GC182M4 Airborne Water Guard Station (Traditional Cache) in Louisiana, United States created by Mudbug00

This cache has been archived.

Mudbug00: This cache was taken over by another Geocacher about five years ago and switched to their name. I am surprised to find that it's back to me. I have not been active for several years.

Recently another geocacher made contact with the property owner. He did not remember speaking to me, giving permission for the cache. I did get permission, but I cannot say who I spoke with back in 2008 or so.

Just kill it.

GC182M4 ▼

A cache by Mudbug00 Message this owner

Hidden : 12/22/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The original approach to this cache has been blocked off. But cachers hare still getting to it, so it is still reasonably easy to get to. I am going to upgrade the terrain factor, as it's not just an easy stroll anymore. Handicapped folks would probably not find it easy to get to.

When you find this cache, be sure to return it to the proper position. It is a piece of PVC pipe with a threaded cap. The container will absorb water if it is not placed with the treaded cap toward the ground.

Here are a couple of related items found on the 'net.
(visit link)
(visit link)

This cache is located at the site of the remains of one of the massive hangers that was once part of the US Naval Blimp Base, in Houma, Louisiana.

Houma is located 25 to 35 air miles from the central Gulf of Mexico. The town and Terrebonne Parish were established in 1848, sliced away from the previously estabished Lafourche Parish.

During World War II, the centrality of Houma along the Gulf Coast made it an ideal area to establish a Lighter Than Air Blimp Naval Station. The blimp base was in operation from May, 1943 to September, 1944. The Navy base, which used blimps squadrons to scan the coastline for enemy vessels, was one of only two blimp stations operating on the Gulf Coast. The other was in Hitchcock, Texas, near Galvaston.

In 1942, the U.S. Navy began construction of 17 wooden hangars to house the K-class blimps being used for anti-submarine coast patrol and convoy escort. One of these structures was at the Houma Naval Air Station.

Length: 1,072 feet
Height: 192 feet
(over 15 stories)
Width: 296 feet
Area: Over 7 acres
(enough to play six football games)
Doors: 120 ft. high,
6 sections each weighing 30 tons.
220 ft. wide opening. The sections roll on railroad tracks
Catwalks: 2 catwalks, each 137 ft. above the hangar deck

The K-ships were 252 feet long and filled with 425,000 cu. ft. of helium. With a range of 2,000 miles and an ability to stay aloft for three days, they were well suited for coast patrol and convoy escort.

After the war, the facility became the Houma Naval Air Base. The base discontinued operation about 1972, eventually turning the property over to the newly established Houma Airport Commission.

Today, the Houma Air Base is an industrial complex, home to many companies who service the Oil and Natural Gas Industry in the area, and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.

The only remaining relics of the old US Naval Blimp base is the skekital remains of one of it hangers. A local oilfield service company stores its equipment among the silent giants that were once the supporting structures of the hanger.

At the Clendenning Road entrance from Grand Calliou, a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star Jet Trainer stands sentinal to some of the base's family housing. Those buildings are primarily used today by Terrebonne Association of Retarded Citizens (TARC) as housing, classrooms, and training buildings.

The cache area can be apoproached by walking the earthen "driveway" next to the chainlink fence across the street from Alford Safety Services, then continuing to the right over the truck weight scales and on beyond a small earth levee.

The area is the property of the Houma Airport Commission, and there is no problem visiting the historic structure, as long as you honor the private property of the businesses in the area.

The Cache is a 4" PVC pipe, about a foot long, camoflaged to better conceal it from unintentional muggle discovery, it perfectly matches it's surrounds.

It contains a logbook and is large enough for many swapping items, as well as small to medium sized TB's.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vs lbh frr gur pbapergr ubyrf jurer gur zbbevat znfgf bapr fgbbq, lbh ner irel arne.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

This cache has been archived.

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Airborne Water Guard Station Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

Attributes

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Treasures