Hop On the Bus, Gus... Multi-cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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NO LONGER A MULTI-STEP PUZZLE CACHE...NOW A ONE STOP CACHE...SEE NOTE AT END OF CACHE DESCRIPTION
Since the early 1920’s, there’s been public transportation in the City of Dubuque. At the high point, Interstate Power Company ran a fleet of as many as 85 streetcars. The popularity of automobiles caused them to reduce the fleet over time. In 1932 streetcar operation ended and Interstate began operating a fleet of buses. This lasted until 1969 when fares were increased and service reduced. For the grand total of one dollar, the City of Dubuque took over the bus line in 1973, and remains the operator of the system.
This cache will have you visit a few bus related spots. The given coordinates will take you to the first spot. From there you will gather information for the next cache. At each subsequent location you will be looking for coordinates. Go to the above given location and copy the three words off of the umbrella canopy over the front door. Change the letters into numbers using the old A = 1, B = 2, C = 3,…Z = 26 method.
Once you have the three words changed into numbers you can find the second location by doing the below code breaking:
N AA* BB.CCC W 090* DD.EEE
AA = The second letter of the first word x 2
BB = The sum of the seventh letter of the first word and the third letter of the second word
CCC = The first letter of the third word multiplied times itself, then add 7 to that
DD = The sum of the second letter of the first word, and
the fifth letter of the third word
EEE = the third letter of the first word; the third letter of the third word; the second letter of the second word (not added together, just the individual numbers) You should now have the coordinates to the second location. Go there and find the coordinates of the next location.
There are a total of four locations you will have to visit. The fourth location will give you the coordinates of the cache's hiding spot. The first four locations are all in an urban setting. Take a pencil and paper as you’ll be given subsequent coordinates. Nothing there to muggle, but you make look like a doofus trying to get the coordinates. I would suggest late afternoons or weekends (and possibly a flashlight). The final location is in one of my favorite hiking and caching areas. You can stay on the main trails until the last couple hundred yards. The cache is an ammo can with a FTF wooden nickel and the usual booty. Also inside this cache you will find the centerpiece for the cache, a vintage Dubuque transit token circa 1920’s. FTF can claim this if he/she wishes, or it can be left in the cache as the centerpiece. It’s fair game and FTF’s choice.
*** NOTE: 06/28/08 Changes in the landmarks have screwed this up as a multi-step cache. This is now just a straight up "enter the coordinates and go" type cache. I left my original instructions as part of the description just to show you how much work/fun this cache originally was! You originally had to go to the City Bus Barn, transcribe the letters to numbers to get the next step. You then had to visit three bus stops to get the coordinates to the final cache. It was fun while it lasted...Enjoy!!! The cache is located at N 42* 27.773 W 090* 38.639 ***
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
PYHRF AB YBATRE ARPRFFNEL RKPRCG SBE GUR YNFG BAR
#1 – Ln tbggn cnex rz fbzrjurer;
#2, #3, #4 – Trg YBJ naq ybbx hc;
#5 - Svany Pnpur – Zvarf bs Fcnva – gehax bs fgvyy fgnaqvat ynetr oebxra gerr