Geocache Description:
This is one of a series of three linked caches which involve a walk or boat trip on the Stockton Flight of locks on the Grand Union canal near Southam. The caches are named because the walk takes in the locks from Stockton Top Lock to Shop Lock.
The co-ordinates given are NOT for the cache but for the parking place opposite the Boat Inn, near the top of the locks. If doing the caches by car this is the best place to start.
Finding this cache involves walking the towpath beside the locks. You will not need to cross the locks to find any of the information. The questions can be answered in any order but all the answers will be needed to complete the three caches. It may be helpful to know that each letter represents a different digit.
The difficulty rating of 4 is because the cache container is unconventional.
***Canals and water are not inherently dangerous if common sense is used, but children should be carefully supervised***
The answers to the questions will provide the digits to be plugged into the equations below
x = h(i*a)(e+f+g) + (b*d) + h
y = i(b+d)(c+f) +(e+h)(b*b) + g + a
which will lead to the location of Top-Shop 1 at N52 16.x W001 21.y
One part of the co-ordinates for Top-Shop 3 will be found in Top-Shop 1. Please write down the equation and leave the laminated card for the next cacher.
Please replace the cache in the container carefully, making sure it's well covered.
Questions:
Top Lock (Lock 4)
If this is the end of your walk take a rest; if not, think where you might do so later.
You may be interested to know that To Birmingham Gas Street Basin from Napton Junction is 3a miles
Lock 5
British waterways seem to take a delight in putting signs up everywhere these days.
They have managed to post ? here.Take total and subtract 1 will give your b
Lock 6
The paddles on these locks are unusually large. Partly as a result, the Hamm and Baker "candlestick" gear has a very low ratio. It takes 21 turns to fully raise a paddle.
How many bollards and ladders are there between the lock gates will be c
Lock 7
Lock gates normally have two important numbers on them, the weight of the gate and the date of installation. Look at a top gate.
Add the kilogrammes to the year. d = the sum of the first two digits of the answer.
Lock 8
This is the Grand Union canal not the Grand Trunk canal (That's now known as the Trent and Mersey) but it's still a useful clue.
Find the tag with **15 on it. The second digit is e
Lock 9 and Lock 10 There are mooring bollards along the towpath between the locks.
The number of bollards, on the towpath side, between the bottom gates of lock 9 and the top gates of lock 10 is f
Lock 11
To maintain a good supply of water, British Waterways has installed a back pumping system from the bottom to the top of the flight. The pump intake is between the lock and the bridge. This bridge is awkward to navigate, as shown by the number of scrapes and paint marks in the arch.
Look for ENgh4 or Bgh5. If you need a clue this should cover it.
Shop Lock (Lock 12)
Probably your first or last question. If you're lucky, the shop on the other side of the lock will be open for an ice cream, but before you check on that, you need to make sure you have the nuts and bolts of the calculation.
When was the lock gates built 201i