Let's Celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!- 12/31/15

Today's puzzle is in Canada's Ontario province.  This year Geocaching.com is offering souvenirs to those who find a cache or attend an event on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. So why not get out there and:

Let's Celebrate - New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

Tomorrow we'll be in Connecticut.

My Favorite Sandwich 🍔🍩 - 12/30/15

Today's California puzzle caught my eye because of the fun unicode characters in the title.  I thought I was pretty well versed in the subject, but was surprised at all I learned about:

My Favorite Sandwich 🍔🍩

Tomorrow we'll ...

Tribal Snow - 12/29/15

Today's Upstate New York puzzle has snow for a theme, and although it hasn't gotten here yet, the area is bound to get plenty of the white stuff before the winter is over.  I recently read that in Scotland they've documented over 400 words related to snow ... that sure beats the old unfounded claim about how many words for it there were in the Inuit language.  Try your luck with:

Tribal Snow

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Color of Honey - 12/28/15

Today's puzzle is in California.  I'm sure you've heard of the Color of Money, but I wonder how many of you are familiar with:

ColorHoney

Tomorrow we'll ...

Dogs Playing What? - 12/27/15

Today's Pennsylvania puzzle contains a painting I had not seen before.  I suppose if they can play poker, it's not that much of a stretch to consider:

Dogs Playing Rugby

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Snowflake - 12/26/15

This is about the only time I enjoy seeing a little snow coming down, but there was no "White Christmas" for us ... maybe next year.   Sometimes "connecting the dots" is a metaphor for figuring out the solution to a cache ... with today's Connecticut puzzle it can be taken more literally:

Snowflake Connect-the-Dots

Tomorrow we'll ...

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas! - 12/25/15

Today's puzzle from Iowa will teach you about some interesting Christmas traditions around the world.  I hope everyone out there will:

Have a Jolly-Wally Christmas (2015)

Tomorrow we'll ...

Jingle Bells - 12/24/15

A quick little puzzle today from Belgium ... it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without some Jingle Bells:

Jingle Bells FM

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Christmas Eve Eve - 12/23/15

Today's Virginia puzzle isn't a very hard one, but it did teach me something new and with this title it's tailor made for today:

'Twas The Night Before Christmas Eve

Tomorrow we'll be in Belgium.

It's OK, I'm with the Band - 12/22/15

Today's Rhode Island puzzle really spoke to me, as I was a total band geek in high school.  I played different instruments in all the bands we had to offer ... marching, concert, jazz, and basketball pep bands.  A huge part of my social life revolved around the people and events associated with participating in one of those bands.  I regret that the school here doesn't even have a marching band, so, although they both played instruments, that's one thing my kids were never able to participate in.  I have a lot of memories of all those bus trips, band camp, football games, half-time shows, and competitions.  We worked hard and were pretty good.  Thus, how could I resist a puzzle that was:

Calling All Marching Band Geeks

Tomorrow we'll ..

Welcome to Winter - 12/21/15

Well, winter is officially here. Today's puzzle is from Minnesota, where they certainly know a thing or two about winter.  Even here in upstate New York it always seems that winter starts long before December 21st, but this year we've had very mild conditions (apparently we have El Nino to thank for that).  It does have me questioning whether we're going to end up paying for it later ... perhaps I can hope that we paid in advance with the last two winters we had?  Oh well. Although I admit it is nice to have a little Christmas snow I guess I will try to enjoy these warmer days while they last.  I know it won't be long before I will be back thinking:

Winter Blows!

Tomorrow we'll ...

Cryptography 101 - 12/20/15

Today's Arizona puzzle is one in a series devoted to Cryptography.  This particular type isn't one I recall coming across before:

Cryptography 101: Burrows-Wheeler Transform

Tomorrow we'll ...

Honor System - 12/19/15

Today's Hong Kong puzzle has an interesting twist, I think.  You don't actually *have* to solve the puzzle to be able to make the find.  Would you go ahead and find it without solving the puzzle?  The answers certainly vary depending on who you ask.  I've been known to sign in on a cache when out with a friend who has already solved it (or in a couple cases when I was out with the owner who placed it) but my own rule is that I won't claim the smiley until I've actually solved the puzzle.  If I'm puzzling out of my area, though, I will happily claim a smiley with the owner's permission after DNF'ing a puzzle cache that proves to be missing, or one that I can't manage to open once I've found it.  I know some cachers who wouldn't claim those finds since their name is not on the log.  For me the puzzle itself is more important than the cache, but that's just me.  I've been known to use solvers on today's type of puzzle, but I did this one by hand just to keep in the spirit of things.  Since I can't post a photo of my work I can't prove it ... I guess I'm on the:

Honesty System

Tomorrow we'll head to Arizona.

Getting Ready for Christmas - 12/18/15

Today's puzzle takes us to North Carolina.  There's one week left until Christmas, so that means a lot of us had better kick our shopping, wrapping, and mailing in to high gear.  I have never been one of those people who gets their shopping done early ... when I start early I just keep buying right up until the end anyway, so I probably spend less if I start late.  I recently came across some gifts I had bought early a few years ago and then put them away ... I ended up forgetting I had bought them and purchasing the same items for the same people all over again.  I came by this tendency honestly, however, as my mother was the same way.  Christmas Eve always ended up being a cleverly orchestrated exercise in wrapping ... when she had too much to wrap herself, she'd have me wrapping presents in one room for my sister and she'd get my sister wrapping presents in another room for me. She was always trying to get us to hurry because everyone knows you have to be in bed before Santa can come and fill your stocking.  This will be our 17th Christmas without her, but I can still see the twinkle in her eye and remember her saying on Christmas Eve (even when I was in my 20's):

Don't you think it's time you were in bed?

