CycloneSteve and the Geocacher's Stone
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I am aware the container is damaged. I have taken measures to protect the log. Thanks!
I am aware the container is damaged. I have taken measures to protect the log. Thanks!
You are looking for a container that would normally be considered a small cache but the available space is closer to a micro. While it may be covered up by snow in the winter, you can find it if you are determined enough and search the story for clues. Please place exactly as found it so it can avoid muggle detection and be more easily found in the fall and winter months. The text below is the next chapter in the story and a fun read. It may even provide a few hints on how to reach the cache or hint at the cache location. Please BYOP and enjoy!
CycloneSteve was eager to begin his new adventure even though he had just spent the morning in Mine Falls Park. While he was feeling a bit sluggish, he had taken a break when talking with Harry Potter and his friends. After memorizing the map of the park, CycloneSteve walked passed the gate and entered the forest. Upon entering the woods, words appeared as if by magic on the empty parchment. The text read "Ye who seekith the seven items of legend beware! This challenge ye are about to undertake will test all of your knowledge and skills. The first item ye shall seekith is Redfield's Stone which is located to your northeast."
"I wonder of Redfield was a wizard," said CycloneSteve out loud. The parchment did not react and while the text faded away, no new words appeared. What kind of stone belonged to Redfield? Surely it must be a large stone but there were many in the park. What type of stone was it? Was it made of granite? He was in the Granite State after all. That's when he remembered a large stone along the path near Savannah's Cache (GC345M0), which he had found earlier in the day, and started in that direction. However, when he got to the rock, the parchment said "Ye have strayed too far. What ye seek is smaller than what lies before you."
CycloneSteve retraced his steps and saw many smaller stones close to the park entrance. "Could any of these be Redfield's Stone?" he wondered. After searching for several minutes he was startled by a loud voice "DO YOU NEED ANY HELP?". He was surprised because it had just stormed and the park should be deserted and even more surprised when he realized that the voice seemed to come from a tree.
"I said do you need any help?"
"Are you talking to me?" asked CycloneSteve.
"Well you are the only person here, aren't you?" said the Tree.
"I'm sorry, trees usually do not speak with me," CycloneSteve wondering how much stranger this day would get.
"Trees speak all the time, you can hear us when the wind blows, but not in your language of course. I am the Great Tree known as the Practical Pine. I was placed here to guide young witches and wizards like yourself on the quest. I saw you walk by here and I must say you are off to a bad start," said the Practical Pine.
"Well, I am not much of a wizard really," replied CycloneSteve.
"Well that is all too clear. You remind me of another odd fellow who attempted the Wizard's Challenge last year. He was so lost he might as well have been a muggle."
"Well this parchment has not been very helpful."
"Did you ask it for advice? He certainly did not."
"It...its a piece of paper!" said CycloneSteve becoming frustrated with the Tree.
"Oh child how dearly you need my help," replied the Practical Pine.
"Do you know the way to Redfield's stone?"
"I do indeed but perhaps you should ask the parchment and you will find you answer."
CycloneSteve asked the parchment how to reach the stone and the parchment replied "What ye seek ye will find down the dirt path on the left."
"Where does it say to go?" asked the Practical Pine.
"The path on the left."
"Hmm That does make sense. It is the path the group took earlier today. But of course they did not require my help."
"Can you tell me what I am looking for?"
"Redfield's Stone is hidden deep in the woods not too far from here. You will find it near a distinct tree that should stand out amongst the group though it is not nearly as fine as I."
"Well, thank you for your help."
"Best of luck as I feel you will need it."
And with that, CycloneSteve turned left where the path split and headed north past It's No Hoover! (GC19F1). He soon came upon a fork in the path and at the fork was another stone. "This couldn't be Redfield's Stone?" thought CycloneSteve but he went to investigate anyway.
After several minutes, he asked the parchment what to do next and words on the parchment appeared. "Ye should take the right fork."
CycloneSteve was about to head right when a voice called out to him.
"Stop! Please!" said the man. He was a tall thin man with glasses who was clearly a fellow geocacher.
"Why do you want me to stop?" asked CycloneSteve.
"I know what you are looking for. Stop this quest before it is too late!" said the stranger.
"You look familiar, who are you?"
"I am a geocacher like you. I am well known in these parts even though I have not been a geocacher for very long. Some people call me Calador the Great Caching Seeker but you can just call me Calador for short." said the man.
"Yes! You own the geocaching supply store in town and the cache called The Things We Seek (GC3X33T)!"
"I do and I beg you to not seek the Geocacher's Stone!" urged Calador.
"I am looking for Redfield's Stone. What is the Geocacher's Stone?"
"They are one in the same. Some of these legends go by different names in our world."
"So you know where the stone is and what it does?"
"I know all about the stone. It is a mystical rock that was born from Native American mystics who lived where New York City stands today. It was eventually acquired by a wizard named William Redfield who placed it in these woods before dying. It is said that you will gain enormous energy and stamina just by touching the stone for a moment."
"Well that sounds amazing. Why shouldn't I want to touch it?"
