Messing Visit 6 Jan 18
Oscar, Rachel and I decided to have another go at finding the treasure, despite not having solved the clue that would pinpoint exactly where to look - but more pairs of eyes were likely to prove helpful! We started at 11am (popping into the pub, where we booked a 12:30 table for lunch), and then set off, passing the landmarks which told us where to go.
Rather awkwardly, as we were walking into the woods, a couple of people were also walking up the same path and we realised they were holding ATH printouts. We congregated by the pond, so we introduced ourselves and I explained I had been before, but not found the treasure. It was really nice to meet some other people who've been going through the same processes as we have, and we were all careful enough not to divulge key info to each other, while managing to establish that we were more or less in the same position in relation to finding the treasure - one clue short!
Since I felt that I had focused so hard on the area behind the pond, previously, we took ourselves up to the 'crossroads' paths and did a thorough search around there. We came back to the bird copse area via the back path - noting on the way that the (probably geocached) camera had now disappeared from underneath the interesting tree! We exchanged some updates on our lack of success with the other team, who had covered much of the same searching that I had, previously, and after checking out the area by the bigger pond we had to go back to the village for lunch. It seemed likely the other team would strike lucky while we were gone, but that was okay - we were cold and hungry and would have time to come back after lunch.
The Old Crown's food really is palatable, so after a fantastic meal we set off again - passing the other team by the front door of the pub! They had found ticket #6, which was great news, so after swapping a few more anecdotes about our shared experiences of doing the ATH, and some encouragement from them, we set off again. We turned left at the stile to shortcut up to the pond, and Rachel wanted to check out the fallen tree. I knew I'd already checked it really thoroughly but it was so distinctive that going over it again was definitely a good idea. Within five seconds, Oscar spotted the white tupperware box in the deep, water-filled cleft along the main trunk! I had poked into that cleft with a sturdy stick previously - I remembered all the sludge and water inside it, but I obviously hadn't got right down low and used my eyes, which was really frustrating. But hindsight is a wonderful thing :-) Don't rely on feeling for something with a stick!
Rachel and Oscar opened the little box to find a lovely pack of cards, with backs printed up with the poster design, and each face showing a different Messier object. We took Messier object #7, Ptolemy Cluster, looked through the rest of the contents, and took a few photos. As we hotfooted it out of the woods, we passed a family with two excited kids just entering by the stile. Rachel said: "They're holding ATH printouts!" so we called out "Good luck!" and got some smiles in return.
We had time to take a look at the church, where I made sure to leave a comment in the Visitors' Book in admiration of the stained glass. We noted all the places that the "three gauntlet gules" (or single ones) were in evidence in the church and village, and headed back to the pub for a welcome coffee and icecream, and to talk about how on earth we'd solve the postcards now we knew what the clue told us!
