Bridges over Fern Creek Mystery Cache

In a time before Orlando existed, a small creek meandered through the pine forests and slowly eroded away at its banks. Over hundreds of years, the creek cut a rather formidable ravine in the soft fertile earth. In the shade of the trees, native plants grew and prospered in the moist rich soil.

The first white settlers to arrive in the area noticed the rich growth of local plants on the banks of this stream. They gave the stream its original name based on these plants -- Fern Creek.

Fern Creek now meanders South through numerous older residential neighborhoods on the Eastern edge of downtown Orlando. During the early days, the creek and its ravine were considered the Eastern boundary of the city and property beyond the creek was 'out in the country'. Several notable properties were plotted and developed out beyond the creek including the cemetery for the city that would eventually be called Greenwood.

A hazardous wooden bridge originally connected the outlying Eastern settlements to Orlando. Around 1926, a much safer and stronger concrete bridge was completed on Washington Street -- forever linking Orlando with the land to the East. Today, countless bridges cross Fern Creek as it makes its way through the City. In Langford and Dickson-Azalea Parks, a dozen bridges of various shapes and sizes cross back and forth over the cool and trickling waters.

Start your quest at the coordinates given above. Work your way north under the Washington Street bridge. Then use the following clues to locate the bridge where the cache is hidden:

• Near a small flagstone stage
• In the shadow of a gnarled old oak tree
• There is an unusual doorway (trolls lair?) beneath the bridge

The cache itself is a plastic peanut jug (6" diameter, 10" tall) painted brown. It contains a log, pens, and some typical mac-toys.