Pollux. The constellation is located between Taurus and Cancer. You can also identify the ecliptic using the Gemini constellation by tracing a line from the waist of Pullux to just above the left foot of Castor as shown on this geocoin.
- Measures 2″ diameter
- Highly detailed art
- Hard enamel translucent, and solid colors
- Trackable on Geocaching.com
An icon unique to this coin will show on your profile when you log a discovery
Who Are We?
Among Klingons, those of the Order of the Pathfinder have been chosen to explore (and conquer) the unknown ... illuminating the darkness with the light that reflects off the gleaming blades of our bat'leths!
The following says it all ... "Not all those who wander are lost." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Embracing the concepts of "Ships of the Cache," we began with the U.S.S. Pathfinder of the United Federation of Planets and have now changed it to the "I.K.S." Pathfinder while adding the I.K.S. Thor's Hammer to represent our Klingon brothers and sister geocachers.
After all ... who better embraces the spirit of adventure .... those of a boring Federation or those whose veins flow with the blood of Kahless .... the KLINGONS ???
There is only one answer and so it is that we begin breeding targs and joining the fight against tribbles even as we seek out new caches and add them to our lists of conquests!!!!