GCX3R6 Mrs. Kelley's Orchard (Traditional Cache) in California, United States created by STP Ron

This cache has been archived.

STP Ron: This has been replaced by "Mrs. Kelley's New Orchard" http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4b308a32-6f00-4fcf-b00f-75ab1af39503. I'm archiving this, so the spot is up for grabs.

GCX3R6 ▼

A cache by STP Ron Message this owner

Hidden : 7/11/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Camo'd micro container hidden in an historic orchard

Kelley Park has been San Jose's Central Park for many years (though the Guadalupe River Trail is beginning to share that role). Most people in the area know about Kelley Park's more popular features: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the San Jose Historical Museum. Fewer people know that there is an historic orchard at the south end of the park along Coyote Creek. Kelley Park occupies 156 acres along Coyote Creek south of Senter Road. It used to belong to Mrs. Louise Kelley. She inherited the land from her father, Judge and former San Jose Mayor Lawrence Archer. Judge Archer had a 600-acre estate that included fruit and walnut orchards. While most of the estate has now given way to urban development, a small orchard still survives, though is unmaintained. Old ranch roads runs through the orchard and serve as trails.

The purpose of this cache is to introduce you to this orchard. This cache is hidden near one of the roads on the south edge of the orchard. It is close to Coyote Creek. On the other side of the road is a path that leads down to the creek. Even though it may seem like you're in the middle of the country, you're not alone out here. The cache is in view of a nearby townhome development, so be stealthy. Coyote Creek in many places is a homeless campground, so watch out.

The easiest way to get to the cache site is to park on Phelan Avenue off Senter Road or in the huge city parking lot at the end of the road. The parking lot has a toll collection booth, but it's usually unoccupied, and the parking lot is usually almost empty. This can be a free parking lot for access to Kelley Park. It's right behind the Historical Museum. If you happen to be visiting other parts of Kelley Park, follow the park path along Coyote Creek south. After you pass through a gate a little past the Friendship Garden, you enter the orchard. You can take the ranch road along Coyote Creek, which loops around to the cache site, or go straight and cut through the parking lot to reach the other side of the orchard. The cache is located a short distance from a ranch road, so you don't have to walk far through the weeds. Just north of the parking lot, you can see a huge historic sycamore and some old ranch buildings. You may see some oppotunities to place your own caches. This is a big area and can support several of them.

See here for more information about Kelley Park: (visit link)
Here's a map: (visit link)

This cache may not be here for long. There are discussions going on to build new community soccer fields in an undeveloped section of Kelley Park. That could mean here. See: (visit link)

Update 3/28/08: The original cache was muggled, possibly by homeless muggles, so I put a new cache in a different part of the orchard, and it should be less tempting to steal. It's now a sign-only micro, about half the size of an M&M's tube. It's almost a park-and-grab, so no need to cut through the field. It's more than 0.17 miles from the original location, so that spot's up for grabs. If you found the original cache before, you can claim this one again. The original was at N 37° 19.172 W 121° 51.176.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

orgjrra n ebpx naq n uneq cynpr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)