Bring the kids! Have a picnic! Enjoy the sunset! This is a favorite “waypoint” of mine, great place to stop, have a drink, watch the wildlife, and enjoy the view. It is about a 6/10th of a mile hike from the parking lot at N33° 03.088’ W117° 04.597’, a moderate hike, few small hills, nothing too strenuous. If you continue on the trail, it will bring you back around for a slightly longer hike.
I have stocked the cache with kid friendly stuff; a jar of bubbles, toy cars with mat, dinosaur tattoos, some play money, SPF 30 sunscreen (to use or take as necessary), a flashlight (in case you enjoy the sunset a little too late!), some AA batteries (for low GPS’s only), Altoids (you never know…), a Hitchhiking Candle (see below), a paperback (Stuart Woods, “Dead in the Water”), and a bottle of water. My kids and I will check on this one periodically, so a kid friendly theme is good. Cache is a green 50 cal. ammo container. No bushwacking required.
The Hitchhiking Candle:
Credit for this idea goes to Scott Allsop (http://www.allsop.org/candle/) - I found his page while researching Geohichhikers, and thought, “What a cool idea!” So I copied it! In the cache I have placed a candle (which is lit here on my desk as I write this) to take and light in your home. I ask that you take a moment and reflect on what you have to be grateful for. As simple (or stupid) as this sounds, we spend so much time worrying about bills, work, etc., that we often forget why we do anything at all. Why do you do this? Does it make you smile when you find a cache? Light the candle, spend a moment, and let me know. You don’t have to share anything about your experience with me – just make sure you have one. Blow it out, pack it up, and send it on its way to another cache. Please send me a note at candle@writeme.com to let me know where you put it, and anything else you care to share. I’ll track its progress on http://members.home.net/sleander/candle.html and post updates on the candles journey. I hope it is a long one.
SteveL