This is another milestone cache on the Coyote Creek Trail. The Coyote Creek Trail is one of the best multi-use trails in the Bay Area, and it deserves more caches. This is another installment in my quest to correct that deficiency.
If you've been on the Coyote Creek Trail before, you've undoubtedly seen this water flume coming down off a small hill near the schutzhound facility. No this is not a waterslide. Don't mistake it for Raging Waters. Don't even think about using it as a waterslide. It's a a continuation of the Coyote Canal on the other side of the freeway, which brings water from the upper part of Coyote Creek below Anderson Dam to this lower part of Coyote Creek below. There's a short paved service road that leads from the trail, goes up the hill, then turns into a gravel road at the top. This cache is hidden right next to the gravel road. DO NOT ENTER OR CROSS THE CHANNEL! There's no need to, and it's dangerous. You get a nice view of the Coyote Creek Trail, Coyote Ranch, and the north Coyote Valley from up on the hill.
This service road can be filled with thistles in the summer. Unless you are wearing chaps, if you see a wall of thistles, come back another time. The road is cleared periodically.
If you hear gunshots, don't worry. Field Sports County Park is across the freeway. (visit link)
Update 4/16/09:
This was originally a full-size container at the top of the hill by the top of the flume, but after repeated muggling, I had to downsize it to an M&M's tube. It's lower down and hopefully should be less appealing to muggles. At the time I hid it, I only had a logsheet and pencil in it.
Update 1/16/11
The cache broke. I replaced it with a pill bottle in a greener location.
Update 10/19/14
I replaced the temporary cache with a permanent one. It is much larger, so I had to hide it better. It is longer, but narrower, than a film can. It has room for tiny trading items. It contains a pencil and a Santa Claus pin. Check the hint if you need help. Make sure it can't be seen by muggles when you replace it.
Update 8/27/17
I checked on the cache. It was still there, but vegetation growth made it harder to reach. I re-positioned it so it would be easier. I updated the hint.
Update 1/3/24 I went to check on the cache, couldn't find it, so I replaced it with a larger version in a slightly different and more secure location. It's a little harder to reach. The new cache has a pencil.