This geocache is part of the US 23 Discovery Trail, a 200 mile geo-trail from Standish, Michigan in the south to Mackinaw City, Michigan in the north. Caches have been placed at significant places along this countywide corridor. You will need to answer specific questions on your passport while discovering the special locations on the sunrise side of the state of Michigan. Information and the passport can be downloaded from the US 23 Heritage Route web site under 'US-23 Discovery Trail Geocaching!' in the 'Events' tab:
http://www.us23heritageroute.org
Once you have completed 25 of the 30 + caches in this geo-trail, you can take your passport to one of the following sites during business hours: McGulpin Lighthouse, 500 Headlands Drive, Mackinaw City, Michigan or the Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center, 107 N Main St, Standish, Michigan to pick up your souvenir tag.
Or you can mail your passport to: Denise Cline, NEMCOG,
80 Livingston Blvd Suite U-108, PO Box 457,
Gaylord, MI 49734
Note: only one tag per geocaching team name will be available. Only 150 souvenir tags were minted.
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A well-camouflaged container on Partridge Point near Alpena, MI. (The name "Alpena" comes from an old Indian word for "land of good partridge." The partridge discussed here is not one of the good ones however.) You will need to go on a short hike after parking off Partridge Point Rd. Depending on the time of year, you may need to be careful not to get wet feet. The interesting terrain and views make it worth the walk.
(With apologies to Edgar Allen Poe.)
Once while I was caching, hiking, while I wandered to my liking,
Searching many a stump and curious rock pile covered there with mold,
Stepping past a picker, but then suddenly there came a snicker.
Then it came again but quicker, laughing like a joke was told
“Just my mind,” it must be only, cackling like a joke was told
Nothing else would be so bold
A cache I found then with no trouble, hiding there behind the rubble,
No, not buried, never, so the Geocaching guidelines say
(Law and Order not withstanding), it was sitting on a landing.
Did my caching business standing and then started toward the car.
Started feeling rather sickly as it struck me just how far
I must hike back to the car
Then I started walking, hoping that I knew where I was going
And I walked and walked and walked until I should have found my way.
Persisted in my searching then looked up to see a partridge perching,
And his chuckle sent me lurching — his eyes glued to me like tar.
Laughter suddenly erupted from its beak, “Hee hee, har har!
You forgot to mark your car!”
My eyes beheld my handheld, then I shouted, raved and yelled. Yelled!
New technology that cost us billions, useless to me now.
And the partridge still is perching, follows me as I am searching
And it laughs and laughs and calls its friends who come from near and far.
And the squirrels all are singing, “In your search to find a jar,
You forgot to mark your car!”
And the partridge still is mocking, pointing, laughing while I’m walking.
In the woods and paths and clearings there are crowds who stalk me now.
If you find the Partridge hiding, you must ask where I’m abiding.
Come and find me! But for now I’ll eat my last granola bar.
And the rabbits now are taunting: (yes, it’s really quite bizarre)
“You forgot to mark your car!”
Bad partridge!
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There are some paths that lead to the cache, so bushwacking is not necessary. There is abundant poison ivy in the area during the summer, so be careful. I made it to the cache site with no problem.