The cache is not at the listed coordinates.
A two stage multi cache that will require trans-Atlantic cooperation between you and a fellow cacher from Newport's sister city, Kinsale, Ireland.
The Sister City Programs and Newport
For centuries, cities throughout the world have established informal relationships based upon common cultural, economic or historic ties. In the United States, the formal Sister Cities program or “City Twinning,” as it is called in other parts of the world, is an outgrowth of World War II. In the early 1950’s, President Eisenhower promoted a new form of diplomacy, which he referred to as “Citizen-to-Citizen.” This effort encouraged towns and cities in the Unites States to create formal bonds with communities in other countries who shared similar demographics, historic, cultural or economic issues. It was envisioned that these unions, mutually agreed upon by ordinance, would provide a forum for exchange of perspectives and ideas of culture, education, government and economic development. Fifty years later, with a “shrinking world”, this program, which fosters deeper personal understanding and exchange with our global neighbors, remains relevant.
Newport has six Sister Cities: Kinsale, Ireland; Shimoda, Japan; Imperia, Italy; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Skiathos, Greece; and Saint John, New Brunswick.
Newport and Kinsale
The “twinning” of Newport and Kinsale was officially proclaimed on October 3, 1999. Since that time, there have been numerous exchanges between the two cities, which have a common interest in tourism and fine cuisine as well as sports such as sailing, rugby, and golf. In addition, there are strong cultural and social ties resulting from the many Newport citizens who invoke and honor their Irish heritage.
The Irish in Newport
The early 19th Century saw a large influx of Irish immigrants when workers were needed to accomplish the construction of Fort Adams. Over 500 Irish laborers worked nearly 33 years to complete the Fort. By 1828, it was determined that the population of Irish Catholics in Newport was sufficiently large to warrant the establishment of a parish and property was purchased on Barney Street to be used as a church. Adjacent to the church (now gone) was a cemetery, which remains today. The Museum of Newport Irish History has restored the cemetery, which is still owned by the Diocese of Providence. There are many interesting gravestones to be seen, reflecting the Irish birthplaces of those interred.
Through its “twinning” and exchanges with Kinsale, as well as other special events, including Newport Irish Heritage month, and the Newport Celtic Rock Festival, Newport continues to celebrate its Irish roots and connection.
At the posted location (Stage 1) is the famous "40 Steps" of Cliff Walk. Here, the Irish help who worked in the nearby "summer cottages" of New York's wealthy held informal dances on Friday nights, as a way to get together and blow off a little steam throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s.
These steps were recently rebuilt using granite slabs purchased by local families and businesses. At the posted coordinates is a step (5th one up) with two, four digit numbers. Record the number on the left (the smaller of the two).
Now comes the trans-Atlantic cooperation part! You will need to get in contact with someone in Kinsale who has found their Stage 1, and have recorded a similar four digit number.
1. Look below for notes that any geocacher in Kinsale may have posted requesting a partner to exchange numbers with. If you find someone, click on their user name to get to their profile page, then email them via geocaching.com and arrange the trade between yourselves.
2. If you fail to find any such notes, you can post one yourself on the counterpart Kinsale cache page, requesting a partner to exchange numbers with. Hopefully, someone in Kinsale who needs a partner in Rhode Island will read your note and contact you via geocaching.com. (You may have to wait a bit for this to happen.)
3. Please do not post notes looking for a partner until you actually have the numbers from your side of the partnership. Also, if you have the number, please only share it with one cacher on the other side - this is meant to be a one-to-one partnership.
4. Once you have the number provided by the Kinsale cacher, you need to do a little math. Using the four digit number you received as ABCD, the final cache in Newport is located at:
41 (C*D+4).(2*A*B*C*D - 217) N
71 (B*C-7).(B*C*D +147) W
Important: Please do not post premature "found it!" logs. If you post a "found it!" log before finding the final and signing the log, your log will be deleted (after fair warning, of course). Also, please remove any partner-seeking notes you post on the Kinsale cache page after you've found a partner. Otherwise, you'll keep getting contacted, and folks there will be frustrated by the clutter of old notes. Whenever we find outdated notes on these two cache pages, we will remove them. Finally, please don't post any numbers or coordinates on either of these cache pages. Posts that include this information will be deleted as soon as they are discovered.
Important: You may only log the cache which you physically found! You are not allowed to log the other country's coast cache just because you teamed up with someone on the other side of the ocean.
