Warning! During times of nice weather, this is a heavy
trafficked area for muggles. Take care when hunting for, and
returning, the cache. Also, the cache is in a fairly precarious
position- make sure you have good footing during the final
approach. Before leaving the area, make sure the cache is in a good
solid position and will stay in place. Inside the cache box you
will find a log book, a pencil, and a number of very nice
goodies.
Once you reach the cache location have a look around. Here are a
few memories I thought I would share about the park that you
see.
1) In 1976, on the 200th anniversary our country's independence,
the city held a number of festivities here at Ralston Park. Within
the baseball diamond nearest to the cache’s location, there
was a watermelon seed spitting contest. I was very young, and well
out of my league when compared to the older competitors. Yet, the
gods of the northern winds (or perhaps of green melons) smiled upon
me. The moment I went to spit my watermelon seed, a great breeze
shot from behind, and carried the small projectile well beyond all
of the other contestant's marks. I can still remember my Mom's
wide-eyed gaze seeing her young boy (barely) carrying his 1st place
prize; a gigantic watermelon, like a proud father. The only thing
bigger than the fruit itself may have been the grin on my face.
2) To the south of the cache location, you will see a line of
trees stretching from east to west. The fence you see was not there
years ago, providing open access to this great forest (in the mind
of a young boy). My friends and I (aka "The Cool Club)" [snicker],
spent more time in these woods than in the park itself.
Just beyond these trees, train tracks run parallel to the park.
We had a favorite tree that curved high and nearly above the
tracks, giving us a great view of the trains as they passed
underneath. On a dare, I remember one of the Cool Club members
jumping aboard a slow moving train. We never saw him again... well
that is, until the next day. He was too afraid to jump off right
away, and took a nice ride a couple miles down the track to the
east.
Within these woods were also a wonderful network of bike trails.
I decided to take my new Evil Kenevil bike out for a test spin.
Unfortunately the large basket my mother decided I needed, greatly
hampered my dare-devil skills (at least that's my story.) I peddled
as quickly as I could towards the most perilous jump on the course,
and found myself bucked right off the white stallion. As if fate
and physics had a sick sense of humor, I actually landed, partially
at least, inside my bike's basket. Needless to say, I removed the
offending metal basket the very next day.
3) To the east of your current location, just beyond the
furthest baseball field in the park, there was an old dilapidated
warehouse (no longer there.) Three of my friends and I decided to
go on a late night excursion to investigate this mysterious
building. We climbed up on the roof and no sooner than you could
say "what now?" did one of my friends disappear into thin air.
Actually the roof had given way, and he plummeted to the ground
inside the building. Worried about our friend, we carefully helped
each other climb down inside. Luckily, he was OK- we were a tough
bunch. Firing up our flashlights, we searched the surroundings. So
what was this old abandoned warehouse hiding? A UFO? The Ark of the
Covenant? No, the entire building was filled with shopping carts.
We were amazed. To us, it might as well have been King Solomon's
Mines.
4) About 8 years later (mid-1980's), now a teenager and living
in Millard, I had the unique opportunity to actually "work" in
Ralston Park. I was a teen-age magician and hired to perform a show
during the 4th of July festivities. The program took place on a
brutally hot day in the largest baseball field on the west side of
the park. My part of the show was scheduled just after a number of
other kitschy performers. I started the program with my new "Tip
Over Trunk" illusion, whereas a large chest is displayed absolutely
empty, then after a little magic, a beautiful young woman appears
inside. Well at least that's what is supposed to happen.
Unfortunately, my assistant, a neighbor whom I had a severe crush
on, was trained just the day before. Not only did the apparatus
injure her back while she was out of sight, but the *house cat* I
decided add to the trick, had a tizzy-fit while in her arms. After
showing the trunk empty, I made my magical gesture. I reached
inside the trunk and the cat violently attached itself to my arm. I
removed my painful appendage and tried to shake the furry tumor
free. Finally, the cat jumped off and ran into the distance,
followed closely by my mom who was determined to capture the little
turn-coat. As bad as that was, at least the cat would leave the
trunk; my lovely assistant on the other hand would not. With a sore
back, and other various cat-inflicted injuries, my assistant
refused to leave the box. Instead, she just popped out her head,
and demanded I roll her off the performance area. She got into her
parents car and headed home. I never really did get a chance to
talk with her again, as soon thereafter, the girl and her family
moved out of my neighborhood. Anyway... the rest of the magic show
that day went very well, with copious amounts of laughter and
applause. Of course, I am not too sure if it was for my
performance, or for my mom in the outfield running back and forth
trying to wrangle our cat.