Searching for hidden treasure

Lifetime-local Bob Bredel put together the 10-clue search using Linda Garvey’s book "San Carlos Stories,” which is an oral history of San Carlos. Teams of up to three 10 to 15 year olds were given three weeks to study the book to prepare for the race to open the treasure chest and the secret prize inside. Each team had one parent do the driving, however, the parents weren’t there to help. Like a taxi driver, these parents were at the mercy and direction of the passengers.

Bredel, a bit of a history buff, wanted to create this hunt for years. He used the local history to create something fun and educational for a group of youth who don’t have many entertainment opportunities, he said.

Fliers were sent home from school, a banner was erected in downtown and a Web site advertised the event. The slots were full prior to the Jan. 30 sign up date.

He explained the rules one last time to the San Carlos youth gathered inside Casa de Flores waiting for the signal to grab the first clue — one of the 39 numbered envelopes lining the inside of the church. Each team had the same clue in different orders.

When Bredel said "go” it was madness as the participants anxiously scrambled for their envelope.

Team 1 — nicknamed "Big Trouble — consisted of three 13-year-old classmates: Alli Quin, Katie Garrity and Katie Booth with the help of Alli’s mom Cheryl Quin.

Cheryl Quin waited after each clue was retrieved for the girls to work through the clue and tell her where to drive. As one girl read, the other two consulted "San Carlos Stories,” searching for an answer.

At one point, the clue called for the hunters to visit a small park with the view of the bay. Big Trouble believed it was looking for Crestview Park. Cheryl Quin obliged, watching as the girls ran through the park in the pouring rain trying to find the yellow-T-shirt wearing volunteer with the next clue. They gave up, telling Quin to try Heather school. Again, it was a bust. Finally, they realized it’s Vista Park — where Quin’s son, ironically, waited with the next clue.

Once a team reached their 10th clue, the envelope contained a red card. Garrity, Quin and Booth lit up as they opened their clue in front of City Hall to find a red ticket inside. The race was on to the start line. Bredel held the final clue to the key. Big Trouble was the fourth to arrive to pick up the clue.

Teams were told the keys were hidden on the grounds of the original St. Charles Parish — which was actually Casa de Flores. Many teams jumped back into their cars with the clue in hand.

Two curious 11-year-olds searched the garden planter. By digging through the mud under a statue Sean Davidson and Garrett Yamane found the box holding the keys to the treasure chest one hour after the start time.

Other contestants were called back to the start sign to see what was inside. Davidson and Yamane had read the book, studied online and taken pictures of each park in San Carlos to prepare for the event.

Yamane was surprised the keys were hidden in a place everyone kept walking by. The boys waited as other contestants returned before opening the treasure chest. Davidson just hoped it wasn’t filled with coupons.

Five $50 gift certificates to Abercrombie and Fitch were given out as consolation prizes to other contestants. Garrity was one of the lucky winners. Once the others were gathered, and other prizes were given, Yamane and Davidson each unlocked one of the two locks on the treasure chest.

The lid slowly opened to show three stacks of cash tied with curly red ribbon totaling just more than $1,000 for the boys to split.

Both Yamane and Davidson agreed, the prize was worth the studying and worth the 30-minute wait after finding the keys.

The loss didn’t dishearten Big Trouble. All three girls had a great time, loved running through the rain and would do it again.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.

Info box:

Test your San Carlos historical knowledge

These are some of the clues as given to the treasure hunters. Test your own knowledge of San Carlos as it is today.

Q: In the 1700s the Native American settlers in San Carlos were a tribe by the name of the Lamchins. The Lamchins named their settlement "Cachanihtac.” Cachanihtac was a great place for a settlement because it was close to a creek and protected on one side by a large hill, which would later be known as Brittan’s Knoll. Find the present day location of Cachanihtac.

A: Carmelita between Cordilleras and Alameda de las Pulgas

Q: Sadly, San Carlos High School shut its doors in 1982. However, there is one part to the high school still in its original place. Locate it, search it, and find the hidden clue with your team’s number on it.

A: Highlands field

Q: Your next stop used to be the Tivoli Theater. It was remodeled in 1989. Currently, it is a restaurant. Many San Carlans feel they have the best food in Town. Find the location of the old Tivoli Theater.

A: Town Restaurant on Laurel Avenue

Q: Early promoters of San Carlos stated that Portola’s Expedition, in the 1700s, first discovered the San Francisco Bay from the hills of San Carlos. However, historians now agree that Portola’s Expedition likely discovered the San Francisco Bay from the hills further north in San Bruno at Sweeny’s Ridge.

San Carlos has one particularly small park located at the top of the San Carlos Hills which likely provides a view of the San Francisco Bay, which was very similar to the first view of Portola’s Expedition. The park is named appropriately.

A: Vista Park

Source: Bob Bredel using Linda Garvey’s book "San Carlos Stories.”