THIS IS A TRAVELBUG AND GEOCOIN HOTEL. TRAVELBUGS AND GEOCOINS ARE NOT SWAG. Please do not keep them.
Please note that there is a separate container for trackable items. If you choose to take one with you, please find the tracking number on the tag or coin. From the map screen, tap the magnifier/search option and select "trackable." Enter the code, and the item will become part of your inventory. All geocoins and travelbugs want to travel! You will have the option to "visit" or "drop off" the trackable at your next geocache finds. Please don't keep coins or travelbugs for more than a week or two, but drop them into another geocache when you can. Some trackables have a mission, such as to visit caches in the woods, or are part of a race. It's okay if you can't meet the trackable's mission, but try to have fun with it! Post pictures if you can--those are always appreciated!
BY THE WAY, did you know that finding this geocache can help earn you a Byron Forest Preserve Geocoin of your very own??
About this geocache location:
Take a pit stop at the Byron Forest Preserve's Heritage Farm Museum, representing the 1840s Wilbur Farm, with the original carriage barn and a replica of the farm house. This farm shows what life was like for early pioneers in the Byron area, who settled near the Rock River. The Rock, named for its clarity and rocky bottom, was a source of water, was used for transportation, and supplied fish, clams, and mussels, the latter of which were harvested to make pearl buttons. It wasn't until decades later that the Wilburs had a well drilled on the property. This was a huge endeavor, as wells needed to be drilled using horse power to as much as a hundred feet deep. However, having ice cold water close to hand was a great benefit, not only saving the work of hauling buckets from the river, but also was pumped to the milk house nearby and used to keep milk and cream cold. The windmill would have saved even more work and was the height of technology in its day.
This cache is part of the "My Favorite Places" series, and counts toward earning a new Byron Forest Preserve Fox Snake geocoin. Find 15 caches with a Difficulty and Terrain rating of 2 or lower in this series to earn a geocoin. Take note of the code word on each log book, and visit the Jarrett Prairie Center during open hours (M-F 8 am-4:30 pm; Sat 9-4; Sun 12-4). Coins are at the front desk and staff will be happy to get them for you. If you aren't caching during open hours or log later and live farther away, please message me and I will mail you a geocoin. All caches in this series are geared toward beginners and families. Trails are well maintained and caches are available year-round, and are placed at the Jarrett Prairie Preserve, Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve, HeLeo Two Rivers Preserve, and Bald Hill Prairie Preserve.
Caches in this series:
At the Jarrett Prairie Preserve (main site):
GCB80TV Skyview
GCB80XG Old Trail, New Trail
GCB80WQ Sunflowers and a Sinkhole
GCB80WW Hen of the Woods
GCB80XA Down Low, Up High
GCB80V8 Gulley Overlook
GCB80VT End of the Road
GCB848B Remnants of Days Gone By
GCB76DQ Fossil and Rock Exchange
GCB80W2 Greater Prairie Chicken
GCB80WA Garden Walk
GCB82AT Monkey See, Monkey Do Travel Bug Hotel
GCB8497 Clyde James Prairie
At the HeLeo Two Rivers Preserve:
GCB82DQ Duck, Duck, Goose
GCB847X Out of Bounds
At the Bald Hill Prairie Preserve:
GCB84B5 The Easy Way or the Hard Way
GCB84BR Milkweed
At Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve:
GCB84C2 BFPDBOHPPnG
GCB84CJ Baby Cedar
Coming soon! The forest preserve is also putting out a series to earn an Environmental Education Association of Illinois geocoin. Find 8 caches in the EEAI series that have a D or T rating of 2.5 or higher to earn the EEAI geocoin.