GC1YCE3 Skeddan (Traditional Cache) in Isle of Man created by Sharkies

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GC1YCE3 ▼

A cache by Sharkies Message this owner

Hidden : 3/5/2010

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

You can see 'Chickens' and maybe seals and The Shoulder.

Placed with kind permission of Manx National Heritage, Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU KEEP TO THE FOOTPATHS (PARTICULARLY DURING THE NESTING SEASON FROM APRIL TO THE END OF AUGUST) - THERE IS NO NEED WHATSOEVER TO LEAVE THE FOOTPATHS IN ORDER TO LOCATE THIS CACHE.

BEWARE THAT TERRITORIAL GULLS MAY BE PRESENT IN THE AREA AND IF HUMAN PRESENCE IS CAUSING UNDUE DISTURBANCE EG CHICKS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE NEST SITES, THEN VISITORS MUST WITHDRAW. IF ANYONE HAS ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO THE AREA, PLEASE CHECK FIRST WITH THE RESIDENT WARDEN.

STORY:-

The Herring Became King Of The Sea

The old fisherman of the island have it to say that years and years ago the fish met to choose themselves a king, for they had no deemster to tell them what was right. Likely enough their meeting place was off The Shoulder, south of the Calf. They all came looking their best – there was Captain Jiarg, the Red Gurnet in his fine crimson coat; Grey Horse, the shark, big and cruel; the Bollan in his brightest colours; Dirty Peggy, the cuttlefish, putting her nicest face on herself; Athag, the Haddock, trying to rub out the black spots the devil burnt on him when he took hold of him with his finger and thumb, and all the rest. Each one thought he might be chosen. The fish had a strong notion to make Brac Gorm, the Mackerel, King. He knew that and he went and put beautiful stripes on himself, pink and green and gold and all the colours of the sea and sky. Then he was thinking diamonds of himself. But when he came he looked that grand, they didn’t know him. So they said he was artificial and would have nothing to do with him.

In the end it was Skeddan, the Herring, the Lil Silver Fella, who was made king of the sea.

When it was all over, up came the Fluke, too late to give his vote, and they all called out; ‘You’ve missed the tide, my beauty!’

It seems that he had been so busy tallivating himself up, touching himself up red in places, that he forgot how time went. When he found that the Herring had been chosen, he twisted up his mouth on one side, and says he;
‘An’ what am I goin’ to be then?’
‘Take that’ says Scarrag the Skate and he ups with his tail and gives the Fluke a slap on his mouth that knocked his mouth crooked on him. And so it has been ever since.

And maybe, it’s because the Herring is King of the sea that he has so much honour among men. Even the Deemsters, when they take their oath, say, ‘I will execute justice as indifferently as the Herring’s backbone doth liein the midst of the fish.’

And the Manx people will not burn the Herring’s bones in the fire, in case the Herring should feel it. It is to be remembered too, that the best Herring in the World are caught in this place off The Shoulder, where the fish held their big meeting, and that is because it is not very far from Manannan’s enchanted island.

From ‘Manx Fairy Tales’ by Sophia Morrison.

...............................................................

General description of the Calf of Man

Located amidst spectacular scenery half a mile off the southern tip of the Isle of Man, the Calf of Man is a small island extending to approximately 600 acres. The Calf is owned and administered by Manx National Heritage (MNH) and it is run as a Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve, one of 19 accredited bird observatories within Britain and Ireland.

Hostel standard self-catering accommodation is provided in the 1878 farmhouse with up to 8 bedspaces available in three rooms. The accommodation includes a guest sitting room/dining area and a communal kitchen. Resident wardens are responsible for the day-to-day management of the accommodation. The accommodation is open from April to mid-September.

The island is an ideal place to study many aspects of bird life, with around 33 species breeding annually and it is located on one of western Britain’s major migration routes. Breeding seabirds include Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Shag. Other species normally observed on the island include Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Chough, Raven, as well as other rare and unexpected migrants. Colonies of Grey Seal are also found on the island.

The Calf has an interesting history and evidence of the once thriving community includes the two lighthouses built in 1818, a recently decommissioned modern lighthouse building built in 1968, a mill and a smithy. Signs of earlier inhabitation of the island ranges from prehistoric worked flints and early Christian graves, through to defences dating from 1651-1713, such as the gun emplacement on the Burroo.

Transport to the Calf by boat from Port St Mary is by arrangement with Juan Clague (01624 834307). Please note that travel to and from the Calf is weather and tide dependent.

For further information regarding accommodation on the Calf, please contact the Calf Bookings Officer at Manx National Heritage on 01624 648000.

For more information about MNH and the Calf, please see
(visit link)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ovt ebpxl bhgpebc, evtug arkg gb gur cngu.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

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Skeddan Traditional Cache

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