This cache gives you a peek into my routine life. Cache is not at posted coordinates. You should get off the bus at posted coordinates. Some math is involved but nothing too difficult. Computer programming is not required for this cache.
Before you head out, count how many letters are in my Geocaching username, and assign that number to R. Look at my Geocaching profile, and let C be the month I started Geocaching.
START: N 39° 08.489' W 77° 13.001'
Across the street is my workplace: National Institute of Standards and Technology. No, you cannot get into there. Some people asked me why I prefer to use metric units (meters, Celsius, etc) instead of US units (feet, Fahrenheit, etc). It's because: the International System of Units is the standard!
At this location there is a bus stop. Let B be the fourth digit of the STOP ID.
STAGE 01: N 39° 08.618' W 77° 13.402'
I do not have a car or a bike. I travel by bus and on foot.
Walk along the sidewalk from starting point to this location, which is another bus stop. Count how many yellow rhombus signs with pedestrian symbol you encounter along the way, and assign that number to S. If you don't know what a "yellow rhombus" is, ask Georick402 as he has figured out after he found my first Maryland hide.
Inspect the bus stop sign. Let T be the first digit of the STOP ID. Let Q be the number of bus routes serving this stop.
Obtain a bus schedule of the route that is a prime number, find out how many trips does that route serve this stop on Sunday, and assign that number to A. If you have a smartphone, you can find Ride On routes and schedules online, and there are some free WiFi near STAGE 02; if you are like ProgKing and don't have a smartphone, you'll have to hop on route 61 to Shady Grove Station, and you'll find paper schedules there.
STAGE 02: N 39° 08.577' W 77° 13.408'
This is my gym. I lift weights three times every week, and swim once a week. I started lifting in 2014 and never stopped. I have gained considerable muscles and my body definitely looks different from before.
Look at the murals in front of you. Let D be the number of murals under the gym name sign.
STAGE 03: N 39° 08.688' W 77° 13.032'
At this location you can see my apartment. I won't tell you the room number, but I might be watching you from my window.
Look at the sign in front of you. Let E be the third digit of the telephone number. Treat the entire phone number as an integer and raise it to the power of zero, and let P be the result.
Final location: N 39° AB.CDE' W 77° PQ.RST'
To check your work:
A+B+C+D+E-P-Q-R-S-T is a positive number that is neither a prime number nor a composite number.A*B*P*Q is neither a positive number nor a negative number.C*D*E*R*S*T equals 1512.- If you are like jacksom51 and don't know math, you can skip this part, but you'll have to guess what P is.
Many thanks to everyone that left this hiding spot open, allowing me to create this cache.