Geocaching

So, Karen and the kids have been geocaching for awhile now.  We went with them one day just after we arrived in California.  The city of La Mesa, where Karen lives, is celebrating their 100th birthday this summer and one of the activities is a geocaching challenge. Check it out here.  La Mesa Geocache Challenge

Anyway, today the grandparents were invited to tag along.  Today's challenge was a little different though.  We had to go to 4 different places and do activities like counting cement picnic tables, barbeque pits etc.  Then if all four were done correctly, that would give us the coordinates to the cache.  Unfortunately we got a somewhat late in the morning start.  By the time we had driven all over town and found the 4 places and got the answers, everyone was too tired and hungry to go find the cache.  I guess that will have to wait for another day.  But of course, I did take some pictures along the way.

First, we had to count cement tables. Only 2 here. Karen and Ethan filling in the answer on their papers.

The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom and beautiful.

So are the Bougainvilla.

Of course where there are parks there are usually playgrounds. And little boys need to play!

Next we had to go to a Trolley Station and find a certain saying on one of the light poles.

Nothing better than when your grandson wants to hold your hand.

 Next we had to count Barbeque Pits and add 2. That made 7.

 
Last stop was counting cement benches around the round cupula and subtract 1.  9 benches so the answer was 8. Can you see them off in the distance??

 Noah ran over and counted them.

Filling out their papers.

We did manage to find some wildlife along the way too. Apparently this is a Fence Lizard.  He was about 6 inches long.  Ethan found one on my steps that was at least a foot long.  Just a tad bigger than Sanibel Anoles.

Ethan apparently is very good at spotting reptiles.  He found this guy by the steps that we had just walked up.  It went into the bushes but soon came back out probably hoping to cross to the other side, however when he saw us, he took off for the bushes again.  He was very LONG!! I guess this is a California Whipsnake aka Striped Racer--non venomous thank goodness. 

All in all, it was a fun morning followed by a late lunch at Wendy's.  The boys have to have their chicken nuggets so they usually go to Micky D's but I introduced them to Wendy's.  They were impressed. :)