Florida

Capital: Tallahassee

Largest City: Jacksonville

Size Rank: 22nd

Population Rank: 4th

Admission to Union: 27th

Find the other caches in the series HERE.

The Cache Across America Series: This is a series of caches that will take you on a caching tour of the entire United States. One cache is hidden in each of the 50 states. These caches each contain a numeric clue that will lead you to one final cache located in our nation's capitol upon completion of the series.

About this cache:As of May 23rd 2013, all stages are present and visible. Due to the inordinate amount of people who have not been able to find stage one, I am going to leave the puzzle I posted when stage 3 was under water: follow the coordinates you find at stage 2 and listen for 30 seconds for the cries of Osprey. The number of cries you hear will be equal to "Y". Back track to the canoe storage hut that you passed on the way to stage 3. Count how many canoes CAN be stored there. (Just in case someone happens to be using one and it's spot is empty. spoiler - this will be an EVEN number) The number of canoe parking spaces will be equal to "X" Work the following problem. North = 28 55. (x+1)(x+5)(x-3) West = 81 33. x (x+5)(x+4) You will notice that "Y" did not enter the equation. I just wanted to get you to the lake for the view. Would hate for you to come all that way and miss it!! Enjoy and feel free to email owner for a phone number for hints. This cache is located in north central Florida. Near here highway 44 runs east to west across the state and runs approximately one hour to each shore. The cache is in Lake Norris Preserve which was acquired by the St. John's Water Management District for the state of Florida and is managed by the Lake County Water Authority.

Blackwater Creek ambles through the property, giving park goers a chance to see a true Florida swamp. The trail takes you back to the shores of Lake Norris where you can sit on a cypress knee and watch osprey fish in the lake. Continuing on to the final cache you can enjoy the freshness of a planted pine forest. This area was once a cattle ranch (Florida is still the 2nd largest producer of beef in the nation) and is still used to graze cattle today. So, watch where you walk, and shut the gate behind you!

The first set of co-ordinates will take you to the next set of co-ordinates, etc., until you reach the 4th and final stage. (The first clue you are searching for was placed while I was sitting on Spots back...) Along the way enjoy what cracker country used to be like. Cache contents are dedicated to the Florida cracker (ie. cowboy) and include a horse shoe, an old gray mare, a set of spurs, pink bandana (in honor of the cracker girls) and some trinkets to trade with the Indians. Included for the FTF, if they care for it, are a geocaching window decal, a pill container for hiding micros and travel bug dogtags.

Logging Requirements: Enjoy this cache as you would any other. If you are searching this cache as a participant in the Cache Across America series, please post a photo of yourself or a member of your group with the cache in your online log. If you for some reason are unable to meet the photo requirement, please make alternate arrangements to verify your find with the individual cache owner. There is no photo requirement for non-challenge participants.

Individual verification of all 50 state finds will be required before logging the series final.

If participating in the series, please take note of the three digit code located inside this cache. Save this code in a secure place. When you have visited all 50 caches, and have collected all 50 codes, you are welcome to seek and find the final cache! Good luck!