Adventure+Narrative

The Geocache Adventures of the Civil War Geo-Busters

 On November 1st in the year 2017 it was a warm fall day, the leaves were beginning to turn, and two female college seniors by the names of Kimberly and Victory set out for an adventure. You see their college careers were slowly coming to a close and they wanted to do something as a lasting impression before they walk across the stage and graduate. So the two girls grabbed their iPhone’s, set a pair of coordinates in the GPS system, jumped on the car and were off to start their adventure. The two girls anxiously followed the GPS instructions in great faith it would lead them to some great treasure or even some great secrets from the past. They didn’t care they were in it just for the thrill of being on an adventure and finding something cool or of great significance was a bonus in the girl’s eyes. After about 15 minutes of riding in the car impatiently the girls made it to their first destination, upon arrival the girls excitement grew. Both girls jump out of the car, and hit the ground running. Once again following the GPS instructions to the T the girls knew they would stumble upon something great. But they quickly noticed there was an issue with the GPS, it wasn’t making any sense, it took the girls all over the place and they ended up empty handed.

 It seemed as if they had come to a dead end early in their adventure. However, the girls did not give up, nor did they lose hope. Kimberly had stumble across another pair of coordinates, “Look at this one Victory! We could tie a lesson in with this cache if it works out!” Kimberly put them into the GPS system, and once again the girls were off. These two weren’t quitters and were determined to make this the greatest adventure of all time. The girl’s road in the car for about 20 minutes until they came upon their next destination, this destination happened to be an old battle field. “I can’t believe this has been here and we had no idea.” Victory expressed. Kimberly and Victory jumped out the car, and both girls quickly began searching. This time both girls knew without a doubt they were about to find something that would change the entire dynamic of their adventure. The wandered around the building only to come and realize that the cache was hidden inside. The times on the outside of the museum informed the girls that it had closed at 4:00. By this time, it was about 4:15. “I can’t believe we missed it.” Kim sadly said. Just as the girls began to feel defeated again, the door to the Averasboro Museum opened!

 A man and a woman stepped out and there was a sense of hope in the air again. “Hi,” Kimberly said reaching out her hand, “My name is Kimberly Hall and this is my classmate Victory. We’re students from Campbell University and are planning to become teachers. For our Social Studies Methods class we are going on a geocaching adventure and it says that there is one here.” The woman stepped away, but thankfully for the girls the man was a southern gentleman and allowed them to enter the museum and showed them the cache. The nice gentleman then provided a mini lesson on the battle and the girls found out that Victory’s geography teacher is on the committee of volunteers that work to keep the museum running and the historic influence of the Battle of Averasboro alive.

 Just across the way from the museum is hidden another geocache. There is a cemetery where the brave men and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Averasboro are laid to rest. The sun was beginning to set on the cool autumn evening as the girls said goodbye to the intelligent retired social studies teacher still keeping history alive. The girls hopped in the car and drove to the cemetery. It is surrounded by farmland and the souls rest safely inside a black metal fenced square. It looked clean and kept. There was a brick seating space, assumably for tours and presentations. Still on a high by the fact that this battle took place in their backyard the girls entered the Chicora Civil War Cemetery. The air was crisp and most of the light now came from the surrounding light posts. A motion censored video began to play startling the girls. “Lets just get the cache and get out of here!” Victory said shaken. They found camo painted PVC pipe under a tree, signed it, and called it a night. On the ride home the girls plotted how any teacher across the state could find a geocache in their region that is tied to this great project put together by the NC Civil War Museum.

 Now, fast forward to November 6, 2017. The third member of the Civil War Geo-Buster team was able to join the mission. Kimberly found a third geocache connected to the collection that was also connected to the Battle of Averasboro. Her, Melania, and Victory set out to find their next cache. They arrived to a field. There was a sign, plenty of prickly bushes and trees, and an arrow on their GPS pointing them to their next adventure. “People are going to look at us like we’re crazy. This is more open than the others,” expressed Kim. “Who cares!” Melania replied. “Let’s Go!” and so they went. It became clear that this cache would not be easy to find, or perhaps the girls were over thinking it’s location. The young ladies wondered around the sign, shined lights in and around the bushes, and probably walked in a million circles trying to find this cache. Eventually, Melania peaked at the hints on the geocaching cite. It was then determined that someone was going to be pricked to get through the trees and behind the sign….. heads turned toward one another. It was as if someone was about to pull out some straws and the shortest straw would have to enter the darkness. Until, Melania remembered, “Guys, I have a blanket in the car! That’ll help!” She ran to the car and wrapping the blanket over her shoulders put her back to the tree and peered behind the sign. Stomachs began to turn as the anticipation of finding the cache boiled inside them. “I don’t see anything.” Melania said disappointed. Once again, it was as if things were not working out. “But, the cache was logged a few days ago, it has to be here.” Victory explained. “Let me check Mel,” Kimberly helped Melania out of the tree and wrapped herself in the blanket. She stepped into a tree encased whole with a giant blue side closing in the opposite side. Looking down first, she saw nothing. It was a small dark space. “Where is this darn thing.” she thought inside. “There! I found it!” She hollered! “It is up in the tree!” “Yes!” Melania and Victory celebrated. Kimberly made her way out and the girls ran back to Melania’s jeep to sign the log. Kim returned the cache and the girls made their way back to campus.

 Although, there was one more stop to make. To celebrate completing their hunt the girls went to Sherry’s Bakery and indulge in some tasty sweets. They’re teachers working to keep the love of learning alive and to keep the history of their region alive, that is reason to celebrate.



Check out additional pictures form our adventures here!

Home Page