Rustic Charm Auto Tour Multi-Cache
Seahawk4 (SH4): Another one bites the dust. Good idea while it lasted.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a multiple staged cache. Now it may not be for everyone....but it can be accomplished.....without any special software and without any special geocaching tools (other than your gps, a pen and paper, and gas). It does however require organization, persistence and determination and a sense of adventure. This cache is rated 4.5/4 stars D/T due to the distance involved, the driving time and the number of stages to accomplish.
My goal is to simply show you a little piece of Missouri that you may not have fully experienced before. The route is very family friendly and handicapped friendly. If you are an out-of-towner cacher, or a visiting out-of-state cacher...this is the cache for you, especially if you want to experience the rustic charm of our area. If you are a local cacher and you enjoy nice scenic drives when it’s beastly hot or frigid cold out, then this is the cache for you as well. :)
There are 13 virtual stages to this cache.....along with the Final...that's 14 steps.
The stages fall in order along a back road route. The roads involved are Pleasant Hill to O Hwy to Gentry Rd to Skyline Rd (with a short stop along Hazelwood) to Clear Springs Rd, out the C Hwy and then to P Hwy. At each stage you will need to obtain information from the environment....very much like a scavenger hunt. It would be helpful to print out this description to take out on the road with you.
You are going through Amish Country, so I have not placed any physical caches along this route. You will not have to leave your vehicle often to obtain the information you need. I figured this Multi would be a more appropriate way to cache through this sensitive area. I hope you enjoy the route. Make your pit stops before heading out.....’cause there’s NO pit stopping places out there.
Several Cautions to be aware of:
This route travels along the upper James River and crosses over it several times. During the Spring, if the water is running High, plan to visit another time....some parts of the route may be inaccessible, or Very muddy.
I would not recommend tackling this one at night. Because you need to be able to "see" stuff. It is a much nicer drive in the daylight and when the sun is shining.
As with anytime you visit an Amish area, take it slow to avoid and any accidents with Amish buggies or farm animals. Most of the folks out here are very friendly, We don't want to raise any undue concern about our doings out here.
From A Hwy onto Pleasant Hill Road the stages are in this order.....
Stage A - 37 14.087 92 52.012 - Viewing from the road as you go by...... In the single row of McElwains standing side by side (shoulder to shoulder)....how many are there?
Stage B - 37 13.768 92 51.469 - There are lots of greenish poles in this area. How many Larger Round green poles?
Stage C - 37 13.467 92 50.800 - I would like to know the story here. There are lots of abandoned structures on this stretch. How many abandoned houses/barns are located right along the road. Don’t count the outbuildings/sheds/doghouses and such or structures in the background. Only the major structures right along the road.
The sum check so far should be 10. Going to try to keep you on track....so you won't reach the end of the drive and then realize the numbers don't add up.
Stage D - 37 12.870 92 50.168 - Takes you to a guard rail along a bridge that crosses over the upper James River. There’s a red shed facing the guard rail. How many window openings do you see?....don’t count the individual squares that make up each window...sorry just trying to keep you from over thinkin’ it :) Just the openings on that one side of the shed.
Looking in the opposite direction....how many silos standing in a cluster? Maybe they aren't all silos....so let's just call all the tall cylinder shaped structures, silos. Add those two numbers (window openings and silos) together. If you are here in the summer, you might not be able to see the silos as clearly as in the winter from this spot...travel up the road just a bit, and you’ll see them better.
As you travel up to the next stage you’ll see why this road is aptly named.
Stage E - 37 12.257 - 92 50.031 Notice the number on the post. Write down the middle number.
Stage F - 37 12.239 92 49.156 - (Short Hazelwood Rd detour) How many guard rails on the bridge crossing over the river? Go to the green street signs. Subtract the lower number from the higher number located on the Gentry Rd sign. Add that number to the number of guard rails.
As you swing back onto Gentry and travel along side the river....notice the rock formations/structures on the far side of the river bank.
Your sum check so far should be 29
Stage G - 37 12.102 92 48.804 - This will take you to the Gentry Cemetery. You will have to get out at this location, there are no houses in the immediate area. There is an interesting bench here depicting a forestry scene. How many houses are pictured on the bench? A short distance away is the headstone of Cpl Woodrow T. Owens from WW11. What is the last number of the year he passed away? Add those 2 numbers together.
Stage H - 37 12.017 92 48.541 - This takes you by an Amish Dry Goods place. There are 4 posts by the bridge. They are a peculiar color. How many letters in that color word? Just maybe we don't all see colors in the same way, so let me say...it is not the three letter color word.
Stage I - 37 11.571 92 47.668 - Coming by this homestead you’ll notice a silo right up front. There is a chute/tube coming out of it that is a peculiar color. How many letters in that color word?
Your sum check should be 50.
Stage J - 37 11.409 92 46.829 - This is where Gentry Rd junctions with Skyline Rd. If you were to stand with the signs to your back and facing out toward the road....how many metal studs/posts/big silver things poking up out of the ground do you see, right there in that triangular patch of grass?
Stage K - 37 12.126 92 46.466 - (Clear Spring Road) You’re going to pass by a shed/barn that has it’s back painted in different colors. How many panels are red?
Stage L - 37 12.385 92 45.640 - You are going to pass by an interesting shaped mailbox for an Amish homestead where there is a huge collection of rusty machinery in it’s field. What is the second number of the address located on the mailbox post.
Before you leave this road....sum check is 59
Stage M - 37 13.686 92 44.859 (turning Left onto C Hwy and then right onto P Hwy) - This is an Auction Barn...according to the sign, what is auctioned off here? How many letters in that word?
Stage N - 37 13.698 92 44.482 - This is a place to park while you crunch numbers. Sum Check of the numbers gathered from the driving tour is 66.
Stage A
Stage B
Stage C
Stage D
Stage E
Stage F
Stage G
Stage H
Stage I
Stage J
Stage K
Stage L
Stage M
Stage N - Place to pull over and crunch numbers.
Using the numbers you have obtained from the driving route you will determine the coordinates for the Final Stage.
37 ab.cde
92 ff.fgf
To find a: You'll need the numbers you wrote down from the stages H and I. (Subtract I from H)
To find b: Take the number from Stage B and add it to Stage C. From that sum subtract the number you wrote down for Stage J.
To find c: c = Stage H
To find d: Subtract the Stage K number from the Stage G number.
To find e: Take the number from Stage E and add the number from Stage K.
To find f: ...because f gives your 4 spots on your mystery coordinates....take the numbers from Stages M, L, & K and add them together (giving you the MLK sum). Then take the numbers from Stages A & F and add those two numbers together (giving you the AF sum. Subtract the AF sum from the MLK sum. (ie Subtract the smaller number from the bigger one.)
To find g: g = Stage D
For the Final: You are looking for a small...but not too small... lock in lock container with woodland camo tape. I have added an attachment to help you retrieve the container. Please make sure it is not at all visible once you have stashed it back. Please and Thank You.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
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