(Sorry for the delay)

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Force Awakens - 12/17/15

If you've been following the blog for long it will come as no surprise that I'm geeky enough to be excited about the release of the new Star Wars movie.  My expectations for the actual story are mixed (I loved the original trilogy so much that I'm willing to excuse the weak prequels as a bad dream) but I'll feel like a kid again rooting for Luke, Leia, and Han once more.  Try your luck with today's Star Wars themed puzzle:

CW5: Find or find not, there is no try

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Way, way over yonder - 12/16/15

Today's pair of California puzzles landed in my in-box recently, and I thought they provided a fun twist on something you may have done before, and took me to some places I doubt I'll ever go.  Honestly, I also just like the word "yonder" (I may not have too much of a Southern accent any more, but my vocabulary is sprinkled with lots of words like this).

Farthest From Home

Over Yonder

Tomorrow we'll be in New York.
  

Gift Ideas - 12/15/15

Still working on your Christmas shopping?  Having trouble deciding what to get for that special someone?  Perhaps today's California puzzle might help:

Gift Ideas are Us

Tomorrow we'll ...

Just Between Us - 12/14/15

I hope the CO of today's California puzzle won't mind me sharing it with you ... it was supposed to be:

Just Between Us

Tomorrow we'll visit a spin-off from this puzzle.

Exam Time - 12/13/15

For most of us on the college calendar it's exam time right about now.  I recently came across a Minnesota series devoted to some rather bizarre college course offerings.  Only one of the series is listed as a puzzle cache, but it brought me a laugh and got me looking at the CO's traditional caches to read the descriptions of these courses:

15. Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular ‘Logic’ on TV Judge Shows
14. Underwater Basket Weaving
13. Learning From YouTube
12. Philosophy and Star Trek
11. The Art of Walking
10. Daytime Serials: Family and Social Roles
9. Joy of Garbage
8. The Science of Superheroes
7. Zombies in Popular Media
6. The Science of Harry Potter
5. Cyber “Risque Films”* and Society
4. Simpsons and Philosophy
3. Far Side Entomology
2. Myth and Science Fiction: Star Wars, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings
1. The Strategy of StarCraft

*Name  of #5 was tweaked by the cache owner to keep it family friendly

So, which one was listed as a puzzle?  #3:

Far Side Entomology

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Presents for Daddy - 12/12/15

This sweet little seasonal puzzle from Virginia landed in my inbox recently:

Presents for Daddy - Christmas Carols

Tomorrow we'll be in Minnesota.

Homework Nightmare - 12/11/15

I love the photo in today's Ohio puzzle.  Our geo-dog "K" would definitely be up to that task (I think his primary prey around the house is kleenex and any other paper products he can find).  Although final exams still await them, my students have just completed their last week of classes, which means that they'll have a bit of a break before their next: 

Homework Nightmare

Tomorrow we'll ...

Probatio - 12/10/15

Today we travel to New Jersey for:

Probatio

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Puzzled in Oregon - 12/9/15

The other day I happened to come across a new 40 puzzle series (with some nice geo-art!) in Oregon.   I'm going to have some fun working on these, since they are inspired by the same series by sujojeepers that also inspired a group of us to put out our own cipher series here in NY.  It all starts here: 

Puzzled 01: American cryptograM aSsoCiatiOn

Tomorrow we'll ...

Fool's Math - 12/8/15

Today's seasonal puzzle from Iowa landed in my inbox recently, and even though it's not exactly the right season, I couldn't resist sharing it with you now.  You may have heard of fool's gold, but have you heard of fool's math?  If not, you'll know all about it after going through:

April Fools Cache #4: Fool’s Math

Tomorrow we'll be in Oregon.

I'm still looking for more fun winter puzzles ... if you've been on the fence about sending me one, hop on off and get it to me.

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel - 12/7/15

A puzzle from Connecticut with best wishes for all those who started celebrating Hanukkah last night:

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Mark of Athena - 12/6/15

Today's New York puzzle references some of the well-known work of  Rick Riordan.  Although aimed more at the middle-school set, I have enjoyed his "Percy Jackson" books that I have read.  I think I first picked them up after earlier reading some of his mystery series geared toward adults.  The way the author's popularity exploded upon changing genres was really neat.  Anything that gets kids excited about reading and learning a little history and mythology is pretty cool, and that includes the book:

The Mark of Athena

Tomorrow we'll ...

Telephony - 12/5/15

Today's Australian puzzle is another one that was passed along to me recently:

Telphony cache #2 

Tomorrow we'll ...

Three Wise Men - 12/4/15

Today's Colorado puzzle features a trio of fellows who were expert at navigation long before GPS:

Three Wise Men

Tomorrow we'll ...

Drag out the Dickens - 12/3/15

Today's puzzle is one from the United Kingdom.  I enjoy Christmas music of all types, and one set of lyrics that I have partly memorized is from Tom Lehrer's satirical "Christmas Carol."  His clever rhymes always have me grinning.  So today I hope you'll allow me (even if the prospect sickens) to drag out the Dickens:

What the Dickens!

Tomorrow we'll ...

Columnar Sons - 12/2/15

Today's Australian puzzle landed in my in-box recently.  Apparently the cache container carries on the theme of the puzzle, which is always fun.  Going that extra mile with themed locations for the hides is a really nice touch.  Have some fun with:

Columnar Sons

Tomorrow we'll be in ..

The Significance of December 1st - 12/1/15

When I was growing up, the first of December was always a special day.  Not only would we pull out the advent calendars and start the Christmas count-down, but my mom would lug the giant old "portable" record player up the stairs and at bedtime she'd set a stack of 6 Christmas LP's to play us to sleep.  The next night we would listen to the flip-sides.  Little did I know that many years later, the first of December would become special for a very different reason (Happy Birthday, "A"!).  Today although I have a large collection of holiday CD's and I enjoy all the seasonal satellite radio channels, it still seems strange to start listening to that music before December 1.  For your puzzling pleasure today, I take you to Massachusetts for:

MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAROL

Tomorrow we'll be in Australia.

