A multi-stage cache to commemorate the Central National Road of the Republic of Texas. Scenic overlook. No parking is available at the cache. See child waypoint for parking. Bicycling is recommended. Bring your own writing instrument. Please, no spoiler pictures or logs.
CENTRAL NATIONAL ROAD
The Central National Road of the Republic of Texas was planned by the Texas Congress, which, on February 5, 1844, established a five-man commission to select a right-of-way, see that it was cleared, and supervise the building of necessary bridges. The commissioners, William M. Williams, John Yeary, Rowland W. Box, Jason Wilson, and James Bradshaw, were paid for their services in land, much of which they selected along the route chosen. George W. Stell of Paris was the surveyor. The road was to begin on the bank of the Trinity River not more than fifteen miles below the bank of the Elm Fork in Dallas County and run to the south bank of the Red River in the northwest corner of Red River County, opposite the mouth of the Kiamachi River. As surveyed, the route probably started at John Neely Bryan's crossing on the Trinity River, a little north of the later site of the Dallas County Courthouse, ran east by north to the Dallas county line, crossed Rockwall County near Rockwall, and cut off the southeast corner of Collin County. It then crossed northwestern Hunt County north and west of Greenville, ran along the southeast line of Fannin County through the site of present Ladonia, proceeded northeast across Lamar County through Paris, and extended nine miles within the extreme northwest corner of Red River County along the Red River to Travis Wright's landing. This terminus, six miles above old Jonesborough, later became the site of Kiomatia; in 1844 it was the head of navigation on the Red River. To the north and east the Central National Road connected with the military road to Fort Gibson and old roads connecting the Jonesborough area with settlements in Arkansas. At its southern terminus it connected with the road opened in 1840 between Austin and Preston Bend on the Red River, in effect making an international highway between St. Louis and San Antonio. The international role that Congress may have visualized for the road was never fulfilled, however, because of population shifts that came with the westward movement of the frontier and the subsequent development of new towns and increased importance of other routes.
Source: Texas State Historical Association
Central National Road
The posted coordinates are for a water fountain given to commemorate the Central National Highway of the Republic of Texas. The commemorative fountain is located at the overlook of the White Rock Lake spillway. I've stopped here many times while cycling around the lake. Please stop and enjoy the view.
Just to keep this from being an armchair puzzle, let's do a little walking to solve for the coordinates of the cache. Solved for the following letters.
A=_ B=_ C=_ D=_ E=_ F=_ G=_ H=_ I=_ J=_ K=_ L=_ M=_
If an answer is a letter, convert it to a number 1-9. When you reach 9, then start again at 1: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc., I=9, then J=1, K=2, etc.
The Central National Highway was authorized in 18AB. The marker was placed by Jane Douglas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on June CD 19EF
Nearby is a real working water fountain. Engraved on the push buttons are some words and the city where the company is located. How many of the letters on one push button are capitalized? Number of captizalized letters (two digits) is GH. The first letter of the company name is M; convert that letter to a number.
Nearby is an historical marker for White Rock Dam, Reservoir and Park. (This is also a Waymark.) The last digit of the year that outboard motors were prohibited is I. On the dedication plaque below the marker, count the number of letters in every word that begins with "L". That number is J.
Near the historical marker is a No Fishing Sign. On the back is a bar code sticker with a serial number. Use the last digit of the serial number as K.
Approximately 45 paces to the northeast (follow the sidewalk) is a White Rock Trail 911 location marker. Proceed another 174 paces or so to the next nearest 911 marker. (The following information was revised 5/15/2014.) Look across the sidewalk for a brown metal box on a brown pole. Near the base of the pole is a gray cover with three words in the center. Count the number of letters in the first word. Use that number as L.
Alright! Let's do some cipherin'! As a reminder, if an answer is a letter, such as answer M, convert it to a number 1-9. When you reach 9, then start again at 1: A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, then J=1, K=2, etc.
The cache is located at: N 32 A (C+D+F) . I (M+3) (K+2) W 96 B (E+G) . H L J
Letters being added together in parentheses will yield a single digit of the coordinates in the format of decimal minutes.
Coordinates averaged for 6 minutes to 100% sample confidence with a Garmin 62st under clear skies.
Congratulations to bthurman for FTF.