Systemic poison ivy - an itchy experience!

A couple of weeks ago, I managed to get myself into some poison ivy - a regular occurrence for many Geocachers.

The difference this time is that it just wasn't going away, no matter what I did, and almost 2 weeks later it just kept looking worse and worse.

On Wednesday, I had an appointment with my doctor, who gave me a prescription for some cream for this, as well as a prescription for something unrelated. He said it should start to clear up soon.

Thursday, I wasn't feeling great.  I had a headache, I was achy all over, and I was more tired than usual. I didn't think all that much of it at the time. I figured I was just worn down, or maybe it was just medication taking effect.

Friday morning, I woke up and had a lot of numbness and tingling in my very swollen hands and feet.  I was itchy all over, and could barely function at work.  Poison ivy kept showing up in different spots on my legs, and I was truly getting to my wit's end.  Figuring I was having a reaction to either the cream or the medication, I called my doctor's office who asked me to come in right away.

I saw Dr. MacTavish, the doctor on call. He explained to me that I had developed systemic poison ivy, meaning the poison ivy had seeped into my bloodstream.  I had never heard of this before, and didn't think it was even possible.  A few more prescriptions, and I was advised to keep all of the poison ivy spots wrapped in gauze.  I was told that it might get worse before it gets better, and that the poison ivy rashes might show up in other places on my body.

Early Saturday morning, Sparky500 and I headed to the L&A Mega event to meet up with some friends for a fun day of Geocaching. My legs were wrapped, I was itchy from head to toe, and I was careful not to scratch or unwrap any of my bandages.  There were many mummy jokes made throughout the day, but being with good friends made it that much more bearable!

I did notice many more areas with poison ivy popping up throughout the day, including my arms and lower back.  The itching was really getting to me as well.

Our good friends OhJoyOhBliss1 and Walking Woody were quick with advice, to pass on some cream that might help, and Dennis (WalkingWoody) shared a story about his mom having had systemic poison ivy in the past. 

By the time I went to bed, I was almost positive that I was starting to lose skin on my back from all of the scratching!  I got out of bed and took the strongest prescriptions that I had been given - the ones that Dr. MacTavish told me to use only if I really couldn't handle the itching anymore.  And I really couldn't handle the itching!

I slept though the night, and even though I'm still itchy, the numbness is gone, the swelling is coming down, and the blisters are all starting to dry up!  I can finally see an end in sight!

This week has been really tough, and a few times I have really been at my wit's end.  As Geocachers, poison ivy is something that we deal with. We avoid it as much as we can, knowing that 'the worst that can happen to us' is a little bit of a rash, or maybe a couple of blisters that clear up quickly.  It's not.

I really wish that I'd known before how awful this little plant can be.

I'm hoping that my experiences will shed some light and help some friends.  My advice?  Stay out of it. Do everything you can to avoid it.  Look where you're stepping, wear long pants, or just don't go. It's not worth it, trust me.

Cheers and Happy Caching,
Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

Another day on the water

We really wanted to spend our last day of vacation on the water.  And we did – as well as in the water, around the water, and through the water.

Res2100 had recently put out a series of geocaches along the Eramosa River, so when our friends Jay (JayJayCache) and Darryl (BugFinders) asked if we had any plans for Sunday, we suggested tackling the water (or lack of water) trail!

Geocache descriptions and previous logs told us that it would not be an easy paddle – at least not for ½ of it.  We knew that the river was pretty much dried up in the 2^nd section, so our plan was to paddle the 1^st ½ and then go from there.

It was a tricky portage to get the canoe and kayaks into the water at put-in, but once we were in the scenery was absolutely breathtaking!  We paddled along beside Camp Everton, where I had camped when I was much younger although I’d forgotten how beautiful that area is. It was just us and the birds, as well as a beaver that swam along beside us at one point.  Paddling until we reached a beaver dam and the river dried up, we decided to get out of our boats and see how far we could go by walking the river.  We realized quickly that we had a shot at FTF (being the first people to find the geocache and sign the log book) on at least a few of them, so we walked along (walked/swam/stumbled/got stuck in thick mud) and found another 5 until we were met by a group coming from the other direction.  It was a unanimous decision to turn around and walk back to our canoe and kayaks that we had stowed on top of the beaver dam, have a snack and a beer, paddle back, and then tackle the rest of the geocaches from the other end.

We had one small problem, though.  Sparky500 has been using an old pair of Gazelle’s as water shoes, and they decided that 12 years of abuse was more than enough.  And since he had no choice but to keep walking in them, they literally fell apart.  With a couple of kilometers left to go, Sparky500 was walking a little bit slower than a snail’s pace as he navigated his way over the rocks, trying not to cut or bruise himself.  

