Oops, we're in trouble

Yesterday I was closely monitoring my GPS to find a geocache at Twin Brooks Trail in Cumberland. And what is usually the case when it comes to my beloved gadget, I was not paying attention to the world around me.

We were off the trail, about 200 feet, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a bunch of green pointy leaves. There were alarm bells going off in the far corners of my mind (and I mean far corners) that I should take a closer look at those plants. But just as a thought was forming, the "arriving at destination" flashed on my GPS screen.

After the kids spotted the cache's hiding place I suddenly realized what those 3-point, green leafy plants were - poison ivy. I had a moment of panic and then decided to let the kids grab the cache anyway. We were already in the thick of things so we just went for it. And it was the quickest cache swap - done in under 2 minutes - that we've ever done. It went something like this:

Quick, pick out a swap, I half-yelled.

Got them mom, said G.

Here's our swaps. Get them in.

Got it, said L.

Sign the log. OK, let's GO!

Run mom!

And off we went - running - back to the car for a baby wipe wash down. I've read that if you wash your skin with soap and water within 15 minutes of exposure to poison ivy, you'll avoid the itchy rash. And now I know that information to be accurate. None of the kids broke out in a rash today (it usually takes 24 hours for the full rash to develop in most people).

But I wasn't quite so lucky. I apparently didn't wash my sandals well enough after the trip because this afternoon I have some seriously itchy ankles.

So I guess I have to admit there is a downside to geocaching; it isn't all fun and games. Well, it might be for the multi-talented who can read a GPS and watch where they're walking.....