(Special thanks to SC cachers Hockeyhick and Cache-n-Kerry for their original idea for this puzzle (GC1JX1T). Theirs is MUCH cooler and if you're ever down that way I highly recommend it! )
Many geocachers flat out refuse to look for puzzle caches.
Some are too hard to solve.
Some require more effort than they are worth.
Even still, some folks just don’t think "outside the box" enough to try to solve them.
My friend WASCALLEY WABBIT (and many others) doesn't generally enjoy puzzle caches. I hate that they miss out on the fun of solving puzzles to gain the satisfying feeling of obtaining true coordinates. So, this cache is dedicated to all of the Geocachers whose problem solving skills... are nowhere to be found.
Are you one of those people who swears that you'll never do puzzle caches again? Have you ever stared hopelessly at a puzzle page, and gotten that gut-wrenching feeling just like in those dreams where you're back in high school and haven't studied for that algebra exam? Have you ever been frustrated at a cache owner for not returning your email request for coordinate verification or a hint? Have you ever given up the search at a potential cache site not knowing whether the container is gone, or your coordinates are incorrect?
If so, this one is all for YOU!
After many long hours of thoughtless thoughts and wandering wanders trying to find a way to include the totally clueless in another aspect of Geocaching, I believe that I have finally created the perfect Puzzle Cache, one that can be solved by literally anyone! I decided to enlist the help of our neighbor's hamsters to help lower the intellectual bar, and create a puzzle cache that anyone can be proud to say, "I SOLVED IT!"
It is a riddle wrapped in an enigma surrounding a mystery grilled to perfection and served with a side of what-cha-ma-call-its!
Don't let this cache scare you. Here's a puzzle that requires no science, no calculus, and no engineering degree. There are no tricky intermediate stages. You shouldn't need to visit a library, crack a chemistry book or even search the interweb. You don't even need to know braille, spanish, greek, or pig latin. And you don't even have to know how to convert from hexadecimal to binary to klingon. You can solve it in the woods, in your car, while waiting in the Dr’s. office, or in the comfort of your own home, taking as much time as needed. It doesn’t matter how long you take; in fact, do NOT stress your cranium.
Only you will know how brilliant (or really, REALLY dense) you are!
The cache is located at:
North: AB° CD.EFG
West: HIJ° KL.MNO
Ready to start?
THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE...
One way is to ask any random child to help you figure out the answers for A through O by taking the following quiz:
A = How many letters are in the name 'Bob'?
B = (True or False) Pi is a mathematical constant, and its first nine digits are 3.14159265.
- If this is true, let B = 5.
- If this is false, let B = aardvark.
C = President Lincoln's face is on a penny, and also on a “__” dollar bill. (Not a 1, 2, 10, 20, 50, or 100)
D = A chicken laid 5 eggs. How many yolks were there?
E = A unicycle has how many wheels? (NOTE: if you ride a bicycle, subtract one from your answer. If you ride a tricycle, subtract two from your answer).
F = If nothing from nothing leaves nothing, how much is left?
G = 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1= ?
H = If you have $10.00 to spend at the dollar store for geocaching swag, and you buy 10 items, how much money do you have left? (NOTE: pretend it's an ideal world. There is no tax and each item costs exactly one dollar).
I = What number rhymes with ate, weight, mate, and slate, and when added to 10 equals EIGHTeen?
J = (Multiple choice) What color is a red apple?
- Dog = eleventy-seven
- Pi = 3.14159265
- Red = 4
- Courderoy = one-third
K = What is the missing number in this sequence: -3, -2, -1, ?, 1, 2, 3
L = When you roll a pair of dice, and on one die you have a 1 and on the other die you have a 3, what is your total score?
M = Spell ‘evif’ backwards.
N = If you lost your pinky finger on your left hand in a tragic LPC micro accident, how many total fingernails on your left hand do you have left to get dirty? (assuming, of course, that you had five fingers on your left hand to begin with)
O = Pick any whole number between 6 and 8.
Or…
If all of that was just too darned confusing, here's another way for the more visual thinkers:
Look at the pictures below. This is the area where the cache is located. Your mission is to study the photos for the clues, identify the area, VERY close to the given coordinates and locate the row of trees at the back of the parking lot. Somewhere, hidden under the last tree on the right is a small green container under two slabs of old concrete.
It should take the average person under 60 seconds to solve this part of the puzzle.
A birds-eye view... Note the street names; you can often put these names into a GPSr and it will provide driving directions right to that spot!
Zooming in a little closer...
Even closer... Notice that tree line at the back of the parking lot and the vacant concrete lot behind them?
This is the LAST tree on the RIGHT if you face the tree line in the parking lot... that's important!
Now, this is looking at that last tree sorta from the back side. See how the arrow points from that direction and right at the ground on the back side and base of the tree? Hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
These pieces of concrete seem a wee bit suspicious. Wonder what, if anything, could be behind them.
WHOA! It's the cache! Betcha didn't see that coming. Now, if you have closely followed the subtle clues in these pictures you may be able to deduce what you are looking for and its location.
If that is even too hard for you to do, this third method should be straightforward enough. I've made it easy for you. To figure out the final coordinates, all you have to do is study the cryptic text below and see if you can decipher the final location from it.
N 35° 55.100
W 084° 04.547
Finally, if all else has failed you, or if you think that the letters on a compass (N, S. E, and W) stand for “Nowhere, Somewhere, Elsewhere, and Wherever”, I won’t leave you out!
For the fourth way to solve this puzzle, just scroll down this page, look at the additional waypoints listed, and go to the one labeled "final location". I believe that if you do this, you will have just as good of a chance as anyone else at finding this cache!
Got it? If you're still uncertain, you can check your solution:
Be sure to mention if you had any problems solving this cache. Also, let me know if there weren't enough clues...etc.
Feel free to post any and all hints, spoiler pictures or other helpful info of the puzzle, ground zero and the cache container to help the next oblivious geocacher.
This puzzle cache is active and out there right now.
It is waiting for you to find it.
It keeps showing up in your searches and mocks you.
You know you want to solve it and log it.
What is stopping you?
Enjoy, happy hunting, and good luck spilling your ink. Cache ya later!
Ol'Fogie
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As the geocache owner, I ensure these links are to a local geocaching group that is active in the community and contributing to geocaching in positive ways. These links have not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer.
Logging Etiquette: Geocache hiders sometimes go through a great deal of planning and effort to create and place their caches. As a result, they'd like to hear your feedback on whether you liked or disliked any aspect of the hide, the journey, or location, or if you feel that some cache maintenance is required. Single word, acronym, or "copy and paste" logs may be easier when you have a lot of caches to log, but it doesn't tell the hider or other finders anything about your adventure (or lack thereof) in finding the cache. Please keep this in mind when entering your log.
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