Join us for our 2nd annual geocacher tour of the amazing
Goldstone NASA communications facility at Fort Irwin! Before and
after the free tour there will be a special caches released to keep
you all busy and dinner event nearby at 5PM (See link above).
Please check frequently for updates.
EVENT STATUS: WEATHER, ROAD CONDITION, &
TRAFFIC MONITORING
It's 4:30 a.m. day of the event and all traffic
routes are flowing. The Cajon Pass is clear of accidents and
weather is only minor according to all info posted.
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SPECIAL COOL NEW LINKS TO
NASA PAGES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THESE DISH PHOTOS.. CLICK!
The image on the left offers a NASA DSN info video
to prep you for what you are about to see...
The image below it is a link to a very cool project
for educators and parents to do with kids or for the rest of us
adults who enjoy building our own very cool models... Make a
display piece to remember this tour forever! ;)
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Companion
events:
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Evening of January 23: (GC22RFT)...
Night of January 23:
(GC21YZA)...
WindyMatters' Desert Geocaching Stimulus Package
Morning of January 24: (GC21Q7Q)
CoffeeFamily5 and DesertVeteran's Route 66 Road Rally
Evening of January 24: (GC21Q8C)
CoffeeFamily5 and DesertVeteran's Pizza Bash
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In the Jan 2009 event, nearly 120 people
attended comprising 52 different caching parties. RSVP for this
event today, as both tour head-counts are capped at a maximum of 60
heads each and are filling up fast. This is one event and free tour
not to be missed! See this link from the 2009
NASA Goldstone Deep Space Tour & Diner Dinner! for an idea
of how much everyone enjoyed the last tour event! ;)
An out of this world experience,
firmly on the ground...
Join us for this tour of the Goldstone museum where three large
areas are dedicated to current missions, past missions, and Deep
Space Network history - plus there is a hands-on room for children.
The guided tour then travels around the 53-square-mile complex to
view the large antenna arrays! Goldstone is one of just three
antenna arrays used around the globe to keep in constant contact
with all of NASA's space missions as the planet constantly rotates
each one of them in or out of line of sight contact with various
rockets, orbiters, satellites, space shuttles, etc. It's a one of a
kind experience that's almost out of this world!
After the tour is over, come join us at the second event to
relax, dine, and geocache at the famous Peggy Sues 50's Diner just
north of Barstow outside Fort Irwin. It's a one of a kind place
with combination diner, ice-cream parlor/soda shop, pizza parlor,
museum, gift store, and a lot more! SEE THE NEW SEPARATE DINNER
EVENT PAGE
HERE!
We expect this tour will be both very informational and a lot of
fun, so come join us!!! (And as usual, there will likely be extra
event-spawned caches to pick up, which only come online at the time
of the event so some lucky attendees will get some FTFs!)
Non-US citizens can also join us for this event, but should
contact us by email to fill out appropriate paperwork for the tour
portion at least a week before the event and no later. We have this
paperwork and can email it as a file attachment to anyone who needs
it.
Planning for the entire weekend of fun?
The geocaching.com website will happily give
you a calendar item for your computer for an event if you click the
tiny correct icon at the top of the page to the right of the event
date, but it doesn't contain the start time or any approximation of
length because at this time, Groundspeak still hasn't added any
data fields for the time or approximate length although clearly
that info would be a good idea to collect and post.
For those who don't want to be toting
website hard-copies or planners around (and us paper-less
tree-huggers too!) I have made up a master .ics file which covers
both sets of events over both days' time. In other words, download
the linked file once, click on it twice, and then you're done six
times faster scheduling your stuff than anyone else who got an .ics
file from each cache that lacked the actual times... ;) When you
click this link to the website, CLICK THE RED X button on top of
the pop-up window to skip the "upgrade" request marketing
spiel...
This file can be loaded on your home
computer. If you have a phone that reads .ics standard files (most
smart phones and some others), you can sync the events from your
computer to your phone over USB or Bluetooth connections, or on
some phones you can download the file directly to your calendar by
clicking on the file in your mobile browser (example: Open this
page in Safari on an iPhone and click the icon on the right. The
schedule info instantly ads to calendar app on the appropriate
dates and times. Couldn't be easier!
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.,.-=- MASTER SCHEDULE of EVENTS, FOR
JANUARY 23rd, 2010 -=-.,.
