User:Michael5000

Bio

Me

I am a 42 year old social worker living in the Portland, Oregon graticule. I began geohashing in October 2009, but I have been an arbitrary traveler for at least twenty years. I have an atlas of every road I've ever traveled, an extensive collection of U.S. Counties, and am gradually running down each and every road of Southeast Portland.

I blog a little about my exploits in arbitrary travel, but also a lot about my exploits in arbitrary book-reading, arbitrary movie-watching, and arbitrary topics such as boring postcards and flag criticism, at The Life & Times of Michael5000.

Mrs.5000

Mrs.5000, my helpmeet and lead co-adventurer, is an architect, bricoleur, and book artist of no little reknown. She is thought to prefer expeditions in which there is some secondary payoff, such as exercise, attractive scenery, or burritos, but she is as game for a random road trip as the next person. She has joined me on Expeditions #1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27.02, and 28.

Other Humans

Niece #1 joined us for Expedition #4 and was a brilliant puppet for Expedition #15a.

Rebel joined us for Expedition #15.

Sarah joined me for doomed Expedition #17.

And it would be churlish not to mention Robyn, the human who introduced me to the pursuit and who is my geohashing hero and geohashing spiritual counselor.

Hashscot

Cinnamon Bear, my hashscot, is a 35 year old North American brown bear. He has many years of experience as a travel mascot. He has traveled in 44 U.S. states as well as England and Wales, and has been to Hadrian's Wall, the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other well-known sites. He has been to the top of the highest mountain in New Jersey (with me) and to the tops of Oregon's Mt. Hood and Washington's Mt. Saint Helens (without me).

Cinnamon Bear has been along for Expeditions #2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18-22, 25, 26, & 28.

Recent Expeditions

28. 2010-08-12 42 -123 In the hills south of the Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon.

Expedition Succeeded!

27. 2010-08-05 45 -122 I84W to I5N Ramp, Central Portland.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First Geohash at two levels of altitude -- possibly for anyone.
• Proposed Over and Under Geohash Achievement based on this Expedition.
• First Expedition that would have happened even if I hadn't known about the hashpoint.
• Bicycle Geohash: 6.45 miles.
• Geohashing Synergy: Burritos for dinner!

User:Michael5000 earned the Cross that bridge achievement by reaching the (45, -122) geohash on 2010-08-05, which was situated on a bridge.

Michael5000 has visited an Easy Geohash by reaching the (45, -122) geohash on 2010-08-05 without really trying.

Michael5000 earned the The Over and Under Achievement by reaching the same hashpoint at two different elevations (45, -122) geohash on 2010-08-05.

26. 2010-07-30 45 -122 Lakeridge High School, Lake Oswego.

Expedition Succeeded!

• New record for longest successful all-bicycle expedition (31.0 miles).

25. 2010-07-25 45 -122 Lone Fir Cemetary, Southeast Portland.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First walking geohash.
• Closest geohash to home.
• Default record for longest walking geohash: 1.5 mile round trip.

Michael5000 and Mrs.5000 earned the Walk geohash Achievement by reaching the (45, -122) geohash on 2010-07-25 on foot, travelling a distance of a mile and a half, round trip..

24. 2010-07-18 45 -122 Deep in the East Vancouver burbclaves.

Expedition Failed.

• Longest all-bicycle geohash attempt (33 miles).
• First two-state non-motorized expedition.

23. 2010-07-17 45 -122 Off Marine Drive near the Portland International Airport.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First non-motorized Geohash!
• Default record for longest all-bicycle geohash (21.1 miles).

Michael5000 & Mrs.5000 earned the Bicycle geohash achievement by cycling 21.1 miles to the (45, -122) geohash on 2010-07-17.

January - June, 2010 (Expeditions #11-22)

22. 2010-06-11 52 -129 In Queen Charlotte Sound, off the British Columbia Coast

Expedition Failed.

• First documented Expedition (for anyone) in the Rennison Island graticule.
• First (and likely only) Expedition mounted from within a cruise ship.
• First Expedition at sea!

21. 2010-06-06 47 -122 In an apartment complex parking lot near SeaTac Airport.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First successful opportunistic Geohash in transit.
• Seattle becomes the second graticule to host a second Michael5000 geohash.
• First successful Seattle geohash.
• King County becomes the third county to host a second Michael5000 geohash.

20. 2010-05-30 45 -122 Forested foothills northeast of Vancouver.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First "Triathlon" Expedition: Truck/Bike/Foot.
• Best Expedition Ever, to date.
• First successful map/imagery/GPS integration.

19. 2010-05-23 45 -122 Along the Clackamas River near Estacada.

Expedition Thwarted -- No physical access in one direction, no legal access in the other.

• First Thwarted Expedition on a Sunday?

18. 2010-05-22 45 -122 A Street on the suburban West Side.

Expedition Succeeded!

• First Successful Expedition using GPS.

