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The tale of Talking Bull Mystery Cache

Hidden : 5/29/2011
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Bring your paddle craft to the Hwy-50 bridge, at the St John's River. We'll take you on a quest involving a total of 7 miles of paddling and 1 mile of hiking, round trip. You seek yon ammo can. But first you’ll have to learn a few things… Like the coordinates posted are for the launching of your journey and thus just the beginning.

Paleface Warning: Before you get started please note: 
There are 2 possible launch areas, one to the east is more traveled thus more parking.
This Area is Extremely Dangerous; You Will run into Gators and other potentially Deadly Dangerous Creatures, including drunken buffoons, use caution and protective gear. Snake Gear is a Must! 
You accept this challenge of your own free will and can not hold the Cache Owner nor GroundSpeak harmless for your decision to place yourself in peril, further more you acknowledge that you have been warned of the potential hazards and dangers you may face.
Good Luck, You'll need it!

The year is 1842, and the Second Seminole War has been
spilling blood across Central Florida for 7 years. Chief Osceola, growing weary
of the bloodshed, realized that his ability to effectively communicate with the
Whites was key to ending this conflict, so he called his translators to a
tribal meeting at his village along the St John's River, east of what is now
called Christmas.
"Before you embark, a hidden clue will help find the cryptic scroll"
The Seminole translators were having difficulty dealing with all the
idiosyncrasies of the English language, and explained to Chief Osceola that the
job was hopeless. One tribe member, Talking Bull, who was sent at an early age
to study among the Whites at Harvard University, returned to the tribe when he
learned of the war.
"You must discover this hidden clue that will provide you with coordinates to stage 1”
Talking Bull, who was majoring in communications at Harvard, suggested a
different tactic; All contact between the tribe and the Whites should be done
in three different, non-verbal formats, simultaneously. These communiqués could
then be compared by both sides, to ensure that the messages expressed was what
was needed to be said. Talking Bull convinced Chief Osceola of the value of
this plan, and sent dispatches across the globe seeking those who might help.
“There you will find the cryptic scroll safely tucked away”
These letters were largely ignored by their recipients,
as few were willing to leave the comforts of their homes to travel to a war
torn territory with sweltering temperatures, swarming, blood sucking insects,
ravenous, man eating reptiles and venomous snakes, to aid what they considered
to be a violent, backward people.
"This will be an ammo can, which is the first of three stages"
All was not lost however. There were three kind souls who
answered the call for help, arriving in relatively short order to teach Talking
Bull unique communication methods. Louis Braille, Samuel Morse and Thomas Hopkins
Gallaudet set up camps nearby, and spent the next three months teaching their
various specialties to Talking Bull.
"If you wish to succeed in this quest,You should probably bring a few translators along"
Modern day historians agree that this attempt could have been successful.
Unfortunately, fate intervened. Major Thomas Jesup, under flag of truce,
entered Chief Osceola's camp, asking to speak directly to Talking Bull. Major
Jesup spent less than an hour with Talking Bull, introducing him to Cuban
cigars, Puerto Rican rum and the game of poker. Talking Bull became instantly
enamored of these substances, spending the next 40 years drinking, smoking,
gambling and wenching.
"Good luck and do not get eaten"
Talking Bull's Harvard Alumni, hearing about his excessive debauchery,
issued him an honorary law degree, which ultimately led to him becoming a Chief
of the tribe. Chief Talking Bull's daughter, a drop dead hottie named Running
Bare, decided to share her father's tale with her tribal friends. Running
Bare, contrary to tribal tradition, never married, choosing instead to spend
her days reveling in her freedom (this how I meet Running Bare). Chief Talking Bull
had left her a substantial dowry, which she spent on lavish parties. What was left
of the dowry was stuffed into a metal box and hidden out yonder. Now I share story
with Paleface friends. So Come on down, puff on a peace pipe, get mellow
and spend the day hunting for this treasure!
"This Cache I place in Honor of my new Friends Flatouts, The Jailbirds and Clan Riffster"
Kokopelli, strongly recommend Paleface bring along a partner, lots of water, snake boots, long pants, a good hat, bug spray, spare batteries, a cell phone (smart phone or very smart person wouldn’t hurt), a pokey stick, lots of sunscreen, a good ink pen and a pocket sized spiral notebook for taking notes. You will need all of them at some point..

This cache was placed with permission from the St Johns Water Management District. Special Thanks to Peter Henn, St. Johns River Water Management District for Seminole Ranch Conservation Area for working with us to make this possible.

What are you waiting for GO GET IT!

Ah Yes and for the lucky FTF, there is the Honor of the coveted "SCGA Bushwhackers Challenge Stick"
Whoo Hoo!
You will be infamous, Geo-people will bow down at your feet when you enter a room and all will be envious of your accomplishment. For those that follow,considering the challenge this cache presents, Geo-people will still bow down at your feet and great honor will be bestowed upon you. You will be in the company of a very few select Geocachers brave and tough enough to take this one on and be assured that this will be a very lonely cache.


Congratulations theboonieman FTF Honors!
Congratulations TAPnDi & I_Get_Sidetracked STF &
Found the Bushwhackers Challenge Stick! Whoo Hoo!

This Awesome Cache brought to you by Members of:

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Nyy gung lbh frrx vf gurer ohg lbh zhfg jbex uneq sbe vg, guhf vg vf n 5/5 pnpur. Nyy uvqrf ner ynetr va fvmr naq grgurerq gb fgnl va cynpr.

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)