Remember Bruce those were not my words! All I know is what I have read on cache pages. And having just placed an Earthcache and jumped through some very interesting hoops with DOT, I have no idea why this decision was made by someone in Augusta, I presume.
It is clear to me, DOT wants NO physical cache placements near or on bridges from the conversations I had with several folks in that department. I was working to meet Earthcache requirements (you must document permission for the cache by name/postion and contact information) for the Formation near the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge.
I agree with Bruce about "preserve the land for the people, but they don't want you on it!".........there are certainly worse activities happening in them thar woods than Geocaching! Their logic makes no sense.
What blew me away this weekend is on the roads we traveled (and paid a fee), the lack of Maine vehicles - oh there were a few - but there were more from out of State. How could the folks owning the gate complain? -- $5 per head unless you are a Senior or under I think it was 12....... And should something happen they have everything on you by License plate number. I didn't even give them my name and they called me by name. Even in them thar woods big brother or someone is watching!
It's just to bad the virtual caches were seemingly hastily archived. I am sure there were a lot of people that would have helped being given an opportunity. On the other side of the coin - there may be circumstances beyond the cache owners control which made them feel this was necessary.
A loss, for sure, for the entire Geocaching community and others who may join us in the future.