Phil - yes

MacGuyver - no


:rose:

hey - are you in Ecuador?

seeker - no


:rose:

Must be Peru then?

are you in lima?

are you in the Sechura Desert in Peru?

seeker...yes

phil...no

nick...no....but i am in a desert in Peru


:rose:

The Sechura Desert?

while I contemplate seeker's guess ;) ...how about the Ica Desert along coastal Peru?

Ica Desert
By Dr. Crit Minster

Carcharodon Megalodon ate whales. A member of the shark family, this monster of the sea had a bad attitude and teeth the size of frisbees. One of the largest predators ever, it probably measured as many as 20 meters (65 feet) and weighed as much as 25 tons. With a maw that measured 1.8 meters (6 feet) wide by 2.1 meters (7 feet) this beast of beasts could swallow a buffalo … whole!

The bones of the mighty Carcharodon Megalodon, as well as many other marine animals, can be found in the parched stretch of land known as the Ica desert. Located near Ica, Peru, this desert was once a shallow ocean basin before a tectonic upheaval pushed it above sea level. Local guides know all of the best places to find fossils in this parched wasteland, and the lucky visitor may even find a Carcharodon Megalodon tooth. Some of its teeth have survived, deeply embedded in whale bones.

The sands of the Ica desert hide more than the bones of dead fish, however. Before the arrival of the Spanish, local cultures used the desert as a sacred burial ground. Unfortunately, grave-robbing is still something of a local industry. Those relics that have survived the rampant scavenging can be viewed in the regional museum in Ica.

The desert surface is also conducive to a number of active adventures, equally as interesting. Among these sand-sports, sandboarding is one of the most popular. As the name implies, it involves sliding down a sandy dune on a sort of surfboard. You can also tear through the desert on dune buggies, mountain bikes or four-wheelers: you can rent them (and guides) in the nearby town of Ica. Most travelers stay at the Huacachina Oasis, a speck of green in the gray desert. There is a small lake there, surrounded by numerous hotels and tour operators.

Beyond its bones, burial grounds, and sandboards, the Ica desert still holds at least one mystery: the Ica stones. According to local legend, a farmer discovered a cave full of more than 15,000 stones with designs etched into them after a heavy rain. He was busted for selling them to tourists, and then sold his collection to Dr. Javier Cabrera, who maintains a private museum of the stones in Ica. The designs show many different scenes, such as medical procedures including heart and brain surgery, as well as humans hunting dinosaurs. Most scientists believe the Ica stones to be a total hoax, but the curious may find the museum to be well be worth a visit. Either they’re a legitimate historical find, or they’re evidence of how much work people will put into creating and propagating a profitable scam. Questionable authenticity aside, the stones are intriguing and make for an interesting excursion.

Fortunately for swimmers and surfers, the last Carcharodon Megalodon went to shark heaven about 1.2 million years ago (although there are those who say there could still be some lurking in secret corners of the world’s deepest seas). If you want to see one, you’ll have to go to Ica, and don’t forget your sandboard!

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...77adf05a_b.jpg

Pampa de Villacuri, Ica
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...2c082ce5_b.jpg

...and where there's sand dunes, there's sandboarding:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ndboarding.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ing-740068.jpg

seeker...not the Sechura desert but close

nick...wow...nice pics of the ica desert!...but, no

clue #1: i'm in the driest desert in the world and some parts of it have not seen rain since the beginning of recordkeeping (according to Nat'l Geographic)!

clue #2: a new discovery was made here in 2002 that dates back to the time of Jesus Christ's birth (and before)!


:rose:

though most of the Atacama Desert is in Chile, there is a part in Peru...are you there?

Atacama desert -

...yes, i'm in the atacama desert
290 miles south of Lima but you must
name the region or at least the
ancient discovery made in 2002

*just a warning: at least one site listed this location as just over the Peru border in Chile...most are saying Peru...but it's still the Atacama desert


:rose:

Are you at the ancient iron mine attributed to the Nazca people of that area? Ancient Iron Ore Mine Discovered in Peruvian Andes

...the ancient discovery made in 1935 is attributed to the Nazca people but is not a Mine...it is much more exciting, mysterious, and well known than that. Then the newest discovery is closeby and similar but answers some more questions that solve some of the mystery as to the "why" and "when" and "how".

...another discovery was made in 2008 that dates back 5,000 years in the same area

---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 AM ----------

clue #3: You have seen pictures of these discoveries throughout your lifetime that have been etched in your memory...we all have!


:rose:

how about maybe the Nazca Lines? I just checked my mental etchings and there they were!


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...20I/nazca1.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...nazcahuman.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...at-the-Naz.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...azca-lines.gif

...Close enough! The Palpa valley is where the newest discovery of 1,000 more have been found: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...eruglyphs.html

The Geoglyphs etched into the desert have been dated from 200BC-600AD and could only be viewed by airplane which is what happened in 1935 but it's always been a mystery as to why and how these were done so accurately.