Puzzling Pasta - 11/30/15

Today's featured puzzle from the United Kingdom was chosen after I noticed something recently while preparing some pasta for lunch.  I love pasta of all kinds, and whenever it goes on sale we tend to stock up on a nice variety.  I happened to notice that my choice for lunch that day had a particular number on it which I tend to see a lot since I do a lot of puzzles in the San Francisco Bay Area.  It got me looking at the other boxes in the cabinet.  The longitude represented by the pasta boxes pictured below (W 122 12.475) would correspond to a line passing through Oakland and somewhere between Palo Alto & Redwood City ... all locations I cached in last summer.  I thought that was a fun coincidence.  If anybody out there wants to follow up and make a puzzle using this theme, I'm happy to help with your research into:

Puzzling Pasta 

What a turkey - 11/29/15

Our final puzzle in celebration of the long turkey-day weekend takes us to Texas, where it's:

Three strikes and your ... a turkey

Tomorrow we'll ...

Ottoman Sultans - 11/28/15

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and its focus on turkey, I take you to Turkey today, where you'll learn a little about the:

Ottoman Sultans

Tomorrow we'll have one more turkey-themed puzzle.

Einstein's Riddle - 11/27/15

Today after you've done your black-Friday shopping and snacked on some leftover turkey, perhaps you'll feel like contemplating a puzzle in Turkey:

Einstein Bulmacası - Einstein's Riddle

Tomorrow, we'll continue the Turkey-day theme.

Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving - 11/26/15

In honor of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday I found today's puzzle which will teach us a little bit about the same holiday as celebrated by our neighbors to the north.  From Canada's Ontario province:

Let's Celebrate - Thanksgiving

We'll follow up with some turkey-themed puzzles throughout the long Thanksgiving weekend.

A Brief Interlude - 11/25/15

Today's puzzle landed in my in-box recently, and I enjoyed it because even though I'm reasonably familiar with the subject matter, I still had some homework to do.  Solving it will require at least:

A Brief Interlude

Tomorrow we'll celebrate Thanksgiving.

Not about the numbers - 11/24/15

Today's California puzzle landed in my inbox recently.  It expresses a sentiment I certainly can agree with:

It's not about the numbers, but then again...

Tomorrow we'll

One for the Cruciverbalists - 11/23/15

Let's kick off Thanksgiving week with a puzzle from Ohio.  I think "cruciverbalist" is a particularly cool word, so I am pleased to present the:

Cruciverbalist's Conundrum

With Thanksgiving this week, the December holidays are right around the corner.  If you've been following the blog for long, you know I'm a sucker for all kinds of holiday puzzles.  If you've seen some fun, cute, or humorous ones that others would enjoy, I'd love it if you'd send them along to me and I'll start featuring them right away.

The response to my pathtag giveaway that I mentioned last week was great, and I got those in the mail on Wednesday.  If anyone else is interested, I still have a few more I can send out.  I'd like to make a special point that I'm willing to send these internationally as well, so I'd love to hear from some of you in countries outside the U.S.  Just contact me through geocaching.com and let me know where to send it.

Tomorrow we'll be in California.

Autumn Leaves - 11/22/15

For me, it wouldn't be Fall without having some leaves to rake.  The last of ours finally came down after a particularly nasty bit of wind and rain.  Fortunately we had a nice warm dry day to deal with them.  Today's puzzle is from Japan, and I suppose although the trees might be different there, they cause their own:

Field of Autumn Leaves

Tomorrow we'll be back in Ohio.

5 white-tailed deer and a lot of leaves in my backyard a couple of weeks ago.

Don't Get Between Me and My Puzzles ... 11/21/15

Today's puzzle is from Ohio.  My family tolerates my puzzle obsession quite well, as long as I don't talk about them too much.  I suppose I really can't expect them to share in my excitement.   All I really ask is that when I'm in the throes of a tough one, please:

Don't Impede My Progress

Tomorrow we'll ...

That Elvis Puzzle - 11/20/15

Today's Ohio puzzle landed in my in-box a while back.  I heard recently that the artist with the number one album for the week in the UK and Australia was Elvis Presley.  Hard to imagine, isn't it?  Apparently "If I Can Dream" features some old vocal tracks backed by new arrangements by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and duets with Michel Buble and the Italian trio Il Volo.  In celebration of his continuing posthumous popularity, it seemed like a perfect time to feature:

That Elvis Puzzle

Tomorrow we'll ...

Who spilled the beanz? - 11/19/15

Today's puzzle from Canada's province of British Columbia has something a little extra ... see if you can figure out:

Who spilled the beanz?

Sorry for the delay with this one ... I had the time set incorrectly.

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

A Little Alchemy - 11/18/15

Today's California puzzle involves a little alchemy, or at least:

Little (Phlopper's) Alchemy

Tomorrow we'll ...

Hall of Fame - 11/17/15

On a weekend trip with "A" to visit some colleges we passed by exits for the Hall of Fame for both Basketball and Baseball.  Today's California puzzle involves some folks:

Standing in the Hall of Fame

Tomorrow we'll ..

F.P.? - 11/16/15

Today's California puzzle arrived in my inbox with great timing.  Not only did it give me a big grin (you'll see why) but it also gives me the opportunity to announce the launch of my First Pathtag for the Geocaching Puzzle of the Day!  You can see what it looks like here and I've set some aside especially for sharing with you folks out there. If you'd like one I'll be happy to send it out to you.  Just send me your address through gc.com's e-mail or messaging feature and I'll pop one in the mail, while they last.  I am indebted to Cully Long (childofatom) for creating the design.  Now that bit of business is out of the way, have some fun with this Fun Puzzle:

F.P.

Tomorrow we'll ...

Emoti Confusion - 11/15/15

Today's Georgia puzzle is bound to provoke some:

Emoti Confusion

Tomorrow we'll ...

Saturday Morning - 11/14/15

Today's puzzle takes us to California.  Wonder if these guys have recovered from their usual:

Friday Night, Behind the Shed

Tomorrow we'll ...

Disturbed Worms - 11/13/15

I couldn't resist returning at least once more to the New Zealand series I've been featuring recently. I found this particular entry to be a fun challenge:

D/T 5.0/4.5 (Canterbury)

I should note that this one actually reminded me of some of The Rat's clever work. Speaking of Mr. Atkinson, a little birdie tells me that his popular mystery novel Cached Out  is now available as an audio book.  The same little birdie indicates that another novel in the series is also in the works!

