The Old Oak Traditional Cache
Rattlingcrew: Looks like they really enjoyed this location, until the cache went awol. Thanks, Glen
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Easy park and walk cache.
The Old Oak
This cache begins with a history story. The original intent was to place a cache in each of the City Parks. I am a history buff so thought I knew it all (wrong!). When I spoke to the Parks and Recreation Director he told me some things I didn’t know, thus:
This cache is based on a poem written in 1897 by Peter Bryant, “THE OLD OAK’S STORY” in the pretext that he was sitting under the oak tree and watching the history of the area for the previous century. Apparently only one copy exists and they were kind enough to copy it for me. If you would like a copy, email me and I will send you a copy I have scanned.
The park has an interesting history. It was the site of the first Negro church established in Kansas and the name of the park originates from that church. It also is the site of the only public swimming pool in the county. It was a WPA project and although it has been refurbished, it still maintains the native limestone charm.
Uncountable numbers of family picnics, fishing in the lake, ball games, Easter egg hunts and fireworks shows have been held there. You may want to take a walk to the top of the pool. It is a nice overlook.
The cache is a small pelican as they keep the park tidy. The location of the oak under which the author wrote the poem is unknown. There are perhaps a dozen oaks large enough to have been the one. From the cache location you can easily see half of them. There is a very unique twin oak to the NW of the cache that I would estimate to be 150 years old.
The intent of the hide is to help protect their nice landscaping while making it a little difficult to draw your interest. It only contains one travel bug, but I will add in a few small trinkets such as lapel pins or coins if the cache doesn’t grow! Public parking is readily accessible. Depending on activities, stealth may be needed!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ryrpgevpvgl pna or fubpxvat