Caching in Newport, NC and the Croatan National Forest 10/9/2009

Friday we drove south to Newport, NC to do a few caches and then to the Croatan National Forest for a few more. Our first cache was at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office in the woods and next was a cache at a local farm set up as a small zoo. Then we drove to the forest for a travel bug hotel cache and another cache in the woods. We sure didn't like walking off the trail after seeing the sign on the entrance "please use caution this area is home to biting insects, poisonous snakes and plants". Then we did one more cache in the forest at "Bob's Sinkhole and this was a Earthcache. We had to get some information from the sign and take a picture to log the cache.
Bob’s Sinkhole is a Cover-Collapse sinkhole. Conditions for a cover-collapse sinkhole happen slowly over time. As the hole in the limestone grows, a layer of clay and sand is left bridging the hole. The clay layer can completely collapse if stretched too thin and too much weight is applied from above, or if too much groundwater is drained from the area. Although these subsurface changes occur slowly over time, the surface collapse can occur suddenly, resulting in a sinkhole.
Over 36 million years ago, this Coastal Plain region of North Carolina was under a vast see. Crushed bones and shells of animals as well as decayed algae that once lived in this sea created a limestone rock layer. The waters of the ancient sea receded and the layer of limestone, known as the Castle Hayne Formation, was buried beneath layers of the clay and sand.
When rain falls through the atmosphere, it combines with carbon dioxide to form a weak carbonic acid which soaks through the soil dissolving the limestone layer. As the limestone layer dissolves, caves and holes under the ground are formed.
That was it for the day as we then stopped at WalMart for some groceries and were on back to the coach for the afternoon and evening.
Well that's it for today so we will close and we love you all. Mom & Dad Dori & Dick