October 13, 2002 Old Sawmill Pond Trail Excursions to: A Short Walk Through a Wetlands Area

Sawmill a.k.a. Your Browser's Cache   The first part of this geocache took place on-line (we had to search through HTML source code to find the coordinates). Once we got the coordinates, we found a nature trail right next to a corner of the Microsoft campus (and close to our house). The cache was placed by a group of kids from a summer geocaching camp.   There are signs at the start of the trail that explain the wetlands rejuvenation and why its important.
Many of the log comments on this geocaching page said that they had no idea this was here. We didn't either. But then, there's no marker at the head of the trail, and with trees and foliage like you see to the right....well, it's tough to see the pond and wetland area until you're right on top of it.   Note that there's not a cloud in that blue, blue sky (quite unusual for Autumn in the Seattle area!). For mom -- that tangled mass of undergrowth is blackberry bushes, with the last berries of the season still clinging.
A neat tree outcropping, above the pond. If you look closely at the bottom of the picture, you'll see two ducks.
And here's a close-up version (see the reflection of the tree formation in the water?)
Cindy stepped off the path and braved the stinging nettles (the weeds that are in front of her legs). The log looked to be a likely geocache spot, but when she turned around to look at Jeff on the boardwalk....
She spotted the cache beneath the planks where he was standing. :)       This was a quick and easy one that we hit on our way out of Redmond. Next up for the afternoon, a bog and a beach.

Photos & Information Uploaded: October 16, 2002