Key to San Ardo Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Cache is a sign-only keybox sized container. C/o gives seekers permission to replace logsheet anytime when full, with thanks.
SC Delorme map 33, GS Delorme map 102
Key to the city. Located just off 101, at the edge of the San Bernabe Vineyard. A story is the initial town population could not get "San Bernabe" or "San Bernardo" as a post office name, and they got "San Ardo."
In fact, the town was not named in Spanish after an obscure 7th Century French saint. Like "Coaling A", Southern Pacific Railroad selected a name in English for the train station, naming this place after the first station master, S.A. Nardo. The Nardo family also owned a ranch 5 miles south of town, and in 1947, son Leo leased land to the Texaco Co (later Chevron-Texaco). That company developed the San Ardo Field into one of the larger oil fields in California, using a steam injection process. For that post-war economic boost, the grateful population awarded Nardo the key to the city.
Hwy 101 used to go through town, on a 1930 bridge (and previously a bridge just to the south, now just piers). Travellers could stop in town for a Foster’s style soft-serve ice cream. In the 1970’s Hwy 101 bypassed town altogether. Now you will need to exit 101 to find the bridge to town.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svefg cynpr lbh’q xrrc xrl uvqqra