"Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
"No one I think is in my tree
I mean, it must be high or low
That is, you can't, you know, tune in, but it's alright
That is, I think it's not too bad
"Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Strawberry fields forever"
- from the Beatles. While their music may last forever, some strawberry fields won't.
Spooner Berry Farms leased this land from the Zahn family to grow strawberries beginning in the early 1980s. When the Zahn family decided to sell the land in 2018, it was purchased by the City of Olympia for use as either a school or park. Olympia agreed to lease the property to the Spooners for another 4 or 5 years while they moved the berries to other land they owned a few miles east. For now, Olympia will continue to lease the section of land where the current sales stand is located. While plans are prepared for some type of park facility, it is considered undeveloped park property.
There are two ways to find this letterbox hybrid. The fastest/easiest way will be to follow the letterbox instructions. The other way would be to solve the puzzle below.
Letterbox instructions:
- Park just south of Yelm Hwy, close to the intersection of Wiggens Rd SE and 57th Lane SE.
- Almost directly across from this intersection, you will see two posts with a chain hanging between them.
- Standing at this chain, look west. On your right will be a fruit tree, and on your left will be a small locust tree. Walk west between them.
- After you walk between these two trees, there will be a large, multi-trunked locust tree to your right/north.
- Continue walking west to a solitary fir tree in the mowed area. Once there you will see another fir tree nearby.
- Looking west between the two firs, you will see an enormous four trunked fir tree. Walk west toward it to a little footpath between it and another fir about the same size.
- At the end of the footpath, after passing the end of a wire fence, you will be in an area without trees.
- Immediately turn north/right. Go one tree north of the four-trunked fir tree. There you will find the container you seek.
- If you find yourself north of a large wooden fence post, you have gone too far. That post is just north of the tree you seek.
Geocache puzzle should you select that method:
- Go to the stated coordinates to gather the numbers you need from signs. Replace ABC and XYZ in the following set of coordinates:
N 46° 59.ABC′ W 122° 50.XYZ′50.XYZ′
- There are 4 signs on the post, including three 10-digit phone numbers and two 7-digit code numbers. You will be asked for the values of certain digits. Do not count dots or dashes, just the numerals/digits. (example: the 6th digit in the number 89.305-72 is 7.)
A = the 9th digit in the number to get more information or report hazardous conditions.
B = the 4th digit in the number to use to contact Park Rangers.
C = the 6th digit in the Olympia Municipal Code on bottom sign.
X = the 4th digit in the number to use to contact the Park Stewardship Program Coordinator.
Y = the most common numeral used under the words Experience It! on second sign.
Z = the 3rd digit in the Olympia Municipal Code.
Checksum for these 6 solved numbers is 31.
Congratulations to hikihohodemi san, from Japan, for being FTF!