EYES Traditional Cache
EYEBRIGHT: Cache has been muggled.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The cache is located beside a country road between Lisbellaw and Tempo which overlooks Lough Eyes in County Fermanagh.
Some 15,000 years ago the great Ice Age that had effected most of Ireland was coming to an end. As temperatures slowly rose the ice sheet in this part of Fermanagh retreated eastwards towards the Clogher Valley. How different this landscape must have looked back then - low sandy morainic ridges accumulated where the retreating ice front lingered awhile and through these torrents of meltwater forced their way to carve out long gashes. Eventually things settled down allowing one of these gashes to fill with water - and so, Lough Eyes was formed. Trees began to grow - oak, ash and hazel to name but a few - and vast forests developed. Then people arrived. Inevitably they changed this landscape yet again as they felled the trees to create the patchwork of fields and hedgerows you see today and, if you look down from the cache site you will notice another one of their legacies - the remains of a crannog. In a dry summer (Yes, they do occur in Co.Fermanah now and again) you might spot 6, or even 7 of these intriguing structures appearing above the surface of the lough representing perhaps, a lake village once linked by causeways. Opinions differ about the age of these artificial islands. Some say they go right back to the late Bronze Age, others suggest the early medieval period (AD 600-800) and, there is evidence that some were used up until the 16th century. Excavations have shown that they were constructed of split timber covered with layers of soil, brushwood and stones to build up a platform which was then encircled with a wooden fence. But why live here? - some may have had religious significance ; most however, probably offered peace and security to farming families during uncertain times.
The cache is hidden beside a narrow country road which offers extensive views of the lough and far beyond. As this road can be busy please park carefully keeping well away from the brow of the hill. Suggested parking is close to the gate at N54* 20.232; W007*30.341 - please do not block the driveway nearby. You could treat this as a cache and dash. However, while you are there you might cast your eyes down over the lough with its crannogs and try to imagine what life might have been like for those living there 600 or more years ago.
The cache is a camouflaged micro - bring a pencil (a pin might also be useful). Please return the cache carefully and hide well.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq fgrz bs Vil,
Tebjvat ba n Orrpu fb gnyy,
Vf jurer lbh zhfg ybbx,
Sbe n pbagnvare fb fznyy.