This is a hybrid letterbox -- the cache is NOT at the posted coordinates (they are for the trailhead). Please read the description below for clues on how to find the cache container. Remember.... the stamp and pad should remain in the cache - they are not tradable items.
Big Turtle - A Wyandot (Huron) Legend
Many years ago, the world had two parts. Animals lived in the lower part, which was completely covered in water and had no land or soil. Above was the Sky World, where the sky people lived. The Sky World had lots of soil, with beautiful mountains and valleys. One day, a girl from the Sky World went for a long walk and became very tired.
"I'm so tired, I need to rest," she said. She sat down under the spreading branches of an apple tree and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly, there was a rumbling sound like thunder and the ground began to crack. A big hole opened up next to the apple tree. "What's happening?" screamed the frightened girl. She tried to move, but it was too late. She and the tree slid through the hole and tumbled over and over towards the watery world below.
"Help me! Help me!" screamed the girl. Luckily two swans were swimming below and saw the girl tumbling down from the sky. "Come on!" yelled one swan, "Let's catch her before she hits the water!"
"Okay!" yelled the other. The swans spread their wings together and caught the girl on their soft feather backs. "Whew! That was lucky," said the
girl. "But what do I do now? I can't get back up to the Sky World and I can't stay on your backs forever."
"We'll take you to Big Turtle," said the swans. "He knows everything."
After hearing what happened, the Big Turtle called all the animals in the water world to a meeting. He told them an old story about soil being found deep under the water. "If we can find some of that soil, we can build an island on my back for you to live on," said the Big Turtle.
The Otter, Beaver, and Muskrat started arguing over who would dive for the soil. "I'll go," said the sleek Otter, brushing his glossy fur. "No!
I'll go," said Beaver, slapping the water with his big flat tail. "I'm the best swimmer," said Muskrat, "I'll go." Then Toskwaye, the little Toad,
popped up out of the water. "I'll go. I can dive very deep," she said. The other animals started laughing and pointing at Toskwaye. "You? You're
too small and ugly to help," cried the others laughing.
"Be quiet!" said Big Turtle in a loud, stern voice. "Everyone is equal and everyone will have a chance to try."
The sleek Otter smoothed his glossy fur, took a deep breath, and slid into the water. He was gone for a long time before he came up gasping for air. "It was too deep," he said. "I couldn't dive that far."
"Now it's my turn," said Beaver. He slapped the water with his tail as he disappeared. After a long time, he came to the surface again. "It's too
far," he gasped. "No one can dive that deep." Muskrat tried next and also failed.
"Now it's my turn," said little Toskwaye the Toad. She took a deep breath and jumped into the water. She was gone a very long time and everyone
thought they wouldn't see her again.
Suddenly Otter pointed at the water, shouting, "Look, look bubbles!"
Toskwaye's small, ugly face appeared through the water. She spat a few grains of soil onto the Big Turtle's back, then fell back into the
water-dead.
The Turtle ordered the others to rub the soil grains and spread them around on his shell. The grains grew and grew until a large island was formed - big enough for the girl to live on. It grew into our world, as we know it today. The descendants of the Sky girl became the Earth's people.
Today, some people say the whole world still rests on Big Turtles back.
The Clue:
- From the posted coordinates, wander on down the former Paw Paw Trail.
- Down a hill, you go and the trail goes to the left and right.
- Use your GPS/Smartphone and head off on a bearing of 0 degrees.
- On the left side of the trail, a tall soldier has lost its head - continue on.
- Over a springtime stream, you will stroll.
- On the right, another tall soldier has lost its head - continue on.
- The home of the Michigan Banana (GC8NWV0) lies on the left.
- The trail will curve to the right and meander along the river.
- Continue down the trail past three mighty oaks on your right.
- On the right, four sycamore sisters are not social distancing and are huddled together.
- Continue past the survey marker on the left, and the trail will curve slightly to the right.
- On the right, beyond a small ditch lies the Legend of the Sycamore (GC8NWV4)
- On the left, twin conjoined sycamores shade kayakers and canoeists as they paddle by.
- As the trail curves slightly to the right, there is a tree on the left that is naked.
- The trail curves gently back to the left
- Right before the next curve in the trail, you will see a hollow log on the right. Beyond that log, there is a large splintered tree. The Great Turtle rests there. (if you have reached the stream, you have gone too far).
The Cache: The cache is a large-size lock & lock hidden along the former Paw Paw Trail in Lower Huron Metropark. See waypoints for parking and trailhead locations. Please DO NOT take the stamp or stamp pad.
This cache is located in Lower Huron Metropark. A Metroparks vehicle permit is required for entry to the parks: $10 daily pass, $40 annual pass, $29 annual seniors pass. All park rules and regulations apply. Please park in parking lots only.
For general information please call 810-227-2752 800-47-PARKS, or visit www.metroparks.com. Dogs on a leash are allowed in this section of the park The hours for the trail are dawn to dusk.
A Metropark geocaching permit has been filed and approved by Kevin Arnold (Southern District Interpretive Supervisor).