17. 2010-05-05 45 -122 Kingsley D. Bundy City Park in Southeast Portland, with Sarah.

Expedition Thwarted -- Time, Access, and Hostile Native Issues.

• First Expedition for Sarah.
• Declared "Anti-Ambassador Achievement."
• The Curse of Wednesday continues, with three Wednesday Expeditions all having failed.

16. 2010-04-21 45 -122 At the edge of a quarry site north of Estacada.

Expedition Thwarted -- Technical Issues.

• First Expedition with GPS technology.
• First Expedition to fail due to GPS technology.
• Failed to stage first successful Wednesday Expedition.
• April 2010 is now 3rd most active hashing month to date.

Michael5000 earned the Blinded by Science Consolation Prize by failing to reach the (45, -122) geohash on 2010-04-21 due to problems with the coordinate format on a GPS unit.

15a. 2010-04-14 44 -123 Northeast of Monmouth (by proxy)

Expedition Succeeded

• First successful attempt (out of four) to conduct a Expedition by proxy.
• Second Expedition for Niece #1
• First successful Expedition for Niece #1

Michael5000 earned the Puppet Master Geohash achievement by manipulating someone to reach the (44, -123) geohash on 2010-04-14.

15. 2010-04-11 45 -122 South of Oregon City, with Mrs.5000 and Rebel.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First Expedition to require wading.
• First Expedition for Rebel.
• First Expedition joined by a randomly encountered friend.

14. 2010-04-01 45 -122 Powell Butte Nature Park.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First Expedition to require scaling a volcano.
• First Expedition in nearly two months.

13. 2010-02-04 45 -122 Across the street from the back of a Safeway in Milwaukie, with Mrs.5000.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First Clackamas County Expedition.
• First Expedition on a Thursday!

12. 2010-01-11 45 -122 On a residential street in Northeast Portland, with Mrs.5000.

Expedition Succeeded.

• Closest Expedition to home.
• Geohashing Synergy: Took Mrs.5000 out to dinner.
• Replaces Expedition 6 as Easiest Expedition Ever.

11. 2010-01-09 45 -122 On a dead-end road near Tualatin.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First 2010 Expedition.
• First Washington County Expedition.
• Attempt at Tron Achievement disqualified on technicality.
• Geohashing Synergy: Inspired visit to parents.

2009 (Expeditions #1-10)

10. 2009-12-27 42 -124 South of Humbug Mountain, Curry County, Oregon with Mrs.5000.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First documented Expedition and successful Expedition (for anyone) in the Brookings graticule.
• First Curry County Expedition.
• First Expedition requiring minor bushwhacking.
• December 2009 is the geohashingest month ever, with five expeditions.

9. 2009-12-25 43 -124 North of Myrtle Point, Oregon with Mrs.5000.

Expedition Failed -- Private Land, Impassable Gully.

• First documented Expedition (for anyone) in the Coos Bay graticule.
• First Coos County Expedition.
• First Expedition launched from an away-from-home base camp.
• Christmas Expedition!

Mrs.5000 earned the My kingdom for a boat consolation prize by being prevented from reaching the (43, -124) geohash on 2009-12-25 by an impassable and unforeseen little gully.

8. 2009-12-23 45 -122 Residential Area Southeast of Vancouver Lake

Expedition Failed -- Private Land.

• Earned No Trespassing Achievement!
• First, um, Wednesday Expedition!

Michael5000 earned the No trespassing consolation prize by almost reaching the (45, -122) geohash on 2009-12-23.

7. 2009-12-21 45 -122 Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island.

Expedition Succeeded

• First successful night Expedition.
• First Expedition completed without stopping.

Michael5000 earned the Speed racer achievement

by passing through the (45, -122) geohash on 2009-12-21 at a high rate of acceleration.

6. 2009-12-06 45 -122 Sunset High School baseball diamond, Portland.

Expedition Succeeded

• First Oregon-side Expedition in the Portland, Oregon graticule.
• Easiest Expedition ever.

5. 2009-11-28 45 -122 On Logging Roads north of the East Fork Lewis River in Southwest Washington.

Expedition Succeeded.

• First series of Expeditions on consecutive days.
• First Expedition requiring moderate physical exertion.

4. 2009-11-27 47 -122 East of Everett, Washington, with Mrs.5000 and Niece #1.

Expedition Failed -- difficult slope, thick vegetation, darkness.

• My first night Expedition.
• My first Expedition in a graticule not contiguous to Portland.
• Niece #1's first Expedition.
• My first failed Expedition.

3. 2009-11-13 45 -122 To the eastern fringe of The 'Couv.

Expedition Succeeded.

• My first lunch-break Expedition.

2. 2009-11-08 45 -122 To Vancouver Lake.

Expedition Succeeded.

• My first Expedition in Portland, Oregon graticule.
• My first Expedition outside of Oregon.
• My first Expedition in Washington.
• Cinnamon Bear's first Expedition.

