Bring 3 AA batteries!
At one of the stages, you will find the combination to a lock, along with the coordinates to the next stage. Please make sure to write that combination down. Once you reach the final stage, you will be looking for a birdhouse. Undo the latch with that combination and swing open the face of the birdhouse to reveal the game. Insert your 3 AA batteries, and the lights will begin to blink. Press any button to begin the game. If the sun is shining directly on the buttons, they may be a bit dim; putting your shadow on the buttons will help.
Simon will flash a random, single light. You must copy what Simon does and press the same color. Each time you successfully copy Simon, it will add one new color on to the end of the sequence. When you successfully complete the 10th sequence, the lights will flash the combination to access the log. The combination sequence repeats, so don't worry if you miss it the first time.
This cache uses a micro-controller and custom circuitry. It is fairly sturdy, but PLEASE BE GENTLE! Look at the hint if you have problems. After you've signed the log and traded swag, put the cache container back inside (you'll need to tilt it a bit) and lock the bottom door with the orange combination lock. Inserting into the hasp from the bottom is the easiest way to do this. Please make sure you remove your batteries and that the front door is shut securely, latched, and locked when you leave. As you can imagine, exposure to rain can cause problems.
The total walking distance for this cache is approximately one mile, primarily over worn paths and cut lawn. Dogs must be leashed at all times.
During winter, please be gentle with the plastic buttons. They may get brittle in cold weather. Also, remember to keep your batteries warm—if the batteries themselves freeze, they will not provide enough power to run the cache. This cache should be logable with up to a foot or two of snow on the ground, although drifts could cause problems - it's windy up on this hill in winter.
This cache was placed with the permission of the Friends of Sholan Farms. Sholan Farms (view map) is a town-owned orchard, through which the Monoosnoc Trail runs. The trails in the orchard can be walked during daylight hours only. Please don't pick anything walking through the orchard. Thanks and good luck!
Sholan Farms closes their orchard about 6 days per year to spray their trees to keep them healthy. During these days, this geocache cannot be found. They always post their closures to their Facebook feed a few days in advance at https://www.facebook.com/pg/SHOLANFARMS/posts if you would like to check.
