The Series
PandaMania was a public art project led by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities that took place in the summer of 2004 throughout DC where 150 panda statues were created by artists and exhibited in public around the district. After the project ended, the panda statues were auctioned off with the proceeds going to further the commission's work. Twenty years later, some of these pandas continue to be on display around DC businesses and residences. This series is meant to bring geocachers to revisit DC's local art history; created by Aliengirl back in 2015, I've decided to pick up the mantle.
Please let me know if you run into another panda on your geocaching adventures so that I might add to this series!
The Panda
After talking about Pandamania to some geocachers at an event, zorrobarnes has been a huge help with tracking down some of the pandas and spreading the word. It was actually at an event after the day we talked that he shared my panda hunt with Tobydawgz, who shared with him information about a new panda in a cage in Garrett Park. My thanks to them both!
While zorrobarnes confirmed Tobydawgz's information, I had to go and see it myself since I couldn't find it on Google Maps. Since I don't have a car, I took the metro all the way up the red line and walked down to Garrett Park while geocaching along the way. When I got to the address I had on hand, sure enough, there she was!
Panda Dynasty was made by Carol Wood and Regis Kirby, sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and originally displayed at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport. After 8 bids, it was sold at the online auction for $1250.
I knocked on the door of the house to ask about the wooden rigging on the panda. The homeowner said she was holding on to it for her friend as she moved into the house next door. I found out the cage was not a crutch as I had feared, but just a box to keep it safe in transit! I then talked to the true owner of the panda next door who shared with me that she plans on displaying it on her front lawn and decorating it with accesssories for the holidays. Enjoy your new resident panda, Garrett Park!
The Geocache
Follow the instructions below to find the geocache. It should go without saying, but please do NOT go onto private property to get this information. Worst comes to worst, you can glean the information needed from the photo I included in the description.
N 39° 02.5AB′ W 77° 06.0CD′
Count the numbers of colors of present on the panda (count both shades of blue as two separate colors, do not count shades of other colors). The number of colors is A. No need to overthink this.
Look at the cement base the panda is standing in and count the number of diamonds present on the front. The number of diamonds is B.
Go to the right-most corner of 11227 Waycross and look at the utility pole. On the right side you will see some metal numbers nailed in place starting with an M. The first two numbers following the M will be CD.
Checksum: A + B + C + D = 18
The final coordinates should be a short walk away from the panda. Coordinates might be a little fuzzy, so don't rely too much on the GPS view. As always practice stealth when necessary, though in a small residential neighborhood like this you might not need it.