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The Old Man at Dead Horse Flat (aka Mr Stringy) Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 4/13/2017
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Located on the Great Alpine Road (previously known as the Omeo Highway) between the small towns of Bruthen and Ensay.  Best approached from the south (from Bruthen) as there is an easy spot to pull over. No need to cross the road. Cache is a micro, so bring your own pen. This cache has been placed as a request from my geokids.

This cache location is just before/after (depending which way you are travelling) a bend so please take care pulling back onto the road. If you miss the turn there is a safe place to turn around about 5 minutes further up the road toward Ensay at Wattle Circle. Little harder going the other direction.

Dead Horse Flat - This story has may permutations but all involve a dead horse (from one to the whole team) and the horse was in some way attached to a wagon (pulling or being led).  One of the commonest names in the countryside.  Of interest here is the wooden sculpture of a head known variously as "Mr Stringy" and the Wooden Man.  The sculpture is a relic of the bullock driving days and dates back to the 1920s.  The sculptor was known as "Jimmy the liar" from Murrindal.  Other accounts have the sculptor as Mr. W. H. Henham.  It should be noted that the current "wooden man" bears no resemblance to the original and the statue appears to have been stolen many times after the advent of the chainsaw.  In this way it is not unlike the old yarn about the "genuine" pioneer axe with two replaced heads and five new handles.  The current sculpture has a large steel spike up its centre to discourage any further attemps at hasy misappropriation. ("Names on the Omeo Highway", P.D. Gardner, Ngarak Press,-  1991).                                                                                                                                                                                                           When I was growing up in Swifts Creek I always knew this scupture as "The Old Man" and he was one of the landmarks we used to look for to help me cope with car sickness on the winding road.   Please be careful not to drop it.  This is the Australian bush, so be cautious of snakes during the summer months.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

Congratulations to NoonaB for FTF

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Unatvat hc

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)