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Plum Misery Traditional Cache

Hidden : 7/29/2016
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache involves some unlocking and opening a few things. It is important that you please re-lock and assemble everything back the way it was for the enjoyment of the next cacher. When re-locking the combo lock, don't worry about breaking anything, just cram it all back in place as hard as you can and lock 'er up (and make sure it all stays vertical). Thanks!

The plastic cache box is locked in the black metal box. To open the lock, you'll need the key. To get the key, do the following found in the encrypted hint in order: This area is called Mount Misery because the early settlers found the ground "miserable" for farming and very difficult for horse & wagons to travel as well. Directions: At the highest point of Old Country Road in Melville, turn north (at the light) onto Mount Misery Road. Just before the dead-end / day camp entrance, you will find gz about 50 yds east of the fire hydrant, between the radio tower and the water company.

While placing this cache I noticed a tick attached to me.

I then thought of all my travels throughout Long Island, all those remote areas to hunt & fish and I realized that the further east you go, the worse the tick problem is ... until you get to Montauk Point where the ticks are just out of control! Why is that? I decided to do some research about Lyme disease and came across some interesting info....

The following is factual: After World War II, the US began scooping up the top Nazi scientists in Germany before the Soviets did. If they were guilty of war crimes they were tried, but if they were rocket scientists or virologists they were offered citizenship and jobs here in the US. This project, approved by President Truman was called Operation Paperclip. A German scientist named Erich Traub was brought here and was set up in a secret animal disease lab at Plum Island, which is just off of Orient Point, LI. One of his experiments was to infect a massive amount of ticks so they can be dropped on an enemy country or battlefield. Is it possible that some ticks that Traub infected escaped and bit animals such as deer or geese that swam or flew across Long Island sound to Connecticut? … and what town is closest town to Plum Island, across LI sound, that had a strange disease outbreak in the mid 70's? LYME Connecticut … coincidence?

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur anzr “EBZR0” bcraf gur pbzovangvba ybpx. · Erzbir gur zrgny npbea pnc.· · 3 jbeqf: Cvibg, Gryrfpbcr, Fxryrgba Pnpur ubyqre vf byq fpubby, fb ghea evtug gb bcra, yrsg gb ybpx Cyrnfr er-ybpx obk cebcreyl!

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)