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The Old Swimmin' Hole Multi-Cache

Hidden : 5/23/2006
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Can you find James Whitcomb Riley’s ‘Old Swimmin’ Hole’?

“The Old Swimmin’ Hole” was one of James Whitcomb Riley’s first poems to be published while employed with The Indianapolis Journal in 1882. It was part of a collection he penned under the name Benj. F. Johnson of Boone County. An accompanying editorial comment from Riley described the author as an uneducated, thoughtful old farmer who had been writing poetry since his youth. Riley’s friends soon recognized the real hand behind the poems! The location of his childhood swimmin’ hole is something of a mystery. The only thing known for sure is that it was somewhere on Brandywine Creek in Greenfield (The poet’s birthplace) near a railroad track. If you have visited Tvnewsbiz’s ‘Trailblazer’ on the Pennsy Trail, you may have noticed the plaque dedicated to the Hoosier Poet.

First Stage: The first stage is located near his birthplace in downtown Greenfield. There is no need to enter the house, museum, or the garden behind his birthplace, though I would highly recommend taking the tour. The museum is open April 15-November 15.
Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM-4PM
Sunday: 1PM-4PM
The first stage cache is available while the museum is closed. It is a residential neighborhood so I’d recommend hunting the first stage during daylight hours. Within this micro, you’ll find the coordinates to the final cache location.

Final Stage: It’s about a .35 mile hike with some bushwhacking involved. Also, during spring and summer, the area is choked with stinging nettles. Strongly recommend long pants and if you have little ones, you may have to carry them through the weeds. The property is open till 11PM, so night caching is a go, for the final stage only.

For the FTF: Congradulations to IndyMagicMan!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Svefg Fgntr: Sraprq Frpbaq Fgntr: Zrgny unl onyr

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)