Gluttony: A Zero Day Short Story

After finishing my long hiking adventure in Letchworth State Park, I remembered that today I had a zero day.  I thought to myself, "Self, do you really want to add a cache find on top of the 4.5 miles of hiking you've already done today?!?"

Apparently the answer wasn't a resounding enough NO, because I found myself contemplating cache find possibilities as I drove home from Letchworth.  I decided to pit stop near Pike, New York to do a little research to see what would tickle my pickle.  The cache I had in the back of my head was That's Alot of Jelly Beans 2011 Edition by Snowman257.  I knew it was on a former railbed (now used in the winter for snowmobiling), probably a short-esque hike, and from the looks of it, it had been found earlier today!  I also knew, it was scheduled to be archived in the next couple weeks, so I decided that would be my zero day find!

I arrived at the parking coordinates, and learned the first leg was around a quarter mile in.  Normally that's nothing, but as tired as I felt I did pause (only momentarily).  What really took the most debate was whether or not I should put my hiking shoes back on - as I had shed them upon completing my LSP hike and donned my comfy Crocs.  I was lazy, and didn't feel like putting back on wet muddy shoes, so I threw caution to the wind and started down the trail.  I probably was like...12 feet in before I was regretting my decision.  This was a really rocky railbed!  I mean they all are, but not usually this rocky!  I realized this was all my fault, but I was a trooper (or just stupid), so I pressed on.

The first leg was a quick find, but the second posed some trouble.  I had actually given up when I noticed something 30-feet away worth checking out and there it was.  After that, I headed towards the final, and quickly found the cache.  I signed in, and started back.  I was surprised that there were sections of trail that still had little slivers of snow and ice bordering it.  I suppose that would be worse than rocks.  Haha.

I find buried treasure.

Before I got too far away from the final, I saw the edge of something sticking out from the rocks.  So I kicked it over.  To my shock, I found an intact insulator for an old telephone pole!  The thing was in really good condition too considering it was probably 50 or more years old. 

So of course I had to claim this rare find!  I cleaned it off in a nearby puddle, and gleefully remarked at how pleased I was with this acquisition!  Sure I can go to an antique mall and get one for $5, but it was a heck of a lot more fun doing it this way. 

I'm sure it will become part of my junk shelf collection along with my dusty tea set, Playboy beer mug, and a hackysack (circa 1998).  Yeah, someday all that vintage material may net me nearly 10 bucks on Ebay. 

Anyway, after it was all said and done I had probably hiked nearly another mile (and in Crocs...do I get mad props for that?!?).  Today's hiking grand total with this cache and my earlier shenanigans in LSP, was pushing 5.5 miles. 

I'm tired, and happy - and to celebrate I got hamburgers, potato salad, cool ranch Doritos for dinner - AND - after much debate, shaved off the infamous pre-playoff beard.