Event "Welcome to the birthplace of Signal the Frog"
Last weekend, 18-19. of May '13, we attended one of the best geocacher meeting (event) for us since Maja and me tried Geocaching. The name of the event was not clear at first for us when he was published on the web, but we'll get to his explanation later. Therefore, we invite you to take a little more of your time to read and see all the pictures from this event. So, let's go! 
We started this road trip with, now well-known geocacher and our chauffeur, Zagy to Zagreb on Friday immediately after work. You would think that the way to Zagreb by highway is faster, but not for geocachers. Of course that we, until the moment of entering into the apartment, have found two geocache containers just to fill the day.
The next day, early rise about 5:30 AM in order to prepare for the trip to Gorski Kotar where event will be held. Besides Zagy, Maja and me on a journey with us came by Maja's sister Katarina and Mario (Arizona).
But as usual, geocachers can’t go somewhere and not to find some cache until final destination. In addition to the cache in the highway that we have found, we better prefer two forts. One such fort was located near Karlovac and it was named fort Dubovac. We have circled around the fort until we found the cache. The fort was closed so we couldn’t take a look from the tower. But a little further from the fort we had a beautiful view from the bench where we took some pictures.
Next was an old town fortress of Novigrad. As we drove to this location we already had a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. When we climbed up to the tower fort of Novigrad the view was even better. Everywhere you look you see beautiful green fields rounded by hills and mountains in the distance. We really had a wonderful feeling for someone who is from flat region of Slavonija.
We made a group photo from the tower and enjoyed the view of the backyard of fortress Dubovac surrounded by its walls. We would have certainly stayed here much longer, breathing fresh air and enjoying a sunny view of the fields below the fort, but we don’t have time anymore. We need to quickly move on in order to arrive at an agreement with SiK D. Team to visit some places and caches before the start of the event.
Of course that driving up there didn’t remain only ride but enjoyable ride where we made a couple of shots as we drove (photo & photo).
When we arrived at the meeting place, we met members of the SiK D. Team - Sanjin and his daughter Katarina. At first glance, we were thrilled with their enthusiasm for geocaching and the desire to show us as much as possible in a short period of time.
We didn’t even “turn around”, and Sanjin who was leading the way, had already brought us to the lake Lokve where the dam was built, and where was also the hidden geocache in order to show us (accidental tourists - geocachers) the full beauty of nature and the lakes around. Maja and me simply adore forests, water, nature and fresh air so for us this was the best possible start of our socializing. Walking through the forest, we came to the place where the cache was hidden.
Arizona spotted it, but it was Katarina that grabbed him first from the other side. We made a group photo and headed towards the dam to take a couple of pictures of this, above all, a very wonderful location. The weather that day was quite tricky, and so it was a little warm than a little chilly. From the dam, which closes the lake, then was a strong wind blowing, and it was interesting to take a few photos while others are trying to stay still in the wind.
From this place we have embarked on an even more beautiful location that Sanjin and Katarina have decided to show us. Specifically, it is about 200 years old Luizijan road that is connecting Karlovac to Rijeka.
This is, perhaps, our best cache from the event from Gorski Kotar because there were photographed the best photos, and the search for the geocache itself was also interesting. So what was it about the search?
Well Sanjin said, knowing Bojan (owner of the geocache), a cache is hidden in a location that will surely have a nice view, so somewhere above. We were at the foot of the hill where our GPS coordinates lead constantly wondering whether to go up or what?. And of course, we went somewhere above with Arizona leading the way. Everyone quickly scattered and went on his way up in order to find the cache, but Zagy was the most accurate and has quickly found the cache. Of course, tired of climbing with the equipment (cameras, bags, etc.) we stopped for a moment in order to relax and really enjoy the nicest view for us.
From this place we drove to a bridge where was also a hidden cache. The bridge (somewhere on the right side of panorama photo) is mostly under water due to the large amount of water that flows into the lake valley. And this time, the bridge also wasn’t visible, but still, once again we had a beautiful view of the mountain freshness of nature that surrounded us.
But the story of how we found this cache, dedicated to this bridge that you do not see, is very interesting. Sanjin led the search for the cache and chose the shortest path to it. He took a combination of GPS units and geocaching shortest route that can often prove is not the best way to proceed. So Sanjin made from cache difficulty 2 to cache with difficulty 3.5 – 4. We climbed over the hill in order to reach the cache. We even suggested Maja and Katarina that they return to the car because the terrain was not easy at all.
