StringGrrl sees the World

The unofficial start of the summer season in the US is the marking of Memorial Day. So StringGirl had to get out and break in summer. StringGirl is over dressed for the pool, unfortunately others are not View Larger Map The pools at this park are a fantastic perk for all residents of Grosse Pointe Woods. As a resident gain access to the full olympic plus pool, waterslides, diving wells, and 50+ acres of park. StringGirl flies a kite Search for Travel Deals Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Summer 2010: eBags Mother Lode TLS Junior Video streaming by Ustream

http://coord.info/GC2NCDR Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm is a little hamlet in the hollertau hops region near Munich. Coming here as a software engineer for a leading Automotive FEA solution provider is a little unusual. But all the little german cities here are that mix of industrial and rural setting that the Rustbelt of the US had never managed to get right. After getting a bier and a Halbes Schweinhax in Munich it was a nice surprise to spot a cache so near the Bahnhof (train station). A short walk along the road upto but not onto the neighboring farms, brings you to this nice little hide. Thanks C:geo for another nice walk and time to smell the roses.

Alex Paya with StringGirl at Marienplatz Keeping with the trend of meeting relatives from far off. StringGirl met up with her cousin Alex while visiting Munchen. Only a short train trip from Pfaffenhofen we met up for a nice stroll through Munich. First stop was the VERY touristic Marienplatz. Where the Rathouse is adorned with a large mechanized clockworks that puts on a show for the masses of tourists who stare upward at as the clock tolls the hour. Alex with Jens Buchert (not the pop star) and StringGirl Jens (a colleague from Tebicon) met us and brought us to a Biergarden, where we sampled the local fare. Then gave a short tour of this area of Munich. The river, Mozartplatz, Gothestrasse, and then onto the site of the World Famous Oktoberfest. The Site of Oktoberfest Thereisenplatz The site where the famous Oktoberfest occurs each year, is a huge open area in the midst of the town. Easily large enough to hold several large professional sports stadiums, more than 100,000 ...

Scheveningen beach restaurant Just outside Den Haag is seaside area. Major tourist trap but with nice western view of the nordsee and fairly decent sunset. Beachside restaurants spread out along the entire beach area-reminiscent of the mediteranean shores of Southern France. The Beach and Pier at Scheveningen A board walk stretches out into the water over nearly an 1/8th mile ending with a pier and bungy jumping tower. Did i mention tourist trap? Adding to the Atlantic City feel are Casinos and other trumped up dining establishments. There are plenty of foreigners in general as the Haag is home to Europol, embassies, and international businesses. During peak season this place has got to be packed. Den Haag on the way to Scheveningen beach district Well here's to waking up tomorrow without Judgement Day, rapture, or whatever is supposed to happen Saturday. (Zombie apocolypse is not PC, @zombierights prefer  global reanimation block party). Meeting Tante Rosie in Amsterd...

After a fruitless search in the immediate area only managed to find a plastic screw top for a possible test tube style cache container, and some clear plastic remains of the tube. If this was what was hidden in spot then severe muggle tampering is a possibility. Too bad, cool spot. After all exactly why the benches and bike racks at the end of dead end street is a mystery.

Reaching for a cache should not result in find something moving..... should it. Adding to the camoflauge of the last find was a toad. (Sorry for the upside down picture). But none the less was able to make the grab. Smallish small cache, so the hitchhikers stay with me. Again a small walk from the hotel so not too big an adventure to find (other than the toad).

After taking off from AMS on way to DUS we made it to cruising altitude, were in German airspace, and then we turned back due to some issues with the Airplane. In a safety first attitude glad we did the safe thing, but why not continue to DUS. Do they not make airplane repairs there too?

After a 4 week flying hiatus, string girl heads out to germany and the netherlands. It has been an eventful 4 weeks for her. While on vacation in the UP she broke her leg (a dog was attacking her), and now has lost an arm. It may be time to investigate surgical methods to repair that kind of injury.

StringGirl and her sister get ready for the spring choir concert. Spring has finally arrived with two days with temperatures soaring into the 70's.

In a rare and welcome change from the usual, stringgirl has been in the US for three weeks running. Last in the EU and Suisse regions back in April 13 have been enjoying one of the longest streaks of home stays for a long time. This has been a drag on the geocaching stats, but has allowed me many more days with the family. Fortunately my cache in Zurich seems to be alive and well and not  needing maintanence. But alas all things must come to an end....have to start planning the next trip.

Caching around Northern Michigan made a few finds while traveling up north with the family for "Spring"break. The air quotes are for the fact that our spring got off to a snowy start. Snow on the 18th of April  For spring break one might try to go someplace warm and sunny. Our family decided to go to the northerm part of Michigan where the snow and cold is even more likely. Next time we should  Search for Travel Deals  and find someplace warmer to go. Caching some of the Rest Areas in the Northern Lower Peninsula  Traveling with two young'uns and a puppy, made it so that we pretty much had to stop at EVERY rest area that comes along Northbound I-75. It did not take long before the kids would ask at every stop. "Any caches nearby?" Near the Bridge   Fortunately, there are many caches located at the rest areas. So we were able to pull some up on the phone using c:geo and my Android phone.   Earthcache at Laughing Whitefishfalls state park ...