2014-06-10: Road Trip Day #4 New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania

Day four of our 2014 summer road trip and we picked up 12 caches in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. One of the reasons for driving up this way was to go Geocaching in NH and VT. Now we have found Geocaches in 49 of the 50 states! The only one left is Hawaii. But that's for another adventure...

Our first stop and cache for the day was just down the road in West Burying Ground 1772, located in West Chesterfield, NH. Not much is known about this cemetery, but we did find a couple of headstones dating back to the late 1700's.

From there we continued westbound on Hwy 9 across Vermont. We grabbed a couple of quick caches during gas or food stops, but nothing worth noting. But just before we crossed the VT/NY border, we saw this huge structure sticking out above the trees and had to investigate. It turned out to be the Bennington Battle Monument. It is the tallest structure in all of Vermont and commemorates the Battle of Bennington that lead to the turning point in the Revolutionary War. Turns out there was also a Geocache hidden here as well.

OK, so here's another great story and reason for Geocaching. After leaving the monument, we crossed over the border into New York. Several miles down the road, that probably millions of people have passed by without even noticing that it's there, was a virtual Geocache. The reason was to give notice to this single headstone / monument for Mike Kane. "Killed here by unknown assassin July 26, 1930."

Further investigation by other Geocachers have found that Mike Kane was a Bennington taxi driver and was murdered along Route 7 near the Stone School House. His murderers were not caught until 1936. A Mr. Pencus and a Mr. Franco were arrested, convicted and sentenced. A Miss Mark was also arrested and charged. She turned state evidence and was not prosecuted.

Going further west, we arrive in Albany, NY, the state capital to view some of the sites and find 3 virtual Geocaches. The first was the King Memorial Fountain, designed by Scottish sculpter J. Massey Rhind. Second was the Women Veterans Memorial, followed by a geometric sculpture near the Empire State Plaza. We also took some time to walk around and admire some of the architecture in the area.

 

By now time was against us and it was getting late in the afternoon. I wanted to make it down into western Pennsylvania for the night, but I also wanted to make a few quick stops by some historical mansions along the Hudson River. Because it was late, we didn't have the opportunity to tour the inside. We did get to view the grounds around the outside. They were the Ogden & Ruth Livingston Mills Home, the Vanderbuilt Mansion, and the FDR mansion.

Now it was time to drive off into the sunset and into the evening to get halfway across Pennsylvania. It was a full, fun, and adventurous day, full of beauty and history! And we're only halfway in our road trip. Time for sleep! 

2014-06-09: Road Trip Day #3 Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

On day three of our summer road trip to New England, we found 16 Geocaches in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Our first stop was this statue located in Windsor, CT. It is of Major John Mason who was born in England in the year 1600. He immigrated to the New World in 1630 and founded the towns of Windsor, Old Saybrook, and Norwick. He was the Magistrate and Chief Military Officer of the Connecticut Colony. He died in 1672. This monument was erected by the state of Connecticut in 1889. This is just another example of the great benefits of Geocaching. You learn so much history!

Across the street was the First Church, the oldest Congregational Church in Connecticut. Its beginnings trace to 1630 in Plymouth, England, where 140 men and women sailed on the Mary & John bound for the colony of Massachusetts. Hearing from the indians of the fertile land along the Connecticut River, a small contingent of settlers, including the above mentioned Major John Mason, headed southwest establishing the first Connecticut town of Windsor in 1633. In 1635 the First Church congregation ventured from the settlement in Dorchester, MA and joined the rest in Windsor, CT.

Next door to the church is the Historic Palisado Cemetery which is home to the oldest legible gravestone in Connecticut. That gravestone belongs to the Reverend Ephraim Huit who died in 1644.

Heading further north up the road along highway 159, we passed by this "Drastic Park" made from scrape metal on the side of someones front yard. After stopping for a quick photo opp, I checked my phone and lo and behold there's a Geocache located there as well! A magnetic hide-a-key located inside the mouth of one of the dinosaurs.

Just a few more miles up the road near the Bradley International Airport, was our next to Geocache stops. The first at the Connecticut Fire Academy and this memorial to the brave men and women who put their lives in danger for others. Next door was another cache at the New England Air Museum.

Crossing over into Massachusetts, we made it to our next Geocache located at the entrance to Forest Park, in south Springfield, MA. There we found what had to be a 20' totem pole carving of Omiskanoagwiak, the Wolf People Medicine Man of the Pioneer Valley Indians.

From there, we detoured a little to the east to grab another Virtual Geocache. Most geocaches have an actual container and logsheet to sign. A Virtual Geocache was allowed in the early days of caching for use where a container could not be placed. Like the above medicine man statue was a virtual. It required emailing some information requested from the plaque. But they no longer exist to create new ones and when one gets archived, it cannot be re-created. So we always look for these types and sometimes go out of our way just to find one.

The next one was in the town of East Longmeadow, settled in 1744 and known for its sandstone quarries. There we found a stature called "The Quarryman" honoring those who quarried red and brown sandstone from over 50 quarries during the 1800's.

From there we continue on I-91 north to Holyoke, MA and stopped along the Connecticut River to view the dinosaur footprints. This was the location of an Earthcache. Similar to a virtual, there's no actual logsheet to sign. You read and learn about the location and then email the required information.

A big lizard was here!

The trail leading to the dinosaur footprints.

