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Welcome to GotWake.Com
Whether you're a wakeboarder, a geocacher, a snowboarder, my mom, or all or none of the above - hopefully you find something of interest while you're here.
To log a Gotwake signature item, please visit the Tracking Application.
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News
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Articles: Burn, Baby, Burn... |
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Posted By: Billy
on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 04:20 PM |
Although we'd had our tickets since the day they went on sale, Daphne (errr.... "Pancakes" ;-) and I were convinced we weren't going to be able to make it home to Black Rock City this year, with all that we've had going on.
As the date approached, we started talking to our friends Queen Tangerine and Mig, and learned that they were part of a theme camp this year. Then, a few calls, and serendipity presented a last-minute available RV. We were off-again, on-again based on dog sitting schedules and other obligations - but finally, about a month before the event - we joined the community of Expansion Mansion, and never looked back.
The weeks leading up to our departure were hectic, with regularly scheduled work parties: the crew had some ambitious plans and a LOT of infrastructure to build. Everyone had a task, and each member contributed their special skills, as well as plenty of plain ol' sweat equity. Before we knew it, it was time to tear down, pack the trucks... and the first away teams were off to stake our claim. Two (frenzied) days later, Daphne and I loaded up the Tahoe, drove to Sacramento, picked up the RV (which meant unpacking the Tahoe, and re-packing the RV), and headed for the Playa.
It was a LONG day, but a fairly uneventful drive (with the exception of discovering the refrigerator in the RV didn't work): Auburn, Truckee, Reno, Fernley - then finally Gerlach, and then...
Home Sweet Home.
We arrived on the Playa just a bit after midnight - and since I had BRC maps already loaded into my GPSr, and we knew where our theme camp had been placed - we were able to drive right to it. We didn't see any of our camp mates at the time - so we unloaded our bikes, and decided to take a ride around the Playa, see the sites, and make our first pilgrimage to The Man...
More photos at the link above, and more details below the fold...
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Read more about Burn, Baby, Burn... (1453 bytes more) [ ] |
442 _READS |
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Articles: Wedding Planning, Tropical Style |
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Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 04:20 PM |
Or: Adventures in Playa del Carmen!
Daphne and I had decided on a locale for our destination wedding - but needed to go check it out, together, and do some research.
This included a week of fun in the sun - a great time to be on the Mayan Riveria. There was some 'work': Meeting with wedding coordinators, checking out various lodging options, looking for ceremony and reception locations.
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Read more about Wedding Planning, Tropical Style (431 bytes more) [] |
1482 _READS |
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Articles: Garmin Colorado and Paperless Caching |
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Posted By: Billy
on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 04:20 PM |
I've been Paperless Caching for several years, constantly evolving and refining my processes as new tools are introduced.
Well, the new Garmin Colorado400t has turned my entire caching approach on its ear. This unit caries geocache "data" (description, hints, recent logs, etc), and with the latest firmware upgrade, allows logging of finds (and DNFs, Needs Maintenance) in the field.
Read below the cut to learn how I started with an idea, and through participation in a helpful online community, have been able to produce a utility that I think will be of great value to owners of this unit.
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Read more about Garmin Colorado and Paperless Caching (1770 bytes more) [] |
2130 _READS |
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Articles: What Happened?!? |
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Posted By: Billy
on Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - 04:20 PM |
Or: How Love and Life got in the way of updating my website
So - it's been almost two years now since I met Daphne. We hit it right off, and our relationship developed pretty rapidly. Over the past two years...
We traveled - a LOT: To Sedona, Altanta, North Carolina, Oregon, Indiana, Amsterdam, Spain... and probably even more places that I'm forgetting. It's been a whirlwind - and I had intended to write articles about each adventure - but I was always too busy recovering from one excursion, or planning for the next.
We also had QUITE the adventure in the middle of the Nevada desert, at Black Rock City for Burning Man 2006. You'll find photos in the image gallery - what an experience! Unfortunately, we had too much going on during the fall of 2007, so had to sell our tickets - but we've already received our 2008 tickets, so... BRC, here we come!
Finally, a year after we met - Daphne and I got engaged! Of course, being the caching geek that I am - I chose a slightly unique way to propose.
