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Sailor's Grave Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 4/29/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is a 1.5 litre tub hidden close to the Sailor's Grave on the Arran north shore about 1km west of Lochranza. There is a parking area close to the gravesite.

The cache is hidden close to the cliff line of a raised beach and you should not have to climb to reach it.

In 19C Britain Cholera was a frequent visitor to the congested urban areas of Britain and vessels with sick crewman would be placed in quarantine to ensure that the disease was not transferred ashore. Although Arran did not suffer any serious outbreaks the inhabitants of Lochranza would be well aware of the impact of the 1832 epidemic in Glasgow which claimed 3166 lives a generation earlier. When James McLean died from suspected cholera on a vessel inbound to Glasgow the ship’s request to have him buried in the Lochranza churchyard was refused. Instead his fellow crewmen (supposedly in response to a promise made) secretly buried him beneath a small mound of cobbles on the raised beach to the west of the village. Latter still a concrete marker slab was placed at the foot of the grave with the following inscription:

The Sailors Grave
Here lies
John McLean
died
12 August
1854

Satellite reception at the actual cache location can be poor so it is best to pace your way in from a good fix using range and bearing.

Thanks to Jango+Boba Fett for the original cache

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Nccebk 10z jrfg bs tenir. Ybbx sbe n ebpx jvgu n I funcrq gerr tebjvat bhg bs gur gbc bs vg. Pnpur ba gur jrfg fvqr bs gerr, ghpxrq oruvaq ebbgf, evtug arkg gb gur ebpx

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)