Horse Fever

Recently I was up just south of Ocala doing some caching and the last cache of the day was, LAC21 Don't speed here (GC21KPC). Just up the road was something that caught my eye. This statue is called “Old Glory” and can be found at the entrance to the Padua Stables on U.S. 301, in Summerfield.

I immediately recognized what was in front of me. This statue and others just like it were created by the Marion Cultural Alliance in 2001. The series was called “Horse Fever” and included 52 life-sized fiberglass horses decorated by area artists. They were displayed around town for months before they were sold at an auction that raised $1.2 million for charity.

So when I got home I looked up the locations of the other statues and checked to see if there were any caches nearby and set my mind to have some fun on my next caching trip. Now some of the statues have caches very near them, and some have them on the way and close by. You can go on line and find a map that will show you the locations of the horses. Most are still right around Ocala, some are just a short drive away.




















The four horses shown above can be found in the Ocala Downtown Square and they are Travels (top left), Scenic Wonder (top right), Life Force (bottom left), & Aggie (bottom right) The geocache, Downtown Ocala - GC25TC9, Is right across the street. If you plan your trip well you can use this area as a place to break for lunch and visit one of the local eateries that are in the area.

Now this trip was really quite fun and I would definately suggest it to any Geocacher who wanted to do some side trips while caching. It was almost like two treasure hunts in one. Finding the cache and then finding the Horse.




(left) Brick City Fever Futura Fury (right)




Of course while I was in Ocala I did do some other caches as well and in doing so came across a nicely hidden gem. Hole In The Wall - GCA8EA, is a virtual cache and like most caches of that type are worth going to.










Ocala is very big and there are lots and lots of caches there. I discovered a wide variety of styles and in two trips to the area I have just scratched the surface. So take some time and go up to Florida's horse country and see what you can find.


More discoveries await...

Parks large and small

Recently I had the opportunity to cache in an area that I seldom find myself in. we were heading down to St. Cloud. On the way there was a potential first to find just off Co Rd 530 down near where it meets the 417. Amazingly enough the cache was still unfound and we scored the FTF. Great way to start the day. There was a few nearby caches that we would grab before leaving the area to get to St. Cloud. One I was excited about because it was in an Environmental Protection Area (Over the hills and through the woods...Storybook GC23FG9 by Coasterfreak11) and it looked quite interesting.


We followed the obvious path down to where the coordinates were leading us. We came to a break in the fence right about where we needed a break and went in. The ground was quite wet in placed but not so bad that we could not continue.

The day was still young and the weather was cool so the short hike was enjoyable. We worked our way through the trees twisting and turning as we needed to all the while following our GPS never knowing what lay in store for us just ahead.



Now let me tell you that this picture does not do what was in front of us justice. That was the Rio Grande down there and our choice was to turn around or cross that make shift bridge. Use your imagination to picture the two little beings on my shoulders. One a little devil with a GPS unit telling me that the cache was worth it after all and well, it was just over there. The other, a little angel reminding me that I recently fell out of a tree while retrieving a cache and at least that time I had the ground under me. After much waffling it was decided that more study was needed and away we went. Sometimes the better part of valor is to chicken out.

So we continued on our way to St. Cloud one less smiley but at least we were dry. When we arrived we did some caching around East lake Tohopekaliga. We only intended to walk a little way and then reposition the car and finish the rest. Again the day was so good we just walk the entire distance. Only after we got the last one did we regret doing that. Could not do all that walking in the summer. Whew. Now the first park was the big one. One of the last caches for the day was in a park in the older section of St. Cloud. This one, Year of My Birthday GCMV7G by Loadbank, was in a micro park. This park dedicated in 1947 to the veterans of all wars from St. Cloud was not much bigger than my living room.










I love parks and it has become customary that we visit at least one when we cache. Obviously that is not hard. So another great day of Geocaching comes to an end. This stuff never gets old.

More discoveries await...