Tomorrow we'll be in California.

ABC Conundrum - 11/12/15

Today's Ohio puzzle is one that was created for one of the area's monthly puzzle events.  I had some hopes of trying to sneak over there for the one tonight, but another commitment got in the way.  I'm still holding out hope of making it sometime.  For this week I had to content myself with this variation on a logic puzzle that I'd never seen before:

ABC Conundrum

Tomorrow we'll head back to New Zealand.

Veterans Day History Lesson - 11/11/15

If you're like me one of the things you enjoy about geocaching puzzles is learning a little interesting history now and then.  I came across today's Massachusetts puzzle while searching for one to feature in honor of Veterans Day:

Rakkasans

Tomorrow we'll ...

Double Vision - 11/10/15

Today another puzzle found by a geo-friend while traveling, and for an FTF to boot!  From California:

I Yam Seeing Double

Tomorrow we'll visit Massachusetts for a puzzle in theme with the Veterans Day holiday.

Centroid - 11/9/15

People often ask me how I find all the puzzles I feature here.  My favorite way is when people send me ones they have enjoyed (hint, hint) but another one is by checking out the caches that others have been finding.  I knew that The North Star was visiting over near Albany, New York, recently, and I came across this cache that he found that I thought would be fun to share with you today because it's part of a very cleverly constructed three-part series:

Centroid (CRMQ)

Tomorrow instead of a New York puzzle found by a Californian while traveling, we'll visit a California puzzle FTF'd by a New Yorker while traveling.
 

Cheryl's Birthday - 11/8/15

Today's Arizona puzzle is shared in honor of my friend cheryyll and all of us other Scorpios celebrating birthdays this month:

Break the Internet #2: Cheryl's Birthday

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Panda Dance - 11/7/15

I couldn't resist one more New Zealand puzzle to cap off the week, especially one where:

Two Angry Pandas Dance (Canterbury)

Tomorrow we'll be in Arizona.

5/5 - 11/6/15

The 5.0/5.0 cache is the ultimate prize.  I haven't logged one yet, but maybe someday I'll be able to, and I would love for it to be a puzzle cache.  Today's puzzle was the pinnacle of the D/T 81 New Zealand geoart series, so I thought it was the perfect one to round out our week of visiting there:

D/T 5.0/5.0 (Canterbury)

Tomorrow one last New Zealand puzzle (for now).

Game on! - 11/5/15

I chose today's puzzle from the New Zealand D/T series because I thought it was a fun twist on a puzzle by the same CO that I featured recently.  I also am looking forward to the start of my own "Game" related puzzle series that will be released gradually starting this Sunday.  Several of you have been kind enough to test puzzles or help me implement them, and I appreciate all the help. 

D/T 2.5/3.5 Canterbury

Tomorrow, another in the series.

Star Fighters - 11/4/15

See what you can make of today's featured puzzle from New Zealand's D/T 81 series:

D/T 3.5/4.5 (Canterbury)

Tomorrow, another in the series.

? - 11/3/15

Today I'm presenting another of the New Zealand D/T 81 series that I enjoyed.  Try your luck with:

D/T 4.5/4.5 (Canterbury)

Tomorrow we'll try another in the series.

Character Building - 11/2/15

I can't remember where I first heard about the Fizzy challenge of finding at least one cache of every combination of difficulty and terrain, but I have long resigned myself to the fact that it's a caching goal I'm never likely to meet.  It's still fun to try to fill in the gaps, though.  I think working hard to meet goals is character building.  A few cachers I know of have been able to complete the Fizzy challenge using only mystery caches.  New Zealand's D/T 81 series, which I'm featuring here this week, offers you the opportunity to do them all in one location, and collect a little geoart in the process.  Have some fun with:

D/T 3.0/5.0 (Canterbury) 

Tomorrow, another in the series.

Celebrity Zombies - 11/1/15

Zombies are really hot these days.  I even recently came across an interesting blog post on a government website about a potential zombie apocalypse. I honestly haven't gotten into the zombie craze myself, but seeing as it's still Halloween weekend I chose today's puzzle from the Netherlands:

Geo-TV2: Celebrity Zombies

Tomorrow we'll ...

Halloween Magic - 10/31/15

Today we travel to Canada's Ontario province for a little:

Halloween Magic

Tomorrow we'll ...

Do You Remember? - 10/30/15

The main reason I started doing long-distance puzzle solving was to help me get better at solving puzzles I might actually have a chance to find some day.  Now that I've been doing it for a long time, the trick can be not only recognizing that I've seen something before, but remembering where I saw it so that I can go back and figure out how it worked.  Such was the case with today's New Zealand puzzle, which a fellow Ithacan and transplanted Kiwi was working on in preparation for a trip to last weekend's Mega event there:

D/T 4.5/3.0 (Canterbury) 

We'll explore more from that series next week.
Tomorrow we'll celebrate Halloween in Canada.

Horses' Naptime - 10/29/15

Earlier in the week we paid a visit to a puzzle that's part of a horse geoart.  Today's puzzle, which landed in my inbox recently, teaches us a little about:

Horses' Naptime

Tomorrow we'll be in New Zealand.

Happy Birthday! - 10/28/15

I wonder how many of you are aware of the birthday that is highlighted in today's Michigan puzzle:

Happy Birthday 5* Terrain!

Tomorrow we'll be in the Netherlands.

Geocacher Genome - 10/27/15

Today we travel back to Ohio for a puzzle which taught me something new quite a while back.  I was surprised when I realized I hadn't shared it here before. Try your luck with the:

Geocacher Genome Project

Tomorrow we'll ...

It's Game Time - 10/26/15

A friend of mine passed along today's New Zealand puzzle, and I thought it was a lot of fun.  While I was working on it I must have been making quite a racket because I heard from downstairs, "What ARE you doing up there?!"  Try your luck with:

Horses 101 #7 
(Be sure to check out the cool geoart horse)

Tomorrow we'll be back in Ohio.