We barely crossed the mountainous area and discovered that the road is next to the cache, and only a few hundred meters behind it is our parked car. But it does not matter We were all alive and well, and we have experienced the magic of climbing large hills without some better equipment. When we logged the cache we made a group photo as a memento of this unnecessary "spiced" quest.
Now, we have already been called by the other participants who came at the meeting site for the event. Unfortunately, we have lost a track for time and we are a little late for the meeting, so apologies to everyone. Event was held at the park Golubinjak right below the highway Zagreb - Rijeka. You would think that is not interesting to be immediately under noisy highway, but when we went to the complex of buildings in the park and on the field, the noise of the cars suddenly disappeared.
What to say about the park? First of all, it's huge. Very big, with fence ponded, meadow can serve you for a picnic or for a variety of games such as football, badminton, etc. Everything is customized to the needs of visitors so there are plenty of benches and a variety of small houses where you can sit quietly in the shade to eat and drink. There even were games for children like this game of memory.
After Sanjin explained us all the stages – areas that we will visit, we went together to the first - cave in Lokve where was also a hidden cache. Sanjin has actually made the effort and was able to arrange that we all enter the cave under the supervision of couple of guides.
Cave has six levels of which I visited only the first but Maja went to fourth level and took photos of everything. The cave is constantly moist and the temperature is around of 6-8 degrees and it takes several layers of clothing to get down all the way that is intended for visitors.
Through the cave you can see a variety of stalactites and stalagmites and columns that are result of merging of previously mentioned.
After visiting the cave we have visited their way of the Cross. And again, as everywhere before, we had a beautiful view of the town Lokve so we just sat and enjoyed the view.
We have continued our sightseeing to the so-called House of Nature, where also was a hidden geocache and where we found out a handful of other information. One of the information was about the elf in front of the house where, if you grasp the elf by the pinky finger and take a wish, it should be realized. Thus, Maja wished for her wish. In the House of Nature we could see a variety of souvenirs that are produced and sold to tourists. Among other souvenirs, our attention was drawn by the calendar in the nation called the numerator. In the first 12 days of the month December you are following the weather. How were those 12 days that should be the weather on each of the 12 month in the coming year. Furthermore, man who is the head of House of Nature, told us the story and offered a variety of liquors of various herbs. Every liquor was for every opportunity during the lunch and, beside the taste, in that way they were special.
Last beautiful place that we have visited in the village of Lokve was their local Museum of frogs. The museum is at all special. But before we explain the uniqueness of the museum we would like to explain the name of the event. Specifically, place Lokve is known exactly by various types of frogs, which, due to their overfishing, are now a protected species. Because of the wide variety of water (lakes and wetlands) site was named Lokve, and frogs are their "protective" sign. So the name of the event now makes sense doesn’t it?
We are returning to the story about the museum. The owner of the museum, in his early days, started to collect frogs of various kinds. But those are not real frogs. They are variety of toys, and all kinds of souvenirs on which is frog motive. So to this day, the man gathered about 3500 exhibits of various frog designs and sizes. But of course, there were stuffed frogs, like the frog who set a record in a rural domestic game Žabodrom. The frog made the record jump of 1.40 meter.
We have also seen the largest caught stuffed trout that is one of the world's recorder largest ever caught in this lake. The museum also sells various souvenirs so Maja and me bought ourselves a magnet with the motive of frog on the water lilies that again, you guessed it, is standing on our fridge, and it reminds us of a nice visit to Lokve. At the end of our visit to the museum, we all logged in the book of visits. We believe that this will be the biggest visitation of geocachers to this institution.
For the end of the event Sanjin was really great. First of all, he prepared a cold beers as a welcome refreshment after a thorough trip around place Lokve. He also gave us a souvenir of county Primorje - Gorski Kotar in the form of promotional materials, but also symbolic passport that we believe that without them you can’t go through this county. We all thanked to SiK D. Team in the wonderfully executed event, and we decided to make a group photograph of all the participants of the event.
The next day Zagy, Maja and me, as we were going home, we decided to visit Sljeme and to find some of the oldest Croatian hidden caches. So we found a cache Medvednica and realized that the logbook is the very first one, ie booklet for entry dates from year 2002, and the box, and the logbook, were very well preserved. We have signed the logbook wishing that the cache lives for many more years. (photo).
We climbed to the top of the Sljeme right next to the television tower, ate štrukle - the famous Zagreb meal, and took some pictures at the beginning of the ski run - Red slope.
The best view from Sljeme on Zagorje we leave you for the end of this text. Greetings from geocaching team Matko and Maja.
Text written:
