Mercury Traditional Cache
Pofe: This cache appears to be gone. If the cache owner ever decides to replace this, it can easily be unarchived if it still meets the current [url=http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx]guidelines[/url].
Thanks,
[url=http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=c810fcc6-4b72-4c43-9661-2f8168591b31]Pofe[/url]
Geocaching.com Volunteer Cache Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache is hidden somewhere along the George and Catherine Riegger Nature Trail in Little Silver, NJ.
The entrance to the trail is located on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Little Silver Point Road. There is a single paved parking spot at this corner on a small grassy field. Additional parking is in the lot for the playground beside the school at the intersection of Seven Bridges Road and Little Silver Point Road. As such, please attempt this cache after school hours on weekdays. The nature trail is a short walk from this parking lot, and there is a sidewalk leading between the two places for safety and convenience. The first part of the trail, on which the cache is located, is a raised boardwalk setup.
The cache is named after the first planet in our solar system, Mercury, which was named after the Roman messenger god of the same name, who was based on the Ancient Greek messenger god, Hermes. In addition to being a messenger, Hermes was also a healer, and a fairly benevolent resident of Mt. Olympus. Keeping with that same spirit, this cache is fairly simple. You need only go to the listed coordinates and there you shall find the cache that you seek...if you look hard enough.
There you will find a magnetic key box, containing a simple log sheet in a clear ziploc sandwich bag. Bring your own pen/ pencil as one will not fit in the container. Don't let the container type fool you, though. The cache is not attached to anything metallic. Furthermore, you need not leave the safety of the raised boardwalk trail to find the cache, as that would leave you muddy and smelling like a tidal bog.
** NOTE** 1/5/07 -- Since the winter won't settle in and stay cold, the old cradle was failing. I have placed a new bracket in its place with a piece of metal built in for the cache to anchor to. Please make sure the magnet attaches to the metal part inside the cradle so it remains in place. Thanks.
** NOTE** 10/18/06 -- Since the cache had a tendency to wash out of its spot in heavy rain, I have built it a new anchoring system...basically a wooden "L" shaped cradle.
The muggle volume in this section of the park is practically zero so you should be able to take your time without looking suspicious.
After finding the cache, if you're feeling adventurous, the trail does go a bit further back, but i'm not sure exactly how far...the boardwalk ends near the cache location and from there onward its a dirt trail that is usually muddy.
Oh, and one last noteworthy bit of information. The symbol taped to the inside of the lid may come into play to help you find "Eris", the last (12th of 12) of the planet caches. Since many have not fared well, I have included a photo of all the symbols on the page for "Eris". Please reference it if the symbol has become damaged/missing in a few of the planets.
Enjoy!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vg'f uneq gb "pbeare" n jvatrq zrffratre...lbh'yy abg or "obneq". Gur fvzcyvpvgl jvyy "sybbe" lbh...fhpprrq naq lbh pna "cbfg" lbhe svaq!