North bound on Highway 17

They say on the seventh day God rested, I think he went Geocaching. So if he can do it on Sunday so can I. I got up earlier than usual today and met up with a friend so we could head up to Palatka. There were a few caches on the way so we got those. One of them ( Quickie GC23KMF ) was across the highway from an old abandoned warehouse that used to ship oranges. This warehouse was in the book Weird Florida by Charlie Carlson. It is a great book and I know at least a few of the locations mentioned in the book have geocaches nearby.


The reason Palatka was chosen was not only because there were caches there but as it turned out, the Azalea Festival was going on this weekend. Also Ravine Gardens State Park in there also. Either of these would be ample reason to visit. This was the first time I had attended the Festival and except for the gyro that was made with something that was NOT Tzatziki sauce ( darn those fake Greeks ) it was a great day.

Ravine Gardens State Park has only one cache in it and it is an Earth Cache (Ravine Gardens State Park EarthCache GC13KM9 ) This was the first time we had ever attempted an Earth Cache and I would love to tell you about a happy ending but I am not the Brothers Grimm so no smiley on this one. However it is NEVER a loss visiting the Gardens. Although you can drive around the park, occasionally stopping at an overlook to see what there is to see, If your up to the very long walk I recommend the hike.



Palatka is a very nice place. It has beautiful churches, eerie cemeteries, ( for those of us who just can not stay out of that sort of thing ) waterside parks and a historic downtown filled with quaint shops and interesting eateries. Check out any side street to see some magnificent murals that have to be seen to be appreciated.









I love cemeteries. The only thing better than a cemetery is one that I have not been on or perhaps did not know was even there. Now I know this sort of thing is not for everyone but add a cache to the mix and now we have a party. We did two cemetery caches today one was in Palatka ( CacheGravedigger GCRE0Z ) and one was on the way home. ( Resting Place GC1NT5D )

What a day! Too bad, just like this blog, it has to come to an end. Oh well you know what I say...

More discoveries await.

Beginings

OK. Just at the start I have an admission. I have never blogged before. That's right I am a newbie. Just a few short weeks ago I would most likely have made some smart comment about blogging had I been asked if I had ever done it. My how times change.

What I have done is this great thing called Geocaching. You may have heard about it, you may have done it. If you are really fortunate you will check into it, maybe even because of this blog, and be hooked on it just like the rest of us ( and we are legion my friend ) I have been Geocaching since April of 2009 after hearing about it from several friends.

Geocaching is an online hobby that uses GPS coordinates to locate containers or "caches" that are hidden all over the world. These containers can be REAL small or REAL big and at least have a log that you sign to prove that you were there. Then you go online and post a note also to say you were there. This is of course a very simple explanation of what Geocaching is. For more information go to Geocaching.com, you will not be disappointed.

One of the things I love most about Geocaching is that because they are all over the place it takes you to places you may not have been to or to places you "always" wanted to go but never got around to it. Sometimes it may be a beautiful lake or park. Sometimes it could be some left over remnant of some bygone era. Many times you may see some animal life you just never know.

This is what my blogs are going to be about. The strange and yet beautiful. The unusual things that we come across be they animals, buildings or whatever. I can not promise you Sasquatch but it will not be because I did not try.





This image above is one of my favorite discoveries. The cache owner here, Geofam32174, has all the information on the cache's web page (What Might Have Been GC1G0Y8) so although in the future most of my information will be from my own research that is not going to be the case here.

This structure was built as a grand entryway for the Rio Vista subdivision platted in 1926. The subdivision was owned and developed by William Hardesty, who had made his fortune with the Hardesty Manufacturing Company (an Arts & Crafts furniture company, in Dover, Ohio). Plans included a canal system for residents to move around upon inspired by those in Venice, Italy.


Hardesty had moved to Florida in 1922 to deal in real estate. By 1927, a hotel, thirty-eight homes and over fifteen miles of paved roads had been developed. But this all came to a halt upon the advent of the Great Depression.

What you see is listed as an endangered historic property in Volusia County. The major threat to this structure is neglect. Come see it while you can!





For more than 80 years these Corinthian pillars have stood by waiting to welcome someone home. No one came. Some day they will no longer be here. Nature is ever so patient but she never loses. On the day I took these photographs dozens of red breasted Robins were flying all over.

More discoveries await.