Well, I wasn’t going to get the book or let myself get caught up in The Thrill of the Chase for the reason I told myself ‘I have not the time’. But, I couldn’t resist any longer; especially after I found myself browsing a wonderful blog about the hunt( by Dal Neitzel), and immediately after, read the following quote by Rumi:
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It won’t lead you astray.”
I took it as a sign (but of course I was looking for one). As a true seeker at heart, I realized there is no better way to spend time then to be in the thrill of the chase. I enjoy searching for many things already (old games, lost words, unicorn horns, Keys of all types), that Forrest Fenn’s book could only add to my (or anyone’s) pleasure. And it immediately did mine. (Rumi is so smart.)
For those who are not familiar with the book entitled The Thrill of the Chase by Forrest Fenn, it is a book sharing some of his life’s experiences, memories, and thoughts. It is a memoir. Captivating on their own, the stories in the book are also said to hold “subtle clues sprinkled” within them. To what? Well, they are clues to help a person find the chest of gold Forrest Fenn hid somewhere in the mountains north of Santa Fe. A poem is also included which, once understood completely, will lead one to the treasure. Whether the clues help with understanding the meaning of the poem, or whether they hold other discoveries, is unknown at this time.
Over on the tweleve treasure hunt forum, I had said after I got the book I would share some of my first thoughts. So, below are some of those thoughts which came to my mind after reading the book. Honestly, like I mention in the endnote of Six Questions with Forrest Fenn, treasures (of another kind) have already been noticed. If I do get the chance to search a spot in the Rocky Mountains, I will, but for now, I am happy to contemplate the poem, Mr. Fenn’s words, and those postmarks.
I had remembered reading somewhere the advice to read the poem, read the book, and read the poem again. I did that. These are some of the things that crossed my mind:
- When I read the line of the poem; ‘Your effort will be worth the cold,’ my first thought was ‘Your effort will be worth ‘the touch of Bronze.’ The treasure chest is said to be a “beautiful cast bronze chest.” In one of his stories, Mr. Fenn shares how the ‘touch of bronze’ is cold. So, as one possible meaning, cold could equate to the ‘touch of bronze’. If we make the ‘effort’, our reward would be the chest (touch of bronze/cold). (I believe it’s possible there could be multiple meanings for each line, though).
- With the possibility of the above’s ‘touch of bronze’ suggesting ‘last place’ (as in bronze medal), and not only the chest, I considered the last line of the poem, “I give you title to the gold” could then suggest ‘first place (as in gold medal)’….I can’t help but wonder if there’s a first/last place decoding method. Sort-of like “there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” (Luke) Mr. Fenn also talked about being in the ‘middle’.
- Brown in the poem. Capped for a reason. As Fenn is an art dealer, I suppose it shouldn’t be ruled out the home of Brown could also be ‘the home of something ‘red and green’; For Brown is made from ‘red and green’ (yellow and blue).
- ”Where warm waters halt”. Okay, many feel hot springs and things of that nature, and it probably is so….but my first thought (and I said I would share it), was that the actual words of ‘warm waterS’ halt, halts with the letter S. Could it suggest ‘begin it where the path starts to ‘wind/curve/no longer straight’? This of course means the exact place to start is given elsewhere. I wouldn’t say I like this much, now, but I would if a specific place was decoded and it comprised of a straight path which then began to noticeably curve all of a sudden. In which case, I would begin where the warm waters halt. Lol. (remember, these are first thoughts, which are sometimes the silliest).
- When I read, “It would be nice to start life over and do it all again. I’d change so much, but only for the sake of new adventures”, those postmarks came to mind because of their anomalies. Did Mr. Fenn go back and ‘change the past’ for the sake of new adventures for us?
Whether or not the postmarks are involved in the puzzle, Mr. Fenn certainly did provide us with a wonderful adventure to get involved in. I am glad to finally be caught up in the thrill of the chase, specifically.
The last caption you suggest possible clue. However, reading for the sake of reading into ones life..
I think he is simply stating that he has no regrets. He would do it again and that life is an adventure and for that he will change for what ever comes his way. A man who live a full life wants people to do the same. To live life as an adventure and not regret the choices we make in life. If we could do it all again, would you do things different or would you actually do what he has stated “Do it again?” We learn from our choices do we not? So why change it if we could go back…
Great points, Jennifer. It’s just those postmarks bother me….lol
Check out this link to Browns Park Colorado.http://www.prospector-utah.com/brown.htm. This area might be the X on the spot.
Hobeau, thanks for visiting….interesting link….
I actually believe the “home of Brown” is referring to Las Vegas NM. Hoodoo Brown was one of New Mexico’s most famous outlaws (Dodge City Gang), and he was actually elected as Justice of the Peace of East Last Vegas at one time.
do you think Brown is capitalized because it represents a proper name color brown of something. Brown would be first adj. of proper name
Capital could mean of reverence. Something or someone respected. Does not have to be of great popularity to the public or even known by the public; just revered by the writer. That opens it up to many possibilities and of course would require having the wwwh first. IMO
Hi, all. This is about a response FF had for a woman who asked or told him to show her where the
treasure is. He said “Do you have a plane?” This may not have been his entire response, but it did
get me thinking that there may well be an airport fairly close to where the TC is. I’m afraid it’s not
real easy for me to find the exact quote from him, or even where/when he said this.
My solve of the poem indicates a search path that does indeed have an airport within 100 miles
(as the crow flies) of the actual search path. Presumably, if someone were to fly to that specific
airport, one could then rent a car nearby. And I think that airport is available for the general public’s
use, within the practical limitations of safe aviation activities (such as not trying to land a 747 on a
too-short runway). Of course, not every airport in the world has fuel for sale, rental cars, restaurants,
etc.
I realize that 100 miles may be considered a substantial distance, and that it would be a bit
difficult to find any place in the Rocky Mountains that is more than 100 miles (as the crow flies)
from the NEAREST airport — or “landing strip”. I have deliberately been generous, numerically,
when I mentioned the 100 miles. But I’m afraid to say, at this time, how generous. Suffice it to
say that in relation to Santa Fe, NM, the “reasonable” place to land a plane — to get to the TC while
still being practical — is more than a 3-hour drive by car. So someone who could easily afford,
financially, to fly instead of driving, might well opt to fly, in order to save driving time.
Having a lot of money doesn’t in all cases buy one a longer life span, so time/morality is still
largely “the great equalizer” . . . even though money can “free up” a lot of time that the average
person spends doing chores, errands, and other relatively (to some folks, anyway) mundane tasks.
Hmm, a lot of your “theories” resemble mine, in fact I think you borrowed them from Dal’s and Jenny’s. Would be nice to give credit 😀
Oops . . . I meant “mortality”, not “morality”.