You can walk in from the entrance (Verrrrrry long bike or hike), or you can park at the George Picnic area/Winter Gate during the winter (a moderate hike), or you can park at the Porter Picnic area (less than 2 mile round trip walk or bike) during the summer season. Parking inside the park requires a day use fee ($6) or you can use your State Park Season Pass
After you grab the cache, look behind you on the other side. You will find an interesting collection of mementos and photos that have been made into some kind of shrine. If anyone knows the origin of these item, please post a note... I'm dying to know.
I used this location as the jumping off point (as in jumping off my bike) when I went after "Prelude to Darkness" and "Where's the Pancakes?".
Cache originally contained: a Santa Cruz County Geocoin, a White Jeep Travel Bug, a Large "Pepsi" car, a Sgt Stitches "Boo Boo Backpack" signature item, a brand new personal radio, an "Old Guys Rule" button, some magic tricks, a carabiner compass, and a few other items.
Update 24 July 2005: Thanks to < a href="http://www.geocaching.com/profile/Default.aspx?guid=1e7b2780-2e4d-4d05-b21f-b676ef7e2a27">Pearbro, we now have some of the history of this location:
Buddha Bridge
Janie and Linda Lee placed the original Buddha in grove about 20 yrs ago. They wheel barrowed it in from the parking area. It weighed about 150lb. How the two of them managed to place it in the middle of the knoll overlooking the bridge remains a mystery. It was a center of serenity and calmness that our group of runners from the old Cabrillo Court House liked to pause and reflect on how lucky we were to have places like this and friends to share it with.
It disappeared soon after. A small Buddha was placed under the bridge a short time later. Sterling, a local doctor and one of the original 1st Ironman triathelets (he and some Navy buddies came up with the idea while on base about combining the Hawaiian open water swim, a bike ride around Oahu, and the Honolulu Marathon. That’s why the weird distances on the big island where it is held today) started the memorial theme. His dad had recently passed away (also a runner) so we placed a photo with a small story under the bridge and had a quiet service on the bridge.
The Buddha again disappeared. A new Buddha was placed and attached with epoxy. We made the location the middle of many celebration runs, of both life and death. It is about 8 miles from the park entrance so it not too far for most of our group to run. There is also bike access via the road to allow more people to make it to some of the more special occasions. One of my favorites was a run in honor of Dennis’s 60th birthday. It was cold and raining and getting dark, but it turned into a fun and spirited run. We sang “Happy Birthday” on the bridge and ran out to his party.
The current Buddha is attached with epoxy and a stick of rebar and has remained for a few years now. The bridge is a great place to listen to the sounds of the forest and the water flowing, and to reflect on anything that crosses your mind. There is no specific religious significance, but his smile always seems to lift ones spirit. Alone or with a group, pay your respect to the Buddha and all that he stands for. I actually haven't been to the cache site yet since it has been placed, but it won't be long before the gang makes it back.
Thanks so much Pearbro!