The idea for this cache came to us when a nearby cache was listed as needing maintenance. When I located it, it was in disrepair so I threw together a quick replacement and notified the owner. Then, it was reported as missing so I went to check on it. I was thinking that if it was indeed missing, I knew a good spot at the other end of the park far enough away from this one to hide one of my own. That way, should the owner repair theirs, mine would not be too close.
When I arrived, I went directly to the cache location and found that it was missing. Yep, I thought. I might as well start working on hiding my own. It would be far enough away in case the owner came to fix theirs…. My thoughts were interrupted by a couple who asked me “Did you find it?” Well, obviously these folks knew what I was looking for and apparently hadn’t found it either. So, I confidently replied, “Nah, it’s gone. It used to be here but it must have been muggled.” They then informed me that they had just placed a new one but their coordinates had the original cache on the other side of the drainage. They showed the new container to me and together we placed their new one where I had found the original. I told them how I had found the original in disrepair and replaced it with a temporary one and I was a bit surprised when they thanked me for that.
We chatted about geocaching for a few minutes and, at one point, I mentioned having sent an e-mail to the CO about this cache. The gentleman looked at me and said, “Yeah, I probably got it but forgot about it.” Momentarily confused by his statement, it suddenly hit me. THESE folks were the C.O.’s! I quickly realized that they had said several things during our conversation that should have clued me in and they went right over my head.
I told them my plan and they thought it a great idea to hide another cache at the other end of the park. So, In light of this unexpected, interesting and fun park experience, I suppose I should dedicate this cache to them and call it “The Gable Alley Cache”
The actual location reminds me of a kind of alley in a place that an alley should not be. From almost anywhere in the park, you wouldn’t notice the space beyond the brush in that corner of the park. Unless you walked over there, you would never know there was anything back there. When you get there, you will see why it reminds me of an alley.
This spot is relatively private but beware when the park is busy. I have seen kids wandering around here which why I noticed that area in the first place. The kids should pose a problem to the cache unless you let them see you grab it. I tested this theory over the last week and found in my study that children between the ages of 4 and 10 are extremely unlikely to find it. In fact, my control group couldn’t find it even though they were told there was a cache nearby. Granted, they were 8 years old but it supports my posited theory mentioned above.
Thank you for suffering through my extensive geo-prose. Now, go forth and have fun.