Take a Penny Traditional Geocache
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(micro)
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This cache is located at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham.
This is a micro-cache currently it has a 2005 Penny in it. Please bring a penny and "take a penny, leave a penny". Log the date of the cent so we know what coin is in the cache. The Lincoln Penny is the most collected in the world.
The area to start at is Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Parking lot.
N 41'39.433 W 069'57.566
From the Chatham Lighthouse drive down Morris Island Road, you will pass a large sign for the Refuge on the left. Turn in to Wikis Way and park your car. The Cache is not located on the Refuge because they do not allow geocaching, however, you will pass through refuge property to get to the cache.
There are many ways to get to the cache, however, the route that is not tide dependant starts by following these directions. Walk back down Wikis Way and take a left onto Tisquantum Road. Walk to the first (only) split-rail fence on the left, sign says 231 on it. The trail head has coordinates N 41' 39.385 W 069' 57.786.
This was the original trail that use to head out to Monomoy, but in 1958 the refuge broke through during a storm, and soon after vehicles could no longer access the refuge. Now you can only access Monomoy via a ferry service during the summer.
You can bring a dog here year-round but it must remain on a leash.
The trail takes you out onto town property and the southern end of Stage Harbor, you will see Stage Harbor light off to the West. The lantern blew off during a storm but you can still see it at the Atwood Museum parking lot on Stage Harbor Road.
Monomoy Light is about 8 miles to the south and was erected in 1828 and was active until 1923. Once the CC Canal was finished and the Chatham Light got more powerful lanterns, both Lighthouses were no longer needed. They both still stand as a reminder of the "fast moving waters (Monomoy)" off Chatham.
The refuge was established in 1944, it has a very exciting past. Monomoick indians, White-wash fishing village, Life-saving Stations, Light-station boats, the Brant Hunting Club, straffing site during WWII and many ship wrecks.
Now the refuge has some of the best birding in Massachusetts. And is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (visit link)
Over 9000 pairs of common terns nest during the summer. And about 7000 Gray seals lounge on the beach year-round.
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