My Geocaching Adventures

Schuylkill RiverTrail - October 2011

2011-10-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

On a cool October day my sisters and I met at Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania. We did an Earth Cache there and then proceeded on our bicycles to the Schuylkill River Trail. It was a fun day as we snagged 51 geocaches in one run! Had we more time, we could have gotten a lot more. Some of the caches were off the path and rather difficult to find so plan accordingly. It took us 10 1/2 hours and we biked 19 miles. The caches on this trail are hidden just about every tenth of a mile. Although be prepared as there are not many places to stop to use a rest room depending on which part of the trail you are on. You may have to wait until you pass through towns such as Norristown, Conshohocken, or Manayunk. On this run, we traveled from Valley Forge to Conshohocken. Maybe sometime soon I get to do Conshohocken to Philadelphia!

Enjoy the pics!

A map of the geocache smileys we retrieved on the Schuylkill River Trail in one day! (click to enlarge)

Working the Earth cache at Valley Forge, PA

Getting back on the trail after finding on of the many geocaches on the Schuylkill River Trail

The three of us pause for a Kodak moment

Stopping for a geocache

Making a find a short way off of the Schuylkill River Trail

Beautiful sunset along the Schuylkill River Trail as we head back to Valley Forge

It is scenes like this and the company that made geocaching the Schuylkill River Trail and the 19 mile trip worth while

How to Guide for Hiding Caches - Making the Most Out of Free On-line Tools

2011-07-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hiding a Geocache can be a challenging thing, especially if there are other caches located nearby. In my experience of hiding Geocaches, so far 2 multi-stages and I am in the process of hiding about 5 more, I found it helpful to use some on line tools for making sure the cache will not be rejected because it is too close to another.

It takes days of planning, marking coordinates, and re-marking coordinates to place a Geocache, because if you don't it may be impossible for others to find it! Any GPS unit no matter what brand or how much you spend on it, can vary in accuracy from not only day to day, but hour to hour. Any experienced Geocacher knows that when you are standing at ground zero of a cache's coordinates that sometimes the signal can be jumping all around. If you take a set of coordinates one day and return the next day or even the same day at a different time and take the coordinates again, they most likely will not be the same! So to get an accurate reading, you have to repeat this several times then average the final numbers of the coordinates together to get a reading. You learn more about averaging coordinates at geocaching.com/forums If you do all of this work and then submit the coordinates only to have it rejected because they are too close to another cache, it could cause you to have to start all over again. The rule is that caches have to be .1 mile apart or 528 ft to be precise. This is to prevent over saturation of Geocaches.

How to Prevent Your Geocache from Being Rejected Because of Proximity Rules

When ever you find a place you want to hide a cache that is near another existing cache, take a set of coordinates at the location where the cache will be. Then, when you return home, you can use this tool http://www.chemical-ecology.net/java/lat-long.htm to find the distance of that cache to another. You will first however have to convert the coordinates into Degrees, Minutes, Seconds notation to be able to do this. This can be done using another handy free on-line tool described below in Converting Latitude and Longitude Coordinates. Once you get the converted format, simply enter the coordinates for the first point into the Point One columns and the second cache location into the Point Two columns. Then click the Distance Between button and it will show you in km, miles, and nautical miles the distance between the two points!

Surface Distance Between Two Points of Latitude and Longitude is a handy free on-line tool for plotting distance between two latitudinal and longitudinal points. In this example the cache locations are too close together. Click the image to enlarge.

Converting Latitude and Longitude Coordinates

You can convert a set of coordinates easily using the tool http://maps2.nris.mt.gov/topofinder1/LatLong.asp Enter the set of coordinates provided at geocaching.com for a cache which is usually in Degrees, Decimal Minutes. There is also a link there to show various conversions. If you did not use the DDM notation to record the coordinates of a cache you would like to hide, you can use this tool to convert that as well even if you use Decimal notation.

The State of Montana has a great on-line Latitude/Longitude Converter Click the image to enlarge.

In the middle of the screen, simply use the appropriate boxes to enter the coordinates then click the calculate button on the right. Wala! Your conversions will then appear at the top of the screen.

