We so wish this could be our normal Scar Pancake Breakfast, served on our deck in the misty morning Sunshine. Sleepy cachers coming in from a long hard night of FTFs or those who are just waking up. Handing them a hot cup of coffee with Norm making fresh pancakes on the griddle and serving them to those dragging their feet up the driveway.
Back in May of 2020 when our world was in (at that time) the worst chaos we had seen in many decades; we lost a valued member of our caching community. Norman of Schnor, my Dad, passed away after a 14 month long battle with pancreatic cancer. He loved Geocaching and our community of cachers wide and far soon became dear friends. Often with his wife by his side they cached all over Canada and the USA.
Norm loved to go caching at all hours and loved the vast array of difficult hides, unique creations and an often panoramic nature scenes. When given the option Norm would jump in his Jeep and drive outside the urban areas to find a remote piece of nowehere land and do his geocaching there. The rural caches were his passion, and if he could find a muddy puddle to drive through, all the better. There was even a common phrase used amongsth those who often cached with him called the "Norm way" or "Norm-ing it"; this entailed a arduous trek through wet trenches, prickliest shrubs or talest hill (ask smokin'deni about that one), only to find the beautiful maintained path back to your cache mobile after the find was made.
As much as Dad loved the finds, the events always held a special place to him. Meeting the people, greeting the newbies, catching up over a coffee or an icecream cone. Offering help with maintenance that need to be done, getting a hint on a recent Benny Hide (or Benny asking for a hint from him was always a special treat), or solving a puzzle cache with others around a table; plain and simple Dad loved the events. It wasnt often that he missed one. This event is hard to host with out him, for he should be here sitting with a coffee in one hand and his garmin in the other, his caching vest on, his tilly hat askew and probably his jean leg caked in mud, but we soldier on continue to cache with him in our hearts. Sharing his hobby and passion with the next generation.
Join us May 28th 8 am to 9 am at Tim Hortons on 51st and Millar. It is come and go style, so you are welcome to sign the log and leave if you wish. But for those who would like to stay we will have a small celebration of life, share a few stories with anyone wishing to speak, followed by a couple draws/door prizes.