NoVAGO's "Summertime and the Livin's Easy" Event Event Cache

Man, oh, man do we have a great time when we get together!!! Please join us for our summer event- a pot luck meal, some caching and time spent trading stories!

This summer's event will be held in the Vint Hill Farm Station's shelter located in Fauquier County. A short drive out 66/29, it is centrally located between Warrenton caches, Bristow caches and Conway Robinson caches.

Come One ... Come All ... to a relaxed, informal event where the only requirement is to have a good time!

Of Course, everyone is welcome from newbie to the most experienced cachers. In addition to our MGS friends, we would especially like to extend an invitation to our neighbors to the south, the Fredericksburg and Central Virginia geocachers and any other cachers who may be in the area and want to drop in.

What better place to be on a summer day in August than a geocaching event where you can get good food, lots of nearby caches, and have the opportunity to share your experiences with a great group of cachers.

* NoVAGO will provide the hamburgers and hot dogs, while the rest of the food is potluck, provided by event attendees! Keep in mind that even if there are 100 people showing up, you do not need to bring enough to feed 100 people! If 100 people bring enough to feed 100 people, that's way too much food, even for us!

* Please post your Will Attend log with: 1. What you intend to bring. If you don't know now, please post it as the event gets closer so we can keep track of who is bringing what and try to fill in holes. A list will be posted periodically for you to see what others are bringing. No dish, dessert or drink will get turned away! All food is welcome! and 2. How many people you are RSVP'ing for (so we can get an accurate head-count).

csouser - Cookies
Cabar Feidh - Starbucks Coffee
JasonAndCarol - Cookies
MooseMaMa - Chips, Dessert Salad, Cold Drinks, 1 pkg ea Hotdog/Hamburger Buns
2Wheel'in - Charcoal, Lighter, Grill Tools, Plates, Flatware, Paper Towels, Cold Drinks
KJCachers - Potato Salad, Drinks
jajvennett - 3 Bean Salad
Twister60 & Marmon69 - Cold Water, Chips
kgazette & Saberspark - Pasta Salad, Jell-O Dessert, Plastic Flatware
two000miler & Fionaby - Ice
TeamObbie1 - Birthday Cake (Lori's 41st)
jb71 - Hamburger & Hotdog Buns
Milomarvelous - Cold Drinks, Chips
Jeffnerner - 2pkgs ea. Hamburger & Hotdog Buns, Brownies
rob3k - Dessert Item & Side Dish
cphug184 - Condiments, Buns, & Tablecloths
Troop 1899 - Chips & Dip
Nemo Consequentia - Pickles & Sweet Ice Tea w/cups
JamesBolling - Macaroni Salad & (maybe) Brownies
CacheDetectives - Hamburger & Hotdog Buns, Utz's Potato Chips
TheVanDucks - Cold Drinks, Cookies
WWCD - Gatorade & Side Dish
Photo_gal - Cookies
fishershill1864 - Macaroni Salad and "Dirt" for dessert
zgrav - Ice & Soda
screamywill - Baked Beans
wetfit - Watermelon
LostDogsArlington - Vegetarian Main Dish
rob3k - Orzo Salad & Cupcakes
BaseBall Mom - Case of Water & Dessert
JessSea & Pengie123 - Chips
in for the long haul - Fresh Salsa & Chips
snowjn - Cookies
FamilyPePe - Asian Slaw

* Please do not log travel bugs into the event and leave them on a table to be retrieved by other cachers. If you'd like to trade TBs, please do so from person to person. This way they can all be accounted for and none get left on the event page and deemed to be MIA.

* Pets are permitted provided they are leashed and not loose.

* Silent Auction: As all NoVAGO members know...NoVAGO is a "free" organization, there are no dues, membership fees, or financial obligations of any kind. We graciously accept donations at some of our events, and one time each year we hold a Silent Auction (which so far) has allowed us to continue meeting our social and website goals. Well, this is it.... the BIG one...the Silent Auction -- All proceeds to go NoVAGO to cover expenses such as website hosting, pavilion rentals, etc. If you're not familiar with the Silent Auction concept...just stay tuned to the Events Forum on the NoVAGO website. A topic will start immediately after this event is published, and complete details will be spelled out there. Not only is it fun to bid on items up for auction, but it's also a great opportunity for members to support NoVAGO by donating an item or two to be auctioned off. In past years there have been GPS receivers, FRS & GMRS radios, ready made caches (Nano to Large), ready to release Travel Bugs, rare unactivated Geocoins, software, guided cache tours, cache owner "hints", etc. Please note that cash is the only thing we can accept, so if you see an auction item you like, and plan to bid, bring extra cash with you to the event. We cannot take IOUs, checks, or credit cards. Some of this years great items are: Project A.P.E. Geocoin, Geocacher University Geocoin, Earth Geocoin, CITO Geocoin, Accompanied cache hunts (3), New Magellan Explorist 210 GPSr, Holiday Geocoin Set, Local Treasures "Geocaching Across America" Book, New Camo'd Ammo Cans (2-stocked and ready to place), Lot of 4 Micro Containers, NoVAGO Sachel, Geocaching Bag, Pathtag Display Plaque, Virginia Geocoin, Hand Carved Hiking Staff w/TB Tag, Pair/set of FRS/GMRS 2-Way Radios, 2 Custom "zLab" Caches,...and much more. See the Auction Catalog in the NoVAGO Events Forum.

The Area
Earliest information is from 1772 describing the land as covered with vineyards. In 1860, Andrew Low and his wife purchased the land and started to raise prized horses and cattle for show. When the war broke out, he flew the Union Jack- the British ensign- signaling neutrality. This claim that was honored by both sides throughout the war. The main house was completed after the Civil War and is nearby (see waypoint). The farm stayed in the family until purchased by the US Army in May 1942.
During WWII, was a signal station, conducting electronic eavesdropping using antennas on over 440 acres of the facility. They "listened in" on transmissions from Nazi Germany. After WWII, the base listened to transmissions from embassies while collecting intelligence from listening posts throughout the world.. The base was closed in 1996.