2nd Annual FGA Geo-Extravaganza Event Cache

Conveniently located only 5 miles east of US 301 in Dade City, the Withlacoochee River Park offers visitors access to a wild and scenic portion of the river and a mosaic of habitat communities, from high sandhills to low riverine swamp. This is a wonderful park for the entire family, with such features as several miles of hiking trails, a canoe launch, a variety of camping opportunities and even some playground equipment for the kiddies.

We'll start with breakfast at 8:00 AM - FGA will serve coffee, juice and donuts and will then provide information on the rest of the day's opportunities and activities.

We'll be re-convening at 2:00pm for a late-afternoon barbecue and pot-luck feast. FGA will provide the main course plus plates, napkins, plastic wear, condiments, ice, coolers and drinks. We ask that everyone attending this event please bring a dish to share. Based on your last name, please bring the following:

* A-E Desserts

* F-J Potato/pasta or other type salad

* K-O Snacks

* P-Z Veggies or fruit and dip

There will be a travel bug and Geocoin trading table so bring your travelers so they can be traded. If you have a personal collections and want to share, please bring them too!

There will be an electrical hookup available at the event pavilion and in many of the campsites. FGA will be reserving a lovely, shaded group camping area for Friday and Saturday night, bordered by replica historical buildings representing the life of the Florida pioneers. RV parking is also available and the fee for electrical hookup of an RV is $20. More information about camping will be posted shortly.

For non-campers, there is a $2.00/vehicle parking fee required by Withlacoochee River Park. Follow the signs to the self-serve pay station upon entering the park.

Keep checking the FGA website as well as this cache page for updates and announcements.

CAMPING UPDATE, 2/11/2011:

So, here's the camping scoop:

The FGA is reserving a large group area for tent camping (w/o any type of electrical hookup) in a really nice shaded area bordered by a replica Florida Cracker Village. If you are interested in camping in this area there is no need to make reservations. Just let us know by posting your intentions as a note here so we can get a head count.

There is also a Rec Field where RVs can park. There's a $20 fee for hooking up an RV. They also have 5-power pedestals & electrical hookup/running water for those who want to tent camp. For campers who choose this particular option, the hookup cost is $15 per night.

There are also two remote primitive camping site available.

If you want to make reservations for any of the options other than the group area reserved by FGA, call (352) 567-0264 (Withlacoochee River Park) and let them know that you are reserving for the FGA Weekend in April. You can also visit the online Pasco County Directory to make RV reservations.

All camping reservations are available on a first-come-first-serve-basis.

If you would prefer information about nearby hotel accomodations, please contact us and we will happily make some suggestions.

GEO-FUN UPDATE, 2/11/2011:

FGA welcomes our local cacher volunteers and we couldn't be more pleased that rob35200 has coordinated and will be managing "The Most Magnificent Travel Bug & Coin Race!"

We need many entries in this race to make it a fun one, so enter your trackables and log them into the FGA Geo-Extravaganza with 0 miles. Here is more information & a list of the RULES and they will be FOLLOWED to the letter:

* The FGA Geo-Extravaganza will be the starting point for "The Most Magnificent Travel Bug and Coin Race"...a race that will send your trackables to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new lives and civilizations...ok, to travel as far as possible . It will conclude at the Third Annual FGA Geo-Extravaganza.

* You do not have to live in the local area to participate in the race. You can arrange to get your trackable tags to us and we will ensure they get started in the race.

* The race is for points, so you don’t have to travel the furthest to win – you just have to get the most points. Points will be given for tasks that are accomplished by each trackable, as they make their journey.

* The race will last for one year. It begins on 2nd Annual FGA Geo-Extravaganza and will end on 3rd Annual FGA Geo-Extravaganza. Points will be tallied and result will posted on the FGA web site from time to time. Sign up for the race ends at the 2nd Annual FGA Geo-Extravaganza,

* When you activate your trackable, the only thing that we ask that you do is to make sure that next to the name of your trackable you add "(FGA TB Race)." For instance, if we decided to call our trackable tag the “eyed10t trackable”, then the title on the page would look like:

“(eyed10t Trackable FGA TB Race)”

Also, make sure to include the list of tasks so the finders known what the missions are. rob35200 has an example activated that you can use to help put information on your trackables webpage so check it out - (TB41Y7Y) Making Tracks at the FGA Event FGA TB Race.

* OK, now here is the good stuff - the tasks that will need to be completed and the points that will be assigned are listed in the following table.

Task Point Value:
Dropped off at a traditional cache 5 points
Dropped off at a multi cache 10 points
Cross over a state boarder 10 points
Enter another country 20 points
Picture taken at an earthcache 15 points
Attend an event 15 points
Dropped off in more than one cache in a day 5 points
Picture taken at the final of a night cache 20 points

More Specific Rules:

1. Trackables must be dropped off in a cache and then picked up by another cacher. Discovering and Dipping (visiting) of trackables is allowed, but there are no points awarded for those actions.
2. To get credit for crossing a state border, the trackable must be dropped off in at least one cache in the new state. If a trackable passes through a state without being dropped off, then there are no points awarded. This rule also applies to trackables that enter another country
3. Pictures are required at the caches and events where there is no physical container. Pictures need to be posted on the trackables webpage. Pictures are also required of the trackable at a night cache.

4. IMPORTANT: Trackables must be newly activated for this race and cannot have anything logged against them. This is to ensure that all trackables start with a 0 point balance. You will own your trackable and can change its mission at the conclusion of the race if you would like to.
5. You may enter 2 trackables in the race. If families want to participate, then 2 will be the limit for each family member. 6. Once your trackable is ready and you have activated it, contact rob35200 and he will give you his address so you can ship it to him. He will “grab” them when I receive them and will add your name to the list of racers,

Prizes to the top 3 racers will be given at the conclusion of the race. The prizes will be determined and announced at a later date.

Please feel free to contact rob35200 if you have any questions.