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Lincoln Highway and Route 66 Intersection Virtual Cache

Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   virtual (virtual)

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Geocache Description:


The description is in a two-column table. Depending on which app you use, you may need to scroll left and right to read it all.

This virtual cache was FTF Friendly. As the cache owner, I granted any geocacher posted a FOUND log that met the Additional Logging Requirement on the date this cache published permission to claim a First to Find.
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On Thursday, June 6, 2024, KC_11 and gsmX2 met on this corner in Joliet, IL, once the intersection of the Lincoln Highway and Route 66, and now the intersection of “The Lincoln Highway AL Series” and “Historic Route 66 AL Series.” The first begat the second, and both started a worldwide trend of creating similar series. I am using my Virtual Reward 4.0 to highlight the point where these two highways intersect.

The additional logging requirements are

  • Use the GCHQ Message Service to send me the two years on the pillar and the 8-letter word between the crosswalk control button and below the crossing instructions.
  • Post a photograph taken from the location in your log. DO NOT include the dates on the pillar.

NOTE: I reserve the option to delete found logs that do not meet these requirements or show the relevant information in the photograph.

LINCOLN HIGHWAY

The Lincoln Highway is one of the first transcontinental highways in the United States and one of the first highways designed expressly for automobiles. Conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher and formally dedicated on October 31, 1913, the Lincoln Highway runs coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City west to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. By today’s standards, the term Highway is a misnomer. West of the Mississippi River, few roads in the cities were paved. The highway ran through farmers’ fields. In 1919, Dwight Eisenhower led an Army convoy along the highway to test the ability to transport troops from coast to coast. It was a difficult trip and may have led to President Eisenhower signing the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act in 1956.

ROUTE 66

Route 66 is likely the most famous highway in the world. It was featured in Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath,” Nat King Cole’s rendition of “Route 66”, a short-lived television show of the same name, and most  recently is Disney’s production of “Cars.”

Even today, nearly fifty years after it was decommissioned, thousands of visitors worldwide will drive, ride motorcycles, and bicycle the historic highway to relive its romantic past and bypass the convenience of I-55 and I-40. The Facebook Group, Historic Route 66 has over 251K members and dozens of daily posts from people planning, doing, or completing their journeys on "The Mother Road."

LINCOLN HIGHWAY AL SERIES

KC_11 had an Adventure Lab Credit and was looking for a way to use it. He contacted two friends, CanisMinor and JohnCNA, who also had credits, and proposed they could link three together to draw attention to the Lincoln Highway in central Illinois. Friends contacted friends, geocaching associations contacted geocaching associations, and KC_11 coordinated with each of them to keep the project organized and moving forward. When GearGuru from GCHQ got involved, the project surged forward. He issued 10-location credits to be used exclusively for this project.

From August 2020 to May 2021, 98 geocachers created 113 Adventures with 1046 locations to visit from New York to San Fransisco with some alternative routes in California.. gsmX2 created one adventure in Nevada. I am thrilled to be part of this project.

HISTORIC ROUTE 66 AL SERIES

After gsmX2 created a Lincoln Highway in the “middle of nowhere” Nevada, he headed home thinking, “Someone should do this for Route 66,” which soon became, “I should do this for Route 66.” He asked GearGuru at GCHQ two questions, “Has anyone contacted you regarding Route 66?” and “Would GCHQ be interested in asking for a friend.”
“No" and "Yes” were the answers. 

gsmX2 did not want to coordinate the entire project like KC_11 had, so he designated eight State Coordinators who divided each state and recruited “reliable and task-oriented” geocachers to create Adventure Labs.

Within six months, 88 geocachers created 94 Adventures with 886 locations. KC_11 has two Adventures in Illinois. I couldn’t be prouder of the team.

Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oevat dhnegref sbe gur cnexvat zrgref.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)