Geocaching and the Zoo Event

 Good morning everyone.  An interesting stat I came across on Project-gc.  176 caches that I have found have had their D/T rating change since I found it.  Most have had either the difficulty, the terrain, or both increased.  Changing the D/T rating after it's been found does affect your fizzy grid.  One of the changes was an Earthcache that went from a terrain 3.5 down to a 1.  The road is questionable and I can't see a wheelchair going over these mucky hills.  That's one square on my mystery fizzy grid that is empty again, thanks to having it changed.  That can be a subject for a whole blog.

Saturday was a bitter sweet sort of day.  Bitter because the border between Canada and the United States remains closed to Canadians, so I am unable to attend the Gilby Gone Wild event.  Sweet because the annual zoo event here was taking place the same day.  This would be only my second time attending the zoo event.

(Waiting for the zoo to open)

Each year, there are new geocaches placed within the zoo, with a few outside of the zoo, in Assiniboine Park somewhere.  These caches are usually in play until the next zoo event the following year.  They will be archived to make way for new caches.

The first time I attended, there was a large gathering of geocachers waiting for the gates to open so they can dash for the coveted FTFs.  I arrived this year, thinking I should have been more mobile and have left sooner.  I found an empty parking lot on my arrival.  Other geocachers slowly trickled in before the 9am opening.  With the pandemic and social distancing, there was no formal gathering of geocachers.  You can come at any time during the day between 9am and 4pm to sign in.  

I had purchased my ticket online the night before, allowing me to enter the zoo quicker.  It started off with three groups of geocachers, going in separate directions for the caches.  I hooked up with one group that consisted of some of the top finders in Manitoba.  To speed up signing the log sheets, instead of our individual names, we went by the group name of Zoo Crew.  Between the five of us, we grabbed seven of the nine FTFs within the zoo.  We weren't even running.  We were just making quick work of each cache we found, and they were all good quality geocaches.

(cracking the code to another FTF)

(One more FTF for the Zoo Crew)

We found ourselves back near the front entrance.  It was there that we solved a new puzzle cache just outside of the zoo and chatted with the host, Skoki.  This is where we parted ways.  While they left the zoo to find the other new caches, I remained in the zoo.  Grabbing FTFs didn't really allow much time to take in the exhibits, so I went back at a leisurely pace to take it all in again.  I was also bumping into other geocachers that came after.  

(Solving a puzzle while the host and owner looks on)

(The would-be Gilby Gone Wild attendees)

What started out as a slightly chilly morning, gave way to a beautiful sunny day to be at the zoo.  I also got a zombie cache too.  One of the larger caches from last year wasn't removed yet.  When informed of this by Skoki, my ears perked up.  I made my way over to claim it as found.  

(Now that's a large zombie)

As mentioned, I took my time taking in the animals, getting pictures and video.  Here's some of the animals I was able to get pictures of.  I should also mention that the zoo was starting preparations for their annual Boo at the Zoo event, held every year around Halloween.

(Tie me Kangaroo down sport)

This spider reminds me of those old horror movies where giant spiders, grasshoppers, and anything else that the imagination could think of would overtake a city.

Last time I saw a cougar was at the bar, trying to pick up younger men.  This one doesn't look the same.

That's what I look like on Sunday morning.  Too lazy to get up.

Striking a pose.

BOO!!

That's all for this week.  Until next time, be happy, stay safe, wash your hands and wear a mask, get vaccinated, hug your pets, and most importantly, just have fun.  Peace out ✌ 

There's always just one more picture, or in this case, another FTF for the Zoo Crew.