"Last year I began my geocaching adventure right here in these woods. After finding a few caches, I came across and oddly dressed stranger. He had hurt himself traveling through the woods. He told me these woods contained wonders beyond my wildest dreams and that he would be fine if he could reach Redfield's Stone. He had twisted his ankle and needed someone for support. Together we eventually found the Redfield's Stone. When he touched it, he was instantly healed. He thanked me for my assistance and was on his way though he did warn me not to touch the stone for more than a few seconds."
"I don't see why having unlimited energy would be a bad thing. Why couldn't you touch to stone for a long time?"
"Touch the stone for just a second and you will be instantly refreshed, five seconds and you won't sleep that night, ten seconds and you will have so much energy you last a week without as much of a wink of sleep and still be going strong. I was a new geocacher but I was hooked even after my first find. I abused the stone's power, touching it for as long as I could. I used the energy to empower my search for geocaches. I had the energy to cache all day and all night long. Within the week, I had found over 500 caches and passed 1,000 soon after. Before I knew it, I had found all of the local geocaches and now there are none nearby for me to find. I have had to travel great distances to get my fix for you see I love geocaching. I am just thankful that there are so many even if they are no longer close to me. I come here often to use the stone but have since learned not to abuse its power. "
"Well, I am not interested in geocaching 24/7 but I do want to find all seven legends."
Calador sighed and said, "I can tell from your eyes that you will not give up. So I will follow you to the stone."
"Couldn't you just take me there?"
Calador laughed and said, "Now what fun would that be?"
And so CycloneSteve and Calador ventured ahead, taking the right fork. They traveled in an open area that divided the forest. The path had many tall grasses on each side and sometimes they would see some wildflowers and berries as well. Eventually the parchment instructed them to turn left."
"We are getting close," said Calador.
CycloneSteve began to get excited even though he was getting quite tired. This part of the woods was eerily dark even though it was late afternoon. Upon approaching the area, the text read "Redfield's Stone layeth before ye. To complete your mission ye must touch yonder rock and bask in its power."
"I have to touch the stone to complete the task," said CycloneSteve.
"Just don't touch it for too long or you might be geocaching until Christmas," remarked Calador.
CycloneSteve walked towards the stone. Taking a deep breath, he placed both hands on the stone. A rush of magical energy filled his body. He felt instantly refreshed from just a second of contact and craved more. It took Calador great difficulty to pull CycloneSteve away from the stone.
"Whoa! What a boost! I feel like I could do anything!" exclaimed CycloneSteve.
"Well you weren't in contact with the stone for very long. You may even sleep tonight after this quest is all over."
"So I guess there are six more legends to find. I wonder if I can find them all before nightfall."
"It may be a challenge, the woods here will continue to grow darker until you can no longer see," admitted Calador.
"Hey! Why don't you join me? This is the only legend you went after right? This is a lot like geocaching, I bet you would have fun and it would be great to have someone to talk with."
Calador thought about it and then said, "Okay why not? I just touched the stone before I ran into you so I have ample energy for the task."
"Great! I wonder what the next task it?"
Words again appeared on the parchment, "Your next task is to find the Mystical Cavern of Surprises. It awaits ye to the north."
"The Mystical Cavern of Surprises? That must be the Chamber of Swag. I have notes on it in my backpack." said Calador.
"Well let's go then! Onward to the Chamber of Swag!" said CycloneSteve.
And with that, CycloneSteve and CaladorGCS headed towards the next legend of Mine Falls Park. The cache you seek is very close to Redfield's Stone. Which stone is Redfield's? I'll never tell.
FTF: CaladorGCS and Cache K.A.B.
STF: sloth96
3rd: OnTheGoDad
4th: J. Crane
5th: kruegerfour
CycloneSteve's Geocaches
1. GC2NRF5 Handycapable* (Micro/Indiana) ARCHIVED 2012
2. GC2Z82T Inbetween Things* (Micro/Ohio) ARCHIVED 2012
3. GC447XV Wii Would Like to Play (Mystery/New Hampshire) ARCHIVED 2013
4. GC48XFP CycloneSteve's 500th Find (Nano/Massachusetts) ARCHIVED 2013
5. GC4D2QG CycloneSteve's Grand TB Hotel (Large/New Hampshire) ARCHIVED 2015
6. GC4GTGD "V"ictory is Mine! (Small/New Hampshire)
7. GC4HBD7 CycloneSteve and the Wizard's Challenge (Micro/New Hampshire)
8. GC4HEDV CycloneSteve and the Geocacher's Stone (Other/New Hampshire)
9. GC4JWX7 CycloneSteve and the Chamber of Swag (Small/New Hampshire)
10. GC4MDE5 CycloneSteve and the Multi-Cache of Azbakam (Multi/New Hampshire)
11. GC4MDEM CycloneSteve and the Goblet of Water (Small/New Hampshire)
12. GC4MDF1 CycloneSteve and the Order of the Geocache (Small/New Hampshire)
13. GC4MDFT CycloneSteve and the FTF Prince (Micro/New Hampshire)
14. GC4MDGM CycloneSteve and the Deathly DNF (Other/New Hampshire)
*Co-Ownership with TyphoonRuth
Good Luck! This cache was originally open to premium members but that restriction was lifted.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)