I've got a few other posts I want to make - but mostly, wanted to get this "two year catch-up" down on paper, so I can try to get back to some sort of regular posting.
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1545 _READS |
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Articles: Four Thousand Finds... and climbing. |
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Posted By: Billy
on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 04:20 PM |
A pretty good caching year, and as I approached this milestone, I picked out a particular cache as my target for find #4000. That cache was Firestone, which happens to be the oldest active cache in the San Francisco Bay Area. Placed on 10/2/2000, this venerable old cache has stood the test of time.
Read on to hear a little about the adventure that was 4K.
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Read more about Four Thousand Finds... and climbing. (620 bytes more) [] |
1937 _READS |
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Articles: Take Off (to the Great White North), You Hoser! |
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Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 04:20 PM |
OR: Grab your tuques, we're going to Canadia, eh?
In mid-December 2005, good friend and colleague Kurt invited me up to Whistler, for a week of riding and a slope-side time share that his dad has had for years.
It was great to meet Will, and the rest of the crew north of the border. Even a chance to meet some of his old school buddies - I would say a Good Time [tm] was had by ALL.
Thanks for the invite, Kurt!
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2074 _READS |
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Articles: One Good Turn Deserves Another |
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Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 04:20 PM |
Or: Finally, some SNOW!
At long last, we received our first winter storms this past week, which finally enabled Tahoe resorts to open. Squaw Valley reported 2' of snow on the upper mountain, and announced opening day of Saturday, December 3rd.
After a grueling week at work, I was really looking forward to getting back on the slopes. Drove up late Friday night after work in Lee's fancy new Audi All-Road Quattro - what a luxury ride!
The next morning it was off to Special Tickets to pick up my (10th consecutive) season pass - which is always fun. Immediately I started seeing old friends, and making new ones while waiting to get our pass photos taken - the ritual that begins each season. Then on to the locker room, where the excitement continued to build: Remembering my combination, opening the locker and finding that YES, all the gear I expected to be here actually was - and continuing to run into more friends and acquaintances.
Not long after, it was actually time to get out there and make those first turns. I'll save the rambling about conditions, available terrain, and how I rode for the extended text, for those who care to click through and read it. I will leave this parting shot though - demonstrating that by the end of the first day, I was feeling daring enough to try my hand in the terrain park:
Okay, so it's pretty tame, as far as terrain park features go - but I was pretty happy to hit this pair of sliders on my very first day back on the slopes. Read on for more details . . .
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Read more about One Good Turn Deserves Another (4373 bytes more) [] |
2586 _READS |
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Articles: Finally, some riding! |
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Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 04:20 PM |
Well, it may have taken until October... but I finally managed to get out on the boat a few times and do some riding. It's funny to think that I did more riding in October than any of the summer months - but it's true. A bit of an indian summer hung around, a the crew put in several nice days of riding during the month. I've been spreading my sets equally between the wakeboard and the skate - they both appeal to me in different ways. Here I'm actually starting to get a little air on the skate - still far from making it wake2wake, but hey: it's a start!
Most of all, it was just great to be out on the boat with the crew, enjoying the sun, the water, and taking a few pulls. Next summer seems so far away - especially since it hasn't started snowing yet!
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2348 _READS |
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Articles: Dingo's Nose Knows... |
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Posted By: Billy
on Friday, October 07, 2005 - 04:20 PM |
... a little pain and suffering!
Rexy and I went out for a hike after a new cache placed in our honor in Briones one night, and right at the trailhead, Dingo had a sneezing fit the likes of which I'd never seen. It went on for almost a minute, and by the time he was done, he was covered in snot and dirt up and down his legs and all over his face.
As we marched on, Dingo would stop from time to time for another sneezing fit - some not as long as the first, but each just as violent, shaking his entire body from nose to tail stub. We couldn't decide if something had bit him, or he snorfed something up his nose, or... ? Either way, being the irresponsible dad I am, I hoped that everything would magically just work out.
To make a long story short - here's what the vet eventually pulled out of his nose! Read on for all the gory details...
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Read more about Dingo's Nose Knows... (2426 bytes more) [] |
2149 _READS |
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