The Route 9 series is similar to the “JOE” series
without the Exits.
Instead of locating the caches less than .02 mile
from the Exit, you’ll find most of these are within 50’ of the
Road.
This series is to draw the Traveler/Cacher off
the beaten path, to enjoy the Scenic Routes of West
Virginia.
This series will have you traveling between Paw
Paw, Wv. and Berkeley Springs Wv. Along scenic Route 9. During the
Summer months many Motorcyclist enjoy the road for the turns,
Families for the slower pace and Natural Beauty. Fall brings the
change of colors to be enjoyed by all.
Many sites and Caches to be found at either end,
as well as along the way during this 25 mile cache trip filled with
adventure and Smileys
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Sir John's Run Rd. is approximately 1/2 miles
west of Berkeley Springs on Rt. 9 from Rt. 522.
Follow the road to the Potomac River, where Sir John’s Run
empties.
At this location is where the Steamboat inventor,
James Rumsey, and his brother-in-law, Joseph Barnes owned a mill on
Sir John's.
In May 1785, Rumsey hired Barnes to build a boat near Sir John's
Run which they tested where the stream enters the Potomac. In 1939,
a group of local Rumsey enthusiasts used this event to dedicate the
area as Port James Rumsey.
Historians report that the ill fated expedition
of General Edward Braddock's army in 1755 during French &
Indian War camped along the stream and that it was subsequently
named for Sir John St. Clair, the deputy quartermaster.
For nearly 40 years in the 19th century, passengers coming by train
to the springs disembarked at the riverside Sir John's Run station
and came overland by stage to the town.
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From George Washington’s Diary on September 6, 1784
Rumsey's boat demonstration. Remained at Bath all day and was
showed the model of a boat constructed by the ingenious Mr. Rumsey,
for ascending rapid currents by mechanism; the principles of this
were not only shown, and fully explained to me, but to my very
great satisfaction, exhibited in practice in private under the
injunction of secrecy, until he saw the effect of an application he
was about to make to the assembly of this state for a reward.
The model and its operation upon the water, which had been made to
run pretty swift, not only convinced me of what I before thought
next to, if not quite impracticable, but that it might be turned to
the greatest possible utility in inland navigation; and in rapid
currents; that are shallow -- and what adds vastly to the value of
the discovery, is the simplicity of its works; as they may be made
by a common boat builder or carpenter, and kept in order as easy as
a plow, or any common implement of husbandry on a farm
.
9/7/1784....GWP .... Washington's certificate to Rumsey.
"I have seen the model of Mr. Rumsey's boats, constructed to work
against the stream; examined the powers upon which it acts; been
eye-witness to an actual experiment in running water of some
rapidity, and give it as my opinion (although I had little faith
before) that he has discovered the art of working boats by
mechanism and small manual assistance against rapid currents; that
the discovery is of vast importance, may be of the greatest
usefulness in our inland navigation, and if it succeeds (of which I
have no doubt) that the value of it is greatly enhanced by the
simplicity of the works which, when seen and explained, may be
executed by the most common mechanic. Given under my hand at the
town of Bath, County of Berkeley, in the state of Virginia, this
7th day of September, 1784."
Rumsey used Washington's certificate above to obtain patents and
support from various state legislatures. One of the motivations for
the development of a Constitution for the United States was the
need to establish a unified patent system so that inventors like
Rumsey would no longer have to run from state to state.
Now for the cache Search …
Located at the Intersection of Route 9 and Sir John’s Run is a West
Virginia Road Marker N 39* 37.443 and W 078* 14.041 displaying the
Information for these events. Just off the Road from this marker is
where you will locate this Large Lock-n-Lock container.
Original contents include Stash note, Log book, swag, writing
utensil and a TB to get things started.
As summer fades away so does your cover, Stealth will be required
more as your cover dissapears but if you place your C. R. V. in the
right spot it will block most passing traffic.
A large gravel pull off area is provided to allow children to
cache.
It’s a shame that muggles have decided it’s a place to dump their
belongings nearby so if caching with kids be Cautious.
A proud Member of
Congratulations on the FTF to KG8GN and
Rubi4Me