On Saturday, at 8:00AM, we will have several semi-competitive,
somewhat organized, get lost in the woods, geo-fun kinda caching
activities (Please see the details about The Gauntlet and
the Poker Run below and please register on our
Florida Finders
Fest web site - it's FREE!.). After the caching activities, the
Northeast Florida Geocachers
Association (NEFGA) will be serving cooked animal, an
assortment of side items and ice cold drinks. No need to bring
anything for dinner, but attendees should plan on bringing their
own food and drinks for the rest of the day and/or weekend.
The posted coords are for Cobb Camp in the Osceola National
Forest.
THE GAUNTLET
We have placed a series of caches along a beautiful trail in the
heart of the Osceola National Forest. The posted coordinates are
the "Departure Point" where there is parking
available. Teams should gather there and will be given the
necessary information and coordinates. Teams will then be taken to
the "Starting Point" and abandoned... er, I mean,
dropped off.
From the Starting Point, teams will hike back to the
"Departure Point". From there they will be
transported back to the Departure Point.
Along the way it will be necessary to find all the placed
caches (which will be activated after the event).
Also, there will be a list of "Targets" to find to
earn "Bonus Points". These will be scavenger hunt
type items. Some are existing features and some will be planted
just for the event. In addition, there will be a number of special
items placed at points along the trail. They will be numbered. Each
team will draw a number unique to their team and will need to
locate and retrieve the special items bearing that number for
additional Bonus points.
Points will be calculated as follows. First of all, it's golf style
scoring - the lower the score the better. The number of
minutes it takes to complete The Gauntlet will be
your Base Score. To that will be added Penalty
Points for any caches DNFd. From that total, we will
subtract the Bonus Points. The lowest score
wins!
It is HIGHLY recommended that you form teams of 6 adults. The trail
has many spots where it is possible to take a wrong turn. If a team
has to focus all its attention on staying on the trail it will
likely miss a lot of targets. And vice versa. Therefore, there is
an advantage to having a larger team allowing delegation of
attention. However, due to logistical requirements, all team
members must be able to fit in two Jeeps, which can each seat a
driver, plus 3 adults, semi-comfortably for a short trip. We can
probably squeeze in a few kids (literally) on top of them. In any
case, the drivers will be comfortably seated. Transportation to the
starting point from the end point will be provided as will
transportation from the End Point back to the Departure Point. You
only need to worry about getting to the posted coordinates,
which are easily accessible in any 2wd vehicle. It is
on a well graded gravel Numbered Forest Road.
IMPORTANT -- There are a limited number of team slots available.
Should we run out of slots, preference will be given to teams of
six members and in order of receipt of registration. We reserve the
right to combine teams and add members to teams to create teams of
six members. So form full teams and sign up early. Please use
The Gaunlet registration page to register the name and
composition of teams.(Teams that participated in last years
Gauntlet with fewer than six members are welcome to do so again
this year.)
What to Bring - Each team will need a GPS and a Digital or
Instant Camera. Also, a clip board may be handy as there will be
some reading and writing involved. Walking/poking sticks will be a
big help. Water is probably a good idea too. There will be an
"Oasis" stop along the way, sponsored by the
Spacecoast Geocachers
Association (SCGA). Water, fruit and snack bars will be served
by our delightful and vivacious Oasis Hostess, but depending on
your needs, you may want to bring more. And bug spray. Lots of bug
spray.
Trail Conditions - The trail is mostly firm and dry. There
will be little if any bushwhacking involved.
Time/Distance - The total distance will be approximately 5
to 6 miles but that is still being finalized.
Weather - We are having regular discussions with TPTB (i.e.
we are praying) for good weather, but we plan to go rain or
shine. I mean, after all, we'll be back at base camp
warm and dry regardless. Besides, weather should be viewed as part
of the adventure.
Starting Coordinatess - If I told you that I'd have to kill
you. They will be provided to teams as they start, beginning at
8AM at the posted coords on the day of the event.
Prizes - We are assembling a selection of prizes. There will
likely be geocoins involved.
Trophy -
The Best Cacher In the Land - Traveling Trophy Will be awarded
to the winning team.
BEST GEO-SHIRT
A prize will be awarded on a Team basis for the best
Geo-shirt. To qualify for the best team shirt award, all members of
your team must have the same shirt (or shirts of a similar theme)
and your team must participate in The Gauntlet.
POKER RUN
There will be a Poker Run for those not wishing to
participate in The Gauntlet, and for those ambitious enough to do
both.
Twelve geocaches will be placed throughout the Forest. Seven of
these caches will contain a token. Participants will find the
caches and retrieve the token. Those who find all twelve caches
will receive an eighth token. Poker play will be Five Card Draw.
You will exchange your first five chips for a hand of five cards.
If you have additional chips, you may discard up to three cards and
draw an additional card for each additional chip. For an added
twist, there will be a list of several scavenger hunt type items.
Teams finding these items will have the option of converting one or
more of their drawn cards to a wild card. High poker hand
wins!
PRIZES: We are assembling an array of prizes. Participants
will select prizes from the prize table in order of the strength of
their hand until all prizes are awarded.
The list of caches and scavenger hunt items will be distributed at
8:00AM. The last hand will be delt at 5:00PM
COINS! COINS! COINS!
This year's event coin design has
been completed. Please see the design to the right. The coins
will are trackable on geocaching.com. They will be made in antique
silver. There were also be a Limited Edition version made in
antique copper that will only be available as prizes and swag or
activated and released at the event.
The price of the coins will be $12 for the first coin and $10 for
each additional coin ordered. To place your order, please send an
email to:
joemerchant@floridafindersfest.com
Include your geocaching name and the number of coins you are
ordering. We will be sending Paypal invoices as the orders come in.
Coins will not be shipped. They will be distributed at the
event. |
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CAMPING
Cobb Camp is a "Hunt Camp". Camping is primitive. NEFGA will be
sponsoring a number of port-o-lets.
IMPORTANT> > > >REGISTRATION < < <
< IMPORTANT
Please register on our Florida Finders Fest
web site in addition to posting your "will attend" here. There is
registration for all attendees and a separate registration page for
team participating in The Gauntlet. Registration is
FREE, as is participation in the event, camping, The
Gauntlet and the Poker Run.
THE GREAT TRAVEL BUG AND COIN RACE 2007
The Fourth Annual Florida Finders Fest will be the starting point
for The Great Travel Bug and Coin Race. A race that
will span the globe and continue at a grueling pace for a whole
year. It will conclude at the Fifth Annual Florida Finders Fest.
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SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
