My first year.

Hard to believe that over a year ago we set out on our first adventure to find a container stashed in the woods for us to sign and trade goodies. Oh what a year it has been too. To go over all the details of that year would simply be impractical so I will chronologically highlight the momentous occasions...


NOV 2010: I took my first trip Key West Florida for training and of course had to find something. Magic of the Music(http://coord.info/GCA5B4) was the first one I found on this crazy island and yielded my first ever Geocoin.( http://coord.info/TB284XY)

JAN 2011: I went for my first streak...11days in a row I found a cache. Most of them were during my lunch and was accompanied by Operator361(Now a banned member after making some silly decisions...). The most memorable of these excursions was hitting up an e6c cache called "Escape from Shawshank"(http://coord.info/GC257P1) I should have known better than to try a cache of his while on a lunch break but hey, why not. Sure enough I ended up underground, wet, and smelling like "Andy Dufraine" on the other end. January also was the month we left our first official "mark" on the geocaching world. The Ghost of Garnerway (http://coord.info/GC2MD3J) was placed and published as the first of many Munky adventures.

MAR 2011: The third of March marked both joy and sadness as I found my second 5/5 (http://coord.info/GC2BMTN) but lost my father in law. Kenneth Paul Kirby was a wonderful man, great coach, and loving father. We miss you Ken!

APR 2011: Now here is where my geocaching story changes forever. Early in the month of April I was introduced to this group of folks who lovingly called themselves "Dirtbags". These were not your typical geocachers. Their HQ was a local brewery, they played by their own guidelines, and knew how to not only have fun but make this game I had grown to love so much better. To say I was smitten would have been a lie, I wanted in! My interest was noted and soon everything would change.

MAY 2011: The email came in! My challenge was issued and I began my journey to become a Dirtbag. The outline of my challenge was simple, filling in the blanks, not so much. Time to hide a cache worthy of those three little letters D.G.S. So out of the smoke comes Chunkymunky06 boasting A DGS hide... that was not received well. Those damn turtles! (http://coord.info/GC2W8VN) I had overlooked a small detail in my placement and Mr Dan Ward was the first to not only exploit, but dance, mock, and shoot a video(http://youtu.be/S8-RoRG6kbk) of the oversight. Cooler heads prevailed and after a short time I had fixed my mistake and took a shot at Mr. Ward myself.(http://youtu.be/8BfYfxwI1Y4) Between the video and cache I secured my seat into this group of ragamuffins and now proudly tote the title of DIRTBAG!

JUN 2011: Saw my attendance at the first ever Dirtbag event(http://coord.info/GC2QGAD) and also presented me with marching orders to the great state of Alaska...

JUL 2011: Back in Key West where I completed the Duval Crawl Geocaching Challenge. This unpublished challenge involves 7 hours of consuming adult beverages over three establishments then finding a cache no earlier than 2:30am. Later the same morning found me on a boat in the middle of the ocean watching special folks parachute into the sea as I fed the fish over the side of the craft. Jager and geocaching...never again!

AUG 2011: This month was my highest find rate thus far but more importantly showed the depth of care that was provided by some geocaching friends. Due to a technical error in the Army system our house had been cleared and our household goods on their way to Alaska but we were not going anywhere. Homeless and confused, Genese09 and Zinyata stepped, gathered us up and saw to our well being. For this I will be forever thankful. I love you guys!

SEP 2011: Find # 500!! The annual trip to our Island yielded not only a week of great adventure, wolf sightings, Dad beating his ghost, but granted me find 500!(http://coord.info/GL6GWAGE).

Oct 2011: 24 October 2011 exactly one year after my adventure began a cache pops and I head out. My buddy Jerry planted a cache right next to my home and I nailed the FTF(http://coord.info/GC2WV4M). So one year to date I was at 542 finds, coutless adventures, a new "family" of Dirtbags, and just warming up!

So now for the next chapter. We head to Colorado soon for adventures out west. Stay tuned...