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Blue Anchor Line 24: King of the Keelboaters Mystery Cache

Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

**  DO NOT GO TO THE LOCATION VISIBLE ON THE MAP  **

You must solve the puzzle for the container coordinates.


***CACHE IS NOT AT THE LISTED COORDINATES!**

 

You won't need to read any of the books in the Jacky Faber series to solve the puzzles in this cache series. A simple search will answer all the questions, which are related to many of the factual places and events the author, L.A. Meyer, used.

 

Mike Fink

 

Our crew’s first introduction to the braggart Mike Fink came as a panicked, “Christ!  It’s Fink!”  Many others would say the same as he approached.  Yet, the giant flatboatman would prove to be no match for our 90-pound heroine.

 

Puzzle:

 

The truest answers will lead you to your final coordinates:  N38 ab.bcd  W90 ef.ghi

 

As a well-known literary character, Mike Fink has undoubtedly been exaggerated.  These questions are based on most common information:

a = Mike Fink was…  

* Based on a real person = 3

* Completely imaginary = 1

b = As a marksman, it was said that Fink…

* Couldn’t hit the side of a barn, stone-cold sober = 1

* Could shoot the tail off a pig at 90 paces after drinking a gallon of whiskey = 5

c = Mississippi and Ohio keelboatmen were commonly known to be…

* Well-behaved = 1

* Tough-brawlers and hard-drinkers = 3

d = Mike’s physique was, by most people’s standards…

* Large and muscular = 7

* Small but scrappy = 1

 

Mike is known for his tall tales and spins some good ones for Jacky and her crew.  Despite Fink's tall tales, which answer is most likely to be real?

e = The Grand Tetons were named after…

* Most likely the Teton Sioux tribe of Native Americans = 3

* Mike Fink’s mother = 1

f = Dry Tortugas is called “dry” because…

* Seafarers needed to know there is no fresh water there = 0

* Fink’s mother died of thirst and was floated down-river to settle in that spot = 1

g = On May 7, 1840, the Mississippi town of Natchez was devastated by…

* The “Great Natchez Tornado” = 2

* Mike Fink’s mother, off on a tear = 1

h = Fink most likely never actually beat George Washington and Ben Franklin at cards in Roaring Springs because…

* There is no evidence that either of the Founding Fathers would consider gambling = 1

* Roaring Springs is not a river-town = 3

i = Washington’s Whisky Tax was repealed after…

* Thomas Jefferson’s Republican party came into power in 1801 = 3

* Mike Fink led a rebellion = 1


 

If you think you'd like Jacky's story, check out the library!  Both the print and audio versions are available to cardholders.

Turn all 52 caches in this series into smileys... then let us know and we’ll send you an exclusive gift!  (While our supplies last.)

 

Place with permission from management.

 


Additional Hints (Decrypt)

qnatyvat ybj

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)