The Campfire Cache Event Event Cache

Sign the log, trade items and travel bugs, and search for other caches in the Seminole State Forest! The campsite will accommodate up to 20 people (first come, first served), so if you want to camp with us, post a note here because I have already made arrangements with the Park Ranger. We will be at our campsite from noon on Friday until noon on Sunday. Join us at night and sit by the campfire, pitch your tent and stay the weekend, or hike in and have lunch with us... just don’t wake us up at 2:00 am unless you want to get beaten silly with a hiking stick!

This is a multi-stage event cache that will take you on a trek through the forest and to the final stage of our campsite! The posted coordinates are for the first stage just off of SR 46 outside of Sanford. You can hike, bike or drive in from there (about a 10 mile round trip). There is an entrance fee into the forest, but children under 6 are free.

If you are just coming for the day, deposit $1 per person in the honor deposit and that will cover your entrance into the park, including driving your car to the campsite. If you are going to camp with us, please deposit $1 per person/per night plus $2 per vehicle/per night in the honor deposit. You will also need to keep the stub from the deposit envelope in your vehicle.

You will have to find two stages to get to the event which will be placed before noon on Friday. They are both Rubbermaid containers that will have information you will need to find us. Both stages should be pretty easy and will be resting at the base of the largest tree I could find and covered up with some pine needles or palm fronds... you know, the normal stuff! The first stage (posted coordinates) will have a map of the forest and the group use permit, including the gate combo, that you will have to display on your dashboard if you drive in. The second cache will have nametags for you to wear at the event. Each stage will have the coordinates for the next.

We will provide lunch on Saturday (1/8/05) from noon until 2:00 pm, so please post on this site how many there will be in your group so that we can prepare for everyone. You don’t need to bring anything except your own drinks... unless you are staying the night or don’t like what’s on the menu. We will have:

• Grilled hotdogs and Italian sausage
• Campfire baked beans
• Three-potato salad
• Dixie coleslaw
• Rippled potato chips
• and... make your own S’mores for dessert

Please remember that this is a primitive campsite, so that means:

• There are no chairs… unless you bring one
• There are no water fountains… so bring a drink
• And, there are no restrooms… but a shovel and TP will be provided along with acres of forest (there MIGHT be a port-a-potty on site...)

Again, please RSVP on this site no later than the Wednesday before the event so that we can plan accordingly. We look forward to seeing you there!

I know... you're asking yourself, "What happens if there's bad weather?" Well 'Plan B' looks very much like 'Plan A', except that you're wet! No seriously, if it's cold, I'll still be there... if they forcast scattered showers, I'll still be there... if they forecast monsoons all weekend, we'll reschedule it for February. Make sure you put this cache on your watchlist to be notified of updates!

Prizes

There will be prizes for the following:

• MEFF (Most Esteemed First Finder)
• Cacher with the most finds
• Cacher with the least finds
• and... Cacher with the most DNF's

Raffle

A cache will be put together at the event and then raffled off to someone to place. Please bring a signature item or trade item to add to the cache. For each new item that you add to the cache, you will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win it! Special thanks to CondoMax for donating the camouflaged ammo box!

Cache Competition

Additional Caching Opportunities

UPDATED 12/30 - We have outgrown our campsite! I have called the Park Ranger to make arrangements for an additional campsite, but they are all booked until March! Cachers with the red YES under camping will have to use the Florida Trail campsites which are on a first come, first served basis and can accomodate up to 6 people. These are "backpacking only" campsites and cars are NOT allowed. If you are staying in one of these, I will be happy to shuttle you back and forth from the campsite. There are at least three of these around the forest that I know of, and two of them are just off the main forest road.

UPDATED 1/5 - When packing and thinking about stuff to bring, please keep in mind that I will have all of the "base camp" items if you would like to use them including a complete kitchen setup including pots, pans, utensils, two burner stove and campfire grill. I will also have available basic spices, etc... You will only need to pack your cooler with food for your group (other than lunch on Saturday) and beverages/water and a coffee cup.