Richland's Geocoin Challenge, August 6 - 8, 2010

Christopher and I left Portland, Oregon around 2:00PM on Friday, August 6th. We stopped at a grocery store and got gas in the car. We traveled I-84 eastbound to Kennewick finding four caches along the way and did not find two caches. Christopher got something in his right eye at one of the cache sites from a tree limb which was quite painful. We stopped at a laundry in Irrigon, Oregon so he could wash it out. We stayed two nights in a suite (with two full bathrooms!) at the Quality Inn in Kennewick. We ate dinner nearby at Shari’s.

After breakfast at the Quality Inn, we arrived at John Dam Plaza about 8:30AM for Richland’s Geocoin Challenge -- Celebrating Richland's 100 Year Anniversary. The challenge consisted of a series of nine historical caches. Participants had to find eight of the nine caches to receive a free Richland Geocoin. They printed a total of 250 geocoins.

It was really hot. I do not do well in hot weather. I wore my Tilly hat which helped. We found nine caches but forgot to get the code word for Island Vue Drive In. We went back after getting our coin. I walked out in the sagebrush field using the GPSr to get the code word.

We went back to the suite for a couple hours during the heat of the day. Christopher took a nap in the bedroom while I watched a program about Laura and Whitney mistaken identity on the living room television. We found eight more caches and one earthcache (did not claim a find but just wrote a note). We ate a late dinner at Denny’s.

After breakfast at the Quality Inn, I packed up the car. It was easy this time. Instead of making numerous trips, I used the luggage cart. We found 13 caches in the Richland/Kennewick area and on Hwy 14 on the way home. We did not find Roosevelt Grade Overlook. It was much too dangerous for Christopher to be crawling around on the cliff. The view was breathtaking though.

We crossed over to Oregon at Biggs. We stopped at McDonalds in Hood River for ice cream. I was really exhausted. It was hard to stay awake. We took a break at Multnomah Falls. I took Christopher home with me so he could check the Internet. We unloaded the car. I took Christopher home about 9:00PM. It was good to be back to cool weather!