Rock Bottom - 10/25/15

We're finishing up the end of our week with guest puzzle-picker VPPLAYER back in his home territory of Ohio.  Puzzle solving certainly has its ups and downs ... some days even the best of us can't put two and two together.  Fortunately, I've never felt that I've hit:

Rock Bottom

Tomorrow we'll ...

Divide and Conquer - 10/24/15

Today we visit Indiana for another puzzle selected by guest puzzle-picker VPPLAYER.  Sometimes with puzzles (and many other things) the best approach is to:

Divide and Conquer

Tomorrow we'll be in Ohio.

Crash Cache - 10/23/15

Today's Nevada puzzle was chosen for us by VPPLAYER and since Las Vegas is near the top of my list of places I'd like to get to before long, perhaps I will be able to ink the log some day.  The hard drive crash is a dreaded occurrence of modern life.  I've been backing up our computers onto a mini hard drive for a long time and when I tried to access it recently, it seemed to be out of commission.  You mean I need to backup the backup?!  Rats. Test out your data recovery skills with the :

Crash Cache

Tomorrow we'll be in Indiana.

A Primal Response - 10/22/15

Today's Ohio puzzle is another one passed along to us by VPPLAYER.  In looking at the logs, it seems to have generated some primal responses.  Have some fun with:

Primal Sequences

Tomorrow we'll be in Nevada.

The Original Mad Man - 10/21/15

Today we're back in California for another puzzle recommended by VPPLAYER.  This one is from an Alice in Wonderland themed series of puzzles that I'd like to go back and explore more. I have fond memories of Alice from when I received the book as a prize back in elementary school in the mid-1970's.  See if you can sort out the puzzle of:

The Mad Hatter

P.S.  Happy Back to the Future Day!  Doc Brown could be considered quite a "mad" man himself.  

Tomorrow we'll be back in Ohio.

Hexagons - 10/20/15

Today we have another puzzle chosen for us by VPPLAYER.  This one takes us to California.  As someone interested in geometric patterns and quilting, I've long been fascinated with all that you can do with:

Hexagons

Tomorrow we'll be in California for another day.

Time to Polka! - 10/19/15

I love it when folks pass along puzzles they have enjoyed, and receiving a whole week's worth is like getting a present wrapped up in a nice big bow:  I'm not exactly sure what will be in there, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to like it, and can't wait to unwrap it and find out. This week I'm being assisted by guest puzzle-picker VPPLAYER.  Let's kick things off with a puzzle near his home turf in Ohio.  Everybody ready?  It's:

Time to Polka!

Tomorrow we'll be in California.

Bearly Here - 10/18/15

Today's New Zealand puzzle poses quite a conundrum.  It's pretty tough to solve a puzzle when it's:

Bearly Here (Canterbury)

Tomorrow we'll be in Ohio.

Konami Maze - 10/17/15

Today's puzzle was passed along by a fellow Ithacan who is a recent convert to the puzzling side of the game, and it takes us to Canada's Ontario province.  Although I've been known to get motion sickness even while watching a movie, I was pleased to be able to navigate the:

Konami Maze

Connor's Ca$he - 10/16/15

Today we're visiting a NY puzzle that tells you the story of:

Connor's Ca$he

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Source - 10/15/15

When I saw today's Idaho puzzle, I knew I'd want to share it on the blog (long-time readers with good memories may understand why).  As with so many puzzles out there, getting the solution is all about:

The Source

(sorry ... link fixed)

Tomorrow we'll ...

Cardboard Cathedral - 10/14/15

I teach about earthquakes in my introductory Geology class, and they are a subject that I am very interested in.  Therefore I was very intrigued when my friend from New Zealand told me about this puzzle and the story of the:

Cardboard Cathedral

Tomorrow we'll ...

Exam Nightmare - 10/13/15

Today's puzzle takes us back to Ohio.  The other night I went to my last "back to school night" open house as a parent.  Being back in the noisy, crowded halls of high school always makes me a little anxious.  I wonder how many of you are still plagued with dreams of impending academic disaster.  I've had them for years ... it's usually the end of the semester and there's a class I've forgotten to attend and I'm not going to graduate; once in a while I'm back in graduate school and have to defend my thesis again.  Now that I'm on the other side of the classroom I more commonly dream about being unprepared for the first day of class (I'm late, I can't find the classroom, I don't have my handouts, there aren't enough desks in the room, etc.), but I every so often I still have the occasional:

 Exam Nightmare

Tomorrow we'll be in New Zealand.

In 1492 ... - 10/12/15

Today's Wisconsin puzzle is posted in honor of today's Columbus Day holiday.  I had never heard any of the lines that came after:

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Be sure to check out the clever final location on street view!

Tomorrow we'll be back in Ohio.

Sublime - 10/11/15

I'd have to agree with the CO of today's Washington puzzle:

An Island Oasis Is Sublime

Tonight's live podcast link is www.cacheandrelease.com/live and the show is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT (GMT -4).  If you're watching live feel free to enter the live chat and ask a question or just say Hi.  

Tomorrow we'll ...

Cache-Tube - 10/10/15

Today we travel to the Netherlands for a little game of:

Cache-Tube

Tomorrow we'll ...

God's Number - 10/9/15

Today we visit an Ohio puzzle about:

God's Number

Tomorrow we'll be in the Netherlands.

I've had some nice messages recently from several folks who first heard about the blog on the GeoGearheads podcast. Doing those shows was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to appearing on a different podcast this Sunday, 10/11, the "Cache and Release" show.  If you'd like to watch live the link is www.cacheandrelease.com/live and the show is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT (GMT -4).  If you're watching live feel free to enter the live chat and ask a question or just say Hi.

Get Cracking! - 10/8/15

Today's puzzle is from the United Kingdom.  Click the link and:


Get Cracking

Tomorrow we'll be in Ohio.

Noise - 10/7/15

Today's puzzle takes us to Canada's Alberta province where they were making a little:

Noise - CCARW10

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Δ Σ Δ - 10/6/15

A quick trip back to Ohio today so you can try your luck with:

Δ Σ Δ

Tomorrow we'll ...

