Bata Island Traditional Cache
Mike&Lily: sounds like this one is gone it has had a good run
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(not chosen)
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Congatulations to Kayakers2 and Kenlaur on
their shared FTF and assistance with this cache.A special thanks
for Jack2u on their recent maintenance on this cache, without
cachers like them this cache would have been archived.
Thanks
I have changed this cache from the original multi to a traditional
There isn't a new log book from the original Lucky Numbers, so if
you found the previous cache the final is still in the same
location. As the multi proved to be too difficult for new cachers,
we thought that we would make this a tradional cache. There is
still a new smiley for those who find the cache, but it is still
the original Lucky numbers cache final. Sorry for the confusion, It
never occurred to us that the log book should be changed for the
FTF. The paths are open and very friendly to the young or old.
Bring your dog, have a picnic lunch (no tables) or throw in a
fishing line. Trails can be damp in the spring but nothing that a
good pair of boots won't cure. This is an all season cache and
promises to have different wildlife views each time you come. The
entrance is not marked and can seem a little tricky. Just off Glen
Ross road on a dirt road just beyond large piles of rock if you're
going north from Frankford. Bata or Sill Island Total: 1.7
kilometres At the point Glen Ross Road crosses just north of
Huffman Road, a dirt road leads by a pile of rocks to a bridge
which leads over to Sill Island (also known as Bata Island). A walk
around the island is a must. This is one of Frankford's little
secrets: a beautiful little island with a few easy trails and some
great views of the river. It's a perfect spot for a picnic. Before
you cross the yellow bridge to the island, take a look at the old
millstones lying near the bridge. One nestles in the water just
north of the bridge and a couple of others are lying on the bank
not far away. I hope someone saves at least one of these and puts
it in a prominent place (on the island, say) before they are
ploughed into the earth. These stones were used in pairs to grind
grain. Grindstone, near Bata/Sill Island, north of Frankford The
concrete stones have an outer band of black flintstone-like
material, like concrete wheels with flintsone tires. Metal bolts
keep the stones from falling apart. A grist mill was built in
Frankford in the 1880s and operated until 1972. One website lists a
W.A.R. Milne as the Miller at Sills' grist mill until his early
death in 1920. The trails are marred by a few yahoos who have
thrown garbage here and there, but it's not overwhelming. On the
spring day I walked these trails, I got my first view of wild
flowers for the season. In areas, beautiful covers of blue spread
through the woods. The trails are easy, and wander to each end of
the island. There are a few places where you can stop by the water
to picnic. At the north end, there are abutments to an old bridge,
where ducks, geese and other birds gather. I saw a white bird with
an incredibly long orange beak sitting on one of the abutments.
(Damn. I need to study bird species.) The northern loop, at just
over 1 kilometre, is the longest round-trip stroll. It has a little
200-metre spur running parallel to the north-east side of the
trail. I found this a bit wet on the spring day I walked it. As the
northern spur loops back to the bridge, an open area appears; this
would make another nice picnic spot. The south trail, about 340
metres, leads to the section of the river that splits Bata/Sill
Island from the little island to the south. You can get a good view
of the dams to the south from here and the Sills Island Generating
Station, (sic: that's how it's listed by Ontario Power generation),
which is the second oldest generating station in the province. It
was originally used as a paper mill. The G.E. Sills Paper Mill or
the above-mentioned grist mill were presumably the origin of the
island's name. A little 100-metre spur about 115 metres from the
bridge cuts across the island from the south trail to the eastern
side. It's not well travelled and I debated as to whether it was an
"official" trail. It's best to stick to the trails on the island as
you could disturb a lot of flora and fauna tromping through the
bush, especially as there are lots of stopping places to picnic.
The island is so small that you'll have no trouble spotting
wildlife. Check "the musings of a sad girl" for some detail on this
area. This blog has more detail on the flora and fauna on the
island than I could ever hope to supply. The bridge to the island
is not marked at the road, so keep an eye out.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abar Arrqrq
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