Checking to See If You Cache is on Public or Private Property

Another reason you may have a hard time placing a cache is property ownership permissions. You must get permission from the property owner before placing the cache. One way of determining if the cache is on private property is plotting the coordinates on a Google map. How? You can use a free tool called GSAK which stands for Geocaching Swiss Army Knife. This tool can be found at http://gsak.net/google/googlemap.php Navigate to the site and enter the latitude and longitude of your point in Decimal format into the fields. If you need to convert the latitude and longitude, see Converting Latitude and Longitude Coordinates above. Once you have entered the coordinates, click the Submit button.

GSAK is a great on-line tool for plotting a point of latitude and longitude on Google Maps. Click the image to enlarge.

The coordinates will then display on a Google map. You can toggle between satellite mode and map mode if you like. In map mode you can usually see the land parcel numbers for the property blocks. You can then use this number to determine who the land belongs by looking it up at your county records office. Sometimes this number is missing, but you can at least see the property boundaries. If the coordinates are on public lands such as a park, you simply need to contact the government park and recreation department who owns the park.

GSAK is a great on-line tool for plotting a point of latitude and longitude on Google Maps. Here you can see land parcel numbers in the upper left corner. Click the image to enlarge.

There is a downloadable verision of GSAK that offers way more features that you can use to track your caches. It is available on a free trial basis for a certain time period.

Finding the Coordinates of a Location from Google Maps

Another useful tool that is great if you want to find a location to hide a cache first, use the tools above to check to see how far apart the location is from another cache BEFORE you do any leg work. Then you can use this tool, Latitude and Longitue of a Point by iTouchMap.com. You can find it at http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html You can actually select several locations at once as shown below.

iTouchMap's Latitude and Longitude of a Point is a useful tool for finding coordinates on a Google map. Just click on areas of a map to mark your points of interest. Click the image to enlarge.

If you want to find the coordinates of the one of those points, simply place your cursor over the balloon and click. This will display the exact coordinates of the selected spot.

iTouchMap's Latitude and Longitude of a Point is a useful tool for finding coordinates on a Google map. Click on one of the marked balloons to see the coordinates. Click the image to enlarge.

You can also use this tool similar to the GSAK tool mentioned above, however, you can add multiple points on the same map by using the Show Point from a Latitude and Longitude feature shown below.

iTouchMap's Latitude and Longitude of a Point is a useful tool for displaying multiple coordinates on a Google map at the same time. Use the Show Point from Latitude and Longitude feature on the middle right of the screen. Click the image to enlarge.

Good luck in your cache hiding efforts!

Thousand Steps near Mount Union, PA

2011-07-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

This probably has to be my favorite caching trip to date. Not only six caches in one hike, but with my son, daughter, two sisters, cousin, his son, and his brother-in-law. Also, we had to hike to the top of Jack's Mountain using a stairway made of stone that seemed nearly vertical at points to a historic railway site. It was a great time!

Time for a photo opp before the climb

We started off with two caches at the bottom of the mountain, my daughter finding the first, LOST on the Rail (GC2X5XY) rather quickly, picking it right out from underneath my nose, and my younger sister found the second LOST 1.000 Steps (GC2X5X6) after we all overshot it at first. We had not even hit the first steps yet! The gang then started the ascent up the mountain.

We passed a 71 year old woman attempting the climb! She only made it to around step 300 then stopped, but dang! You go girl!


First flight of about a zillion!

The stairway was constructed back in the early 1930s so that the quarry workers could get to the top of the mountain where they quarried a special stone used to make bricks that lined furnaces. The stone was moved down the mountain using a narrow gauge railroad. Special locomotives called "dinkeys" would pull the empty gondola cars up the mountain using a series of switchbacks where the train would move back and forth along the mountain pulling forward, then backing up until it reached the top.

A little history

Example of a dinkey narrow gauge steam engine pulling gondolas

Part of these rail beds make up the trail leading to the top of the mountain. About every 100 steps or so you get a break and get to walk a short distance on a relatively flat surface that used to be the rail bed then back up the stairs again!

Time to goof off on one of the old rail beds!

