Cache the Pass

The well thought out concept of a geocaching series of searches has run most of the summer and has provided a lot of fun-filled entertainment and mental challenges for this hard working group.  Since it started there have been key searches that have led teams  to places like the old swimming hole in Coleman and way up Willow Drive. Each search is chock full of puzzling clues and the participants have really leaned into it all.  On September 12th the participants headed out on part four of the searches. It started from the hospital and through a series of clues they found themselves under the bridge near the Kanata Hotel. There a complicated clue sheet was found taped to the underside beam that required translation of several words. The trick was that the answers were in French. The theme of the search was Diamonds Are Forever, and in true Dase fashion, he had his niece Beatrice (Bea) ride by on old fashioned bicycle, dressed as a French spy. The bike had a basket with three baguettes in it, a clue.  It was a play on French culture but also a type of diamond cut.  Eventually the clues led them back to alongside Pass Beer where they were told that they were going inside to be treated to pizza, wings, fries and a free drink courtesy of some sponsors who were already in the place.  They included the Morency Family, the Reimers, the Strandquists, Georgia Sullivan, the Ritchies, Andrew and Tracy Vanson and of course Pass Beer. 

There the final clue for part four of this geocaching journey was handed out.  The clue was a note in an envelope that all received and had the following on it in a list sequence. “Silver maple leaf, toonie, loonie, 2 quarters, 1 dime, 1 penny and 4 bits”.  It took some sorting out but eventually most got that it all added up to 911, which is the combination to one of the locks on the locked box at the Pantry.  

This Wednesday night the final leg of this insane chase will start at the Biggest Piggy Bank in Flumerfelt Park. There teams of four will be formed to set out to find the final key, equipped with coordinates. The team that has the fastest time finding the key will win a fabulous prize package that includes, for each member, a set of binoculars, a cook set, a Primus hiking stove, and a guided overnight hike by Crowsnest Adventures to Window Mountain Lake.  

Overall Dase said that he has definitely seen improved morale and that it gave AHS workers something fun to think about these last two months.  Following this last search, on October 2nd, the whole sheebang will wind up with a pot luck supper at the Blairmore Lions Hall where the myriad of amazing prizes will be divvied up. Knowing Brent this will probably involve yet more competition. All in all a fine example of acknowledgement of our health care workers.