The Where Is Waldo series of childrens books are among our favorites. Waldo is always visiting interesting places and invariably, leaves something behind. It is not hard to imagine the places that Waldo might visit if he came to Central Iowa. Who knows, he might even leave behind something for you to find.
Our cache hiding day in 2009 was an extra special day in a special park. The Friends of Story County Conservation hold a festival in the park twice a year in McFarland Park. We hid the cache a few hours before the start of the fall festival. The 2009 fall festival had a band, food, a farmer's market and craft demonstrations. Just the sort of place that Waldo might visit.
Waldo might have wanted a map of the park trails. You might want one too. You can get one from the Story County Conservation Web site:
https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15731/McFarland-Park-Map-with-Trails
The cache is on the north loop that is in the center of the map. The walk is easy but the map will help you avoid wrong turns.
Park in the west part of the parking lot and walk north on the service road. You will pass through a prairie reclamation area, walk a short distance on Lake Shore Trail before you reach the George H. Clark, Sr. trail. Wander down the trail. You will pass the historic Troll Cache, one of the first geocaches in the state. Keep walking past the Troll Cache.
Eventually, you find a path that leads up hill to the north loop. The cache is a small waterproof container. It contains some small trade items and a log. The cache is close to the trail and requires no bushwhacking. Since it is close to the trail, please be careful to camouflage it well when you replace it.