My sister ascending to the Earth cache

About 1/3 of the way up the stairs, there is an Earth cache called the 1000 steps earthcache (GC1HWVJ). This was my very first Earth Cache! After taking some photos and recording a few answers to the question, we then submitted them in order to log the cache as a find. It was very cool rock with a fossil on it.

1000 steps earthcache, very cool!

Working on the Earth cache

After we reached the 1000th step, actually about 1030 steps, we hit the top of the mountain (almost). We paused here where one of the rail beds stretched across the mountain to take in some photo opportunities as the view down the mountain walking out the rail bed was fantastic.

Family photo opp!

The big family photo opp!

About 3/4 of the way up the mountain, we ran into some nut running down. He stopped and told us a bit of the history of the quarry and how he was a local and actually works for the company now. On the three days of the weekends, he does these stairs 3 times a day and can get to the top in 17 minutes! It took us an hour and a half! Oy! He knows people who do this year round, even in the snow! Uh, I wonder if they've been checked for dementia??


My older sister ascends the stairs with GPS in hand

Towards the top the steps turn into miniature water falls

My daughter stands on the 1000th step very proudly

My son reached the top first and does the Rocky dance

...followed by my daughter

A great view, but we're not quite at the top yet!

Following the rail trail on up the mountain we came to the 4th geocache, LOST on the Steps (GC2X5VE), which my son found after we all did about a 10 minute search.

My son finds one of the caches

We continued on with our ascent following the dinkey trail until we came to the ruins of the dinkey shed where they serviced the locomotives and cars that broke on the mountain. The place offered some awesome views of the valley below, however the best view was yet to come.

Approach to the dinkey locomotive shed

Awesome structure. You can see the service pit filled in with rocks in the middle

View from the dinkey shed

View of the rail switchbacks (where the tree lines are horizontal)

Closeup of the rail switchbacks

Another view of the inside of the dinky shed

We finally reached the location of the original cache on this mountain, the Thousand Steps Cache (GC59AF). I retrieved an awesome dragon geocoin from this cache which I will pass along on its journey. The best part of this location was the view at the overlook. Nothing short of spectacular, you can see the valley below where the Juniata River flows to the east, the main rail line to Pittsburgh, Route 22, and the town of Mapleton Depot. We paused at this spot for a long time to take in some photo opportunities.

Awesome dragon geocoin I retrieved from Thousand Steps Cache

Spectacular view from atop Jack's Mountain

A bit closer view of the Juniata River and the town of Mapleton Depot below.

My kiddos on top of the world (almost)

I can't believe I forgot my caching hat...

We moved on a bit further out the mountain top to another cache with was my younger sister's second first find of the day. We also saw a cool lizard on the way to this cache, 1,000 Steps for Ten Thousand Finds (GC2Z3MG), that was one of the biggest I've ever seen of its kind in this area. I lived in this county for 30 years before moving to Philadelphia and have never seen a lizard that large!

Mr. Lizard entertained us at the top of the mountain

My younger sis finds the last cache on the mountain

After a few more photos at the overlook, we began the descent back down the mountain. And I'll tell you, wow! It was twice as hard going down as I had suspected it would be. By the time we got to the bottom, my knees and ankles were killing me! However, I would do it again in a heartbeat and we all plan on doing it again next year. Hopefully, there will be some new caches somewhere to be found!

Cousin and cousin-in-law. My cousin then proceeded to attempt to heckle some rafters on the Juniata below. I don't think they heard him!

My two sisters. This also happened to be the 1 year anniversary that my younger sister introduced us to geocaching!

The descent begins. This was the last I saw of my son until we reached the bottom!

Passing the dinkey shed on the way down

Passing the 1000 step marker on the way down

Watch your step! One misstep and you may end up at the bottom of the mountain sooner than expected

The end of our FIRST geocaching adventure on Thousand Steps at Jack's Mountain near Mount Union, PA. I highly recommend this one!

Find #140 Quakers Resting (GC2KTMP)

2011-06-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

This cache is on my highlight list because this is the first cache that I found using my phone. I installed the Geocaching app for my Android a few months back and this was the first time I used it. Pretty sweet!

