The Songo Locks Cache Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This fairly easy cache is hidden near the picnic area by the Songo Locks on the Songo River in Naples, Maine, USA.
The Songo Locks are adjacent to the Sebago Lake State Park and are located on the Songo River in Naples, Maine. This wooden lock is where the Songo River is dammed to keep the lake levels in Brandy Pond and Long Lake (north of Sebago but connected by the river) high enough for lake activities.
Built around 1830, it is the only surviving lock of the 30-plus locks which linked Long Lake (at the end of the series) to the Atlantic Ocean near Portland. It is still operated by hand! The boats enter from the river on the Long Lake/Brandy Pond side where the lake level is about 4 feet higher than below. The wooden gate is shut by hand, then the water is let slowly out the lower side. When the boats in the lock are at the lower level, the gate is opened and they can continue down the river to Sebago Lake. Of course the whole process can be done in reverse to allow boats to go upstream from Sebago to Brandy Pond. Each summer the lock gets lots of boat traffic going through in either direction.
Make sure to take the time to watch the operator manually run the whole show all by himself. Its amazing that one man can raise and lower big boats all by himself like that with no electrical, deisel or gasoline powered help. It is quite a sight to see. And you can traverse the whole thing in a boat for just $6, which includes going through the manually operated turntable bridge that is just up stream.
This swinging bridge is where the State Park Road goes over the Songo River. It is located just up stream of the Songo Lock. Boats wanting to use the lock must also get through this bridge. Both services are included in the $6 fee each boat must pay to pass at the lock. Not only did this bridge swing open by pivoting in place, but it is operated by a huge crank turned by a single man.
When not in use the crank is stowed in the railing along the side of the bridge. When boats want to pass, the operator comes out of his little house located on land on one side of the bridge and manually swings two gates closed, one at each end of the bridge to prevent cars from passing. He unlocks a locking pin that keeps the bridge in place an then he picks up the huge crank, inserts it in a hole in the center of the bridge and then he starts turning it by pushing on it while walking in a big circle. The bridge moves fairly briskly and once it gains momentum, the operator stops pushing on the crank and the bridge keeps opening all by itself. He turns the crank some more to fine tune the angle of the bridge until it is right. The boats pass and he does the whole process again in reverse.
On July 5th, 2005 we replaced the cache because it went missing sometime between June 19th and July 2nd. It is now in a large ammo box. The original cache container was a standard 4 liter clear plastic Rubbermaid with a blue rubber seal around the top.
On August 9th, 2008 we replace the cache again, this time making it a micro.
Enjoy the area and the cache!
Please remember to Cache In and then Trash Out!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Unatvat va gerr
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