"Spiked!"

As with railroad tracks that seem to endlessly crisscross the United States, I too would like to travel this great land in a similar fashion. I sincerely hope that whomever has the good fortune of laying their hands on me, be ‘struck’ with an abundance of good luck!

In consideration of all others, if you do pick me up, please don’t hang onto me for a month or longer before replacing me in another cache. In the spirit of the game, let’s all do OUR part in keeping EVERYONE’S Travel Bugs moving.

Many thanks to all of you in advance.

PLEASE KEEP THE TRAVEL BUG INSTRUCTION SHEET AND THE TRAVEL BUG ITSELF IN THE BAG PROVIDED. THE INSTRUCTION SHEET IS PRIMARILY FOR THOSE NEW TO GEOCACHING AND GIVES THEM THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO PROPERLY LOG THE BUG, ETC.. THANKS!

This Travel Bug is being set out in commemoration of May 10, 1869, when ‘East’ met ‘West’ upon the completion of the first transcontinental railroad on Promontory Summit, northwest of Ogden, Utah. Four ceremonial spikes were brought to the site. The famed ‘Golden Spike’ was presented by David Hews, a San Francisco construction magnate. It was engraved with the names of the Central Pacific Directors, special sentiments appropriate to the occasion and on the head, the notation – “The Last Spike”. A second golden spike was presented by the San Francisco ‘News Letter’. A silver spike was Nevada’s contribution and a spike blended of iron, silver and gold represented Arizona. These spikes were dropped into a pre-bored laurel wood tie during the ceremony. Conspicuously, Utah was not represented and the Mormon Church leaders were not present.

The actual ‘Last-Spike’ – Made of ordinary iron was actually driven into a regular tie at 12:47pm. THIS ‘Last-Spike’, is ensconced at Stanford University.

(For more in-depth information, visit the “Golden Spike National Historic” site.)