Geocaching app for the Android makes finding nearby caches easy

The Android Geocaching app allows you to open the details for the cache in an easy to read screen

I like the way that you can instantly look up caches near you, select one and read the details. Then to top it off, you just click the Navigate to Cache button and off you go! I used the map when I was some distance away from the cache and then switched to the compass to zero in on it's exact location. Very nice!

Clicking the Navigate to Geocache button on the Geocaching app allows you to find the cache in a graphic map mode or...

Switch to compass mode to get distance and accuracy readings.

Find #129 1015/Entropy (GCYVQK)

2010-10-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm putting this cache in this listing not because it is one of my favorites, but because it was my nemesis for quite a while. I found the first stage of this cache rather easily, however when I got to the final stage and I thought I found the right place according to the hints, it was nowhere to be found.

I don't think anyone will be driving this anywhere anytime soon!

This one is located in Smedley Park, Springfield, PA. Although, the section of the park this cache is in is relatively close to Media, PA. I returned to this cache multiple times scouring about a 50 + food area surrounding the final coordinates. Every time coming up with nothing. I finally contacted the owner and told them something was up who was no help what so ever and only wished me luck. On one occasion someone reported finding the cache so I returned again only to not find it once again. On this visit, I actually found a small scrap of what looked like used to be a geocaching sticker. After contacting the finder and questioning them, turns out they did not really find it and were newbies and didn't know the first stage was not it and put a piece of paper in it and signed it. Oy!

BMX jumps nearby this cache

I contacted the cache owner once more and informed him of this and still nothing was done. I told him I was not looking for his cache anymore until he confirmed it was actually there. A couple of months went by and low and behold an update was posted indicating the cache was there. I went to the site, not even using my GPS and found it instantly! I was relieved to check that one off my list! And it was the first on my run of 10 caches found on 10/10/10.

Find #128 Woodley Devil (GC15DFP)

2010-10-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

This was a very large 10 stage cache covering the major part of a park, if you can call it that. No trails whatsoever and a large amount of brush and swamp! No wonder they call it the Woodley "Devil".

This cache was memorable not just because it took a good part of the day caching, but I met up with fellow on-line caching friend BenamBenam3. It is always nice to bump into a fellow cacher, but to actually join one in a hunt is great! Several others were supposed to join us to tame the devil, but no other dared.

Things went relatively smoothly until around stage 3 or 4 when we ended up having to trudge through what amounted to a swamp to get to the stage. At least we didn't have to find containers, just small metal tags which were relatively easy to spot... most of the time.

We had some company at stage 6

We got hung up on stage 6 for quite a while. However, we amused ourselves by collecting golf balls and forming a golf ball "grave yard" of sorts. The woods at stage 4 were filled with them. Golfers must have used the adjacent field to practice their driving skills. I have to say that BenamBenam3 contributed the most to the pile. We also managed to find a toy machine gun which became BenamBenam3's prize possession!

BenamBenam3 and the infamous "golf ball graveyard"

Perhaps it was a sign of things to come when we got stuck on stage 6

We finally caved and called for some hints. Within about 20 minutes we finally found it. We were then able to move on and finish up the final 4 stages.

BenamBenam3 goes commando with the machine gun

After trying to dodge poison ivy on stage 6, BenamBenam3 went commando with the toy machine gun we found :) Too funny! We were quite glad to finish that one after it seemed that we dodged the poison ivy for nothing and were quite glad to get to the final stage and to have tamed the "Woodley Devil".

Newlin Mill Park

2010-09-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

This was an awesome little park that I never new existed. I was greeted in the parking lot by a buzzard that came right up to my car door. Of course as I dug out my camera to snap a picture, he scampered off. This place was the sight of a former grist mill and was a rail road stop on the Pennsylvania Rail Road. This park is currently home to 3 caches.

The falls at the Newlin Grist Mill

The blacksmith shop at Newlin Mill Park

Lot of trails at Newlin Mill

Some of the trails are on the old rail bed and is bordered by nifty little ponds, streams, and small waterfalls. I plan on revisiting this park even if there are no new caches there!

Some of our fine feathered friends

Former railway bridge on the old rail bed

Find #116 St. Davids Dome (GCMDFJ)

2010-09-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

I have driven by this spot many times over the past 15 years and I have always wondered what this structure was. Thanks to Geocaching and the placement of this cache, I had an excuse to get an up close and personal look. Very cool place. I always thought this thing was hollow, but it is solid rocks! Bumped into another geocacher as I had the cache open and was signing the log.

