Why did the peacock cross the road? To find this geocache!
THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES, though it is the starting point for your journey to this cache. Please note that the park is open from dawn to dusk, and there is a curfew between 10pm and 5 am.
The Mayfield Park and Preserve is described as "an island of restful respite in the middle of Austin, Texas", donated to the City of Austin in the 1970s as a public park. It is best known for its free-roaming peacocks, which can be found all around the grounds of the park and sometimes across the road. Please note that the physical cache is NOT located on the park grounds, though you need to explore the grounds around the house and the walking trails in the 23-acre nature preserve to determine where the geocache is located.
There is an informational sign at the posted coordinates which gives a brief history of Mayfield Park. The park was named for Allison Mayfield, who was the Texas Railroad Commissioner from 1896-192A. His daughter, Mary Mayfield Gutsch, bequeathed the property to the City of Austin for park usage in 197B. You can use the nearby visitors’ entrance to enter the grounds around the main house.
If you go to the main house, you will find the Austin Landmark symbol in a covered porch area. There are C doors leading off of the covered porch. If you are on the property at dusk, you will see the peacocks making their way to roost in the tall tree at the corner of the house near the porch. There are flower and rock gardens on the grounds, as well as a dovecote where Milton Gutsch, Mary’s husband, raised fancy white Moorhead pigeons. The dovecote has D round windows and E rectangular windows.
Use the Bell Gate to enter the nature preserve. The bell in the bell gate has two two-digit numbers on it, F(14) and G(15) [The bell has gone missing, so I've added the numbers you need - M]. As you walk along the Bell Trail, you will see a small metal plaque describing the local plant life on your right. The second word in the English name of the shrub described has H letters in it.
When you reach the fork of the Taylor Creek Trail, you will find another small plaque nearby describing the local plant life. The second word in the Latin name of the plant has J letters in it.
Take the right side of the fork, and then turn right to follow the trail along the creek. You will soon come to a creek crossing on your left; cross the creek on the flat stones and continue along the trail on the other side. You will pass by another small plant life plaque on your right; the second word in the English name of the plant has K letters in it.
As you continue along the trail, you will pass a signpost saying Bluff Left. While it is fun to climb to the top of the bluff, you will need to follow the trail on the right to find the information for this geocache. You will cross the creek again and find a sign post after climbing up two short sets of stairs. There are two words on the side of the post that is facing you as you climb the stairs; the first word has L letters in it.
Turn right at the signpost and follow the trail to an informational kiosk which has a map of the trail system in the nature preserve. There are M trailheads marked on this map. Find where the observation pier is marked on the map and follow the trails to that point.
The observation pier overlooks an inlet off of Lake Austin. With any luck, you will see a variety of waterfowl as you stand on the pier. There are N tall vertical posts supporting the railing around the pier. Go up the stairs that are behind the pier, and take a left along the trail at the top of the stairs.
Near the next intersection, you will find a bench dedicated “In Loving Memory of my Father”. This man was killed on P-26-2012 in service in Afghanistan. Go back to the intersection and take the trail that leads to the exit.
As you approach the parking lot, you will find a wildlife habitat for a particular kind of bird with a two-word name. The second word has Q letters in it.
You now have all the information you need to find the geocache! It is located at the following coordinates. You can use the link below to check your answer.
N 30° 1(A*4).(G-P)(N-M)(E-K) W 097° 4(B+Q).(F-H)(J/C)(L-D)
