Return To Tradition #18: Rex Rides Again Traditional Geocache

This Rexrider98 Caching Anniversary Tribute Hide is a .30-cal ammo box hidden as an adventure cache in the Cleaveland Farms State Forest in Boxford, MA; along the town lines of Ipswich and Rowley. It is also a member of the Return to Tradition Series.

Rexrider98 As a summer trail hand of a National Park in the Rockies back in 1998, a trail horse was assigned to the honoree. The steed's name was Rex and of course, that would make the honoree, Rider of Rex in 1998!

This is cache #18 in the Return to Tradition Series, started back on 2/3/2006 by Bubba Riley and Jonathan with Return To Tradition #1: Burnt Out (GCT9RK). The intent of this series is to encourage others to place quality traditional old school caches.

Several possible trail heads take the visitor on a nearly one mile hike on glacial eskers and through beautiful, but often soggy beaver habitat. The final approach is a very easy 400 foot bushwhack through an old evergreen stand, followed by a harder 50 foot bushwhack to the hide. The cache is isolated along the backside of a beaver marsh. To aid in the recharging of one's inner self, we suggest log signing on the face of the pine knoll above the hide over a contemplative thermos of D&D coffee with sausage, egg, and cheese on a bagel to complete a Rexrider98 Zen moment.

While just starting out in this hobby as an offshoot from hiking, we were intrigued by caches placed by Rexrider98. Each one was an adventure getting to, compared to the mostly easy ones we started with, but his hides offered a view in a tranquil setting with a log book for capturing the sojourn as a reward. We soon became transfixed on visiting all his hides and after completing them, anxiously awaited his next release.

Some may consider 200 finds and 10 hides in 48 months not of enough significance to warrant a geocaching number tribute. With Rexrider98, as with this tribute cache, it's truly not about the numbers. His lettered scientific career is contrasted by a rugged outdoorsy passion for adventure hiking that is evidenced by Rexrider98's bushwhack hiking hides, selective list of finds, and Deep woods caches II Bookmark List. All his hides and recommendations pose a challenge getting to, but they also offer serene settings at the journey's end that encourage meditation over a worthy effort trudging to a tranquil and beautiful spot away from it all, just the way we like them!

Cleaveland Farms State Forest Trail Maps