First to Findiana
The cache is not at the posted
coordinates. Solve the following puzzle to learn the true cache location.
This geocache has two companions:
The Flummoxing of Findiana and
Findiana's Revenge. All three are located in Gearhart, Oregon.
They are similar puzzles but have been divided into manageable pieces (thus
providing the opportunity for three times the number of finds!) (And, um,
Favorite Points).
Rather than words for clues, these crosswords use photographs. Each photo is
intended to bring a (made up) word to mind. Each word answer is made by
combing two words that are suggested by the photo. For example, the photo
above would be: "Find" + "Indiana" = "Findiana".
The rules for the new words:
-
Combine two words to make one
-
Parts of the two words must
overlap, such as "Peanut" + "Nutrition" = "Peanutrition"
-
The new word must contain both
words in their entirety
-
At least one letter (and usually
more) must overlap: "Frog" + "Grow" = "Frogrow"
-
All but one letter of overlap is
okay: "Kite" + "Item" = "Kitem" or "Spud" + "Puddle" = "Spuddle"
-
One word fully within another is
not okay: "Ill" within "Hill"
-
Altered spellings, although very
tempting, are not used: "Zombie" + "Bee" = "Zombee"
-
A photo of a smashed Sasquatch,
suggesting "Sasquashed", would be great, but breaks the rule!
Combining two words to make a catchy
third word is common in product naming, such as Travelocity and Endust, both of
which would meet the rules for the puzzle. Americone, however, does not
since "America" is not correctly spelled.
The ideas and
photos are (mostly) original and reflect my low experience level with photo
editing. That means you should expect some
groan-inducers! Taking the photos put me in some bizarre situations, to
say the least! I might have ended up in a padded cell had anyone observed
the taking of 1 Down!
Notes on the solver applet:
Keep the cache
listing open in one browser tab and the puzzle in another and switch back
and forth. To do this, right-click on the Puzzle Solver link below and
select "Open link in new tab".
-
Click the clue you
wish to enter an answer for. For example, click "2 Across" in the
column on the right and the cursor will be placed and ready to enter an
answer.
-
To change direction
of typing, press the right- or down-arrow keys.
-
Click "Revert" to
clear your entries and start over.
-
Click "Save" to save
your progress so far.
-
Click "Check
Answers" to
have your work checked. A new page will load with each answer
marked either right or wrong. Click
the browser back-arrow to return to the puzzle. Feel free to use this
button as much as you would like while working on the puzzle.
When the puzzle is
complete, here's how to get the cache coordinates:
-
When the last letter
square has been filled in, click "Check Answers".
-
If any of your
answers have red X's, they are incorrect. Click the browser back-arrow
(page back) to return to the puzzle and make corrections.
-
Repeat until all the
answers have a green check mark.
-
Click the browser
back-arrow (page back) to return to the puzzle.
-
The URL (Internet
address) of the puzzle contains all
of your answers. Make sure you are on the puzzle page and not the
Check Answers page, then click in the URL line and copy the entire
line (Ctrl-C).
-
Click this
Checker Link and paste
(Ctrl-V) the URL with your answers into the Solution box.
-
Click "Certify my
Solution". If correct, you will receive the cache coordinates.
Since the solution string is loooooong, you may need to scroll horizontally
to see the coordinates!
You can solve the puzzle online by clicking the following applet link.
Note: The server no longer supports automatically opening
in a new browser tab, so please right-click the link and select "Open link in
new tab".
First to Findiana Puzzle Solver (Right-click & Open link in new tab)
No registration is required.
No personal information is required.
The applet is supplied by a well-known and respected publisher and is widely
used in education.
If you need any help, find
anything unclear or have any suggestions, please contact me. Not from the
area? See the Additional Hints for a clue for 7 Across.
Enjoy the puzzles and the
cache outing!
----- The Gallery of
Groans ----
3 Across
4 Across
6 Across
7 Across
9 Across
10 Across
11 Across
1 Down
2 Down
5 Down
8 Down