In 2002 (or 3), a thousand more of these were found and, answering much of the mysterious "why" surrounding these, it was determined that, 1) they were sacred landscapes of art to honor water and fertility (since this is the driest desert on earth). Artifacts were found with the same art (which rules out alien runways lol). And 2) the "how" was determined by the findings of posts whereby they would tie strings from post to post and follow smaller drawings nearby.

Last year, human remains from 5,000 years ago were also discovered in the Atacama desert believed to be the beginning of civilization there.


WTG Nick!...you're up next!


:rose:

good one, Shell!

Those findings are a very interesting glimpse into the minds of our ancient ancestors....including their attraction to little pink slippers and red toes as exemplified by one of the lastest findings recently written up, I think I read it in the Harvard Anthropological Research Journal

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2.../nazcatoes.jpg


OK folks, find me.

:lol: ...haha

okay...NH?

yes, I'm in N and W hemis

in your sofa?

not in my sofa...I'm sort of hovering over it right now

...really nick (lucky mrs nick :thumbsup: )
...is this True Confessions in real life or are
you telling us you are in a hot air balloon over the usa?


:rose:

in canadia?

In spite of my previous true confessions about my afternoon delight, I am not in a hot air balloon over anywhere.

However, I am in the great land of Canada.

I hope you guys find me tonight since very early tomorrow I'm going to Toronto for a couple days and will be totally incommunicado ...though Toronto is not near where I'm hiding at the moment. I may get aggressive with clues.

....ontario?


:rose:

not ontario....but hold that thought, Shell. This is the last time I can post until Saturday late afternoon.

I was gonna suggest that since unc had the last "yes" he might step up to hide until I get back. Or my other thought was that since you are the one with fuzzy pink slippers and red toes, you should be the one to be the tempo-hide-ee. But whatever you guys decide is OK with me. Bye for a while.

...i don't mind waiting and i don't mind for phil to step in as a temp...either way

...have a safe and fun trip and see you in a few days! :wave:

:cry: ...goodbyes are so hard lol


:rose:

we love ya, nick...

(okay, is he really gone? let's PARTAY!!!)


oh, quebec?

...i don't think it's quebec because he said he was far from toronto (then i went and guessed ontario...lol...typically NOT paying attention).

...hey, i know, since we know nick ALWAYS pics the most photogenic, most intriguing, most historical, noteworthiest news item (that banning of bottled water was the worst...:lol: ), most scenic, best wow-factor kind of locations...

...let's just guess alllll the locations in canada that are "the best...", "the most...", the top...", "the hottest...", etc. Then when he returns he'll have tons of answers to post...WE NEED TO KEEP THAT BADBOY BUSY!

...i'll start:

CANADIAN LOCATIONS:

1. Banff National Park (might as well get that one out there right now...it's drop dead gorgeous)


:rose:

the plains of abraham in quebec city?

Battle of the Plains of Abraham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. Okanagan Valley (premiere wine region and one of the warmest regions in canada)


:rose:

Hi friends! I'm back. As I get my facts collected about this story, I'll tell you this supposedly true story my Canadian cousins' told me about how Canada beat the U.S. in a major battle and that led to the White House being white instead of black. Maybe some of you know that story but it was news to me.


OK, Shell's plan seemed like a good idea to pick all the coolest top spots in Canada but this place I am is more of an unusual natural feature than a gorgeous photogenic spot.

Otherwise, Shell was closest so far since I am in Alberta.

...welcome back BadBoy...are you in the Canadian Badlands?


:rose:

Shell, that would be a big yes ...but I need you to identify the location more specifically. Thank you, ma'm.

Dinasaur Provincial Park?

drumheller valley?

guys, neither of those. I have a feeling Shell is going to get this one any minute.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology?

unc, not that one either.

I am not in a building or city/town. BadNick is at a natural earthly feature of unusual interest somewhere in the Badlands of Alberta. There is a somewhat vague connection between where I am now and the Nazca Lines that were part of Shell's last hiding place.

...does it have anything to do with one of the hoodoos? ...like Table Rock?

---------- Post added at 11:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------

wait...i know...

Archaeological evidence indicates that native people camped at Writing-On-Stone as long as 3000 years ago. For centuries, native people created petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) on the sandstone cliffs along the Milk River. Although some of the rock art may be 3000 years old, the date of the first appearance of rock art at Writing-On-Stone remains.

...is that it?

Shell, not a hoodoo but that's along the right train of thought. But not anything small like wall writing or a cave or even a settlement. This place I am is much larger and to fully appreciate it you might need to look down from an airplane or orbiting satellite. The "Badlands" connection is so close you should be able to taste it.

...are you resting atop a badland butte and gazing across the Milk River Canyon and rolling grasslands?...and, badnick, you are milking this for all it's worth i might add...stop groaning, Phil :p

...you said we could almost taste it...well, in 1805, Lewis and Clark named it the Milk River because the colour was like a cup of tea with a spoonful of milk in it.

...i'm guessing the Milk River because it is one of the least fragmented, most extensive, and most geologically and biologically diverse grassland landscapes on the glaciated plains of North America. Its uplands, wetlands, and valleys constitute one of the largest undisturbed grasslands in Canada....and, yet....it's on the verge of being highly developed by oil and gas companies as has already happened in nearby Cypress Hills.


