The Treasure Is Found

Published on July 25, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Brevard County Manatees News Release


For those that were wondering what we were doing with our Pirate Poetry in our team email newsletters was about, here is the story behind the tale.

When our staff worked (walked and drove) the county a few weeks ago we hid a small silver coin with unique markings on the back. We placed the coin where nobody would have do dig, climb or otherwise destroy somebody's property to find it, nor would anybody have to trespass to get to it. Then we created clues that coincided with our Dress Like a Pirate Night promotional. And then, with Pirate fever striking the box office of theatres across the country and across bars and restaurants (and ballparks), it was game on, but unless you bought a $2 game program at a Manatees game, you didn't know about our treasure nor the clues, which when found, would net the finder a lifetime season ticket.

Why didn't we tell everybody about it?

Because if you were reading this in Seattle, Washington or Pig's Knuckle, Arkansas, you weren't going to look for it anyway. If you were a local fan and didn't attend every game, you really weren't a lifetime season ticket prospect, mate, let's be real about that. If you didn't read our program, you didn't know about the contest, meaning that only the most hard-core, stark-raving mad fans would be looking for it, exactly what we wanted in a lifetime season ticket holder. No, you had to be take hard-core ready to take your fanhood to the next level to warrant even joining the search for this coin. Exactly what a lifetime season ticket holder should be, agreed? The clues were released only in our email newsletter and reprinted in our game day program after they were released for everybody. None of the clues were released anywhere else but in this email newsletter and then only later in the day in our Game Day program. There were the fans that received these clues that figured out a treasure hunt was on and formed groups that went looking anyway, even though they didn't know what the coin looked like or what the reward was if they were successful, something that they could have been informed on if they read our game day program. A picture of the coin and all the clues that were released thus far were in our game day program.

Congratulations to Rob Brown, one of four hard-core groups of fans that pooled resources to search for the coin. Here is the message we received from Rob and his fiancé Lori at 1:20 this morning.

The treasure no longer lays waiting After days of anticipating, Under the moon it was found

because we kept our flashlights toward the ground.

We found it at approximately 12:45 am Tuesday...amongst a small crowd of other treasure seekers...but we never lost hope...and Rob was the scurvy native who found it!!!!

Thanks so much for the fun!!!!

Lori and Rob

The nutty man I'm marrying wants another "hunt"....SOON!!

Well, that's fine and dandy, Lori, and for his sins, lass, he'll get one!

Here's a note from Bonnie Leyko from this morning:

Hi Guys...Just wanted to let you know...the coin was found in the wee small hours of this morning...but not by me...boo hoo...I don't know who the guy is...but he DID find it...thanks for a fun ride.. - Bonnie

Bonnie, don't fret, because there's another fun ride coming at ye, if you be ready fer it!

Now, here are the clues in order and an explanation of where they directed fans:

The treasure lays waiting for the world to see

No need for ladders, ropes or shovels for ye.

Under sun and moon it can be found

24-hour access, restin' near the ground.

Arr, the treasure was laid in the open and was easily accessible 24 hours a day to aid in your search.

In county long from end to end

70 miles this road does bend.

The coin it rests another day

Found just about three miles away.

Really, there are only a couple roads that run from north to south, US1 and I-95 being two of them. If you highlighted those roads on a map and focused on three miles either side of them, you were already in the hunt. That eliminated a lot of the county. In the beginning in our game day program you were instructed to get a map and compass. This would've been a good time to have one.

From the old celery farm begin your search

Nearby is a brand new church

North or south, but only one way's right

The 1st stop isn't a traffic light.

Everybody suspected correctly: you started at the stadium and headed south to the stop sign. If you headed north you would've hit a traffic light.

From #4 ye can make the drive

Not 13 miles before ye arrive

First follow the sun at 1200 hour

Down the road of Eisenhower

You began at Gate #4 at Space Coast Stadium, the coin was hidden 12.7 miles away. If you headed south from the stadium (the noon time sun) down the Road of Eisenhower (President Eisenhower instituted the Interstate system back in the 50s). This clue, with clue #2, would eliminate anything but US1 and I-95 as the road running from north to south.

One block your travel, 'tis be the least

Then make a choice, go west or east

'Tis strange this water that lay on the land

The pavement covers any trace of sand.