1. 2009-10-31 44 -123 To South Salem with Mrs.5000.

Expedition Succeeded.

michael5000 earned the Land geohash achievement by reaching the (44, -123) geohash on 2009-10-31.

michael5000 earned the Drag-along achievement by dragging Mrs.5000 to the (44, -123) geohash on 2009-10-31.

michael5000 earned the No Batteries Geohash Achievement by reaching the (44, -123) geohash on 2009-10-31.

Pointless Statistics!

Total Expeditions: 27 (19-8)

By State and County

Oregon: 18 (14-4)

• Multnomah: 9 (8-1)
• Clackamas: 5 (3-2)
• Marion: 1 (1-0)
• Curry: 1 (1-0)
• Washington: 1 (1-0)
• Coos: 1 (0-1)

Washington: 8 (5-3)

• Clark: 6 (4-2)
• King: 2 (1-1)

At Sea: 1 (0-1)

By Graticule

Portland, Oregon: 21 (16-5)

Seattle, Washington: 2 (1-1)

McMinnville, Oregon: 1 (1-0)

Brookings, Oregon: 1 (1-0)

Coos Bay, Oregon: 1 (0-1)

Rennison Island, British Columbia: 1 (0-1)

By Vehicle

In Order of Virtue

Bicycle-Only: 4 (# 23, 24, 26, 27.02)

Walking-Only : 1 (#25)

"Triathlon": Truck/Bike/Walk: 1 (#20)

Significant Hiking/Bushwhacking after a Drive: 4 (#2, 5, 10, & 19)

A Short Stroll After a Long Drive: 6 (#1, 3, 6, 14, 15, & 16)

Barely Got Out of the Car: 8 (#4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, & 21)

Didn't Even Slow Down: 3 (#7, 11, & 27.01)

Cruise Ship: 1 (#22)

By Month

Dec 2009: 5 (3-2)

Nov 2009: 4 (3-1)

May 2010: 4 (2-2)

July 2010: 4 (3-1)

April 2010: 3 (2-1)

Jan 2010: 2 (2-0)

June 2010: 2 (1-1)

Oct 2009: 1 (1-0)

Feb 2010: 1 (1-0)

August 2010 1 (1-0)

By Day of the Week!

Monday: 2 (2-0)

Tuesday: 0

Wednesday: 3 (0-3)

Thursday: 3 (3-0)

Friday: 5 (3-2)

Saturday: 6 (5-1)

Sunday: 8 (6-2)

By Terrain Type

• These can be hard to categorize...

Edge-of-Town Residential/Mixed Use: 8 (5-3)

• on or next to road: 2
• on or next to golf course: 1

Farmland/Pasture: 3 (2-1)

• on or next to road: 1

In-Town Residential: 5 (4-0)

• on or next to road: 4
• parking lot: 1

Forest: 3 (2-1)

• on or next to logging road: 2

In-Town Public Access: 5 (4-1)

• School Grounds: 2 (2-0)
• Park: 2 (1-1)
• Cemetery: 1 (1-0)

Urban Industrial: 1 (1-0)

At Sea: 1 (0-1)

Other Hijinx

2010-08-10 -- Created Michael5000's Top Ten (Fake) Rejected Achievement Proposals for your entertainment and edification.

2010-08-05 -- Proposed Over and under achievement for purposes of self-aggrandizement.

2010-06-11 -- Was in Ketchikan, Alaska, one day before the globalhash would occur on an accessible waterway just outside of town, but was unable to remain in town for an extra day.

2010-04-19 -- Alerted Huntsville, Alabama friends of the location of a highly accessible hashpoint. Result: Friends proved insufficiently motivated to travel to hashpoint. Also, alerted Niece #3 of a hashpoint near her home. Result: Disappointed by eighth-grade niece's lack of initiative in not securing rowboat for what would after all would have been a relatively short row into Puget Sound.

2010-04-19 -- Fell on face while walking around staring into screen of first GPS Unit. Screen of GPS Unit suffered minor crack. Pride scuffed.

2010-04-18 -- Purchased first GPS Unit.

2010-04-11 -- Suggested simplification of the Water Geohash achievement.

2010-02-01 -- Made another attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement using cousin. Result: Failed due to repeated recalcitrance of cousin.

2009-12-11 -- Seeing a highly accessible hash not far from a cousin's home, made another attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement. Result: Failed due to recalcitrance of cousin.

2009-11-10 -- Finished entering graticules for Oregon page.

2009-11-05 -- Noting that an accessible hash is two miles from my eldest niece's college campus, sent detailed if gnomic instructions in an attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement. Result: Failed due to recalcitrance of niece..

2009-11-03 -- Laboriously created Oregon page, and links to it on individual graticule pages, out of a sudden compulsion to know which graticules are still available for the Virgin Graticule Achievement.