DogCacher.com

Each Friday I make my 20 minute weekly trip to NH. I have a specific route which includes the bank, liquor store and groceries that I forgot on grocery day.  I always take my dogs because each errand takes less than 10 minutes so, one, they get out of the house for a ride and two, they are never left in the car that long.

Each week I promise them that I will find a spot somewhere on route, where they can run and play, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Each week, I “drop the ball” and we only end up doing the errands I set out to do. But each Friday they still run to the car and hop in with only the enthusiasm and faith that a dog can have.

For two years I have been driving this same route. Half way between the bank and the liquor store lies this nondescript, little, dirt parking lot with a simple sign carved in a piece of granite saying Andres Art Institute.  For two years, I always say to myself or whoever may be in the car with me, dogs included, that someday I will turn into this lot just to see what it is. For 2 years I never have.

Last Friday however turned out to be an exceptionally beautiful day for the end of March in New England. It was still on the cold side, barely making it pasted 40 degrees but the sun was shining brightly. Even though I knew that I had my weekly ritual of errands ahead of me I got the itch. It is the itch that only a geocacher knows.

To describe the itch might be to say that it is a cross between the "need" to find something, the "need" to be out communing with nature and the wisdom of somehow incorporating that need into the routine of your day without appearing eccentric or obsessed.

I booted up my laptop, logged onto the geocaching site and within minutesI had 3 caches that would not deviate too far from my ritualistic route. Not only that but they were all located in dog friendly areas. Finally I was going to make good on my promise to my canine co-pilots.

The first cache was located in a little park with a small covered bridge which I had driven by occasionally but never really noticed. The second and third caches were located by that little parking lot with the sign for Andres Art Institute.

The first thing that struck me as I pulled into the lot was the large elaborate iron sculpture by the front gate. It was truly amazing.

Yes, Andres Art Institute itself was situated at the top of this hill but in between was the work of many artists. Andres Art Institute was also a massive sculpture park.

Andres was originally a skiing resort called Big Bear Mountain. In 1996, engineer and innovator Paul Andres purchased Big Bear Mountain and moved into the house near the top of the mountain. Based on his lifelong love of nature and passion for art, Paul decided to purchase sculptures to place in the natural setting surrounding his new home.

Coincidentally, master sculptor John M. Weidman had been living in Brookline, NH for many years. Not surprisingly, John's skill as a sculptor became known to Paul and they began to work together to make plans for adding sculptures to the mountain. In 1998, they co-founded the Andres Institute of Art. To date there are over 60 sculptures placed on the mountain.
This is truly an amazing place to geocache or just to visit. My dogs and I spent over 2 hours in the park and probably only saw ¼ of what there is to see.

My dogs now have this great place to explore on Fridays. I actually took the time out of my day to stop and enjoy something new. This hidden gem of a park reminded me to follow my own motto: Take the Time – Not First To Find. You never know what you might find right under your nose.

If you would like to learn more about Andres Institute of Art click here.