Geocaching has become an extremely popular activity. It allows participants to combine the technology that we love with the great outdoors.
Park visitors enjoying learning about geocaching
In the case of the New River Trail Jr. Rangers program, they gave the program a unique identity. The Jr. Rangers Treasure Hunters created a Geocache called Foster Falls Treasure during the summer of 2010, every year when they come back to do the program they update the log books as well as general maintenance. The summer of 2011 they created a travel bug called JJ and Neptune, placed in the cache and it has since then traveled 431.3 miles on its way back to First Landing State Park.
The last entry into the log says, “Found first cache with my son! I think J & J want to go to Disney!” Cheftrey
Here is the story of JJ and Neptune and there travels to get to New River Trail State Park:
Travel Bug #: TB4K7WZ
JJ and Neptune
The Lost Sea Horses
by Jr Rangers Naturalist , 2011
“As in all stories there has to be a beginning,” the storyteller said with a smile. Well you get the idea! “So here goes”.
There once were two brothers named JJ and Neptune. They were sea horses who once lived very different lives. They did not have a care in the world as they swam in the ocean, but one day things changed. They found themselves living in a luxury suite in a hotel in Chicago…of all places it was a water bed. To them, time wasn’t a factor. As a matter of fact time didn’t exist. Day after day they swam there wondering, fearing what would happen to them next. Together they came up with a brilliant idea. “JJ,” Neptune said, “we need to find a way to get back home.” “I’m already ahead of you brother,” said JJ. “What’s your plan?” asked Neptune. “Well the way I see it if we cause lots of trouble,” JJ says. “Well go on,” said Neptune. “They will have no choice but to take us back home, right?” Well you can only imagine the mischief those two caused throughout the entire hotel!
After a while the manager of the hotel had had enough of their foolishness. While attending a hotel function the manager bought a fifty-fifty ticket with JJ and Neptune in mind. You see the top prize was a trip to planet Septune which would be perfect. Not only would it get rid of the two brothers it would put them out of this world!
On the way back to the hotel, the manager passed several alleys, store fronts and park landscapes. Just so happened the last one he came to sitting right in the center was a wishing well. The manager slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a shinny new penny. With a quick flick of his thumb the penny went spinning towards the water. “Please let JJ and Neptune win this trip,” the manager says. That night the manager received a text message. Imagine the manager’s surprise when the fifty-fifty ticket was chosen! The next morning JJ and Neptune would be on their way to planet Septune. In total disbelief at first; the manager became filled with excitement. He rushed out of the hotel… didn’t even try to flag a taxi. He just ran and ran until he reached the Worldly Travel Agency where he cashed in the fifty-fifty ticket for the first shuttle out of there.
When JJ and Neptune awakened, they were no longer swimming in a water bed. They noticed all the flashing lights, switches and levers. “Where are we?” asked Neptune. “I-I’m not sure,” says JJ. Just as the words left JJ’s mouth, the sea horses felt vibrations and heard the rumble of the rocket ship as it began to lift off. Whoosh! A deep rumbling noise filled the air. It seemed to last forever; however it was only just a few brief minutes. They began to feel the weightlessness of space. They felt as if they were plankton floating through the gentle warm ocean currents. Splunk, cough, snap and pew begins to sound from the engines. “Oh darn,” says JJ. The rocket ship was screaming and hurling towards Earth. JJ and Neptune were yelling and shouting like little children.
For a moment all the world looked so big! Neptune at one point says, “I believe I can see the waters in which we came from JJ.” Everything was so surreal; the blues, the greens and the whites. Oh how marvelous! It seemed as if everything stood still. “Uh Neptune, Neptune, NEPTUNE!” screamed JJ, “snap out of it man. Look!” Both started screaming. Ah, Ah!
The storyteller paused. You see for those few moments Neptune was spaced out in space…marveling at the beauty of the world. They were headed for a landmass the size of Nevada! The two sea horses abandoned the rocket ship.
With JJ and Neptune’s luck as it were, they landed smack dab right in the middle of a Las Vegas motocross race! JJ turned to Neptune shouting in a panic, “Swim for your life man!” Unfortunately there was no water- just mud from the motorcycles. Just when things seemed grim, they realized the weightlessness of space had not worn off. They began to glide and speed along the air currents as if it were water. Faster and faster they zoomed towards the finish line. Vroom! The motorcycles inched closer. One motorcyclist with a bad knee, a bad back and a bad attitude almost passed the sea horses. “Come on Neptune,” shouted JJ. “I’m right on your tail,” Neptune screamed. “So am I!” yelled the motorcyclist. With tails linked together, the sea horses gave one final effort and fell across the finish line!
The storyteller sat back with a smile. “Yes my friends JJ and Neptune won the race.”
With their prize money they bought tickets for a Geocache. They hoped it would help them return to their home under the sea. Just outside of Vegas they passed a wishing well where they flipped their last penny…
So please help JJ and Neptune return home to the sea by Geocaching them to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Thank you for all your help.
Jr. Rangers
New RiverTrail State Park
New River Trail State Park, 176 Orphanage Dr., Foster Falls, VA 24360; Phone: (276) 699-6778; email: newrivertrail. Learn more about park offerings by calling 1-800-933-PARK or email resvs.