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| .:MORNING:. |
- 8:00 a.m.:
WELCOME TO BARSTOW SPECIAL CACHE RELEASE: This special cache
will defy every manner of convention with regards to hiding caches
by not being hidden at all... There it will be, right in the
muggles' faces! Yet all signs point to the fact that the likelihood
that they will never notice it because it isn't hidden! HEY... OVER
THERE>>> HERE'S THE CACHE! COME MUGGLE IT!!! I DARE YA!!
This cache provides a fun way to start your day off and an official
welcome to everyone coming to Barstow. It will be online by the
morning of the event (even if it fails to publish on time, info
will be posted on this page below giving out the coordinates and
details (but no hints.. as for those with at least one working eye,
this will be a cake walk I should think...) before 8:00 a.m. GZ is
just off I-15 on the way to the event for everyone coming northward
from all points south. Our apologies to those coming south from
Vegas as to get to this one before the event takes you even more
time because of the brief backtrack from the cache to the event,
but you'll see why this cache could only be placed at this location
south of the event when you go to do it. It's all about location,
location, location! This cache is highly recommended to be done
before arriving at the event on time to kick-start the day with a
truly bold cache worth talking about (and perhaps taking pictures
in front of!) Whomever gets FTF on this custom cache will find a
special certificate for a prize which will be given out only during
Dinner time at Peggy Sue's! Check your data-enabled
eyePhone/Androphone/Berryphone/Zylophone or call any life-line at a
computer (which would include event hosts) for the published
information as you enter Barstow if it isn't available by when you
have to leave home for the event. It will be on this page by when
you arrive, if not the cache page linked here as well.
- 8:45 a.m.:
a.m. CACHING GROUPS CHECK-IN: Cachers wishing to come early
and go after the first-to-find caches must check-in with Mike.
Check-in consists of signing-in and signing a waiver promising to
conduct your caching activities safely and legally, etc. A map and
list of caches and all their details will be issued to each party
checked-in. First come, first serve.
- 8:45
a.m.: a.m. TOUR GROUP CHECK-IN: The morning tour
check-in process begins with your hosts Matt & Mike near the
posted coordinates on this cache page. The tour group checks in
with Matt. Maps will be available detailing the drive to the base.
Carpools not yet full have ~15 minutes reorganize themselves so
that all seats are comfortably filled in all vehicles entering base
to minimize the number of total vehicles and facilitate a faster
and more orderly entry onto base and make for a more manageable
tour caravan for the driving portion of the tour. All tour vehicles
will line-up along the western boundary of the parking lot in a
caravan ready to leave at 9 a.m. sharp after pilot and rear
vehicles exchange cell phone numbers.
- 9:00
a.m.: THE MORNING TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION!
Morning check-in process for everyone finishes so your hosts can
guide the tour group onto base. Non-tour cachers and noon-tour
cachers with the new cache list in hand will presumably already be
long-gone by this time...
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| .:AFTERNOON:. |
- 11:45 a.m.:
P.M. CACHING GROUPS CHECK-IN: Those not already issued the
list of event-related caches must check-in to get the list. Those
who were on the morning tour can meet up here again to get the list
or ask for it at the end of the tour if they prefer to go straight
from the base to the caches. Check-in consists of signing-in and
signing a waiver promising to conduct your caching activities
safely and legally, etc. A map and list of caches and all their
details will be issued to each party checked-in. First come, first
serve. There will be some specially marked caches on this list that
weren't on the A.M. list to give the P.M. cachers a chance to find
some first to finds as well.. AM cachers can get the updated FTF
caches list given to PM cachers at dinner if desired.
- 11:45
a.m.: NOON TOUR GROUP CHECK-IN: The noon tour
check-in process begins near the posted coordinates on this cache
page, by checking-in with Wendy. Maps will be available detailing
the drive to the base. Carpools not yet full have ~15 minutes
reorganize themselves so that all seats are comfortably filled in
all vehicles entering base to minimize the number of total vehicles
and facilitate a faster and more orderly entry onto base and make
for a more manageable tour caravan for the driving portion of the
tour. All tour vehicles will line-up along the western boundary of
the parking lot in a caravan ready to leave at 12 p.m. sharp after
pilot and rear vehicles exchange cell phone numbers.
- 12:00
NOON: THE LAST TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION! The noon
tour group check-in process for everyone finishes so your host can
guide the tour group onto base. After this time, those wishing to
show up late to this event to go caching before dinner will have to
be at the mercy of Groundspeak to release the cache info at some
point during the day or wait until dinner time to get the
info...
