January 26, 2008
We were out for a nice drive between rain storms this afternoon when we drove past this historical marker. I quickly pulled over to see what it was about. After a quick read, I figured this spot was worthy of a geocache. Apparently, badfeet was out today for a drive also and also figured this would be a great place for a cache. We submitted our caches at the same time; however, badfeet beat me out–his cache was 6 caches ahead of mine. What are the chances that two caches, placed within 10 feet of each other, would be submitted within a few seconds of each other? I find the entire story very funny. Badfeet’s cache is No. 6–GC18XK0. Stop on by and visit a very popular cache location.
This is the inscription on the plaque:
Near here in May 1867, the California Petroleum Company brought in “Ojai No. 6″ at a depth of 550 feet. W. W. Orcutt decribed it as “the first well drill for oil in California that yielded extended commerical production.” It was the first producing well drill by mechnical power, and the first to flow by its own energy. It is reguarded has the forerunner of the state’s oil bonanza.
The well is located by Thomas R. Bard, of the California Petroleum Company. Mr. Bard, aged 26, came to California from Pennsylvania in 1865 representing T. A. Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the California Petroleum Company. Mr. Bard conceived of the drilling away from existing oil springs on a protected oil structure. With indomitable energy he was the principal figure in the first major effort to develop the petroleum resources of the state.
When the California Petroleum Company suspended operations, No. 6 played a part in the formative years of the Union Oil Company, of which Mr. Bard was the first president. Mr. Bard became the United States Senator and holds a prominent place in California history.
This monument is dedicated to Ojai #6, Senator Bard, to the pioneers of the Union Oil Company, and of the petroleum industry.
Dedicated September 11, 1965,Union Oil Company of California, Petroleum Pioneers Inc.
Here are a couple of other pictures that I took on the drive today.
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Uncategorized | Tagged: California, geocaching, oil well, Ojai No. 6, Ventura | 
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Posted by coakford
January 21, 2008
I stopped trying to get FTFs quite a while ago. The chase for an FTF was an added bonus to finding the cache. It usually required much more luck than skill. If a new cache was approved during the night and I was headed that way on my way to work, I would give it a shot. The same was true for lunchtime caching. If a nearby cache was approved and I would have time at lunch to go for it, getting an FTF was a bonus. So without really working too hard to get FTFs, I have 130 of them.
I’m on an FTF roll. The last 3 caches that I’ve found–1 on Saturday and 2 today–were FTFs. After not getting an FTF in quite a while, it’s interesting that I would get 3 in a row.
Xmas Grinched was a 5 minute walk from my house. There wasn’t much of a race for the FTF. It’s been there since early Saturday morning and I’m still the only find. Burbank P&G Del Taco and Burbank P&G Panda were only a couple of minutes of a detour on my way to work this morning. I suspect both of them will see some visitors today.
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Posted by coakford
January 17, 2008
How far do you go from the apparent ground zero to look for a cache? Is it different in an urban setting than out in the wild?
Yesterday, I zeroed out at a likely spot for a cache but didn’t find anything. Put in a call to Elin and learned that it was 75 feet away. When I posted the find, there was another log stating they were 70 feet away.
Typically in an urban setting, I’ll go out 40-50 feet, if it makes sense. I would have easily found yesterday’s cache without help if I just widened the area a few more feet or just used my geosenses. The cache was actually right where I thought to would be when I drove up, but 75 feet seems a long way to go.
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Posted by coakford
January 15, 2008
I wanted to get out of the office today at lunch, so I figured I would try You’re Still My Main Daly one more time. I’ve been there twice and was stumped both times. The third time was the charm and I walked right to it. It is an evil little cache, but sometimes those are the most fun. Richard (rammd) did well on this one.
This morning I archived several caches that I placed in Simi Valley parks about 2 years ago. Since they were gone, I figured it was time to place a new cache. It is GC18MNR–Fort Moore. It’s one of those eraser-sized magnetic nanos. It shouldn’t be too hard to find–parking will probably be the biggest problem.
Stop on by, then go by You’re Still My Main Daly and see if you can outsmart it.
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Posted by coakford
January 2, 2008
We went for a ride today, with the idea of maybe picking up a few caches. We headed toward Santa Barbara, but decided to first visit Ojai. Then we started caching. And more caching. I ended the day with a personal best for one day of caching—31 caches. Some were very creative and well done–especially the caches done by badfeet. That, and the nice scenery, made for a very nice adventure. The photo above was taken along Creek Road, south of Ojai. Some other photos taken in the area can be found here.
Here is the list and a map of the caches found today:
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Posted by coakford