One block your travel refers to going one exit south to the Eau Gallie exit on I-95. The water that lays on land? Eau in Eau Gallie, the name of the road.

If you've chosen right, lass, you soon will see

The road, an old fork, in close proximity

A decision to make, 50-50 the chance

Only one gets its name from a country called France.

Undeniably, the old fork, just a short distance east of I-95, which is now straightened out, is the fork at Sarno and Eau Gallie. Your choice: right on Sarno or straight on Eau Gallie. Eau Gallie was the correct route.

Parallel worlds, so close, so far

All accessible by truck or car.

Ye be getting' close as so ye should

If ye be in the right neighborhood.

Roads that ultimately parallel each other: Sarno and Eau Gallie. The right neighborhood refers to Applebee's (Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood jingle).

If you've chosen wrong, yer heart be breakin'

Like Robert Frost, the road not taken.

Double back to the fork, and ye shall see

A sign your hope, in a ship's O' galley.

Easy, Self explanatory. You'd be a day behind everybody, maybe two, if you had chosen Sarno Road.

No hunger pangs, ye be eatin' good

Food abounds, ringed with wood.

Nestled on the far west you'll find a shack

If you walk that far, ye gotta turn back.

Actually, Eatin' Good (in the neighborhood, another reference to Applebee's which is on the corner of Eau Gallie and Wickham Roads). Food abounds...there are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity. If you find a shack refers to the Radio Shack located in the shopping center behind Applebee's. If you walk that far ye gotta turn back narrows the coin's location to between Applebee's and Radio Shack in an empty parking lot.

Those were all the clues that were needed by the groups with flashlights that were looking for-and finding-the coin. Here are the remaining clues that would've been published today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday:

To find the coin you'll have to look

Not by the ocean, river or brook.

In the lot's side true to the north

The treasure ye find be truly worth.

Dude, the coin was on the parking lot's north side.

Now 'tis jus' a short walk ta' the west

Where ye can sit down and take ye rest.

Ye journey's been long, the prize be near

Soon 'twill be found, so don't you fear.

You'd have seen behind Applebee's on the north side-after a short walk-parking spaces surrounded by railroad ties, that are really great places to sit under pine trees and relax.

Solitary space, on the map's north side

One lone spot to park yer ride.

Careful now because construction nears

Others close, danger nears.

There is one solitary parking space next to a construction site that the coin was hidden next to. Others close, danger nears: other treasure hunters would definitely be within shouting range of you at this point, hence the danger of somebody else finding the coin.

The very first space that you shall see

You can rest ye bones beneath a tree.

The shoppers drive around the lot

Ignoring you and your secret spot.

OK, sit down, relax under a tree in the lone parking spot. If you'd have looked down the coin would've been at your feet, literally!

Amongst the pines, shiny and bright

On pirate lumber, now change your sight.

Look down below the surface edge

Arr, your coin, lad, lays on a wooden ledge.

Placed on a ledge on the railroad ties (pirate lumber), below ground level, but sitting wide open was the coin, accessible 24 hours a day to anybody that would walk by and look down.

Look, before this season ends we will set up one more treasure hunt. The hundreds of telephone calls and emails we received were huge and the interest is definitely there. But this time the clues will become more difficult and the game more interesting. We're going into a staff meeting in a few minutes and when we come out it'll be game on for Manatees Treasure Hunt #2.

Anyway, thanks for playing, everybody. We hope you enjoyed the game and you never will know when the next one begins because the game will become much more secretive and exclusive. Anybody interested?

You'll have to bring your 'A-game' because the clues will be much more difficult, like the message above...what, can't see it? That's because you're not looking for it, are you? Take the first letter from every paragraph that is bolded in this email, write 'em down and break 'em into words for your hidden message). It won't be easy but, aye, lads and lasses, the treasure will be worth it. And you won't know when we'll begin again unless, once again, you read our game day program because some of the clues may be exclusively printed in there.

Congrats again to Rob Brown. I will tell you that I blew out a knee while walking this county earlier in the month as we designed this contest. Next time it might require swamps and airboats

Now, it's game on, Manatees fans...

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Florida State League Stories from July 25, 2006


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