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| .:EVENING:. |
- 5:00
p.m.: Everyone has the opportunity to get together from
both tour groups at one big dinner event! Come join us at the
2010 - NASA Deep Space Odyssey II Diner Dinner (GC22RFT)
for some down right good food sharing, and generally winding down
before driving back home, going to a hotel or driving to stay at
Wendy's for the night before continuing on to the next two events
set for the following day with CoffeeFamily5 and DesertVeteran in
Barstow! NEW! Please note, the 5PM dinner has been moved
to its own separate event page.
- ?:??
p.m.: At some point during dinner time (which will not
be disclosed in advance of the event itself), the very special NASA
Goldstone event night cache info will be released to the dinner
guests to go find...Everyone who likes night caches or something a
little unusual will want to stick around until this information is
released. It is on most peoples' way home and not far from Peggy
Sues, but that's all we're gonna say about this one for
now!
- 7:00
p.m.: Official time listed people can start showing up
at GC21YZA">the Windy Matters event
for FREE LODGING and/or post-NASA/dinner conversation.
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Paid overnight accommodations in Barstow for
those staying for Sunday's Events.
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| Motel name: |
Motel
6 - Barstow #1355 |
Super 8 Barstow |
| Address: |
150 Yucca Avenue. |
170 Coolwater Lane |
| Phone: |
(760) 256-1752 |
760-256-8443 |
| Services: |
WiFi available in select rooms for $3/day. |
WiFi is free. |
| Rates: |
$38, adult rate / $32 senior rate |
$56 online only, $65 regular. |
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| Motel name: |
Rodeway Inn |
EconoLodge (CA326) |
| Address: |
1261 East Main Street |
1230 East Main Street |
| Phone: |
(760) 256-1752 |
760-256-8443 |
| Services: |
WiFi & Cont. Breakfast are free |
WiFi & Cont. Breakfast are free. |
| Rates: |
$57 |
$56 adults, $50 seniors. |
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| Locale: |
All of these hotels are within a couple of blocks
from each other within a mile west of I-15 directly on East Main
Street or just off of it, visible from the main road. Plenty of
restaurants nearby. |
| Directions: |
From I-15 or I-40 to any of these hotels, exit West
onto East Main Street. |
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.,.-=-MISC. TOUR
INFO-=-.,.
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• Bathroom facilities are
available at Peggy Sue's diner and at the beginning tour building
location at the GoldStone facility portion of the base, an hour
away. Plan accordingly.
• Each tour lasts
approximately two and a half hours long.
• Photos are allowed
anywhere along the tour and on base unless otherwise specifically
forbidden or it interferes with the orderly progress of the tour.
And we don't remember any problems with either last year so if ya
got em', bring em'!
• It may be useful to
have a passenger mark the journey to Goldstone in a GPS and save
the waypoints at key places (gates, roads turned on, etc) so that
nobody gets lost on the way out to finding their way back to
Newberry Springs (where Peggy Sue's 50's Diner is). It is a long
route with a couple of turns and disorientation is quite possible
here.
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| GROUP 1 -- 9:00 am tour departure |
GROUP 2 -- 12:00 noon tour departure |
| a.m. co-hosts: Matt (KG6EAR)
& MIke (5150Joker) |
p.m. tour host:
WindyMatters (Wendy) |
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| Parties in green are cleared with Goldstone
for entrance! |
Last updated: Tue. Jan 23, 6:00
a.m. |
| *Note: # column indicates the number total in the
party named. That includes the geocacher registered and all
non-geocacher guests. Other geocachers who are carpooling with a
party are not included in that party's "# in party" figure so we
have an accurate head count of total person's going and don't
become confused along the way. |
| ALL PARTIES IN THE LIST MUST
BE VOICE-VALIDATED BY CALLING IN TO WENDY MATTAS AT HER NUMBER SENT
OUT IN EMAIL BY NO LATER THAN JANUARY 22 TO GET THEIR GREEN "CLEAR
TO GO" COLOR LISTING IN THE TABLE ABOVE TO INSURE THEIR RESERVATION
SPACE IS BEING HELD AND TO VERIFY INFORMATION WE SEND TO NASA FOR
SECURITY CLEARANCE THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT. |
HOW TO RSVP FOR THE
EVENT:
Space is limited both in terms of body count (only 50-60 per
tour) and in terms of the total number of vehicles allowed on the
tour during the driving portion of the tour due to limited parking
space at certain facilities. We therefore require everyone to
carpool so that we have enough room for all 60 people at each tour
and meet the cap limit of 15 vehicles max (and preferably 12 or
less if possible).