8 Seconds - 10/5/15

Let's kick off the week with a puzzle from California.  I've heard of "5 Seconds of Summer," but today's puzzle features a cassette tape labeled:

8 Seconds

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Drawn Code - 10/4/15

Today we travel to Oregon and the mystery of:

The Drawn Code

Tomorrow we'll ...

Quilt Related? - 10/3/15

Today's puzzle is from Australia.  Every two years I participate in my quilters guild's big quilt show.  It opens today, so is it any wonder I wanted to feature a puzzle that is:

Quilt Related?

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Trading Post - 10/2/15

I'm still working my way through the nice list of puzzles I received from rosebud55112 a while back.  I appreciate a couple of other folks who have also sent me some recommendations lately.  I'd love to hear from you with recommendations of puzzles that deserve a wider audience.  When you check out today's Minnesota puzzle you'll see why it took me a little while to navigate my way to:

The Trading Post

Tomorrow we'll be in Australia.

The Wasps - 10/1/15

Today's puzzle from Washington state reminds us that we should always be on the lookout for:

The Wasps

Tomorrow we'll be back in Minnesota.

Yogi Quotes - 9/30/15

Today's puzzle takes us to California.  I have long been an anti-fan of the New York Yankees, but I was saddened to see the news last week that one of their most beloved long-time players had passed away.  As I read the coverage in the newspaper, I thought, "Someone's going to have to make a puzzle out of these."  Fortunately, someone did:

Yogi Quotes  

Tomorrow we'll ...

I Give You A Number - 9/29/15

With today's Ohio puzzle:

I Give You A Number

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Not a Triffid - 9/28/15

I'll have to agree with today's puzzle from Canada's Ontario province:

This is not a Triffid

Tomorrow ... 

Coloring - 9/27/15

I wonder if anyone else has noticed the plethora of adult coloring books for sale these days.  I love the intricate geometric patterns in some of them, and just might have to get myself a nice fresh box of crayons and pick one up.  Today's Utah puzzle features:

Nancy and Woody Coloring

Tomorrow we'll ...

Pins and Needles - 9/26/15

Today's Utah puzzle may have you on:

PINS AND NEEDLES

Tomorrow we'll ...

Lost in Translation - 9/25/15

We're only traveling as far as Ohio today, so I hope you don't get:

Lost in Translation

Tomorrow we'll ...

A Nice Little Puzzle - 9/24/15

Today we travel to Oregon for a nice little puzzle ... so little, in fact, it's a:

Lilliputian Puzzle Cache

Tomorrow we'll ... 

A Super Puzzle - 9/23/15

Today's Massachusetts puzzle might require calling on:

The Last Son of Krypton

Tomorrow we'll ...

Digitaal - 9/22/15

Today's puzzle is from Belgium.  Have some fun with:

Digitaal

Tomorrow we'll ...

The Klingoni Sudoku - 9/21/15

As I've mentioned before, it took me a long time before I was willing to give "The Big Bang Theory" a try, but once I did, I was hooked.  You can bet I've got my DVR programmed to record tonight's season opener.  Today's puzzle from Ontario is one of a series of puzzles that pays homage to tBBT.  If those guys can play Klingon Boggle, I'm sure they'd have no trouble with:

tBLT - The Klingoni Sudoku

Tomorrow we'll be in Belgium.

I love a good Mystery - 9/20/15

Today's Minnesota puzzle will have you solving:

The Mystery of the Stone Bench

Tomorrow we'll ... 

I Think I Need a Chiropractor - 9/19/15

After doing today's Minnesota puzzle you may be asking yourself:

Need a Chiropractor?

Tomorrow we'll be in Minnesota another day.

Meaningless Link - 9/18/15

Today's puzzle from Japan leads to a:

Meaningless Link

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

(Not) Simply Sudoku - 9/17/15

Today we have another Minnesota holdover from the list recommended by rosebud55112.  It's yet another clever example of a puzzle using the old standby:

Simply Sudoku - "up north" edition

Tomorrow we'll be in Japan.

Fill in the Numbers - 9/16/15

It seems like there a lot of times when I'm puzzling that I have a hard time making the numbers fit the way they're supposed to.  Today's Ohio puzzle gave me some practice:

Number Fill-In #1

Tomorrow we'll be back in Minnesota for another hold-over from rosebud55112's picks.

Weaving Trouble - 9/15/15

Today's Rhode Island puzzle landed in my inbox recently.  See if you can sort out the CO's:

Weaving Trouble

Tomorrow we'll ... 

A Nice New Puzzle - 9/14/15

Today's puzzle comes to us from California.  If you're like me, there's no better way to kick off the day than with:

A Nice New Puzzle

Tomorrow ...

Mystery List - 9/13/15

Today's California puzzle is the first of a series of keyword puzzles. Find the common theme from:

Mystery List #1

Tomorrow we'll ...

Will he or won't he? - 9/12/15

Today's puzzle is from Arizona.  Over the last week or two there's been a lot of speculation as to whether  Joe Biden will be running for president next year.  There's certainly no guarantee of success just because you've served as:

Veep

Tomorrow we'll ...

If you say so ... - 9/11/15

I love when CO's incorporate current events into their puzzles, and had to laugh when I saw today's puzzle from the UK.  This displaced Patriots fan wants you to believe:

Tom Brady, he's not Shady

Tomorrow we'll ...

How was your Road Trip? - 9/10/15

Well, the Geocaching Road Trip is now over.  How did you do?  I had gotten the first souvenir early, but didn't get the others until a mid-August road trip over to the Rochester, NY, area.  I like it that the last couple of years the August souvenirs have included an incentive to find a puzzle cache, as it gets a few more folks interested in doing them.  Today's Rhode Island puzzle pays homage to the Geocaching Road Trip and the:

Dog Days of Summer Vacation

Tomorrow we'll be in the United Kingdom.

LED Zeppelin - 9/9/15

Today's Minnesota puzzle is a holdover from last week's list recommended by rosebud55112.  Still active from back in 2006, it's an oldie but goody, just like the band that inspired it:

LED Zeppelin

Tomorrow we'll ...

