Caching Name: Amanda and Knobbie
Real Name: Tim, Jayne, Amanda Werbrich (& Knobbie and Noodles)
1. How did you become involved in geocaching? We got involved in geocaching after we saw an older man looking under the gazebo in the park behind our house…DeerBorne Woods (GC1VM8N). My wife thought it may be someone hiding drugs, so I went to investigate after this person left. I found the cache, no drugs. We started to look into what was geocaching and bought a GPS. The GPS we initially bought rarely connected with the satellites and for the first 2 years we only found 4 because it was so frustrating. Then in 2011 we decided to give it another shot and researched a better GPS. Lo and behold, we were able to connect and started finding caches.
2. How did you choose your caching name? Amanda and Knobbie came from our daughter’s name, Amanda, and Knobbie our Bichon. In 2009 Amanda was just 10 and Knobbie was just a puppy. Now Amanda is a senior in high school and Knobbie is getting a little older. Time flies! We have added Noodles, a Maltese, a few years ago to be a partner for Knobbie. Amanda doesn’t cache with us as much anymore, but Knobbie and Noodles still hang with us as we cache.
3. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, or puzzle, virtual? We probably prefer traditional caches the most. I like trying my hand at puzzle caches. I really like doing the Star Trek series when it was put out in February by Pafishingmom. It was just challenging enough to get my brain going. The virtuals are great because there is always some history involved in most. But whatever type of cache we go for, its great discovering new places and new things that geocaching has allowed us to do.
4. Which caches were the most challenging, either physically/mentally? Probably the most challenging for me was GCD Geocache in Washington State. MikeOtt and I traveled to Washington for the Geocaching Block party in 2013 and he planned out the hike to GCD. It was a 2 mile hike up 1600 feet of elevation gain. It took us a few hours to get there, but we made it. The views from the top of the Cascade Mountains near the Snoqualmie Pass were incredible. On the way back down a nasty storm rolled in quickly and luckily we only got a little soaked as we scampered down the mountain.
5. What are your current geocaching goals? Our current caching goals are to complete our daily cache calendar, which we have about 20-25 to go. We would also like to complete or D/T grid. Our goal is to get to 5000 caches for our totals and possibly get to 300 hides. We have enjoyed placing caches almost as much as we have enjoyed finding them.
6. Where have you always wanted to go caching but haven’t? We have cached in all 50 states now. We want to cache in the provinces of Canada. I want to get some caches in Cuba and Antarctica.
7. What is your most memorable caching experience? There are a lot of great memories we have geocaching from being the first group to tour Geocaching HQ and do the first lab caches to getting a cache above the Arctic Circle at Coldfoot. One of our most memorable experiences was doing the C&D canal Power Trail in 2012. It was a family effort. Mom drove, I navigated, Amanda signed the logs, and GuitarDan jumped out of the minivan for the retrieval. It took us about 2 hours to get our 150+ caches. We were tired, but satisfied with the accomplishment. Another great experience while caching on the ET Trail in Nevada, GuitarDan and I decided to try to get to the entrance of Area 51. We ate at the Lil Ale Inn in Rachel and got a map. We turned off the road at the white mailbox and headed down the 13 mile + gravel Groom Lake Rd. About ½ way there we see dust coming towards us and it turns around. It was the white pick-up truck. We chased it back to the entrance to Area 51 where it returned to its perch guarding the entrance. We took a few pics and decided to turn around before tempting our fate.
8. What do you like about geocaching? Geocaching takes us to places we never knew existed. Its fun knowing that something is hidden where ordinary people (muggles) have no idea. We like introducing geocaching to family, friends and the students at school. They love it and hopefully, they will continue with their families and bring in a new generation of cachers.
9. Do you have some favorite caches in the area? We had “Your Key to Cache” GC3DYYT as our 100 cache back in 2012 a couple months after it was placed. Now with over 467 fav points, we think that was our favorite too. We really enjoy doing all the First State Challenge caches when they come out annually. Fourteen Minus Six (GCR7B7) was a memorable challenge for us, but after a few times there, Amanda was able to grab it.
10. Do you have any other hobbies or interests? Besides geocaching, we like to go Rving and traveling across the country. Amanda is graduating next year in nursing from Hodgson and she loves volleyball. Jayne is busy mentoring and in the process of writing a book. Tim does a lot with the students at school from competitions to coaching basketball. Noodles and Knobbie love to go for car rides and discover new places to “make their mark”
