THE GOLD BUG Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

pafarmboy: Well, it’s been a good run, but I’ve decided to archive caches as they come up muggled, missing, or in need of maintenance. When 4 different persons/groups of people come up empty on 4 different hides, something needs to change. The reality is I spend more time checking on caches than finding them nowadays.

I will continue to maintain Raccoon Loop and the 2 Bond caches if they break down, but the rest are going into the mothballs as soon as there is an issue. The enthusiasm and energy just isn’t there anymore. If you would like to “adopt” the 2 James Bond caches that have never seen the light of day, I have all of the framework ideas, cache spots, Q gadgets and most of the other materials and containers. They have already been approved by the DNCR too. I’d hate to see ‘em just waste away so I’d be more than happy to trek out there with you and run through everything I’ve come up with. Heck, I’d LOVE to be able to find the dang things instead of placing them. Contact me and we’ll go for a walk……

Finally, to all of you that have favorited my caches, written a great log, or have word of mouthed that my neck of the woods is worth the trip, I thank you. It is much appreciated and truly means a lot.

PAFARMBOY

More
Hidden : 7/20/2008
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The coordinates above are for parking. No cache there!

The idea for this cache was created while Googling research for another cache of mine: THE POES BATTLE BIGFOOT. Intrigued by the words "treasure hunt" in the Google description, I clicked on the link and was soon enamored with the storyline. Forget Dave Ulmer and the Can of Beans . Captain Kidd was hiding geocaches LONG before Dave. This cache is a simulation of the classic tale THE GOLD BUG by Edgar Allen Poe. It was written in the mid-1800's, so please be aware there are some totally inappropriate racial slurs and stereotyping in the story.

I could only simulate so much of the tale, so I took some creator liberties that I hope are close enough. You will acquire a Gold Bug and important parchment, find a devil's seat and a human skull, reveal an embedded code using a discreet agent, discover 3 stage caches found "from no other attainable point of view", use all of your collectibles to set up an elaborate 1800's style 'red arrow', and have to pace off steps to find the final (just as any self-respecting pirate treasure hunt should have thankyouverymuch).

There are 7 stages altogether, but only 5 have actual caches, the others are reference points used to navigate you to the physical cache. This should all make sense as you work through the stages. All physical cache stages are ammo containers, ranging from a .30 to a saw box. Please follow the directions at each stage to make it servicable for the next cacher.

Most of this cache is on designated trails, with some necessary bushwhacking when within 200 feet of a stage. Sticking to the trails will make this a much easier and enjoyable hike.

Roundtrip mileage is about 2.25 miles, but I would leave at least 3 hours to do this cache. I believe this is truly a level 4 difficulty. You will be cussing me out trying to find things that the GPS won't help you find, decoding messages until you wanna throw up, and even after you decode them they still won't scream, "LOOK HERE!" This is a true treasure hunt, even if the swag at the end is lame, that is a major accomplishment if done successfully. I took over 2 hours dry-running this thing and I knew everything there was to know. If Mr. Legrand almost went crazy trying to find the treasure, why shouldn't you?

That being said, I do think it is a unique cache that people will enjoy doing. If you have the tenacity, time, and temperament, you will succeed.

All coordinates are in decimal degrees. N 40 and W 80 remain consistent, so they will not be addressed during the cache stages.

Also, I had originally thought of making you climb a tree like the picture shown, but have nixed that idea due to my run in with the WV WMA. This cache is on PA state gamelands, which is supportive of caching. Thank you PA SGL!

Dress appropriately any time you are on these lands, but I strongly encourage you to not seek this cache during active hunting seasons, which pretty much run from late September until early February, unless you go on a Sunday (No hunting allowed on Sundays.) Hunting seasons are found HERE. Be respectful of the hunters as their license fees fund the overwhelming majority of the monies for these lands.

You will want to take a set of 4 extra AA batteries, your code breaker, a compass, a pencil, a notebook, and a lot of patience.

You will need to decipher the following code to determine where and how to start the hunt.

Disclaimers

1) I have modified the Poe code for several letters. If you can figure out the original code, you should be able to figure out what I've changed/added.

2) All coords could be slightly off due to thick tree cover and my GPS ready to give up the ghost after years of abuse. Use the hints and your geosense.


WHERE:

N

4
0

__ )#5†8) ;5@8* ‡* ;48 4?*;

__ ;$8*;: 6*)8(; *?928( 48(8 )5##46(8)

.

__ ;?06# ;(88 $6;4 6*)8(; *?928( 48(8 ;‡ ;8* ‡5@)

__ 450I ‡I ;48 ‡-;‡28( †5;8 ‡I (895(@5208

-46006*8))

__ (6*3) ‡I 6(‡*) ‡* ;48 –48);


W

8
0

__ -‡9#08;8 )@808;‡*) I‡?*†

__ )-:;48) ;5@8* ‡* ;48 4?*;

.
__ ;‡;50 †8#;4 ‡I †6336*3 5; $(‡*3 )#‡;

__ 5*;8**58 ¶6)6208

__ (5*38 ‡I )4(?2 48634; ‡* )?006¶5*) 6)05*†


HOW:

5 -5-48 5; ;48)8 -‡‡(†) ;48(8 6) *‡;

:‡?00 I6*† 5* ‡5@ ;(88 5; ;46) )#‡;

5 $6;48(8† 5(9 $6;4 )@?00 ‡* ;‡#

$600 #‡6*; ;48 $5: ;‡ :‡?( *8%; );‡#

;4(88 ;46(;: *‡(;4$8); 6) ;48 $5:

#‡6*; ‡*8 9608) ;4(‡?34 ;48 $‡‡†) ;48* 45:

)88@ ;48 ;(88 ;5008( ;45* ;48 (8);

5; 6;) 25)8 6) 5 3‡0† 2?3 *8);
Good luck!

PAFARMBOY

Click to verify coordinates



"And dis all cum ob de goole-bug! de putty goole-bug! the poor little goole-bug!"


UPDATE: 8/30/09. Mother nature has modified stage one. The "withered arm" is now broke. It still serves its purpose and the skull is still there. Not quite as cool of a setup, but it'll have to do.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oht fgntr - Haqre ybt ng onfr bs gerr

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)


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