To RSVP, simply look for the "log your visit" link in the upper
right corner of this page used to log finds on any cache you visit.
The type of log you need to post is a "Will Attend". You should
include the total number in your party (counting yourself), which
tour time you would like to attend (AM or PM, check for
availability in the table above), and add who you are carpooling
with (if you know already) and/or how many spaces you may have open
in your vehicle for someone else to jump in with you at the launch
point if you intend to be a driver onto the base for the tour. If
you are the driver of a carpool, please indicate so. Once you have
posted your RSVP, be sure to check back frequently for schedule
changes or new info.
*Fine print: All drivers planning on entering the base
with their vehicle will have to show proof of private or
self-insurance policies on their vehicles at the point of entries
(there are two gates we must pass through and will be checked for
driver's license and insurance potentially at one or both.).... be
prepared! There is no room on this tour for single passenger
drivers. Those without insurance and with low-capacity vehicles
(only 1-3 seats) should takes seats in the carpool with someone
else who has a larger vehicle. Those choosing to ride in a carpool
for any reason only need to bring U.S. or state government-issued
identification for entering the base (minors are exempted).
Beforehand, please announce who you are riding with so we can keep
the head counts in every carpool accurate on the website database
so it's easy to make snap-changes where needs-be. Those here from
foreign countries on visas or with no local government-issued IDs
of any kind will need to contact us in advance of the event to
workout the proper paperwork for you.
SMALLER PRINT:At this point in time, we
have decided there is no need for any kind of release of liability
form to worry about signing for the tour or the dinner parts of
this event because everyone must prove to they have private vehicle
insurance and we are not sponsoring any kind of contest or
dangerous activity beyond normal caching activities you already
engage in for these areas. Truthfully those forms aren't worth the
paper they are printed on anyways in most courts of law because
they weren't legally administered or certified anyways. You do
these events always at your own risk of your own good or bad
decisions... there's no suing us for those! If the food was
bad==and we are sure it won't be==you sue Peggy Sue's, not us! ...
:) Be careful out there. Life is risky==period!
even smaller print... We have
decided however, that being said, that those who are handed out a
list at any time containing any new caches waiting to be found put
out in connection with the event will have to return a signed
waiver of liability form just in case their own behavior causes
them misfortunes while engaging in said geocaching activities yadda
yadda yadda and all that good legal stuff! We do a lot of work
putting on these events and can't be liable legally for the feeding
frenzy that might result in connection with said caching
activities... Those forms will be available with devices for
signing them at the appropriate times listed. Thanks for your
cooperation and understanding! We look forward to all your
fortunate activities and good times at our many events!
:)
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| Waypoint |
Type |
Location |
Name / Coordinates / Hint |
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GC21N1G |
Traditional |
Barstow |
Welcome from The Barstow Chamber of
Geocommerce |
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• 9:00 a.m. new caches released for morning
caching group:
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| Waypoint |
Type |
Location |
Name / Coordinates / Hint |
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GC21N1R |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Advertising strap-ons |
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GC21N1E |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Pole Vault |
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GC2361P |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Strap-on Islands |
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GC21N1K |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Wind Power |
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• 12:00 p.m. new caches released for noon
caching group:
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GC2362A |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
BS2N |
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GC23620 |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Mag-ma |
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GC2361H |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Post another find... |
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GC2362F |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Tickets Please! (ARCHIVED due to persistent
muggle problems). |
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GC2362Z |
Traditional |
Newberry Springs |
Well Wouldn't Ya Know! |
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NASA Event Coin
Grey areas will actually be the gold color of the coin material color
itself.
White and Red areas will be glow in the dark, colored
respectively.
(Image is a not-to-scale
conceptual pre-production, not a photo or representation of
finished coin.)
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We have tested this page and other related event
pages with every popular browser and determined that for the most
accurate and quickest rendering of this page, we recommend using
either Apple's Safari
browser (same browser is on the iPhone) or Google's Chrome web browser. Firefox also
works generally well and much better than any version of Internet
Explorer.
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