By Thomas Smith
Avast ye, land lubbers and scallywags! Hark the legend of the Pusey Pirates.
The Pusey Lake Pirates plundered the land that is now called Dark Lake. Their disappearance remains a mystery, with tall tales of their crew spreading across both lake and sea. Rumors have spread around, saying that the end of the great crew may be linked to Bartha Webber’s broken broom handle (after they attempted to pillage her vegetable garden).
Recently, a chest has been overturned from the pirate crew’s hoard. Inside the chest contains the maps necessary to find their treasures.
Mary Barker and Joanna Vanier have been working extensively over the past few months, analyzing the maps found in the chest. The duo have called for all residents, visitors, and interested parties to join forth in their Pirate Booty Treasure Hunt event on Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m.
All treasure hunters will convene at the Lloyd Watson Community Centre and will be provided with a bag to collect their bounty throughout the day.
Luckily, this event will mark the 10th anniversary celebration of the Geocaching Capital of Canada’s GeoTour. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the first ever geocache, buried by Dave Ulmer of Beavercreek, Oregon.
Treasure hunters are asked to bring a potato or a carrot to begin the treasure hunt. Participants must also pay a $5 fee that goes towards the price of supplies for the day and the upkeep of the GeoTour.
Vanier says that many businesses, local residents, and volunteers are ready to assist treasure hunters throughout the treasure hunt in Wilberforce. Like any good pirate, participants are encouraged to wear their finest pirate gear and speak like a pirate.
While they do not want any sword fights breaking out, the organizers are excited for everyone to play their part as pirates.
The Geocaching Capital of Canada project began in 2006 with a collaboration between the Algonquin Gateway Business Association. The Geocaching Capital of Canada includes seven hamlets including Cardiff, Gooderham, Harcourt, Highland Grove, Irondale, Tory Hill, and Wilberforce.
With 100 geocache locations for their GeoTour, the response from the public has been exceptional. The Geocaching Capital of Canada has become one of the most favourite GeoTours based in Canada and their mascot, Tupper T. Turtle has become a recognizable figure in the geocaching community.
Yearning for more caches, 50 additional geocache locations were added to their GeoTour in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial.
Celebrity geocaches can be found throughout the area added by celebrities like Johnny Harris and “Hurricane” Hazel McCallion, former mayor of Mississauga.
The treasure hunt will be a geocaching event cache. The event is set to attract geocachers from all over Ontario and is open for everyone to participate. From young kids, to entire families, and adult geocachers, everyone is welcome to participate in the Pirate Booty Treasure Hunt event and find the Pusey Pirate’s treasure.
Tupper T. Turtle will also be making an appearance at the event and is looking forward to taking photos with anyone who wants one.