Why is that? - 9/8/15

Today's puzzle is from California.  My neighbor receives "People" magazine for the waiting room at her office, and she's been passing them on to me before they hit the recycling bin.  I find it fun for a few minutes diversion, although since I'm getting them second-hand I'm usually about 3 weeks behind the times.  With some folks, it's very obvious why they are newsworthy, but sometimes it's very hard for me to understand why:

Some celebs are bigger than others

Tomorrow we'll ...

Working ... - 9/7/15

Labor Day is as late as it gets this year, but it's finally here. While I don't have a specifically Labor Day themed puzzle for you, I did at least spot one that refers to working.  I'll post this one from Florida in honor of my daughter who spent her summer:

Working in the lab...

Tomorrow we'll ...

A Leap of Faith - 9/6/15

Today we wrap up the week of Minnesota puzzles chosen by rosebud55112.  There were even more fun ones he gave me that wouldn't fit in this week, so I'm sure I'll return to his list soon.  Today's particular puzzle reminded me of when I first started finding puzzle caches with my friend, who was not a puzzler.  She started out being pretty leery of my coordinates for those puzzles where there was no geochecker.  How did I know we were going to the right place?  Sometimes we just had to:

Take a Leap of Faith

Tomorrow we'll have a puzzle for Labor day from  ...

Who You Gonna Call? - 9/5/15

Today we have another Minnesota puzzle chosen for us by rosebud55112.  I suppose if you need a PAF to figure it out, you'd:

Better Call Saul

Tomorrow we'll wrap up the week with our guest puzzle picker.

Four-Square Sudoku - 9/4/15

It never fails to amaze me how puzzle CO's can continue to wring interesting puzzles out of that old standby, sudoku.  Today's Minnesota puzzle, chosen by rosebud55112 is such an example.  Try your luck with this:

Four-Square Sudoku

Tomorrow, another from my guest.

Quite the Painter - 9/3/15

Today we have another Minnesota puzzle chosen by my guest puzzle picker rosebud55112.  You may not have even realized it, but apparently:

QR Quite the Painter

Tomorrow, our guest returns.

Gunslinger - 9/2/15

Today we have another Minnesota puzzle chosen by rosebud55112.  This one introduced me to something new ... I guess I'm not much of a:

Sofa Gunslinger

Tomorrow, we'll have another one he has chosen for us.

How many eggs - 9/1/15

Today's Minnesota puzzle, chosen for us by rosebud55112, felt very familiar to me, as I have very clear memories of my dad posing the riddle involved in making this:

Daily Omelet

Tomorrow, another selected by our guest puzzle picker.

This CO is a Piano Man - 8/31/15

The puzzle caches of Minnesota CO rosebud55112 have been featured frequently here on the blog, and this week I'm happy to switch things up a bit and present some puzzles he has chosen for us. He sent a great list and I've had fun going through them.  First up, one from a multi-talented CO that really had me grinning ... especially the part where the piano solo becomes a duet:

Klassik Toonz, Vol. III: Piano Man 

Tomorrow, another from our guest puzzle picker.

Xylocaine - 8/30/15

Today's puzzle is from the United Kingdom.  Now, I know that some people think there are puzzles out there that are painful to solve, but I've never heard of one requiring:

Xylocaine

Tomorrow we'll kick off a week of puzzles chosen for you by a guest puzzle-picker. 

*Sorry this one published late.  I had the time set incorrectly.

Dyslexic Distractification - 8/29/15

Today's Arizona puzzle helps raise awareness of the extra work that reading requires for those with dyslexia:

Cryptography 101: Dyslexic Distractification

Tomorrow we'll ...

Lucky 13 - 8/28/15

With today's California puzzle I'm taking the opportunity to wish my friend The Rat congratulations on 13 years of geocaching.  In honor of the occasion he's having an event this weekend at which he'll be sharing "some VERY STRONG hints" for some of his puzzle caches. Sounds like a fun event in a pleasant, accessible location ... so you won't need to break out the:

4 X 4

Tomorrow we'll ...

"Tricky Rick" for President - 8/27/15

It's looking like we're in for a long election season, with such a crowded field.  Today's Texas puzzle suggests yet another candidate:

Rick "Tricky Rick" Astley for President

Tomorrow we'll ...

Help Wanted - 8/26/15

Over the summer I've gotten quite a few suggestions for puzzles to feature here.  Recently I got a large enough stack of them to warrant setting aside all of next week for ones chosen by a single guest puzzle picker.  If you'd be interested in passing along some that you think others would enjoy (either one or two, or a whole week's worth), please remember that I'm always in a state of:

Help Wanted 

Tomorrow we'll ...

Rotten Apples - 8/25/15

I'm following up on the apple theme from yesterday with a California puzzle that is part of a new 49 puzzle geo-art series in the heart of San Francisco:

Just Ducky: Rotten Apples

Tomorrow we'll ...

Bobbing for Caches - 8/24/15

Anyone who lives on the academic calendar is about ready to go back to school, if they haven't already, and that means Fall weather is right around the corner.  Fall is probably my favorite season in upstate New York (my only complaint is that it immediately precedes Winter) and one of the best things about it is the availability of fresh-picked apples.  The crop is supposed to be great this year.  I can't say I've ever bobbed for apples, but with today's Minnesota puzzle I did go:

Bobbing for Caches

I'm very pleased to launch a new logo for the blog (see upper right-hand corner of this page) and offer a banner image for anyone who would like to post it on the cache page for any of their featured puzzles.

I've made a link to a separate page with the image on the right hand side of this page so you can come back and find it later if you'd like.  Many thanks to Cully Long (childofatom) for the design work.  I really like what he's done!

Tomorrow we'll ...

Troublesome Critters - 8/23/15

Today's puzzle is from Texas.  I read a posting on an upstate NY geocaching facebook group the other day warning folks away from a particular water cache due to aggressive beavers.  Another cacher in the area had an encounter with a beaver a year ago.  I wouldn't ever encourage tangling with one of those critters, but you'll be perfectly safe trying:

The Irritating Badger Puzzle 

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Cookies Rule - 8/22/15

Today's puzzle from California.  Some days it seems:

Cookies Rule Everything Around Me

Tomorrow we'll ...

