The National Pistol/Rifle (I was there for the pistol) Championship are held at Camp Perry, Ohio. I made the New Jersey team, and ended up 9th overall Junior (out of 47) of the nation.

Ecuadorian XC

Chalk up another continent and hemisphere (southern) for the CXC. This one comes from the mountains of Ecuador above Quito (top) and the equator itself (below). Thanks to Nicole Belanger for being the first to plant the CXC in Latin America.

CXC in Cyprus

Delays with our excavation permit led to a trip to the Beaches and Harbors of Cyprus. This is at the Kyrenia (Girne) Castle, built by the French and the Venetians.

Beaches of the Eastern Med. Sandy, warm water, and the perfect place for a CXCing. By some strange turn of events, this was where we attended the graduation party of the Nigerian students at Eastern Mediterranean University. That was an odd night on a number of different levels.

Capturing Cappadocia

Some unexpected delays in excavation plans freed up a weekend in Turkey for travel to this unique landscape of fairy chimneys, rock cut cave churches, and underground cities.


This first CXC was taken deep beneath the ground in one of the underground cities of the region, carved from soft volcanic rock to provide an escape from Arabs, Persians, and other invaders. Very little is know about their regularity of occupation and even their earliest occupation, which may reach back to the Bronze Age.

This next one is overlooking the Ilhara Valley with its Rock-Cut Churches and Monasteries. Another classic illustration of CXC proselytizing.