This is the first cache I've hidden! It's a paddle cache. Lake Smith was created in 1885 when Taylor's Branch was damned at what is now Northampton Boulevard. Although located in Virginia Beach, Norfolk owns the lake (as well as ten feet of the surrounding land). Public access to the lake is at the Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area. Paddling will allow you to enjoy the numerous wildlife and explore the quiet coves; motorboats are limited to a max of 10-horsepower. The lake is a water reservoir and is known for its large mouth bass and carp. On you way to the cache, enjoy the numerous egrets, herons, and occasional ospreys and bald eagle fishing from the lake, as well as yellow bellied slider turtles sunning themselves. If you're human, be aware that a fishing license is required to catch your dinner. In the right season, you'll also see migratory waterfowl including mergansers, wood ducks, comorants, and northern shovelers. If you can, please note down any wildlife you see on the way to the cache.
The cache is located on a sweetbay magnolia at the entrance to the most southeastern cove of the lake.
For the FTF, there's a small geocaching cube attached to the cache.
*** Congratulations to LittleJoeLive for FTF at 1000 the morning after it was published! ***