Entry for August 31, 2008 - Poynette, Wisconsin

As I began today, I had 97 geocache finds credited. My goal was to make it to #100 today.

I chose the Poynette area as there are some new caches placed this year, one of them being in an area I have enjoyed hiking once each year since I was first brought here searching for a geocache. That was 3 years ago. Rowan Creek Fishery has around 3.5 miles of relatively level trail. It takes you across boardwalk bridges to several islands of higher ground within a marsh area. It is a mixture of wetland and forest as yo walk around. I did not bother with my wide lens on the camera today as I have many photos of the scenery from prior years. I used my long zoom lens with high-hopes of capturing wildlife. The hopes were even higher when I had to brake along US Hwy 51 just south of Poynette as 3 whitetail does were crossing the road. No camera ready.


Upon arrival, I walked directly to my primary objective, a new geocache placed along the Pine Island trail loop.

It was not that difficult to find. I added a ziploc bag inside because it was pretty moist. Dropped in a travel bug picked up last weekend also. (I did some urban caching in Sun Prairie also this week and dropped my other TB on hand in a cache Wednesday night) That was #98.


Then I realized I left my cache-sheets in my Jeep. I made sure to walk back there to get the sheets on the way to the next targeted cache, clear at the other end of the trail system in a city park within Poynette. I feel awkward when I am unable to record my find times and notes immediately.

I walked past the other 2 caches I logged in prior years. I tried to revisit one, but the area has become overgrown with new pines to the point that I could not locate it. Well, I have new ones to go get instead...

Since I was not seeing any critters to photograph today, I tried capturing the flowing water in the creek. Even the trout were hiding today.


I walked clear to the eastern end of the trail, which ends behind the sewage treatment plant. There is a city park located on the land around it, and 2 new caches to find there. I did not take photos of the first of the next 2, but #99 had me puzzled on how to get it out of it's hiding place. I also did not see any way to open it to sign a log, so I assumed you just log online. On to the big #100.

In one of my prior years visiting this park, I tried walking to this park and looked for a cache called "Pauquette's Prize". I did not find, as some muggles got too close after I was looking for too long. Now that cache is archived, and a new one is placed in about the same place. This one by the luck of the order today became my 100th find.


This photo was after I dug it up. Yes it was buried in the dirt almost fully, and I missed seeing it in it's cubby-hole on the 3 prior times I peered inside. I rehid it with out burying it this time.

On the way back to my parking spot, I missed a chance for photographing some cranes flying overhead (I was in pine woods right then) and really there were not even turtles in the pond full of scum today. I did finally see some mallards eventually.


I did walk the entire trail, and it recorded as 3.5 miles.


The walk overlaid on an aerial photo.

I decided to go for a bonus cache (#101) right along Highway 51 on the drive back home. This is along Rowan creek on the east side of Poynette, instead of the west side where I was before. Another fishing area, and a pretty difficult 1/2 hour of searching for it. The cache is actually screwed to the wood scrap.

Well, that was it for today. I was on my way home by 1pm. Maybe I will have better photos next weekend.