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^ GHOTI ^ Mystery Cache

Hidden : 2/21/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The cache isn't at the posted coordinates. Solve this simple puzzle that pokes fun at some of the irregularities in English spelling.

As of August 22, 2017 I simplified the steps needed to get the final coordinates.



"To paraphrase a borrowed quote, English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows them down dark alleys, knocks them down, and goes through their pockets for loose grammar. " - From the log by chamois-shimi & special K, 02/21/2015.


English is a funny language, there's no mistake. Why do we need carat, caret, carrot and karat? Why so many identical spellings that are pronounced differently, such as these:

bough rhymes with cow
cough rhymes with off
rough rhymes with puff
though rhymes with Joe
through rhymes with too

And why silly rules such as: I before E ...

... Except when your foreign neighbor Keith receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters.

Weird.

Which brings me to GHOTI. This word is often used as an example of English spelling silliness. It may seem odd, but it is pronounced just like a common four-letter English word.

Once you have figured out the word, enter it into the checker below, which will then give you the coordinates for the cache..


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Note: As of Sep. 21, '13, the cache has been relocated. It's no longer in the cemetery. The checker and hint have been updated.

For those of you who solved this before Sep. 21, '13, you can add this offset to your old solution:
N + 0.293; W + 1.775

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[puzzle 1] TU nf va "ynhtu", B nf va "jbzra", naq GV nf va "angvba". [cache] Onfr bs svefg cvar gerr ba evtug, haqre arrqyrf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)