:rose:

horseshoe canyon?

brokeback mountain?

hmmm. Well it's none of those. My "taste" comment didn't mean to imply anything to do with tasting, just that you were oh so close.

The place I am commonly has the word "Badlands" in its description.

the ALBERTA badlands?

yes, as I previously said I am in the Alberta Badlands...but I'm looking for a very specific site there. And its description is most commonly stated as "The Badlands ...." as if it needed somebody to take care of it.

The East Coulee School Museum?

...Badlands National Park?


:rose:

better yet, the badlands guardian near medicine hat?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_Guardian

...i think you nailed this one uncle phil :thumbsup: ...good job!


:rose:

thanks shell; i think i nailed it, too...

nick's probably stuck on the surekill expressway on his way home from work right now...

I'm a back road man....so I avoid the surekill at all costs...except during very off-hours when it's not so bad. But due to heavy rain and flooding in some areas around here this past weekend, many of the back roads are closed for cleanup or not passable due to flood debris. Oh yea, and unc, you definitely nailed me. I am at the Badlands Guardian

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...sGuardian2.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...dsGuardian.jpg

The Badlands Guardian is a geomorphological feature located at 50°00′38.20″N 110°06′48.32″W / 50.0106111°N 110.1134222°W / 50.0106111; -110.1134222 near Medicine Hat in the south east corner of Alberta, Canada. Viewed from the air, the feature bears a strong resemblance to a human head wearing a full native American headdress. Because of additional man-made structure, it also appears to be wearing earphones. The apparent earphones are a road and an oil well, which has been in place only a few years, and will likely become invisible once the well falls into disuse and its superficial features are eroded.
The head is a drainage feature created through erosion of soft, clay-rich soil by the action of wind and water.[1][3] The arid badlands are typified by infrequent but intense rain-showers, sparse vegetation and soft sediments. The 'head' may have been created during a short period of fast erosion immediately following intense rainfall. Although the image appears to be a positive feature, it is actually a negative feature (a valley).


You're up, unc. Go hide.

Wow that's really cool, never heard of it. Now if that were on mars people would be screaming it's proof of alien life, go figure.

Welcome back, Tul. I haven't seen you in here for a while...though I've been away myself, north of the border...I mean visiting my relatives in Toronto, not the Badlands thing above.

I hope the Martians don't get hurt feelings when you call them aliens...poor little green people :(

unc, are you in the WH?

carch me in the morning; i need to sleep on it...

and thanks, that was a tough freakin' place to find...

sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite. Hey, did you hear about those dogs they are training to find bedbugs, which apparently are making a roaring comeback around the U.S.? There was a story I saw and read about a cute little beagle that finds them better than any other method known to man...and woman.

Yeah my DSL has just plain SUCKED. Didn't have anything all weekend. Until the beach and houses around me empty out I'll probably be lurking more then playing. Wouldn't be good to be "it" and not be able to answer questions. So plan on not seeing much of me until late Aug or early Sept.

So what's up with the "green" comment? You know something the rest of us don't? I mean how do you know they're green?

ok, where am i?

nick - yes

Tul, I believe that their green appearance is caused by a mysterious phase shift in the light that reaches our eyes. In certain electromagnetic fields, they actually look pink, so really it's just all relative.

unc, are you in SH?

...usa?


:rose:

nick - no

shell - yes

unc,
east of miss?

...north of 40?


:rose:

nick - no

shell - no

...west of 100?
(longitude)


:rose:

west of 100...

in Arizona?

not in arizona...

are you in New Mexico?

not in new mexico...

...in a state that borders the pacific?


:rose:

you keep hiding in Texas...are you in Texas, again?

shell - no

nick - no

...colorado?


:rose:

i am in colorado...

are you west of I-25?

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...lorado_map.gif

i am east of I-25

...south of 70?


:rose:

i am south of I-70...

Are you in Picket Wire Canyon? ...one of the longest dinosaur track-ways in the world (the Morrison Formation)

...Bent's Old Fort?

nick - no

shell - no

...are we looking for a town?


:rose:

are you at a place where there is some kind of interesting natural feature?

shell - i am a place situated within the boundaries of a city

nick - no

unc, are you south of Hwy 50?

north of 50...

unc, are you at the Wonder Tower in Genoa, CO? ...if so, I wonder why

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ondertower.jpg

nope, not phallic enough...

j/k...i am not a phallic structure...

But you are in Colorado, right?

/runs and hides before Phil hops on a plane and I end up eating meals for the rest of my life through a tube.

East of 287?

if you mean east of 285, yes...

if you mean east of 85/87, yes...

i can't find a route 287 on my map, but that's ok...

unc, there is a "287" on that little map I posted above.

are you in or within 20 miles of Denver?

looks like it ends in denver, and i am south of I-70...

ah, there's more 287 over by lamar...

i am not east of 287 south of I-70...

also, i am not within 20 miles of denver...

though it appears that there is nothing else around there, are you in or within 20 miles of Calhan?

no, but close...

ooo, ooo ...that gives me motivation. I'm a searchin'