St. David's Dome - Villanova, PA

View from the dome to the north west towards Radnor, PA

View of the stone dragon across the hill

View from the dome to the north east towards Villanova, PA

Find #114 Rock n Roll (GCHT3J)

2010-09-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

This cache was hidden away in the heart of Ridley Creek State Park. Contained a awesome collection of CDs, hence the name. The nearby boulders were freakin' huge! That is what I remember most about this cache.

That was one BIG boulder!

Pictures don't do it justice...

Find #112 Bird bus (GC189Z8)

2010-09-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

I love visiting historical places and although this one was not significant, it was pretty cool looking none the less. This cache is also a memorable one to me because I had to think like a bird to get to it. It was kind of crazy!

Awesome rustic look about this place

Known as the "Square house"

100th FIND!! - More Railroad History ( GCZ58Q )

2010-09-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

My 100th! Wahooo! This cache took a while as it was scattered in three stages across about a 10 square mile area. The first two stages were historical sign markers. The last, being a micro cache was at the location of what used to be a old railway station.

Some of the old track can be seen in the wooded area

There are double tracks in the middle of the woods where the cache is located. It was kind of neat. Lots of old relics (along with some plain modern day junk) in this spot. I believe the old station or part of it is still standing nearby and is now a restaurant.

100th Find!

Find #99 He Was Mad! ( GCYQAF )

2010-09-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

This cache has significant historical importance as it is hidden on the former estate of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. General Wayne won his claim to fame during the Revolutionary War. He commanded the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment at the battles Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown.

Former estate of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne

He later led the Continental forces at the Battle of Monmouth. Followed later in the war by the Battles of Stoney Point and Green Spring. Stoney Point was his most successful campaign of the Revolutionary War. After serving as a statesman, General Wayne was later called back into service to lead forces during the Indian Wars at Fort Recovery and the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Wayne died in 1796 while returning to Pennsylvania from a western military post. He was buried at Fort Presque Isle which later became Erie, Pennsylvania. There was a blockhouse named after him which is still standing today.

His family later had his remains moved to the family plot in St. Davids Episcopal Church in Radnor, Pennsylvania which is the site of another related cache.

Find #87 REVOLUTIONARY WAR RUINS ( GC19FB )

2010-08-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

This cache is located at the site of a stand off between British Red Coats and Mary Taylor Frazier during the Revolutionary War. The British were planning to capture Colonel Persifor Frazier, but he had escaped. Mary stayed behind to protect the farm and property.

The location of the trail head to this cache is near the old Locksley rail station

The ruins of the old Frazier Farm

The ruins of the Frazier farm have been preserved in remembrance of the Frazier's fight for freedom. This site is located in Bonner Park in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

I love this plant. I would really like to know what it is called. I dubbed it the "lily pad tree". It looks like you are underwater looking up through lily pads.

Close up of the fireplace detail in the old house ruins

One of a couple of still standing stone piers which most likely marked the entrance to the farm

If you choose to walk the rail line instead of taking the trails, be careful because the rail lines are active and part of the West Chester Railway. It was once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. They give touring rides from West Chester to Glen Mills station.

Watch out if you choose to walk the rails to the cache instead of the trails. It is an active railway!

Find #85 The Look ( GC1E2AD )

2010-08-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

"The look" is located above what seems like America's version of the white cliffs of Dover called White Banks. This is a great view off of a rock cliff that is almost pure white in places. Unfortunately, when I found the cache at this site, it was vandalized and there was not much left but a plastic bag.

White Banks of Elk Neck

View out towards the remainder of the Chesapeake Bay and the open ocean. The small island is located just off shore of the lower point of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds

A view almost straight down from the top of the cliffs. The top part of the pic is not sky, it is water

View of the Havre de Grace area from the White Banks

Trail map of Elk Neck State Park

Find #80 Elk Neck-Best View Ever!! ( GC920F )

2010-08-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Located at Turkey Point at the very southern tip of Elk Neck State Park, this truly was one of the best views ever! There is a light house located at the point as well. This is a great place to visit even if you are not looking for caches!

