GC2ZFH4 Little John's pet (Traditional Cache) in Gauteng, South Africa created by Sonsoekster

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival. This is explained in the Help Center

If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

GC2ZFH4 ▼

A cache by Sonsoekster Message this owner

Hidden : 7/5/2011

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

A small lion in a quiet park in Robindale, Randburg. Was this a fountain at some stage?

The Little John park in Robindale is bordered by streets that are named after the characters in the Robin Hood tale.

The first mention of a quasi-historical Robin Hood is given in Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Chronicle, written in about 1420. The following lines occur with little contextualisation under the year 1283:

Lytil Jhon and Robyne Hude
Wayth-men ware commendyd gude
In Yngil-wode and Barnysdale
Thai oysyd all this tyme thare trawale.

This tale has inspired many books and plays in the 1500's and 1600's, and John Keats wrote a poem about it. Today children and adults still enjoy stories and movies about the legendary Robin Hood, his wife Maid Marion, and his gang, the Merry Men.

Little John, Friar Tuck and Will Scarlet were some of the well known members of "The Merry Men". The Sheriff of Nottingham was their enemy, and the Sherwood forest was their hunting ground.

It is not clear why there is a lion in this park, and how it fits into Little John's story.

According to a 17th-century ballad, he was a giant of a man (at least seven feet tall) who was named John Little. Robin Hood first encountered him when he tried to prevent Robin from crossing a narrow bridge. The two men then fought with quarterstaves, and Robin was knocked into the river. Despite having won the duel, John agreed to join his band and fight alongside him. He was baptised by the Merry Men and then called Little John, as he most certainly was not Little. Perhaps he could have had a lion for a pet?

In the end, Robin and his men are pardoned by King Richard Lionheart and his band are incorporated into the king's retinue, much to the dismay of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Maybe the lion is in honour of King Lionheart?

The cache is a bit smaller than a film canister, but larger than a nano. Please bring your own pen.

The park is relatively quiet, but care must be taken at night, and it should preferably be done in a group if you attempt this cache at night.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ubyrf ng gur onfr - xrrc lbhe rlr ba gur onyy.

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)