As of October 2020, all stages of this cache have been checked and the minis and final are good to go. Let me know if there are any problems!
Part 2 of the Niagara Parkway Tour is "Above the Falls" and since we are now also above the escarpment and the gorge, you will only see one hill during the entire tour (and you're going to DRIVE down that one!) Like Part 1, although most of the tour takes place along the Niagara Parkway, we won't actually join it until we've reached Stop #3.
To complete Part 2, it will be necessary to drive 39 km., collect lots of interesting information, locate two mini-caches, and take a short walk.
In the interest of time, there are plenty of interesting sites and plaques that I've excluded. So many, in fact, that I could almost assemble another tour (and, before you ask, NO, I'm not gonna). If you see something along the way that interests you, feel free to stop and investigate. We'll wait.
I'll now turn you over to your tour guide at:
Stop # 1: THIS IS A BUST!!!
Good day, ladies, gentlemen, and children! Thank you for joining us at the above coordinates. As you will notice, we are in a parking lot at the end of a short dead-end street. We'll take a short walk and collect three valuable pieces of information. X. At N 43 05.354, W 79 05. 740, we will find a monument topped with an obelisk. Find the year of its placement. Y. Approximately 10 meters to the east, you should see a gravestone topped with a bust of an illustrious figure from the War of 1812. Find the year that this person died. Z. Back to the SW corner of the monument. Approxmately 10 meters to the SW, you will see a historical plaque. No, no, not the one with the horse and rider on top, the one just to the left of it. It concerns a battle. Find the number of men commanded by Lt.-Gen. Gordon Drummond. Put this answer aside, in a safe place. You won't need it 'til much later.
Add answers X and Y together, divide the result by 1000., and add to both N 43 00.741, W 79 01.104. This will give you the coordinates of the second stop:
Stop # 2: ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
Find the year that the structure was built, divide by 1000, and add to N 43 02.307, W 79 02. 329. This will give you the coordinates for your next stop, a mini cache. Before you leave, there is an interesting view of the falls just steps away, don't miss it. When you're ready to start for #3, head south from the cairn and follow your GPS when you reach a four-lane street. Soon you'll see a sign that mentions "nature area". That sounds like us, huh? Plenty of parking at the bottom of the hill.
Stop # 3: THE MINI-CACHE: ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
(Edit: Since this cache was first hidden it has become Pay to Park. Sorry. I didn't want to pull this stage out. It should barely take ten minutes if you want to chance it.) Some of this area is gated in the off-season, so I've placed the cache in a spot that is easily accessible year-round . The mini is a mints tin, taped to blend with its surroundings and contains the coordinates for your next stop. When leaving, yo might take a couple of minutes to ignore the GPS and head in the opposite direction. You'll follow a short U shaped road, see some nice scenery, and end up at the Parkway.
Stop # 4: SIDE BY SIDE
You' ll need two pieces of information here (figures, huh?). First, find the year that the fort was built at this site, then, find the number of militia that was involved in the attack on Fort Schlosser. Add 'em together, divide by 1000 and add to both N 43 01. 515, W 78 59.754. This will take us to:
Stop # 5: SWEET CAROLINE
At this stop, find the year that this incident almost caused a second war, and do the usual division by 1000 and addition to both N 43 00.809, W 78 59.215. Before leaving this area, please be advised that there is a short, interesting multi cache just a short distance away (GCGXHB). You may wish to take a break and complete it, if you haven't already done so. Either way, your new coosdinates should lead you to:
Stop #6: WHO'S DRIVIN' THE PONTIAC?
Find the first year of the Indian uprising that's mentioned on the plaque. Do the usual division by 1000 and add to both N 42 55.165, W 78 54.941. You should find that you have a long section of the Parkway to cover before reaching your next stop, so relax and enjoy the scenery (in season). Eventually, you should arrive at:
Stop #7: BIG MAC WUZ HERE
Find the year of this sneaky border crossing and divide it, again, by 1000. Add to both N 42 52.908, W 78 52.683. The resulting coordinates should lead you to:
Stop #8: UNCLE TOM'S PLAQUE
No, that's not a geocacher on top. Find the year that Josiah Henson and family arrived in Canada, divide by 1000, and add to both N 42 51.822, W 78 53.554. You should find yourself reaching the end of the Parkway at:
Stop #9: I'M DIGGIN' UP BONES.......
At the right time of year there's lots to see and do in the surrounding area. Absorb some of the history if you have the chance. Find the number of the regiment that was commanded by Col. Hercules Scott (love that name!) and make a note of it. Remember that number that you've been saving since stop #1? You did keep it in a safe place, didn't you? Do the usual division, and add to N 42 50.266, W 78 53.498. It's only a short drive to:
Stop # 10: STICKS AND STONES
Park your vehicle here. Take the regiment number that you noted at the last stop, divide by 1000 and add to N 42 52.940, W 78 56.067. This will lead you to a mini cache that contains the coordinates to the final. The mini is a pill bottle covered with camo tape. Find the mini at:
Stop #11: THIS IS A WALK ON THE BEACH!
The coordinates in the mini cache will direct you to:
THE MAIN CACHE : YOU'RE IN GOOD FORM!!!
Hope you've enjoyed the trip! Please report any errors, omissions, concerns, orf general gripes to the management of Flick's Tours.
Our brochure of cache-related photos should be available in the near future. Watch for it!