Now there is something you don't see everyday!

The lighthouse at Turkey Point

Me in front of "The best view ever"

View of light house with the bay to the south

Find #78 Soaking In The Sun ( GC19A81 )

2010-08-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

This was my first Maryland cache find. A great view from the water's edge of Elk Neck State Park of the Chesapeake Bay.

Great view of the Chesapeake Bay from just off the parking area

Havre de Grace and Charlestown areas across the bay

The trails were very well kept and easy to use. There was lots of wildlife to see as well. Deer, hawks, and yes, snakes also. There was a great view of the Havre de Grace and Charlestown across the water.

I wasn't the only one using the trails that day. This deer didn't want to move very quickly.

All creatures great and small... notice the fly to the left of the butterfly

Great view from the cache site

Tug boat heading inland

Find #77 Waterfall Madness ( GC2DBYK )

2010-08-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

This was a great little waterfall and pool in the Aston area. One of my favorite areas I have visited so far.

Trail leading to the waterfall

Waterfall and pool

Nice little fishing area across the pool

The area looked like it may have been used as a canal. This may be the reason for the dam that forms the waterfall. Down stream from the falls is what appears like an old raised tow path and a canal next to the stream.

Close up of the falls

Nature's embrace

Possibly an old tow path and maybe a canal

Find #76 Phobia #7 ( GC124CB )

2010-08-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

This cache having to do with the fear of cemeteries, started off rather uneventful. This cemetery specifically, was Green Lawn Cemetery in Aston, PA. The GPS showed the cache in a wooded area next to the cemetery. I started walking through the woods to get to the cache. I noticed the ground was rather rough and bumpy for being such a flat forested area. Continuing on looking for the cache, I noticed in the distance in the woods, what looked like an odd rock. I then stopped realizing that something was note quite right. The object, it turned out, after looking around and seeing more of them, was a tombstone! The bumpy areas that I was walking through... were sunken graves! Ewwwww! That was such a nasty feeling. I am so glad I didn't try this as a night cache. I would have been freaking out for sure.

I turns out this was not the only area of the cemetery that was a tad over grown. This wooded area just happened to be the worst. Weeds over 3 feet tall covered many of the graves and markers in the main open cemetery. What was really sad is that some graves in the wooded area were only from the 1970's. I would love to know the story about how this cemetery got this way.

The shallow depressions are graves

The "regular" cemetery

Find #67 Remember Paoli ! ( GC8C4A )

2010-08-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

This was my first "virtual" cache where there was not an actual container to find, but an object that you have to have your picture taken next to. This location was the site of the September 1777 Battle of Paoli or "Paoli Massacre" during the Revolutionary War.

Monument where the soldiers were buried

After his defeat at Battle of the Clouds, General George Washington retreated to Valley Forge to regroup while the British prepared to sieze the city of Philadelphia. General Washington sent General Anthony Wayne and 2200 soldiers to intercept the General Howe and the British. Wayne's men encamped at Paoli awaiting reinforcements.

Site of the battlefield

The British learned of Washington's plan. At around midnight of September 20th, the Red Coats sneaked up on General Anthony Wayne's sleeping soldiers and attacked. Thus ensued the Battle of Paoli. Wayne's men were massacred and later the British moved on to capture Philadelphia.

Find #64 The New World ( GCPV5H )

2010-08-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

A bit of interesting history on this one. Philadelphia is known for Penn's Landing, the famous waterfront entertainment area where various historic and entertainment interests as well as fireworks displays are located. William Penn, the person whom Pennsylvania is named after since he started it on a land charter in 1682, did not actually first set foot at Penn's Landing, it was the spot near where this cache is located in Chester, Pennsylvania.

This is the sport where Pennsylvania was actually born when William Penn's ship landed here.

Find #55 Railroad History Part Deux ( GC1541Q )

2010-08-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to visit this site even before I knew anything about geocaching. It is located on the previous site of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, PA. A company that was responsible for a large number of the locomotive engines back in the hay day of steam power.

Baldwin Tower

As I pulled into the parking area in front of the still standing Baldwin Tower which was the office building for the company, an Amtrak Acela passenger train went whizzing by in a blur. Quite the contrast to the steam engines that were once manufactured here. Great stuff!

