NOTE - USE SPOILER PIC WHILE MEMORIAL PLAQUE IS BEING REFURBISHED
Henry John Deutschendorf, also known as John Denver, was one of the most beloved entertainers of his time. Even now, over 20 years after his tragic untimely death in an airplane crash, Take Me Home Country Roads is a favorite of people of all ages! Born in 1943 into a military family that moved around a lot, John used the guitar given to him by his grandma to help make friends in high school. Once he hit it big with hits like Leaving On A Jet Plane and Rocky Mountain High, John and his wife Annie moved to Aspen, Colorado. Every year on the anniversary of his passing, family, friends and fans from all over the world travel to Aspen to remember and keep John's memory and music alive. Many life long friendships have been formed and continue to this day. To learn more about John and his career, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Denver#Awards_and_recognition.
There are several wooden items in the cache representing a number of John's songs. Without looking at the song titles on the back, see how many of them you can identify. Please leave those pieces there for the next cacher to enjoy.
Although the primary memorial to John is his song garden (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC7B65E_john-denver-sanctuary) located in Aspen, CO, a tree was planted at the posted coordinates in 2004 as a local memorial prior to a tribute concert at the adjacent open air amphitheater. The tribute concert has become an annual event, typically the Saturday evening of Labor Day weekend (9/1/19), and is consistently the highest attended event of the free Raystown Lake Summer Amphitheater Series. Check the Corps of Engineers website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dams-Recreation/Raystown/Events-Opening-Closure-Dates/ for any schedule updates.
Upon reaching the memorial tree at the posted coordinates, you will find a sign with 8 lines of lyrics from one of John's songs. Substitute the LAST digit associated with the letter referenced in the formulas below (A = 1, Z = 26) to find the coordinates of the second/final stage.
They are N 40° 22.abc W 078° 04.def, where:
a = 2nd line, 3rd word, 1st letter
b = 3rd line, 3rd word, 4th letter
c = 4th line, 4th word, 3rd letter
d = 5th line, 3rd word, 4th letter
e = 6th line, 3rd word, 2nd letter
f = 7th line, 4rd word, 6th letter
This may help:
|
1
|
A
|
K
|
U
|
|
2
|
B
|
L
|
V
|
|
3
|
C
|
M
|
W
|
|
4
|
D
|
N
|
X
|
|
5
|
E
|
O
|
Y
|
|
6
|
F
|
P
|
Z
|
|
7
|
G
|
Q
|
|
|
8
|
H
|
R
|
|
|
9
|
I
|
S
|
|
|
0
|
J
|
T
|
Although there are hiding places adjacent to the memorial tree, it is within the isolation zone from another area cache. So the final hide location is offset to avoid that conflict. Actual final is much closer than the original site that we had originally selected, where you would have been following many Country Roads to reach it. You won't need to move your car to reach this one.