This was my first 7am Velocache experience. It was done well.
My ride to school along the auto parkway (aah! the irony!) tends to be misty and dullish, usually a bit late and a bit groggy. With a swing in my step I mounted my bicycle early enough for a good scavenge.
Sticking to business, I dug under the decorative sculptures before even ordering coffee. A sipping fellow and his lovely dog were confused as to why a customer would dig in the metal toys despite a sign specifically prohibiting it.
When what, to my wondering eyes should appear, but a sticker-filled bottle, cowbell and cheap beer!
And upon closer examination yet, I realized that the coffee bag was not merely decorative but a $10 gift certificate. Thanks, Steve! A half pound of coffee and a ham and cheese croissant make for a phenomenal start to a day.
Motor parts dominated in the past (not these motors, but any excuse to get Motorhead and the Young Ones rolling)
but now there are plenty of ways to get your two wheeled engine all cranked up. Of course you'll have to navigate the 4 wheeled graveyard
Not to mention the terminator like guards
and all those stern warning signs
Unlike many of the previous velocache's, number 17 isn't in Deep Cover
actually, the limited access hours might be your biggest barriers (unless senior terminator gets some much needed oiling).
So why is this the friends/family edition? We'll I highly encourage you to open the cache on site and I guarantee there is something inside that you and one or two friends/family members can all enjoy.
I was unable to find the clip I wanted. The one in which Jeff Goldblum tells Larry Fishburne (oops, it's "Lawrence" now) "But I did, so get in the fucking van" in reply to "You shouldn't have done that". Watch the movie if it don't make sense. It is actually quite good.
Anyways, De La Soul are no slouches.
So My partner and I headed over to the West Side for this cache, knowing it was in the badlands of Asilomar. We weren't sure eggzacketley, and by the time we made it over there we fervently (you like that?) hoped it would be close to 17 Mile Drive, as we were dead tired, lacking a nap, and even small climbs were noticeable.
Great Success! We spotted the No Bikes sign (always a welcome sight) and went in to investigate. Check on the bear proof trash can?!? I know thar's pumas round these here parts, but bears?
Yep. Check on the prime Troll habitat.
Check on the (not so) hidden white plastic envelope. Someone had systematically cut out all the nasturtiums and heaped them in a pile under the bridge, but left the package there. It had a small hole in it, but seemed intact:
1 Large fleece jacket 2 cans Hamm's beer 1 jar Wheelsmith Spokeprep 1 classy gas station souvenir shop plaque playfully (yet seriously) encouraging boozer friends not to outstay their welcome
Is that it? Because that's what there was. Which is in no way meant to say it was not enough. Because, in spite of the fact that this whole Velocache scam is just a way for people to unload a bunch of useles crap and some (very) inexpensive canned beers, the plaque alone would have been worth the trip. Thank you very much.
So, the protocol now is that I sit on this for an indefinite time and then go out and find another one? Or what?
So, after scoring my first Velocache Monterey, I got sick and haven't been able to get out and place one myself until today. I figure, I'm 50/50 roadie/mtie, so my placement should be good for both. Though foggy coastside, riding inland a bit got me a bit of sun. I wasn't the only one enjoying the sun on a bike.
Figured I'd stick with the "bridge" theme. You'll find this VC at the top of a pseudonym for a bottle/wine opener, just 1,000,000x bigger. Gas up and lay down the rubber to find this VC.
This, THIS is what happens when you let the sweet fruit of velocache die upon the vine:
We rolled up to cache #11 hoping to find whatever Sleaze Otter'z drunks had left behind, 4 weeks past. Unfortunately, the bunker doors on #3 and several others were wide open, and there were rollerbladers, dogwalkers, and other unmentionables lingering around the perimeter. Crestfallen with the amount of humanoid activity, we were not surprised to find #11 rode hard and put away wet. Bunch of dead beers and cookie wrappers.
There is just something about pigeon feathers that suggests absolute filth
Being a bunch of green lameweeds, we took our accumulated trash home under the "leave no trace in the abandoned military bunker" mantra. I was secretly hoping a can-mad troll would hit on Katie on the way home for her aluminum goodies, maybe she was too?
The pungent stench of death here turned out NOT to be from the Velocache, and instead was from an ex-sea lion on the beach. Really though, we're splitting hairs.
And a notice to all lurkers and prize-finders: if you have picked up a velocache and not planted a new one, well that's just not proper. Imagine buying a 10-year girl a pony. Imagine then stealing it away and selling it to the circus. I admit that would be funny, be c'mon, hide something somewhere that you know, take some pictures, and let us find it!!!
Always do sober what you say you'll do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. -Ernest Hemingway
HOW TO?
You will need:
1. a bike
2. a camera
3. computer access with internet
THE RULES:
1. feast your eyes on the VELOCACHE you wish to find.
2. go find it.
3. take pictures that match the perspective of the original VELOCACHE post, a picture of you and your bike and the cache as well. NO ZOOMING. ZOOM KILLS PERSPECTIVE.
4. score what is stashed at VELOCACHE.
5. go back to your computer and post a comment under the VELOCACHE you have found ( or e-mail that you have found it) and send the images/find to:
inspektorjavert(at)gmail(dot)com
6. revel in your victory and go set one up for someone else!
7. If you want to deploy your own velocache, contact us and we can get you going.