Abandoned tunnel under the existing rail line into Philadelphia

SEPTA passenger train rolling past the Baldwin Tower

Find #53 Psycho Suburban Cache #1: Abandoned Springhouse ( GCZY69 )

2010-08-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

The cache owner for this one... was absolutely nuts!

Inside the spring house

I'm not going to give away the location in case there are those who want to find it. But, you REALLY should not do this one alone. Let's just say you think "Nah, it could not possibly be in there". Well, it really IS in there!

View from the road

View from the top

Be prepared to possibly wade through water, scale walls, craw through tiny spaces, see absolutely nothing unless you have a flashlight... Take a first aid kit, cell phone, a week's supply of food just in case...seriously!

Another view from the top

My first logged "Benchmark" (JU0862)

2010-08-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

A few times in my life, I've come across strange metal disks either in concrete on sidewalks or on a bridge walkway perhaps and never really knew what they were. Through the geocaching website, I learned that these are "benchmarks" established by the National Geodetic Survey established by NOAA. They were primarily used prior to the advent of GPS systems. They are reference points know to be a high degree of accuracy and many are part of the National Spatial Reference System.

Benchmark JU0862

These reference points can also be posts or stakes in the ground or even the tops of church spires, water towers, radio antennas, etc.

The following is the original logged description of this benchmark I found:

01/01/1961 by CGS (MONUMENTED) DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1961 (JCC) THE STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 2.5 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHESTER, 2.5 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF ESSINGTON AND IS ON PROPERTY OF THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE JUNCTION OF U.S. HIGHWAY 13 AND STATE HIGHWAY 352 AT EDGEMONT AVENUE AND 9TH STREET IN CHESTER, GO EAST ON 9TH STREET AND U.S. HIGHWAY 13 FOR 0.42 MILE TO THE INTERSECTION OF 9TH STREET, MORTON AVENUE AND U.S. HIGHWAY 13. TURN LEFT AND GO NORTH ON U.S. HIGHWAY 13 FOR 1.34 MILES TO THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH FAIRVIEW ROAD AND U.S. HIGHWAY 13. TURN LEFT AND GO NORTHEAST ON SOUTH FAIRVIEW ROAD FOR 0.12 MILE TO THE INTERSECTION OF HAVERFORD ROAD AND SOUTH FAIRVIEW ROAD. TURN RIGHT AND GO EAST ON HAVERFORD ROAD FOR 0.43 MILE TO A T-INTERSECTION. THE INTERSECTION OF CRUM LYNNE ROAD AND HAVERFORD ROAD. TURN LEFT, NORTH, THENCE NORTHEAST AFTER CROSSING THE BRIDGE OVER THE RAILROAD TRACK AND GO 0.06 MILE TO THE INTERSECTION OF GARFIELD AVENUE AND HAVERFORD ROAD AND THE STATION ON THE RIGHT, SOUTHEAST, SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO REACH THE AZIMUTH MARK FROM THE STATION, CONTINUE NORTH-NORTHEAST ON HAVERFORD ROAD FOR 0.16 MILE TO THE INTERSECTION OF FORREST AVENUE, POWERLINE POLE NO. 417 AND THE AZIMUTH MARK IN THE NORTH-NORTHEAST ANGLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF FORREST AVENUE AND HAVERFORD ROAD. THE STATION MARK, A STANDARD DISK STAMPED HAVERFORD 1961, SET IN THE TOP OF AN 8-INCH SQUARE CONCRETE MONUMENT WHICH IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND. IT IS 210.0 FEET NORTHEAST OF A Y-INTERSECTION AT THE NORTHEAST END OF THE BRIDGE CROSSING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACK, 59.0 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF GARFIELD AVENUE AND HAVERFORD ROAD, 20.0 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE NORTH EDGE OF A CUT BANK AND 6.0 FEET NORTH OF A STANDARD METAL WITNESS POST AND MARKER. REFERENCE MARK 1, A STANDARD DISK STAMPED HAVERFORD NO. 1 1961, IS SET IN THE TOP OF AN 8-INCH SQUARE CONCRETE MONUMENT WHICH IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND. IT IS 113.8 FEET NORTH-NORTHWEST OF THE METAL WITNESS POST AND MARKER, 17.0 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE CENTERLINE OF HAVERFORD ROAD, 3.0 FEET SOUTH OF POWERLINE POLE NO 60 AND IS ABOUT THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE STATION. REFERENCE MARK 2, A STANDARD DISK STAMPED HAVERFORD NO 2 1961, IS SET IN THE TOP OF AN 8-INCH SQUARE CONCRETE MONUMENT WHICH IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND. IT IS 85.4 FEET EAST OF THE METAL WITNESS POST AND MARKER, 37.6 FEET WEST-SOUTHWEST OF POWERLINE POLE NO. 170, 26.6 FEET SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF A HOUSE, 14.6 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE CENTERLINE OF HAVERFORD ROAD AND IS ABOUT THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE STATION. THE AZIMUTH MARK, A STANDARD DISK STAMPED HAVERFORD 1961, IS SET IN THE TOP OF AN 8-INCH SQUARE CONCRETE MONUMENT WHICH IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND. IT IS 26.8 FEET NORTH-NORTHEAST OF THE CENTERLINE OF FORREST AVENUE, 22.3 FEET NORTH OF THE CENTERLINE OF HAVERFORD ROAD, 21.6 FEET SOUTHEAST OF POWERLINE POLE NO. 330, 4.6 FEET NORTH OF POWERLINE POLE NO. 417 AND A STANDARD METAL WITNESS MARKER FASTENED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POWERLINE POLE AND 1.6 FEET SOUTH OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF A HEDGE ROW AND YARD. HEIGHT OF LIGHT ABOVE STATION MARK 30.2 METERS.

