Across Sussex by hostanut

Across Sussex
by hostanut
Photos by hostanut

The Delaware Geocachers January Edition featured an interview with Preston Littleton aka hostanut. As is the custom in our interviews we asked him if there was a Delaware Geocache Site he would like to see reviewed in a future edition. He recommended one of his own sites - Across Sussex. We agreed. This is a site that should be featured. Then came the second surprise.

As we began correspondence to gather background information on the site, hostanut supplied enough information that he essentially wrote the review!

Across Sussex is a virtual cache. Geocaching.com no longer approves this kind of cache so the only examples you'll find are those that have been "grand fathered" , that is, if they already existed before the rules changed, they are allowed to continue. Because new virtuals are not being created, that listing of new caches most of us get will not be showing any of this type. So those new to geocaching may not have encountered this type before. It's time they did.

A virtual cache is one where there is no cache container at the end of the quest. Instead the virtual cache will take the geocacher either to one or several places where there are beautiful, and often intriguing sights to be seen. The virtual cache also includes some kind of challenge. Often this challenge requires the geocacher to examine an area to discover facts about it. Sometimes these facts will be on signs posted on or near the site. Sometimes the facts will be some feature of a building or area. The facts you are asked to discover are always listed in the description of the site. Therefore its a good idea to make a paper copy of the site description before you hit the road and start seeking.

Once you have discovered the facts, the creator of a virtual cache usually requires the geocacher to e-mail them with the discoveries. The virtual geocache creator will respond, also by e-mail, and let you know if your discoveries are correct. At that point you can log your find. It is considered very bad form to include any of the answers to any of the discoveries in your log entry.

With all the history that abounds in Delaware you would think that there would be an abundance of virtual caches in this state. Instead the number is modest. But what we lack in quantity we make up for in quality. Across Sussex is a great example of that.

When we asked Preston Littleton (hostanut) how he came to create Across Sussex he responded:

"When a friend of mine asked me if I knew there was a tombstone at a particular place, I immediately thought of using it for a geocache since it was a unique location for a grave. When obtaining the coordinates for this spot, I discovered that the tombstone was actually a Sussex County historic marker. What a perfect final location for a multi-stage cache!

Since it was a Sussex County marker it seemed appropriate to require cachers to travel to other Sussex County locations to gather “digits” to create coordinates for the final “hide”. And so Across Sussex was born."

A good place to start would be near the first settlement in the first state. The first stage requires you to travel to the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delaware.

http://history.delaware.gov/museums/zm/gallery.shtml states:

“ The Zwaanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the state's first European settlement, Swanendael, established by the Dutch along Hoorn Kill (present-day Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) in 1631. Designed by E. William Martin (architect of Legislative Hall and the Hall of Records in Dover), the museum is modeled after the old stadthuis (City Hall) in Hoorn, the Netherlands, and features typical 17th century Dutch design elements including a stepped facade gable, terra-cotta (baked clay) roof tiles, carved stonework, and decorated shutters. The very top of the building's front features a sandstone statue of David Petersen DeVries, leader of the expedition that founded Swanendael. The face of the building is decorated with intricate sandstone carvings, including the coat of arms of the city of Hoorn. “

Note: Although you do not have to enter the museum to find the required “digits”, the museum exhibits provide a historical insight into the area.

Nearby is Cape Henlopen State Park. While you are doing Across Sussex don’t forget to take some time for other nearby caches

An act of the Delaware General Assembly moved the Sussex County Seat of government from Lewes to a location near the center of the county. This location at "James Pettyjohn's old field" was named Georgetown in honor of Commissioner George Mitchell.

Likewise, you will move from Lewes to Georgetown just like the County Seat did years ago to visit the original Courthouse building to discover more “digits”.

Next you will continue on to a town whose original name is similar to the name of the town that this tour started in.

Bethel, which began as Lewisville, grew into a shipbuilding town because of the deep water of Broad Creek and the nearby oak and pine forests. Bethel is the home to the Chesapeake Bay Schooner Ram, a sailing schooner that required less water depth to navigate. This opened trade to often inaccessible areas of the Chesapeake Bay. The “Edwin And Maude” (renamed “Victory Chimes”) is the last remaining ram that was built in Bethel that is still sailing (homeport is now Rockland, Maine).

Next you will proceed north of Seaford to visit the Governor Ross Mansion and Plantation.

This plantation once contained 1400 acres but is currently comprised of 20 acres, a 13-room mansion (c. 1859) and several outbuildings, including Delaware's only documented log slave quarter . The mansion and plantation is now owned and operated by the Seaford Historical Society. Victorian Teas, the Towne and Country Fair, and Victorian Christmas are just 3 of the annual events held at this location.

Governor Ross, the only Delaware governor from Seaford, was instrumental in getting the railroad extended from Dover to Seaford.

After you have obtained the correct missing numbers, the coordinates will lead you to a marker where this story began. This cache can be enjoyed any time of the year. "

In December Delaware Geocachers reviewed the 10 Oldest Caches in Delaware. While Across Sussex is not one of them, it is one of Delaware's older geocache site. Hostanut placed it in December of 2002 and it was approved on December 25. That rather makes it a Christmas present to all Delaware Geocachers. Unfortunately to-date only about 25 geocachers have completed this virtual cache. Perhaps we've all gotten so used to seeking out those elusive containers that we've overlooked the fun and adventure that can be had through doing a well crafted virtual. Or maybe it is the distance involved. After all you do have to drive across the width of Delaware. Still there are those of us who think nothing of driving from Lewis to New Castle or vice versa to do an interesting cache so a drive of less than 40 miles should not be a barrier when you have the opportunity to take a good look at a most interesting part of this state and to learn a little history while you are at it.

With the creation of Across Sussex Hostanut has crafted a well designed virtual cache. Let's see if we can double the number of entries in its log.