The poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach his home land of Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, who compete for Penelope's hand in marriage.
Take up the challenge, and embark on your own Odyssey, visit the sixes caches in this series and take part in some of the adventures, trials and tribulations that Odysseus endured during his epic journey. Hopefully it will take you a little less than 10 years.
THE LOTUS EATERS
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From Troy the winds carried Odysseus and his twelve ships and crew to Ismarus the City of the Cicones. Odysseus and his men plundered the city and killed the men. The women and the cattle and goods he saved and divided among his men. Then Odysseus warned his men to make ready to leave. But in their foolishness they decided they would not obey and set up camp on the beach, feasting and drinking wine. Men from nearby towns arrived and a great battle followed and several men from each ship were killed. The rest sailed away into a tempest called up by Zeus the Cloud Gatherer. When they had recovered from the gale Ithaca was not far off. But the sea and the current and the north-west wind caught the ships and drove them around cape Malea and past Cyhera. When they reached land again they arrived at the island of the Lotus Eaters. The friend inhabitants offered them food and drink. But whoever tasted the food no longer thought of travelling home. They only wanted to stay and eat the luscious fruit.
"I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of 9 days upon the sea, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters, who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower. Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. When they had eaten and drunk I sent two of my company to see what manner of men the people of the place might be, and they had a third man under them. They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-Eaters, who did them no hurt, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eaters without thinking further of their return; nevertheless, though they wept bitterly I forced them back to the ships and made them fast under the benches. Then I told the rest to go on board at once, lest any of them should taste of the lotus and leave off wanting to get home, so they took their places and smote the grey sea with their oars."
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You will need to visit 6 caches in this series to gather information to work out where the Final Cache GC3GZ6J “The Odyssey- Ithaca” is hidden.
Each cache contains a code you should remember to write down and take with you.
The six caches in the series are
- GC3GZ5D – Calypso
- GC3GZ5H – The Lotus Eaters
- GC3GZ5M – Cyclops
- GC3GZ5T – Aeolus
- GC3GZ5Y – Circe
- GC3GZ60 – The Sirens
Please NOTE that you must sign the log book for each individual cacher, Finds logged not corresponding with the logbook may be deleted.
Please take some time before leaving to ensure that the cache is re-hidden exactly as you found it.