As the holidays roll around I find myself
getting nostalgic and wanting to do all kinds of inexplicable
things that I blame on the spirit of the season. Some years I
end up hunting down chestnuts and sitting in front of an open
fire waiting for them to finish roasting, a highly over-rated
experience in my book, but I may have been doing it wrong,
other years I find myself trekking way out into the woods on
our farm to seek out the perfect Christmas tree, cutting it
down and ruining it by dragging it all the way back to the
house.
Well, this year I am starting out with
something a little different, that I hope to make and annual
occurence. I had a silly idea for a cache, but I thought it might
bring a smile to some of my fellow cachers faces, so I figured why
not go for it. So this cache is my gift to you, the Middle
Tennessee geocaching community, I hope you enjoy the hunt and that
it brings a smile to your face and maybe even a little holiday
twinkle to your eye. This cache will also make a great break from
the consumer craziness of the season, so if you find yourself
losing it dealing with the crowds at the mall, just make the short
drive out to this park, and see if this one doesn't lift your
spirits and get you back into the spirit of the season.
If the mood strikes you, take a picture of
yourself at the cache and post it with your log. Not a requirement,
just a request, if you have time you might even include a Holiday
caching memory in your log. If you don't have any holiday caching
memories, then use this opportunity to create one, you might even
want to drag the kids out to this cache with you, I think they
might enjoy it and that would create a great memory for all of you.
The cache is located in Winstead Hill Park about 300 feet off of
the walking trail, and should be fairly easy to find.
I thought I might offer a short poem to help
you get into the spirit of the season, so Happy Holidays and Merry
Caching, I will be looking for you out on the trail...
"A Visit from
Monkey Claus"
Twas the
night before Cachemas, when all through the park,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a lark.
The caches were hidden under parallel sticks with care,
In hopes that Monkey Claus soon would be there.
The children were nestled all
snug in their beds,
While visions of new Garmins danced in their heads.
But Scoot in her jacket, and Grimm on patrol,
Had just settled in for a short winter’s stroll.
When out in the woods there
arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away through the woods I flew like a flash,
Bushwhacked off the trail, seeking the cache.
The moon on the breast of the
new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, with a geocache so
near.
What’s this in the woods, the
sight gave me pause,
I knew in a moment it was the work of Monkey Claus.
More rapid than eagles the cachers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Moses! now, Southpaw! now,
RobertLipe and Dimples!
On, JoGPS! On FullCT!, on Angelflye and Mr. Simple!
There on the hill, went out his call!
Now cache away! Cache away! Cache away all!"
As dry leaves that before the
wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the hilltop the cachers they flew,
With the pack full of gadgets, and CITO bags too.
And then, in a twinkling, I
heard in the leaves
The sounds of bushwhacking coming through the trees.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Through the bushes Monkey Claus came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur,
from his head to his boots,
And his clothes were all covered with leaves and with roots.
A bundle of McToys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a geocacher, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his
dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was covered with snow.
His old GPS he held tight in
his hands,
For many times it had led him on the bumblebee dance.
He had a broad face and a still ample belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, so big
and so hairy,
And I hid when I saw him, he seemed so darn scary!
But a wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went
straight to his work,
And hid a new cache, then turned with a jerk.
And placing his fingers inside of his ears,
And giving a nod, from the woods disappears!
He sprang to his Excursion, to
his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good-night!"
I hope this helps get you into
the holiday spirit, to keep things going why not join Scoot and I
at the
Middle Tennessee Geocachers Club 3rd
Annual Holiday Potluck Dinner (GCZ9XQ)