GC3WJX7 Beach Boys series #9: California Saga/California (Traditional Cache) in Oregon, United States created by Grateful Cacher

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GC3WJX7 ▼

A cache by Grateful Cacher Message this owner

Hidden : 9/11/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Over the past year, I've done a series of geocaches that were dedicated to one of my favorite rock bands, the Grateful Dead (or should I say "dead-icated"?). But the Dead aren't strictly the only group that I listen to with any regularity. I've been a fan of the Beach Boys since the early '60's. So I thought, why not a series for that group as well (especially since they are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year). Now they played Portland quite a few times, but only in a couple of places (and those sites already have Grateful Dead caches). So this series won't be for where they played, but for locations that are tied to some of the songs that they wrote and sang.
The Beach Boys were most popular for their sun, surf, car songs (with an occassional ballad tossed in), and for the Four Freshman-inspired harmonies that was their trademark vocal signature. They were at one time the most popular rock'n'roll group in America, knocking the Beatles off the top of the charts with their first #1 hit record, "I Get Around". The core group was comprised of three brothers, a cousin, and a high school classmate. Though they've had high times and low times over the years, the sound they produce is still instantly recognizable when a song comes on the radio.

The subject song that this cache refers to is on that was not written by Brian Wilson, but by one of the other memeber of the group. Al Jardine is the high school classmate of the Wilsons and has been with the group from the beginning. While known more for his vocals, such as the lead on "Help Me, Rhonda", he wrote several songs that the group has recorded over their 50 year career.
"Have you ever been down Salinas way?
Where Steinbeck found the valley
And he wrote about it the way it was in his travelin's with Charley"

The name of the song is "California Saga: California". It was originally released as the third part of an ecological based trilogy on the band's 1973 "Holland" album. It has such a rocking sound to it that fit in with the times it was released as a single under the title "California Saga (On My Way To Sunny California)". It achived some modest success on the record charts, but was mostly featured as a concert staple for Al to sing. The related web page features the song as they sang it when they were in Eugene this past July....ignore the audicence sing-a-long towards the end, especially the off-key camera man who was caught up in the moment. But then how often do you get to sing along with the Beach Boys????
"Have you ever been to a festival, the Big Sur congregation?
Where Country Joe will do his show
And he'd sing about liberty
And the people there in the open air, one big family."
The cache container is one that is familiar to all geocachers. Nothing special about it, nor the location. There is parking available within 15 feet of GZ, but this is a country road so please be aware of and keep an eye out for traffic. Cache has log and pen, and can hold small trackables/swag. Please replace as found. NOTE: There have been reports of bee/yellow jackets in the area of the cache. Please search carefully. There were none at GZ when I placed the cache, so they may be coming and going.
***Congratulations to CrunchyFrog83 for the FTF on his "way to sunny Californ-i-a...."***

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ab, lbh ernyyl fubhyqa'g arrq bar vs lbh hfr lbhe trbfrafr.

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)