Minor warning - this area contains old glass bottles and things of that nature. Just watch your step. Keep kids close by.
I was first brought out to this area by the nearby "Time Machine: 1940 - The CCC in City Park" cache and I am grateful. Refer to that one for more details about the CCC.
I like the 1979 Russian film "Stalker" by Tarkovsky. Don't be put off by the title of the movie. It is not some slasher horror film. When I'm in some wooded area and I see some abandoned structures where I wouldn't expect them, I think of the movie because it portrays a mysterious area like that. It is called "The Zone."
After parking, head down the main trail. It should be obvious where to leave the trail when you are within around 200 feet of the posted coordinates. It is a relatively cleared area but not a trail. It is also right by an interesting spot I have a waypoint for (old pad) but you don't need it for the cache. Another optional point of interest is what I call the "plate and hole" waypoint. I wonder what this was for. A really thick concrete "plate" or door and a nearby "hole" that looks filled in. When you arrive at the posted coordinates you can't miss a sizeable foundation on your left. The "front" is pretty clear and you should be facing it. The other three sides have a raised lip and metal studs sticking up. Count the number of metal studs you see on the raised lip on the LEFT only. That is "A."
B = 5 X A
Final coordinates:
N 30° 20.(313 + B) W 097° 50.(569 - B)
Before you leave there is one other optional point of interest (that I've found, I wonder what other secrets there are around here.) It is just another large foundation/pad I'm calling the "third foundation." No bushwacking - just walking through open field. When I gathered this info in the first week of July it was covered in tiny white flowers that made the field look like it was covered in snow.
Now, your next decision. You can bushwack to the final. It can be done if you feel adventurous. Or you can go back out to the main trail and backtrack to a side trail you passed on your way in about halfway to the first waypoint. Follow the trail and the final is about 100 feet off that trail. So there is still some bushwacking either way. :-)
Final is an ammo can by a tree. If the final coordinates are not perfect you should be able to see it if you are pretty close. Since this is not really a kid-friendly cache I put some grown-up swag in the final.
Beginning inventory:
- two twin packs of nifty 9v flashlights
- Solved 3 x 3 Rubic's cube
- OD green 550 cord
- Wild Foods edible plant ID cards
Some non-trade items:
- paper towels in bag - probaly overkill because ammo cans usually keep the water out but not always.
- spare bag for the log book taped under the lid. I thought this was a clever idea if I do say so myself.
- log book with pen
Also, a travelbug I'm starting out.