On the Second Day of Christmas, mrGreen317 hid for me, a large red bucket at another fallen tree!
Welcome to the Twelve Buckets of Christmas (12 BoC). Each cache is an on-coordinates letterbox-hybrid cache in a festive-colored 5 gallon bucket, all placed in one of our fine PA state game lands (SGL).
On May 3, 2000, a GPS enthusiast named Dave Ulmer "placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, he left various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online community on sci.geo.satellite-nav..." (text from geocaching.com) Well, you know the rest of the story, and here we are twenty years later!
Since this year, 2020, is the twentieth anniversary year of the origin of geocaching, 12 buckets are to be placed as a Merry Christmas to all our friends in JAGA-land at the close of the year. As has been stated for the past three years of the various 12 ?oC series, the traditional Christmas season actually runs from December 25 through January 5, the "Twelve Days of Christmas". So here is another year-end series of caches hidden for the "Twelve Buckets of Christmas" to grab this Christmas season or any other time of the year when geocaching is on the day's agenda.
For this cache series, be sure to note the specific Christmas-themed letterbox stamp in each of the bucket caches. These notes about the stamp designs may come in handy for a future cache to be published (series final).
This cache location is designed to provide a level hike along a grassy (or snowy) SGL path, beyond a gate. Parking is suggested just across Long Road from the 2017 12 Gates of Christmas, Day 8, GC7GD5N cache. Please be sure not to block a gate or the SGL road on the other side with your vehicle. There is ample pull-off space on the other side of Long Road without blocking anything. In winter road conditions, please know the capabilities of your vehicle and use all necessary caution when parking within SGL.
Vegetation Note: Since these caches are hidden in SGL in the non-growing months, it is always possible that access may get more challenging during late spring and summer growth seasons. When considering hide locations, an attempt was made to minimize this potential issue as much as possible, but when searching in the late spring or summer, just keep this in mind. Good, sturdy hiking footwear and possibly long pants (not shorts) are a good suggestion. Always be on the lookout for wild animals and ticks in the game lands.
This cache is located in state game lands, so PLEASE observe all state game land rules and wear orange during hunting seasons. During the primary hunting season, finding this cache is recommended on Sunday only.
Series Information for the Buckets of Christmas
- Each of the Twelve Buckets should have a letterbox stamp in a plastic latching container inside the bucket. Each stamp is different, and the designs will be related to a later series final (aka bonus) cache. PLEASE leave the stamp and inkpad with the latching box in the cache container, either with the log book or somewhere in the cache that is easily accessible. The inkpad/stamp are NOT swag items.
- In the case of a missing stamp, each log book is stamped on the inside cover with the corresponding stamp design for use with the final/bonus cache.
- These caches may be found simply at the published coordinates, like traditional caches, or if preferred, some letterbox-style instructions are provided below, starting from the parking waypoint.
- FTF on each series cache: There is a nice FTF prize with each cache, either in a cloth bag or a cover-stock paper gift box (and labeled accordingly). There will be no additional "FTF Games" at the close of this series as in past years, so all FTF gifts will be collected from each of the caches themselves by the FTF geocacher. An "FTF Leaderboard" for the series may still be used, just for informational purposes. Any additional prizes awarded after the series will be at the discretion of mrGreen317, but these will not look like the online "FTF Games" of past series.
Optional letterbox instructions from parking: From the parking coordinates, carefully cross Long Road to the SGL gate on the other side (this gate is always closed), and proceed along the grassy (or snowy) path past last year's 12 MoC: Day 1 cache (and possibly a hidden puzzle final). As the path goes along, it will get wider and more open in one spot, then it will go back to the previous width, after which the path will swing to the right, almost at 90 degrees. Along this curve in the path, you should see a bird house on the right side of the path, mounted on a tree. If you proceed across the path to the left side diagonally, just beyond where you saw the bird house on the right, there will be a small grove of evergreens; enter the woods here. There should be seen a very prominent downed tree in front of you as you proceed off the path and into the woods. About 30-40 feet from this larger downed tree is a smaller downed tree. Your treasure awaits, tucked along that smaller downed tree, not far from a prominent large stump. Look for logs/sticks of geocover.
A congratulations on FTF goes to e-r-h / juan2jam / Looby714 . Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas from the 3 "E"s!
(mrGreen317, Sage-Hippo, and littleEEE)