For many, Presidents Day conjures up images of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree or Abe Lincoln building a log cabin. Truly, our first and sixteenth Presidents were great and inspirational men and worthy of a day of celebration. With virtues like fortitude, patriotism and statesmanship, they are a model and an inspiration to us all. Presidents Day is not just another day off, or a chance to buy cheap bed sheets, it is the perfect opportunity to go somewhere off the beaten path or take in a local geo-event.
This weekend, only three Geocaching Events are scheduled and all are happening on Saturday the 18th. For the early risers, at 8:30am in Western Jersey, there is GC3B9YF:Western Jersey Cachers Meet & Greet! The cache page explains: "While there are very successful and well-administrated regional geocaching groups in New Jersey, none of the “big 3” (Northern, Central, and South) really apply to the central/western portion of the state." To my way of thinking, this area is really part of SEPAG, and we need a new website.
A little bit later in the day, between 9 and 11am, there is an opportunity to meet the new Maryland Geocaching Society's newest officers at GC3B443:MGS "Meet The Officers" Meet & Greet 2012 From the cache page: "This is a great opportunity for folks to get together, share and exchange ideas, and talk about the upcoming year. We would like to invite everyone who has an interest in the game of geocaching to come and join in. You do not have to be a member of the MGS to attend."
The final event on Saturday is a dinner event in New Jersey, between 5:30-8:00pm. Some cachers would argue that the 1000th cache is not that big of a milestone any more, citing that it is possible to log up to 200 caches in a day with power trails springing up all over the place. In spite of these arguments, getting that 1000th caches is a milestone worth of celebration. You can visit with the newest member of the 1000+ cache club at GC3BX3V:Ranger Lynn's 1000th Cache and offer your congratulations. A golden ammo can is always an appropriate and appreciated gift, I treasure mine.
With no organized geo-events locally for the remainder of the weekend, you will have to plan your own adventure. I recommend a visit the Hay Creek Watershed Area which straddles Chester and Berks Counties. The crowing jewel of this area is GC7F81:Stately Tree. This was Ed Scott's first cache placement and it is still legendary after nine and a half years. February really is the best time to visit as the weather is cooler and the multi-flora rose has not started to bloom.
You will have an epic adventure, just like these cachers, who set out from their comfortable homes in Chester County. The eight member group contained a mixture of different geocaching skill levels and each member had their own reason for coming along this fateful Monday. For some, it was to relive the glorious adventures of the past, the epic EdScott-A-Thon of 2006. Others came with a cocky sense that Ed Scott caches were over hyped and overrated. And still others just want a leisurely walk in the woods.
Presidents Day, Monday February 16, 2009 will forever be etched in this groups collective memory as the Presidents Day Massacre. Half of the group would make the "toughest short hike in Berks County" while the other half were content to come within a quarter mile of the mythical Stately Tree. The Hay Creek Watershed is a patient teacher and had a lesson in store for each member of this hearty band. The Hay Creek Watershed has a lesson for you too.
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