A Ferry Tale Multi-Cache
-allenite-: No response from owner. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the near future (within 30 days), just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the current guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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The Ludington Carferries began modestly in the 1897 with a single ship, only five years after this type of craft was introduced on the Great Lakes.
During the 20th Century, a total of 14 ships served as part of the Ludington railroad car ferry fleet, running between Ludington, Michigan and Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The Ludington fleet became the largest carferry fleet in the world, with as many as nine ships operating at one time. These ships were then an efficient means of bypassing the congested rail yards in Chicago.
By the mid 1970’s, high fuel and labor costs, along with faster and more efficient train handling and routing had rendered the Lake Michigan Carferries obsolete.
The last cross-lake railroad ferry ended service on November 16, 1990 when the former C&O Railway car ferry "Badger" made the final trip between Kewaunee and Ludington, thus closing the final chapter of a near-century-old institution.
Currently, the Badger operates as an auto and passenger ferry between Ludington and Manitowoc, sailing May through October. She is the last steam passenger ferry serving the Great Lakes.
STAGE 1. - Will take you to a historical marker that tells a bit more about the history of the Ludington Car Ferries. On the North side of the historical marker, you will need to find the four dates mentioned in the tale. These dates will help you figure out the location of Stage 2.
Use the key below to figure out the location of Stage 2.
N 43° AB.CDE’
W 086° FB.HFG’
KEY:
A = 3rd digit of the year the car ferries made nearly 7,000 crossings
B = 3rd digit of the year wooden steamers shuttled produce, passengers and freight
C = 1st digit of the year railroad car ferry service began on the lakes
D = 1st digit plus the last digit of the year the car ferries carried 141,000 freight cars
E = 3rd digit minus the first digit of the year car ferries carried 71,000 automobiles
F = 4th digit of the year railroad car ferry service began on the lakes
H = 3rd digit of the year nine boats made up the Ludington fleet
G = 4th digit of the year nine boats made up the Ludington fleet
STAGE 2. - Will take near one of my favorite spots for watching the car ferries enter and leave the harbor. The cache container is about the size of an adult fist, and is located somewhere between your waist and knees. It matches the surroundings very well, except it's hollow.
You will NOT have to do any climbing or even step off the grass to retrieve the cache. The cache contains a log book only, you must bring your own pen or pencil to sign the cache.
***PLEASE be sure to leave the cache location the way you found it, you will not have to move "anything" to retrieve the cache. And...PLEASE return cache (Stage 2) back to it's original location, so that future cachers and those using the "hint" will be able to find the cache quickly!***
Caution: There can be lots of muggles in the area during the summer months!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Nobir gur tenl cvcr, arne gur gbc.