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5. How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Patterns Mystery Cache

Hidden : 12/20/2014
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is not at the posted coordinates. This is the fifth of a series of "How Do I Solve..." caches. I tried to make these easy to understand, but if you have any questions about them, please ask.

Park hours: 5:00am-10:00pm.



In the 3rd and 4th caches in this series, I talked about looking for patterns. We're going to work on that a bit more here. Remember: the patterns you're looking for are SOMETHING that will give you the 4 5 needed for north, the 1 2 2 needed for west, and something to give you numbers within 1 or 2 numbers of the minutes.

Using the posted coordinates as an example, below are some different ways they could be represented in puzzles. See if you can figure out the patterns in the codes.

If you have trouble seeing the patterns and getting numbers that match the posted coordinates, I provide hints and an explanation for each example. Decode these using the Decryption Key available at the bottom of cache pages:

It helps to recognize ways to turn numbers into letters, and letters into numbers:

Note: sometimes the numbers used for J thru Z use only the second digit (e.g. 0 for J, 1 for K, 2 for L, ... 6 for Z).

Also Note: If you have, say, 15 "things", they might equate to the 15 numbers you need for coordinates. But if you have a great many more "things", that sometimes means you might be looking for coordinates that are spelled out (e.g. "four five ...").


Example 1:


My daughter went to the zoo and saw these animals:

Dingo, Elephant, Bear, Gorilla, Iguana, Deer, Cheetah, Anteater, Baboon, Badger, Bat, Impala, Eagle, Giraffe, Goat

Hints:
(1) Lbh arrq svsgrra ahzoref sbe gur pbbeqvangrf. Ner gurer svsgrra "guvatf" urer?
(2) Jung pna tvir lbh n cnggrea bs sbhe svir, naq bar gjb gjb.
Explanation: Pbaireg gur svefg yrggre bs rnpu navzny anzr vagb vg'f ahzore rdhvinyrag.


Example 2:


14 6 15 21 18 6 9 22 5 20 23 15 19 5 22 5 14 14 9 14 5 6 15 21 18 20 8 18 5 5

23 15 14 5 20 23 15 20 23 15 20 23 15 14 9 14 5 6 9 22 5 19 5 22 5 14 19 5 22 5 14

Hint: Gurer ner guerr vqragvpny ahzoref va gur jrfg pbbeqf. Vf gurer fbzrguvat gung svgf gung cnggrea va gur frpbaq yvar bs gur chmmyr?
Explanation: Punatr gur ahzoref gb gurve yrggre rdhvinyragf.


Look for anything awkward, unusual, or out of place.


What looks like a mistake may be a deliberate part of the puzzle. (Especially if the puzzle has been out long enough for errors to have been identified and corrected.)

Again, using the posted coordinates as an example, can you find the pattern in the code to give you the 4 5 and 1 2 2 you need.


Example 3:


This cache is daytime available only now. I am so in happiness ... you're solving puzzles!

Hints:
(1) Uzzz - gung'f njxjneqyl jevggra. Vf gurer n ernfba jul?
(2) Lbh arrq svsgrra ahzoref sbe gur pbbeqvangrf. Ner gurer svsgrra "guvatf" urer?
(3) Jung pna tvir lbh n cnggrea bs sbhe svir, naq bar gjb gjb.
Explanation: Pbhag gur ahzore bs yrggref va rnpu jbeq.


So with that in mind, here is the puzzle you must solve to get the coordinates for this cache:


First our usual recommendation: For investigating various elusive tricks, winnow out exceptions; identify genuine hints. These encountered incidents guarantee, hence, to fake out unsuspecting rubes. Ferret out unusual results. One never expects to wrest every nuance that yields. Thankfully, we observe this happy realization: even everyone (zounds!) eventually realizes one solution exists. Victory emerges nevertheless. Feasibility is vexingly elusive; satisfaction is xtraordinary.

Park hours are dawn to dusk. Good luck!

Parking coordinates are available in the checker.


As I said, this is one of a series of "How Do I Solve..." caches. They are spread out in different neighborhoods. It might help to solve them in order, but you don't need to. I tried to make these easy to understand, but if you have any questions about them, please ask.

Here are all the caches in the series. They are also posted in a "How Do I Solve These #@&%$ Puzzle Caches?!!" bookmark list.


This series of #@&%$ Puzzles contains the following caches:


Cache Techniques
1. GC5HFTZ - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Intro Intro. Puzzles can be fun. No - really!
2. GC5EQV9 - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Start Easy Where do you start? Start with easy puzzles!
3. GC5HJ70 - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Start at End How do you start? Start with the end in mind.
4. GC7AEJA - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Coord Formats Different coordinate formats
5. GC5DQ9M - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Patterns Look for patterns, and anything that's awkward, unusual, or out of place.
6. GC9W0R7 - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Subst Ciphers Solving substitution ciphers.
7. GC8MNRW - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Old Codes Other codes and ciphers. (Oldies are goodies.)
8. GC7AF6Y - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Number Bases Different number systems and bases.
9. GC5J529 - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Web Searches Search the internet for information and images.
10. GC5J53Y - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Hidden Info Two ways to hide info on a cache page - White Font and Source Code.
11. GC5JGNC - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Pictures Five ways to hide information in images.
12. GC5HYEF - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles? Cache Page Tips There are many ways to hide hints, and even the puzzle itself, in places other than the cache description.
13. GC7F6PH - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Map Tricks Tips on using maps and coordinate checkers when solving puzzles.
14. GC5JA76 - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?!! Use Tools Start building your puzzle-solving tool kit.
15. GC5J5PP - How Do I Solve These #@&% Puzzles?! Still Stumped? If you've tried all these tips and tricks, and you're still stumped, here are a few more things you can try.
16. GC5J52X - These #@&% Puzzles - Graduation Bonus Cache Congratulations! You've done it! Here's your bonus graduation cache!


Important Note: Be sure to get the bonus numbers from each cache in this series. You will need those to get the coordinates for the These #@&% Puzzles - Graduation Bonus Cache .


Once you've become an enthusiastic fan of puzzles and are ready to place your own, I recommend you first take a look at these tips from Geocachers of the Bay Area: Advice For Making A Good Puzzle and respected Florida cacher ePeterso2: Geocache Puzzle Construction Tips


Note for Remote Solvers: You have a chance to earn a “I Solved Those #@&% Puzzles” virtual badge to display proudly on your profile page. After you’ve solved the first 15 puzzles in the series, send me your solutions and I’ll send you the info for the badge.

Local solvers earn a “I Solved and Found Those #@&% Puzzles” Badge after finding the Bonus Graduation cache.


Have fun solving puzzle caches! And remember ...


This cache complies with the geocaching policies for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) properties. Please respect park hours when caching. (Park hours: 5:00am-10:00pm. Also see "Related Web Page" link near the top of the cache page.)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Puzzle 1] Tnj! Jub gnyxf yvxr guvf?!! Jul vf guvf jevggra fb njxjneqyl? [Puzzle 2] ... Naq jung qb lbh znxr bs gung phevbhf zvffcryyvat va gur ynfg jbeq? Jul vf GUNG gurer? [Puzzle 3] - Erzrzore gur abgr nobir gur svefg rknzcyr. [cache] Oruvaq ybt; ol jbbq srapr cbfg. Cyrnfr uvqr jryy.

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)