Dorothy and Alex's Lakeside Bug Hotel Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Ice and Wind: The cache owner has not responded to issues with this listing, so I must regretfully archive it. If the cache turns up or is replaced in the near future, email me and I will review it for possible unarchival.

Ice and Wind
Geocaching.com Volunteer Reviewer

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Hidden : 5/26/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Small Lock and Lock, should be a quick and easy find


Dorothy and 4 of her brood (class of 2008)


Dorothy and Alex Welcome you to Lake Gardiner

FTF: When in Gout!


Late every February, proud Canadian Geese Dorothy and Alex land here at Lake Gardiner and chase off any other would-be interlopers. Dorothy dutifully tends her nest on Gardiner Island, and early in April, her brood appears.

This year (Spring 2008), there are 8 youngsters. Each year, usually on July 2nd, they vacate the lake. If you come by before then, bring some bread. They like it, and it isn't bad for them.

The lake and the grounds around it are publicly accessible private land. Please park at the waypoint noted below, on Augustine Drive. The path to the lake starts there. Please do not enter anyone's yard. Please do not cache at night. There's a picnic table nearby.

I've loaded the cache with three trackables, a 50-year old silver-plated Ben Franklin spoon (for FTF), a diamond (like) pendant, an insulator, a bouncy tadpole, a hockey puck, a can opener, a swizzle stick from Anderson's (the Pea Soup place in California) and some felt markers. If I find other stuff that I can't sell on eBay it might get tossed in too.

Update July 2008 - Early on the morning of July 2nd, 2008, Dorothy, Alex and their brood of 8 left the pond, presumably to more northern latitudes. I first took note of which date the geese left in 2004 - July 2. In 2005, they left on July 2. In 2006, they left on July 2. In 2007, they left on July 10. In 2008, again, July 2.

2007 was different because the brood was under a nasty assault from a predator. Every week to 10 days, one of the geese would disappear, until the brood was reduced from 9 to 3, and Dorothy and Alex were reduced to just Dorothy. So there's little surprise that 2007 was different. What kind of predator in a semi-urban area can take out an adult Canada goose?

I was quite pleased to see that this year, no goslings were lost, and they went back on schedule and left on July 2. But it's still darn weird. Not July 1. Not July 3. July 2, the day after Canada Day, 4 years out of 5.

Update July 2009 - Dorothy, Alex and 7 of the offspring returned to the lake 2/4. For most of February into March, Alex acted aggressively until the 7 young ones left. All of us with teenaged children can appreciate the feeling. As of 4/23, the class of 2009 made their debut, 8 new goslings. 7 survived the spring, and flew the coop on Jul 11, 9 days later than other years.
Update January 2010 - Dorothy, Alex and 7 of the offspring returned to the lake 1/28. They're back early this year.
Update July 2010 - Dorothy and Alex were back again, produced 8, 7 survived, and they all left on July 5th. Sometimes it makes me wonder why the entire surface of the planet is not covered with live Canada geese.
Update May 2012 - Dorothy and Alex produced 7 new offspring. But this year, for the first time, there's another family in residence. Leroy and Caroline and 5 new youngsters are also spending the spring at the lake. Alex isn't happy, being the territorial strongman he is, but he seems to have come to terms with the concept of sharing his turf.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Jngpu sbe gubeaf.

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)


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