Picture this! -- 8/21/15

Today's Pennsylvania puzzle was recommended to me by my friend captainmath, who I had the pleasure of hosting here this earlier this week for a puzzle caching blitz.  (Favorite quote, regarding my Tetris Lamp:  "Geeks have the best toys.")  Have some fun with:

PICTURE THIS!!! Waypoint Art???

Tomorrow we'll be in California.

The Merchant of ... - 8/20/15

Today's Minnesota puzzle will have you investigating the tale of:

The Merchant of Baghdad

(Now, wouldn't that background image make an awesome quilt?)

Tomorrow we'll be in Pennsylvania.

The Game of Life - 8/19/15

Today's puzzle takes us to Spain where you'll take a turn at the:

Game of Life

Tomorrow we'll ...

Corpulent Monkfish - 8/18/15

Today we'll travel back to Ohio for the case of the:

Corpulent Monkfish

Tomorrow we'll be in Spain.

Upside Down Magic - 8/17/15

I know I've featured magic square puzzles here before, but I found this one in Switzerland to be particularly intriguing:

Two Six Four

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Break the Internet? - 8/16/15

Today's puzzle is from Arizona.  Just in case you missed this (like I did) when it went around last winter ...

Break the Internet #1: The Dress

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Friends ... - 8/15/15

Today we travel to Ohio for:

Friends, ------, Countrymen

Tomorrow we'll ...

Two Ends - 8/14/15

Today's Ohio puzzle demonstrates the humorous result of some continuing fun between friends.  Two Friends becomes:

Two Ends

Tomorrow ... 

Hangman - 8/13/15

Today's Oregon puzzle features "solitaire hangman," which I discovered a while back and found it to be a good way to kill time.  How many times will you get "hanged" with:

Games in our Magazine -> Solitaire Hangman

Tomorrow we'll ...

Three Dog Night - 8/12/15

Although it's still summer time, today's puzzle takes us back to Rhode Island for a:

Three Dog Night

Tomorrow we'll be in ...  

The Urban Hide with a View - 8/11/15

Today's puzzle from Canada's province of British Columbia will take you to:

The Urban Hide (With a View)

Tomorrow we'll be in Rhode Island.

Raising the Bar - 8/10/15

I heard from a fellow puzzler last week about a puzzle series he enjoyed in Canada's province of Nova Scotia.  I was happy to see that I have featured several of the ones in the series, starting with the first one back in November of 2011.  If you haven't checked it out, you will find that "Puzzle Street" offers a fun variety with a range of difficulties.  Today why not try:

PS36: Raising the Bar

Tomorrow we'll be in Canada's province of British Columbia.

Quick Summer Puzzle - 8/9/15

Today seemed like a good day to head to Washington state for a:

Quick Summer Puzzle

Tomorrow we'll ...

Goatee - 8/8/15

Today's puzzle looks like it should be "Goatee" but it's actually:

^GHOTI^

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Long Divsion - 8/7/15

August is the time when a lot of folks are on vacation.  If summer vacation has you missing your school days, try brushing off your:

Long Division

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Come again? - 8/6/15

I'm betting that today's South Carolina puzzle will have you saying:

Ummmm...Come again?!

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Tiles - 8/5/15

Today's Ohio puzzle caught my eye because it speaks to my own interest in tile floors ... not counting the tiles, but looking at the interlocking shapes.  Since childhood I have been fascinated by tessellations, and as a quilter I am always on the lookout for interesting patterns and shapes (my gc.com avatar is a photo of a quilt I made which is patterned from a Venetian tile floor).  My children learned a long time ago that the answer to the question "What does that floor look like to you?" should be "A quilt!" Have some fun:

Counting Tiles

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

A Sea of Nonsense - 8/4/15

Today's puzzle will take you to Washington state, where you'll be:

Fishing in a Sea of Nonsense

Tomorrow we'll ...

Wondrous Numbers - 8/3/15

I'm doing another little bit of traveling so I hope you'll forgive me for sharing this California puzzle I placed while out there earlier this summer:

Wondrous Numbers

I heard from the cacher who is maintaining this one for me that a big event is in the works for next summer.  They're hoping to apply for "Mega" status (the early response looks great!) so if you've ever considered a caching trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, this may be a great time to go.  I have to say that for a puzzle enthusiast you can't do much better than:

Cachin' the Bay

Tomorrow we'll ...

One Word - 8/2/15

For today's California puzzle (which looks like the beginning of a series), you just have to come up with:

One Word

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

JUM8L3 - 8/1/15

Today's California puzzle is a:

JUM8L3

Tomorrow we'll ...

5 stars or 1 star? You decide - 7/31/15

The CO of today's California puzzle claims:

"It's actually a D=1 but it must be a D=5 and I won't tell you why..."  See what you think:

95%Lat5%Lon

Tomorrow we'll be in ...

Code of Claw - 7/30/15

Today's California puzzle had me learning the:

Code of Claw

Tomorrow we'll ...

Misfits and Screwballs - 7/29/15

Today's Ohio puzzle will have you investigating some:

Misfits and Screwballs

Tomorrow we'll  ...

What Drives You? - 7/28/15

I've said before that I think one of the things that makes caching such an interesting hobby is that there are so many different ways to play the game, and thus, so many different kinds of people who are drawn to it.  We all have our reasons why we do the things we do ... our own likes and dislikes, different goals and aspirations.  My own particular fascination is with puzzles ... I guess you could say I am driven to seek them out and discover their secrets.  Today's California puzzle asks:

What drives you?

Tomorrow we'll be in Ohio.

Weird - 7/27/15

Today's puzzle from Croatia is just:

Weird

Tomorrow we'll ...

Now, that's easy ... - 7/26/15

Today's California puzzle seems like a good followup to yesterday's.  Every once in a while it's nice to have one where you can say:

That Was Easy!

Tomorrow we'll be in Croatia.