It was a pleasant afternoon; a perfect day for geocaching. Parking my vehicle near the trailhead, I grabbed my GPS unit and fumbled around for some trade items. Should I take the geocoin or the yo-yo? I settled on the coin, and then headed up the trail.

I hadn’t walked far when the trail suddenly split. Which way to go? I checked my GPS unit. Ah, the less traveled route. With the path reestablished, my journey continued. I was in no hurry and struck out at a leisurely pace. If I’ve learned anything from geocaching, it is that the greatest reward is found in the journey to the cache, and not in the cache itself.

The trail led off through a grassy field. With recent rains the grass was high and thick. Having just passed through a particularly dense patch, I felt something suspicious on one ankle. Quickly bending over, I checked underneath my socks. Fortunately, there were no signs ixodid had jumped aboard. I have been lucky with ticks so far, but I suppose it is an inevitable consequence that comes with regular forays into the wilderness.

Following the inspection, I set off again. The brush was a little thicker here, and the path reeked of sage. The trail continued on, ever climbing and weaving, leading me closer to my goal with each step. After a few minutes I stopped briefly for a sip of water. Gazing back, I was awestruck by the splendid view this bright, clear day afforded. It was a shame to be alone with nobody else nearby to admire the scenery with. Still, I frequently enjoy the solitude and quiet associated with hiking.

Moving on, the trail appeared to level off up ahead. Alas, no rest for the weary! The trail did not level off, but wound further upward. I focused my gaze round the next bend. Surely I must be getting close by now. Up a gentle rise and I was greeted by a meadow of poppies, which once more reminded me why I have such a love of our sport.

I continued on, breaking a sweat under the clear sky and hot sun. A soft breeze rolled over the landscape and tickled the grass. After pausing briefly for refreshment I sallied forth, reenergized by the breeze and the beep of my GPS receiver telling me the treasure I sought lay just ahead. A few more steps and my quest would be over. Stepping onto a stone, I peered through the brush and there it was. Victory at last!

If you have scrutinized my story closely, searching my words for clues, then you too should know the location of the treasure that I found. Although my story is just that, a story, the treasure is real and awaiting your discovery!

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The key to this mystery is to use the story to find the coordinates for the cache! As the story is a work of fiction, you will not be able to "trace" my footsteps to find it. Solve the puzzle at home. Once you have the correct coordinates in hand you should be able to find the cache following the usual routine.

You can check your answers for this puzzle on
GeoChecker.com