Blossoming River Trail Traditional Cache
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Size: 
(micro)
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A camo'd micro near a semi-hidden trail entrance off a busy street
The Guadalupe River Trail is a work in-progress. There have been massive and expensive developments along the trail in downtown San Jose. Here in South San Jose, where the trail begins, the developments have been simpler and more modest. The Guadalupe River begins at the confluence of Guadalupe Creek and Los Alamitos Creek, just north of the Coleman Road over-crossing and Almaden Lake Park. The trail is a continuation of the Los Alamitos Creek Trail, which runs around the east and south shore of Almaden Lake. The trail currently ends just north of Chynoweth.
There are several entrances to the trail. One is at the end of Chynoweth. Another is at the south end of the new William H. Cilker park at Pearl and Chynoweth. At the south end of the trail, you can come in from Lake Almaden, over the bridge from Almaden Expressway, or from the Almaden Light Rail Station. A bridge over the creek leads from the corner of Coleman and Almaden Expressway, on the other side of which is the Guadalupe Creek Trail. What you may not know is that you can also access the middle of this part of the Guadalupe River Trail from one of the busiest and most commercially-developed roads in the area: Blossom Hill Road. The trail is a few blocks west of Oakridge Mall, a block west of Golfland, and a few blocks east of Almaden Plaza. There are stores and restaurants everywhere. There are ramps leading down to the trail from the street on the east side of the river. This cache marks the entrance on the south side of the road. You can park in the shopping center nearby.
The cache is next to the trail on the creekside. You do not need to leave the dirt shoulder of the trail. This is a sign-only micro. Bring your own pen. This is a busy area. Watch out for muggles and ants. Because this is such a busy area and is near sensitive areas, both environmentally and Homeland Security-wise, it's not appropriate or safe to hide a bigger cache here.
This is a trailhead cache to show you how to get to the trail. You can go down the Los Alamitos Creek trail to reach bigger caches. Going south, you enter the Almaden Valley, which is caching heaven. A new trail has been developed along the levees of Guadalupe Creek, leading to Camden Avenue. Someday, you'll be able to take continuous trails from Almaden Quicksilver County Park, through downtown San Jose, and end up on the Bay Trail at Alviso. For more information on these trails, see: San Jose trails.
Update 7/27/09: This cache was originally behind the stores by the ramp down to the trail. It got semi-muggled. I replaced it with simpler camo and a cheaper container by the edge of the trail next to the creek.
Update 5/14/13: The cache disappeared. I don't know if it was muggled or just relocated, but I put a replacement cache in the same place. It's the same kind of container. You can buy one like it nearby. It's uncamo'd. If you find a camo'd container, it's the original.
Update 2/25/19: The cache was gone, possibly muggled. I replaced it with a camo'd pill bottle. It has a pencil in it. I moved it a few inches from its original location and covered it up. Make sure it's covered when you replace it.
Update 6/14/20: The cache was gone again, possibly muggled, or rolled into the river. I replaced it with a small camo'd container, too small for a pencil or trading items. Keep it covered.
Update 2/17/23: I replaced the container with a bigger and more waterproof one. It has new logsheets, a pencil, and room for small trading items.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Or jvyl nf n pblbgr, onfr lbhe frnepu ba uneq rivqrapr.
Treasures
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