Treasure Cove Traditional Cache
CacheShadow: The City of London has requested that this geocache be removed, as it lies within an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
The cache owner should retrieve their container(s) and rescue any trackable items stranded within.
Please see http://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/Ontario for more information.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Find Johann's hidden treasure!
Good luck geocachers. I am sure Johann would appreciate that if you do find the lost treasure that you PLEASE take the time to replace it as found.
TREASURE COVE!
Legend has it that long ago- a group of German Settlers used to roam these areas. The story goes that in 1800s a rouge settler- Johann Martkopf - had once been part of a pioneer German group looking to settle in Ontario. The group came across this land and eventually settled in these parts- the same area that is now found at 1 Cove Road- the German Canadian Club. However, Johann was the type that never quite fit it. He was adopted at an early age in Germany and had never felt part of his family. He never wanted to leave for their journey to Canada.
Eventually Johann became very jealous and felt increasingly distant from his adoptive family and neighbouring settlers- even moreso after they settled at the Cove Road location. He became very jealous of some of the wealth that his family and the other accompanying settler’s brought along with them from their homeland. Their fine clothes, jewellery and valuable treasures, but most of all………he was jealous of their gold.
One night Johann decided that he wanted to leave the German group and explore the countryside by himself. He made up his mind- that in the middle of the night he would steal all of their treasures and flee their settlement community. And he did…..in part.
As the moon was full- and the midnight air became crisp- Johann successfully entered each cabin and took their priceless treasure and gold. He put them into a camouflaged canister, and began to walk away from the settlement- first at a slower pace, which eventually turned into a slight jog. His first destination was to visit the established community at the forks of the Thames-and he knew the best direct route was along the Cove river.
He carved a brand new path through the forest, along the river, passing by lovely trees and wildlife. During the day, this area teemed with wildlife including, ducks, frogs, herons, butterflies….and even wild snakes! He passed makeshift hunters pits- covered with sticks and leaves- used to trap wildlife (watch out!). He ran by ‘nature’s flower garden’, that still gave off their fresh aroma even in the middle of the night. His quick pace became faster, until he finally abruptly had to stop. There was now water in the way- a small stream that he needed to cross to continue his journey. It was at this time- in the cold dark night- that Johann decided to build a makeshift bridge to cross a seemingly small stream. He looked and found a log that he thought would do the trick. He quickly picked up the log and tossed it across the stream. It seemingly worked! However, just as his first foot stepped on the log Johann lost his balance. He felt his legs below him swoop up over his head and fell nearly losing consciousness. The pain was unbearable. It was then- beside the river- that Johann decided to hide the treasure. In his last minutes before the pain would lead to a loss of concioussness, Johann hid the treasure in what he would call a ‘makeshift treasure chest’ near the waters that almost took his life. Just as he finished hiding the treasure – the pain led to a loss of consciousness……..in the middle of the beautiful forest…..in the middle of the cold night….and into a deep coma.
Johann awoke days later back at the German settlement. It was when he awoke he realized that the very people he was trying to escape from, found him, and revived him back to life. He also realized that many of them had believed over the days that Johann in fact had gone into the forest to chase a group of thieves that had made off with their valuables….and had considered Johann a hero for trying to chase them down in the middle of the night. Embarrassed- Johann went along with their story, even adding to it once he became aware it never occurred to any of them that it was him that stole their valuables.
Johann now realized how much the community cared for him. He had been wrong about them all along. He had vowed to find the treasure….but there was one problem. He never could. For the rest of his life, Johann searched and searched the Coves, looking endlessly to find and return the valuables he had once taken. However, although he could recall some parts of the path, he never did come across the stream again- nor the treasure!
To this day, the treasure remains hidden……looking for a treasure finder. But beware, rumours of this area also suggest that Johann’s ghost still roams.
Good luck geocachers. I am sure Johann would appreciate that if you do find the lost treasure that you PLEASE take the time to replace it as found.
And- if you have time visit 1 Cove Road to see if the German Club restaurant is open!
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CONGRATULATIONS to Tfire66 AND Sir_looks_alot for the FTF Johann's hidden treasure!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ernq gur fgbel nobhg jurer Wbunaa sryy gb gur tebhaq.