Once we finally got back to the car, I was able to find a single water shoe and some duct tape to bind his other shoe back together.  It’s times like these that my hordiness comes in handy!  While Sarah (li’lspark) and Jay (JayJayCache) splashed in the water and swam through the potholes, slid over the waterfalls, and jumped from the cliffs, we loaded the canoe and kayaks on to the cars and planned out the rest of the day.  Frank and Darryl jumped in together, and the rest of us hung back to enjoy the water for a few more minutes.

We were all hungry, cold, tired, and tanned by the time we finished the 2^nd section and decided to finish our day with some ice cream at our favourite spot – Chocolats Favoris!

We even managed to avenge a DNF (a geocache that we had previously been unable to find) in the parking lot. 

It’s hard not to spend beautiful summer days on the water, even if it means your shoes fall apart, or you sink waist-deep in really disgusting mud.  The memories of days with great friends in beautiful surroundings make it all worthwhile. 

Cheers, and Happy Caching!

Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

Caching friends are the best friends!

2 years ago yesterday, Frank and I met up with Tim along the Bruce Trail as he hiked end to end. Although he was a buddy of Frank's, I don't think I'd met him before and if I did, it was only in passing.  Knowing that he was on such an incredible journey, I decided to bring some dinner along with us.  I made steak wraps, both yummy and portable!

Just as I was putting them together, I got a text from our friend Mike who asked if he could drop off our canoe that he'd borrowed.  Mike, being an incredible Brewer, had a beer with me while we unloaded the canoe.  But of course, this put me a bit behind schedule and so I was rushing to get the steak wraps finished before Frank got home from work. In my rush, I didn't pull the panini press far enough away from the wall, and it slammed shut on my hand, leaving some pretty decent grill marks!  I quickly bandaged myself up, grabbed a few beers, and we were on our way to Rock Chapel to meet up with Tim.

We listened to Tim's stories about his time on the trail, and about the love of his life, Sandy.

Soon, we were joined by Dennis and Joy, who I had met a couple of times, although at that point, I couldn't say that I "knew" them. The laughter, the stories, and the friendship that we shared that evening formed an indescribable bond.  We all became instant and close friends.  True, genuine friends that you can count on for absolutely anything at any time without question.  Gems like that are so rare to find, so when you do, you hold on to them as tight and for as long as you can .

Fast forward 2 years to today.  We had the absolute honor of celebrating Dennis and Joy's daughter's wedding with them.  Although we arrived late, after having been camping for the week, we were greeted by some of our closest geocaching friends...
Sheryl and Dave (Kramers&Bears)

Fred and Diane (OshawaOgre & Mrs. Ogre)

Of course, Tim, the one who brought all of these friendships together

And Dennis and Joy, the parents of the Bride.

Geocaching is so much more than finding containers in the woods.  And although I could do without all of the GeoDrama, we've found some of the best friends we've ever had through this little hobby of ours. Deep and meaningful friendships, the kind where you are asked to celebrate with the parents of the Bride on a very important occasion.  THAT is what Geocaching hags given to us, and that is something I wouldn't trade for all of the smileys or craft beers in the world!
Look at this picture, look at my beautiful friend who has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know, and see why I am so in love with Geocaching and its people.

Cheers, and Happy Caching!

Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

A paddle, a waterfall, and a Pie Eyed Monk

Although my favorite place in the world is Camp Wyoka, my favorite area is the Kawarthas. And I've been blessed to have spent the week there with my family.

Frank (Sparky500) and I took the canoe out very early in the morning to paddle Burleigh Falls to The Hidden Channel. I can't say I've ever had a more serene paddle on water like glass, with no sounds on the lake except the dip of our paddles.

With the calm lake and surreal backdrop, Sparky500 and I were able to glide easily to our destination, picking up caches along the way, pausing occasionally to revel in our surroundings.

Passing through the Hidden Channel, we found a geocache and were happy to see the names of 2 of our friends in the logbook - Jatmo and Zorkmid. It's these times where we realize that even though we weren't together for the paddle, we now share a common bond.

Passing quickly to an underwater hide, we were accompanied by a mama loon and her baby, who swam alongside us and kept us company with their calls.  Paddling back, we came close to the falls and shared in a quiet moment with a blue heron who didn't mind us joining him.

The pitter patter of raindrops surrounded us as we made the last few strokes back to the car.

Back at our campsite, the girls and the dogs were just waking up and excited to start the day.  We had decided on a trip to Furnace Falls, which definitely didn't disappoint.

While the kids, the dogs and I splashed in the waves, Sparky500 sunned himself on the shore.

Happy and waterlogged, we made a quick stop on the way back to Emily Park, since it was the opening day for Pie Eyed Monk brewery, and we didn't want to miss out on the action!

Excitement was buzzing in the air, as they were putting on the final touches and serving the masses that came out to support them.  This brewery is going to go far!  With their genuine and welcoming staff, their delicious brews, and their line of craft sodas - the vanilla pear is one of the best things I've tasted and reminds me of a tea that I'd once had with a late friend, John Barbieri at his shop in Montreal.  It's funny how certain flavors can bring you back to a time and place, and make you long for people that have since passed on. For me, this soda will always help to your memory alive, John John!