Closeup of the survey disk

#51 Leiper Railway Cache II ( GC2BJB1 )

2010-08-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

"Leiper Railway Cache II" was neat in that it was located next to what once was the first surveyed railway in the United States. It was actually located across the creek from the Thomas Leiper House and Leiper Park. Thomas Leiper was the founder of the railway. It was used to haul stone from the Leiper Quarry. The old roadbed is now a gas pipeline, but the old quarry site remains.

What remains of the old Leiper Quarry

Statley tree along what remains of the Leiper Railway

I had the day before, found "Leiper Railway Cache" across Crum Creek near the Lieper House. I am currently in the middle of finding "More Railway History (GCZ58Q )" which is a multi stage cache involving the Leiper Railway as well as other railroad history.

The Thomas Leiper House and Leiper Park across the creek from the old railway site

Stage 1 of "More Railroad History"

Find #50! Maximilian Faktorowicz ( GC1KGTW )

2010-08-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

I reached the number 50 benchmark with a mystery cache. I had a hard time with this one as the puzzle didn't really make sense. I knew some of the information, but didn't really know what the puzzle was supposed to be. After sending a note to the cache owner and getting a little hint, I was well on my way to solving it.

Bizarre "spiral" tree along the trail to the cache

I wanted Leiper Railway Cache II to be my 50th since one of my loves is anything to do with railways and trains. This one was a lot closer and located next to Smedley Park in the Swarthmore College nature preserve area. I enjoy hiking or biking Smedley Park and the nature preserve, so I figured I would hit this one first for the day. It was great because I saw lots of cool things and I swapped some SWAG for a Mia Johnson CD, "Driver", which turned out to have some pretty good songs. I had never heard of her before. She is from the Philadelphia area. So it was all good that this was my 50th because another one of my favorite activities is listening to music!

Mia Johnson "Driver" I Highly recommend!

I took a wrong turn crossing over from Smedley Park, so I ended up on the wrong side of Crum Creek. Fortunately, the water level was low and I found a good spot to ford the creek. I saw a cool "spiral" tree along the trail to the cache which looked like a peppermint twist or something. Very strange. Even more strange was when I stumbled upon a tennis court in the middle of the woods. At least it seemed that way, but it turned out there was a house not too far up the hill through the woods. It was a bit surreal though thinking that I came upon a tennis court in the middle of the forest.

Cool looking old tree

Tennis court in the middle of nowhere