The next stop on the list wasn't much of a photo opp, but a piece of history. The virtual cache location was a piece of land with a large boulder and plaque. The plaque reads: "This boulder stands on part of the original home lot of Moses Hutchinson, one of the first five settlers of Old Pascommuck. On May 24, 1704, Pascommuck Settlement was attacked by Indians. Of the 33 people then living in this region, 19 were killed, 8 escaped, 3 were rescued, and 3 were carried captive to Canada.

Further up the road gave us a chance to stretch our legs and do some hiking. The next several Geocaches were located within the 400 forested acres of Mt Holyoke and J.A.Skinner State Park. Upon the mountain was the Summit House built in 1851, a memorial for a WWII plane that crashed here, some great views, and even some early graffiti! Yes, there was a name and date carved on one of the boulders from 1873. This carving went undiscovered until the 1970's.

Two more stops in Old Deerfield and in Greenfield for two more virtual caches. Old Deerfield was Indian land called Pocomtuck, settled by men from Dedham in 1671. Attacked by Indians, burnt and abandoned in 1675. Reoccupied and attacked in 1704 by the French and Indians, who took 47 lives, and carried off 112 captives to Canada, of whom 60 were later redeemed.

Finally, we settled in for the night at the Riverside Hotel located right alongside the Connecticut River on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont. A beautiful view from our room overlooking the river and the end to another great day of Geocaching, adventure, hiking, and history.

The view from hotel room.

From the old bridge looking back at hotel.

Ain't she pretty!

2014-06-08: Road Trip Day #2 Virginia to Connecticut

On day two, we wake up in Southern Virginia, get some breakfast and continue on up I-95. Our first Geocaching stop was a few hours north at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine in Guinea Station, VA. Accidentally shot by one of his own men during the Civil War at The Battle of Chancellorsville. He was brought here to recover, but caught phenomenon and died a few days later.

Although Candy and I find history very interesting, the grandkids were no longer amused and just wanted to get to Maryland. We wanted to take them into Washington D.C. to show them some sites, but we too had gotten weary of their "I'm bored" comments and looked forward to dropping them off. So we looped around the beltway and dropped them off at their fathers in Westminster, MD.

After saying our goodbyes, we quickly got back on the road and headed for The Big Apple: New York City! It was Sunday afternoon now and I was hoping to view the city and be out of there that evening before all the Monday traffic.

What a great time visiting the city. We parked over by the water at Battery Park and began walking through the streets. We got to see the newly finished GZ memorials, the Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and more. Just a glimpse of the city and realizing we'll need to come back someday and spend an entire week!

That evening we hurried out of the city on up to West Haven, Connecticut for the night. Another great day in the books!

2014-06-07: Road Trip Day #1 Florida to Virginia

YIPPEE! Vacation time! Which means a Road Trip is in store! We have only 4 things to accomplish while on vacation. Drop Candy's grandkids off at their fathers house in Maryland, get at least one Geocache each in Vermont and New Hampshire, and get a really cool Geocache at this old train bridge in Pennsylvania. The rest is purely spontaneous.

Our first stop after spending the first few hours driving north on I-95 out of Florida, is the Smallest Church in America. Located in Townsend, GA off I-95 at exit 67. this Smallest Church in America was built in 1949 by Agnes Harper and deeded to Jesus Christ.

Our next stop up the road just off I-95 near Savannah, GA is a very popular Geocaching Travel Bug Hotel. This one is more than just a larger Tupperware able to hold some trackables. This one took some creativity and imagination to assemble. It's even got a front desk, clerk, and rooms to check in to!

Next stop and not far away, is a virtual cache located at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Getting our picture with the F4-C Phantom gives us credit for finding the Geocache. This was one of 3 planes on the grounds and free to view.

Just across the border into South Carolina, rests the next virtual Geocache on our route. This 1910 wood burning locomotive was on display and a bit rusty!

Continuing our drive up I-95, we detoured again for a little piece of American History. The Sheldon Church Ruins was originally built between 1745-55. Then during the Revolutionary War, burnt down by the British Army. After the war it was rebuilt. However, only to be burnt down again by the Union Army during the Civil War! So they just left it as it was. Although it is still used today for special events and services. It must see place to visit the next time you're traveling up I-95 through South Carolina.

Next stop further up in Manning, SC was this mural painted on the side of one of the building in town. There are several murals around town that depict Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion and his battles against the British Army in and around Clarendon County.

Continuing northbound to I-95 exit 181 in South Carolina, we stopped to view this old cotton press built in 1798. Again another piece of history learned thanks to Geocaching.

Finally in an effort to make up some time from all the stops, we continued straight on through North Carolina and just into Virginia to find a hotel for the night. Time for some rest.

Until tomorrow...

2014-05-24: In and Around Ocala, FL

Today's adventure brought us up to the Ocala, FL area. Though this time we had two of Candy's grandchildren (ages 12 & 9) with us. Our original plan was to go Geocaching and hiking up the Ocklawaha Visitors Center and Trail. The Ocklawaha Trail is located between the city of Ocala and the Ocala National Forest off State Road 40. That was the plan anyway...

After a short hike and just 2 caches later, the older child started complaining that his ankle was hurting. So back to the trailhead, the car, and plan B.

So we decided to stay along S.R. 40 and find some roadside caches. After about 10 of those, yeah you guessed it. The kids were bored. I did manage to pickup 4 ticks, Candy and the 9 year old each got one. Off to plan C...

I decided to drive over into Ocala to Scott Springs Park where they not only had a virtual cache, but they also had a playground. So after a short walk over to see the springs, we hit the playground for a while before making our way home.

Feeling like a kids again!