One last stop for some Kawartha Dairy ice cream, before heading back to Emily.

Back at camp, we were met by some friends who happened to be camping there as well, and we introduced them to the wonderful world of craft beer.  I'm the first to admit that craft beer can be a bit intimidating if you don't know where to start.

Luckily, Pie Eyed Monk has some amazing beginner brews, and I think that Dave and Burnt are on their way to being craft brewsaders!

Cheers and Happy Caching, 

Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

2500!

What an amazing day we had!

The water at Burleigh Falls was clear, and we spent a few hours swimming, splashing, and sunning between caches.

The geopups paddled for their first time today - successfully, even! 

We stopped at the LCBO on Chemong road in Peterborough for some craft brews - that area sure has changed since I used to shop there in university!

Heading back to our campsite so that Sparky500 could complete a pretty amazing mission, with exhausted and waterlogged pooches passed out in the back.

So, see this guy here?  The one with the beer?

Yeah, he reached 2500 individual brews on Untappd tonight.  I couldn't be more proud of him and his drinking!  Way to go, Frank.  That's a pretty impressive achievement!

Cheers and Happy Caching!
Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

Brews at Emily

No caching today, but we've enjoyed a few craft beers now what we've settled into our campsite at Emily Provincial Park. 

Believe it or not, between the 2 of us, 2 kids, 2 dogs, all of our gear, and an inflatable kayak, there was literally no room for beer in the Rondo.  Once we set up camp and had a swim, we headed out in search of a craft brewery that was open on the long weekend . We found one in Peterborough, then were really happy to see that the Sobey's on Lansdown road was open so that we could snag a larger variety .

Sparky500 is currently 5 away from the 2500 mark, and plans to be there shortly!

Look how much he's enjoying his Edison's Peep Show from Bell City Brewery!

Cheers and Happy Caching!
Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)

Canoes and brews

Today's adventures involved sun, sand, canoes and brews!

Frank (Sparky500), Sarah (Li'lspark), and I met up with Jay (JayJayCache), and Darryl (BugFinders) at Sandy Lake in Buckhorn. I have to admit this was the nicest swimming and paddling I've ever done, with the clearest water I've ever seen in Ontario. The geocaches were awesome, and even included some underwater finds.

Li'lspark was smart enough to have brought goggles, so she was pretty much indispensable, even though she stole Jay's spot in the canoe and had him paddling her kayak instead. 

First round of craft brews were a selection from Big Rock Brewery, which we've tried before,  they never disappoint, and were perfect for a hot day in the sun. 

Many cottages, docks (and ducks - thanks for the reminder autocorrect!), and impromptu jumps in the lake to cool down, we find all 30 geocaches, had a quick swim, and celebrated with the new Gose series from Wellington Brewery. Gose beers are quite sour and take a bit of getting used to, but they're perfect for summer and are perfect for paddling!

If you've never been to Sandy Lake, bump it to the top of your list, and make sure to bring your canoes, your brews, your GPS, and great friends along with you!  

Cheers, and happy caching!

Frank (Sparky500), and Julie (Sparkel)

The Sparks exBEERience

A couple of nights ago, Frank and I had the chance to have a beer with Colin, an old friend of his from highschool while he was in town on business.
He's been watching our adventures on Facebook and suggested that we start blogging about them.  So here we are on IPA day, heading to Descendants Brewery in Waterloo for an IPA and their new Strawberry Saison.

Frank, who goes by Sparky500 in the Geocaching community, is a big fan of Untappd.  So far, he's logged 2969 beers, with 2484 of those being unique. That means that since he installed the app, he has drank or at least tasted 2484 different beers.  I'm close in range to that, as well but having to log every beer that I drink seems like a lot of work!

While we wait for our brews, a bit of background info on us -
Frank and I have been together for 13 years, married for 11. Even though we'd said no gifts, someone gave us an LCBO gift card for our wedding and we decided to spend it on a whole bunch of different beers that we'd never tried before.  That's where it all began.  A few years later, our buddy Scott introduced us to Untappd, and there has been no looking back!

The other thing that we do a lot of is Geocaching, and we combine these 2 passions as often as possible.

Geocaching is a global treasure hunt. People *(Geocachers) hide containers (Geocaches), and then post the coordinates online for other people (Geocachers) to find. For more info, see www.geocaching.com, or reach out to us and we'll help you to get started.  Here's a link to one of our Geocaching days with our good friend LondonWesty from Cache Canada!
https://youtu.be/8tLFphTVLjU

In true Sparks style, tonight also includes a stop at B@THEMUSEUM for a Thai Ginger Cider from KW Craft Cider and a Peachy Keen Milkshake IPA from Lake of Bays to earn the IPA Day Untappd badge .

Cheers, and Happy Caching!

Frank (Sparky500) and Julie (Sparkel)