Being that there was no existing bug hotel/depot/hostel/camp
on Cape Breton Island, we decided it was nigh-on time to create one! This bug “depot” is situated just off of a
section of old rail line that has been converted into the 15-mile (24
kilometer) Mabou Rail Trail. But never
fear! You and your bug needn’t travel
THAT FAR along the trail unless you really, really want to! The best way to reach the trail and the
cache is to park by the bridge on Highway 19 just north of Rankinville Road in
Mabou. From that point, head east along
the trail, which runs along the south bank of Mabou River. The cache will be a couple of miles in, just
off the trail. The trail bed is fairly
flat and an easy, and should be suitable for walking, jogging, and most types of
biking. It does puddle up in places
during rainy spells, so boots are recommended in such conditions (it was
raining pretty hard when we placed the cache!). The only reason the terrain is rated a two is that you will be
required to make a short scramble up a hill to reach the cache. The coordinates listed are for the trail
immediately adjacent to and within sight of the cache hiding place. Once you’ve reached those coordinates, look
uphill on the side of the trail opposite the river. Unless things become much more overgrown you should actually be
able to spot the cache from the trail itself.
Some hints are provided below just in case you need them.
During your journey keep your eyes open for bald eagles, who
particularly like to perch atop dead trees along the river. Once you’ve found the cache we recommend
pressing on a short distance further to the old steel rail bridge, which is a
prime eagle-spotting location. The entire
length of the trail is especially beautiful in Fall when leaves are changing
color. Despite the rains, we were
treated to a veritable symphony of colors along the trail.
BEING THAT THIS IS A TRAVEL BUG DEPOT WE REQUEST THAT YOU
ADHERE TO ONE SIMPLE RULE—PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A TRAVEL BUG FROM THE CACHE
UNLESS YOU HAVE A BUG (OR BUGS) WITH WHICH TO REPLACE IT! We stocked the cache with some other items
to allow for standard non-bug goodie swaps.
As of the time of cache placement in October of 2003, the cache
contained:
T & A: Warrior Women: Heart Ripper Hellina travel bug
Bob the Bug travel bug
Nessie of Lismore travel bug
Crossraguel Bear travel bug
A sheet of horse stickers
Snoopy Pez dispenser (and Pez!!!)
Mini ruler
Some sort of black, silver and blue patch
Happy Geocaching!!!
This cache is being maintained with the assistance of some
generous friends of ours who are fortunate enough to call Cape Breton Island
their home. Please let us know if
anything goes awry with the cache, and it will be handled promptly.