2008-05-26 41 -93

Memorial Day Geohash, 2008: Des Moines, Iowa

Killamanjaro (left) and Stretch (right) posing at the geohash location.

The geohashers had to trudge through field and forest as far back as the eye can see in this photograph. There was also a "No Trespassing" sign on the way.

This was the first geohashing experience for Stretch and Killamanjaro. They made a first attempt to reach the hash through a shortcut in a residential area, but after an awkward meeting with the locals who owned the fences they were attempting to climb, they were forced to go to the park entrance, far west of our destination.

They forged through a wooded area, over a creek, and emerged in a field beneath some high-voltage power lines. They did some quick mental math, converting minutes and seconds into minutes with decimals for their ancient GPS. After a little more walking and some altercations with thorn bushes and what might have been poison ivy, they arrived at the location and took pictures (around 1645 hours).

They explored the area, ate some ELFudge, and periodically shouted "XKCD! Geohashing!", attempting to meet other geohashers, but these attempts were in vain.

At long last, they hiked back to their vehicle, slightly sunburned and possibly carrying a rash.