Geocaching and The Road Less Taken.

 Good morning everyone.  Just ten States and five Provinces left to go as we head into Delaware.  The most favorite cache is 'Your Key To Cache'  GC3DYYT.  Hidden March 5, 2012, this traditional was found 1,135 times and had 694 favorite points before being archived in October, 2019.  The cache with the most favorite points amongst active caches is also the oldest cache.  'Delaware 7{1}'  GC10A.  Hidden in December, 2000, it has been found 1,365 times and has 492 favorite points.

It was moving week for me.  As I get settled in and unpacked, I decided that this week's blog will be a picture compilation of old barns, homesteads, and other old structures that you'd find in the rural areas.  Chances are that you'll have to get off the main highways and take the roads less taken, the less traveled highways and gravel roads.  Do you zoom past these as you head to the next geocache?  All of these were taken in the past six months.  I know I have more pictures somewhere and I should gather them all together for an album.  

I think we have a tendency to forget about the past as we continue to move forward.  What was life like when these buildings were brand new?

Some sit on properties next to newer buildings/homes.  A blend of old and new.

Some sit all alone in a field somewhere.  A nearby farmer expanded his land and bought his neighbor's land.  

What was life like growing up and living in a remote area?  Today we could call this going off the grid.  You're miles away from anything essential.

In some cases, an entire town slowly died as the residents either died off or moved away.  These towns sprung up along rail lines.  When the trains stopped coming, the town stopped living, leaving a ghost town.

Above and below are located in the same area.  I'm not sure if this is a ghost town I came across in my travels, but it's rare that I see an old grain elevator and a general store.  It's mostly barns that withstand the test of time.  It does make me want to search out ghost towns and take a day to explore the past.

To me, some of these old barns looks like it has a face.  Upper windows are the eyes, middle window is the nose, and the barn doors is an open mouth.

These old barns come in different shapes and sizes.  Some taller than others, fitting the needs of the farmer that was using it.

Time and the elements have caught up to this old barn below.  In the very far back is the old house.

I hope you enjoyed this gallery of old barns and buildings.  Next time you're out and about, finding a geocache that takes you off the beaten path, slow down and look around.  You might come across an old farm in your travels.

Next week I'm going to do the first of what I hope will be a regular quarterly report.  How was geocaching for me during the first three months of 2021?  Until then, be happy, stay safe, wash your hands and wear a mask, hug your furry critters, and most importantly, be happy.  Peace out.

I picked up some litter on one of my walks in the Mars Hill area.  This is a popular place for people to do target practice with their guns as evidence by the empty boxes I picked up.  I didn't bother with the empty shells.  Far too many of those on the ground.