GC18F9H The Beautiful Grove (Traditional Cache) in California, United States created by emi422 (adopted by HillsideCacher)

This cache has been archived.

Nomex: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.

GC18F9H ▼

A cache by emi422 (adopted by HillsideCacher) Message this owner

Hidden : 1/9/2008

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Coordinates are not for the real location of the cache. You must start your search at the above coordinates and follow the instructions below to get there. The path to cache allows trespassers even though it appears to be in somebody's backyard, as always in Marin, people are glad to share the beautiful nature. I have adopted this cache as it's former owner has moved away and the original cache has gone missing. I have kept the original description. My additions are in initalics

Three Groves Lillian Ferguson was at that time a nationally-known Western writer, one of 30 "Literary Lions" honored by Sunset magazine. She had previously been a reporter and Sunday Edition editor of the San Francisco Examiner before becoming an assistant editor at Sunset. In 1904 while living in San Francisco, she purchased three acres at the west end of Montford and built the house shown in the photo. She named her Homestead Valley secondary residence "Three Groves" for the three groups of trees there: oak, redwood and buckeye. When the 1906 earthquake and fire made her San Francisco home uninhabitable, she moved to Three Groves and commuted to the city. The garden is open to the public, even though it appears to be private property. It is owned by the Homestead Valley Community Center. The caretaker lives in the house. Lillian Ferguson designed the garden in the buckeye grove as an oriental tribute with meandering brick walks, a Mandarin Chinese bench, a Moon Gate, a fountain and an oriental cooking facility. Electric lanterns hanging from the trees illuminated the garden at night. In 1930, she sold Three Groves to George Sandy. He constructed dams on the creek to create a large swimming pool as well as a lake with a sandy beach. Today, Lillian Ferguson's house and the magnificent garden in the buckeye grove are privately owned. But the redwood and oak groves plus the adjacent Stolte Grove are part of Homestead's park land. - Into enchanted park you go, and cross behind a mysterious wooden stage. You will find a door in the metal fence. Walk deeper into the forest. Then through the round wooden portal there will be a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and to your right there is a bench in honor of Michael Kosturos. The cache is within three feet of this bench. The cache is no longer located within a three foot radius of this bench. The caretaker of these gardens is still working in this area cleaning it up. The original cache was removed as part of the cleanup. The cache has been moved 200 feet ESE to a more secluded spot. It also requires that you explore more of this beautiful space. Follow the path east toward the second bridge. At the south side of the second bridge, turn around. The cache is located in the beautiful grove in front of you, in a logical spot. GPSr was all over the map under these redwoods, with an accuracy of 40 feet. After averaging 9 reading over 3 days, the cache is located at N37 53.908 W122 33.133 Since the cache is new, and had to be moved, I added an offical Geocaching.com lanyard for the FTF. Please replace the cache as found so it is not visible, and leave no trace by covering your tracks.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va fghzc

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)