This geocache is one of six that were placed in association with the 20th anniversary of GC363 Squirrel nutkin which was published on February 24, 2001 by Jeff and Denise who were active geocachers at the time. The cache was later adopted by Stan&Ruth on October 14, 2007. It is the oldest geocache in Wayne County and 6th oldest in Michigan.
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is a story by Beatrix Potter, written in August 1903*. The story is about an impertinent red squirrel named Nutkin and his narrow escape from an owl called Old Brown. The book followed Potter's hugely successful The Tale of Peter Rabbit and was an instant hit. We believe that Jeff and Denise may have had children and were familiar with the story. Anyway, there are still a lot of oak trees and squirrels around.
The story takes place over six days so there are six geocaches in this series.
DAY 6
On the sixth day, which was Saturday, the squirrels came again for the last time; they brought a new-laid egg in a little rush basket as a last parting present for Old Brown. But Nutkin ran in front laughing, and shouting—
"Humpty Dumpty lies in the beck,
With a white counterpane round his neck,
Forty doctors and forty wrights,
Cannot put Humpty Dumpty to rights!"
Now old Mr. Brown took an interest in eggs; he opened one eye and shut it again. But still he did not speak. Nutkin became more and more impertinent—
"Old Mr. B! Old Mr. B!
Hickamore, Hackamore, on the King's kitchen door;
All the King's horses, and all the King's men,
Couldn't drive Hickamore, Hackamore,
Off the King's kitchen door."
Nutkin danced up and down like a sunbeam; but still Old Brown said nothing at all.
Nutkin began again—
"Arthur O'Bower has broken his band,
He comes roaring up the land!
The King of Scots with all his power,
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!"
Nutkin made a whirring noise to sound like the wind, and he took a running jump right onto the head of Old Brown!...
Then all at once there was a flutterment and a scufflement and a loud "Squeak!"
The other squirrels scuttered away into the bushes.
When they came back very cautiously, peeping round the tree—there was Old Brown sitting on his door-step, quite still, with his eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.
But Nutkin was in his waistcoat pocket!
This looks like the end of the story; but it isn't.
Old Brown carried Nutkin into his house, and held him up by the tail, intending to skin him; but Nutkin pulled so very hard that his tail broke in two, and he dashed up the staircase and escaped out of the attic window.
And to this day, if you meet Nutkin up a tree and ask him a riddle, he will throw sticks at you, and stamp his feet and scold, and shout—
"Cuck-cuck-cuck-cur-r-r-cuck-k-k!"
THE END
This cache is located within Oakwoods Metropark, a part of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority park system. A Metropark Vehicle Entry Permit is required: Annual Permit $40. Senior (62+) Permit $29. Daily Permit $10.
For General information please call 810-227-2752 800-47-PARKS. Or visit our website at WWW.metroparks.com.
All park rules and regulations apply. Park in parking lots only.
Dogs are NOT allowed in this section of the park.
VERY IMPORTANT: THE HOURS FOR OAKWOODS METROPARK ARE FROM 8:00AM TO DUSK. |
The permit for this cache was submitted prior to the 4/15/2020 deadline and was approved by Kevin Arnold | Southern District Interpretive Services Supervisor Huron-Clinton Metroparks on 04/08/20
*This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org