2009-03-21 39 -88

Sat 21 Mar 2009 in Decatur, Illinois: 39.7980280, -88.4404097 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

The day's coordinates fell in a newly-plowed field bordering some railroad tracks. Brett, Alejandro, and Lucas met with Nathan and Jian Feng, who arrived after visiting the 2009-03-21 39 -87 coordinates an hour earlier.

Meetup

After a few false starts, Brett, Alejandro, and Lucas departed from the UIUC campus and drove south along US-45. Meanwhile, Nathan and Jian Feng were continuing their quest for a time-traveler achievement by following US-36 west from the 2009-03-21 39 -87 coordinates. Both groups arrived soon after 4:00, within just ten minutes of each other.

Railroad tracks conveniently provided a path toward the destination. The group set off, noting that the disused rails were unlikely to carry trains that might interrupt the geohashing expedition. Rusty spikes, discarded railroad hardware, and even an old raincoat were scattered among the sleepers. Alejandro also found an unfired shotgun shell. This was the second time he came across ammunition while geohashing.

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  Alejandro, Nathan, Jian Feng, and Lucas walking along the tracks

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  Lucas balancing on the rail

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  Railroad spikes and shotgun shell

The tracks took the group to within a few hundred feet of the coordinates. When they got as close as possible, Nathan, Jian Feng, and Alejandro left the tracks and hiked across a newly-plowed field. It did not take long to reach the precise location. They planted two marker flags next to two of the railroad spikes. Unfortunately, Nathan

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  Nathan, Jian Feng, and Alejandro entering the field

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  GPS showing arrival at the coordinates

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  Jian Feng and Alejandro holding the marker flags

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  Flags and railroad spikes marking the location

When the trio returned to the tracks, Alejandro decided to disassemble the shotgun shell. He used Brett's pocket knife to slice open the casing, revealing a plastic spacer. The "business end" in front of the spacer was filled with steel shot, and the back was filled with flakes of propellant.

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  Alejandro opening the shell

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  Shot

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  Propellant

The group then returned to the cars, took the group picture shown above, and began the trip home. On the way, Brett, Lucas, and Alejandro noticed a sign saying simply, "Historical Marker". They were intrigued by this terse sign and stopped to find out what history occurred. They found a point at which Abraham Lincoln gave a speech when departing Illinois for the White House.

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  The historical marker (click for text)

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  Lucas at the historical marker

So thanks to geohashing, the day yielded an interesting hike, a science experiment, and a history lesson.