This cache began as a unique destination for a special travel bug, Caching Barefoot (To Wil). A North Carolina cacher, MtnLion had decided to release a TB with the goal of getting Wil's autograph, an Oregon cacher, Sparrowhawk came through with news that Wil highly approved of the autograph bug idea after speaking to him at a booksigning.
With this encouragement, MtnLion released the bug into the wild. To everyone's shock, within a few short months, the bug had unexpectedly landed in Seattle, close to Oregon! Was it some force of pure fate that this bug just HAD to land in the Pacific NW shortly before Sparrowhawk's trip to Los Angeles?
Team Dakiba’s excellent knowledge of the Southern California geocaching scene took over from there. An idea was hatched, create a special cache that would initially be born to be a special final destination for this unique travel bug. Afterwards, this cache would serve as a gentle salute to Wil Wheaton as a fellow geocacher as well as his positive inspirations to others.
You don't have to be a Wheaton fan to hunt this cache. In a way, it could be for anyone who has ever faced that extremely nasty kind of despair when all doors of opportunity - as well as what you need to do for your own soul - seems to have become utterly closed to oneself. Then after a time, one struggles, learns, and comes through admirably with having gained new positive perspectives, inspired inner growth, and new ways of doing things. You get to see one who is doing newer, greater things in life then ever before as a result of the whole experience, instead of being flattened by it all.
That is the kind of inspiration that at least partially sparked the travel bug's journey to begin with. This cache now continues the acknowledgement. Let it be a salute not just to Mr.Wheaton, but especially to anyone you may personally know of who has gone through a particularly difficult time and has ultimately grown from it in a truly classy way - and has subsequently inspired others.
Good luck fellow geocachers and enjoy the hunt!
*A few notes from Team Dakiba*
Park at Lower Arroyo Park N34 08.421 W118 10.043.
An interesting view of the bridges, N34 08.699 W118 09.904.
We suggest you visit a couple of our favorite nearby caches, LarsThorwald's Vertigo and Ghost College Virtual while you are in the area.
California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) which looks very similar to poison oak has thorns, poison oak does not.