Welcome to the Farewell to Finder’s Fest geo-art, brought to you by the Forest Minions! This series celebrates weird and unusual things throughout the Sunshine State. Please do not go to the posted locations. Rather, solve the challenging quiz found at the bottom of each page, for the final location. For the letterbox caches, please leave the stamp in the cache. They are not trade items. For the discerning traveler, we’ve included the GPS coordinates for these bizarre locations, when we were able to establish them.
Carnivorous Cloud – Location 29.2489, -81.1216
Between 1955 and 1966, several people reported encountering a strange pink cloud that hung low to the ground in the woods along the Tomoka River west of Daytona. For years, locals told about a strange globe of light that would chase cars on Tomoka Road, but this light doesn’t seem related to the cloud. Usually the cloud was seen in the cooler months by hunters and on at least one occasion by a fisherman on the Tomoka River. It was blamed for the disappearance of at least a dozen people
This phenomenon occurred in the area of the last Timucuan stronghold as recorded in 1605 by Spanish explorer Alvaro Mexia. One folk story suggests a connection between the pink cloud and an Indian legend about Chief Tomkie who violated local religious practices by seizing a golden cup and drinking from a sacred spring that was said to have healing powers. This offense caused the surrounding tribes to attack Tomkie’s band. However Chief Tomkie was unhurt in the battle. Then a beautiful Indian maiden named Oleeta, drew her bow on the great Tomkie and put an arrow into his heart. She rushed forward and grabbed the golden cup from the Chief’s hand only to be struck down with a poisoned arrow. She was still clutching the sacred cup when she died. Legend has it that the golden cup is still in the possession of Florida Indians at the present time. Allegedly Chief Tomokie’s spirit was compelled to forever wander in the mists of the Tomoka River.
Here is the super duper, way challenging, really hard trivia question, which, if solved properly, will lead you to the final coordinates:
Question: What do cockroaches do every fifteen minutes?
A: Chainsaw juggling = N29° 27.187' W81° 48.599'
B: Opera singing = N29° 27.187' W81° 48.589'
C: Farting = N29° 27.187' W81° 48.579'