July 8th/ '06: Due to the ongoing, and, seemingly, never-ending
restoration at the first stop, I have altered the original
coordinates and cache description. Enjoy the tour!
Good day, ladies, gentlemen, and children! On behalf of myself
and our driver, Allan, I would like to welcome you aboard the
Welland Canal Multi-Tour Bus. This tour is by no means to be
considered an in-depth study of the history of the four canals,
but, perhaps, we may, in some small way, prompt you to further
investigate this engineering marvel. During the tour, Allan will
add approximately 40 kms to the odometer on the bus, and there will
be a short, flat hike of approximately 1/2 km. The entire tour
should consume slightly more than 2 hrs of your time (assuming that
Allan doesn't make any wrong turns. Unfortunately, he's terribly
near-sighted). The tour begins near the shores of Lake Erie and
works its way steadily north toward Lake Ontario along the canal.
Our journey begins at the above co-ordinates at:
Stop #1: What Did The Hungry Lock Do?
Please feel free to roam the grounds and enjoy the sights.
Before we leave, note the informative plaque nearby. It describes a
large, black object that was a gift from four sisters. It's
interesting to note that if you divide the year of the plaque's
placement (verification: digits total 22) by 1000 and add it to
both N 42` 57.399 and W 79` 13 .091, the resulting co-ordinates
bring us to:
Stop #2: Name Dropper!
This section of the canal is no longer used for steamship
navigation and has become a "recreational waterway". It's also the
only tour stop on the east side of the canal, so, after we cross at
the nearby lift bridge to our north, it won't be necessary for us
to cross the canal again. Again, it's interesting to note that the
year of Frederick Greenfield's birth (verification: digits total
25), when divided by 1000 and added to both N 43` 02.699 and W 79`
10.794 bring us to:
Stop #3: I'm Glad They Don't Grind Up Ham to Make
Hamburg!!
Our driver says the above every time we approach this stop, and,
although I know it's a terrible joke, I still chuckle anyway. At
this stop, you should easily find the answer to the question, "In
what year did W. H. Merritt first concieve the idea of a canal
linking Lakes Erie and Ontario?" (verification: digits total 18).
If you divide the year by 1000 and add it to both N 43` 05.721 and
W 79` 10.367, you will have the co-ordinates for our next stop. As
I said, all of our remaining stops are on the west side of the
canal, so well have Allan back-track to the first major
intersection and head north to:
Stop #4: If You Follow My Tracks, I'll Give You
Flours!
Interesting information can be "gleaned" at this stop, not the
least of which is, that the year that construction began on this
structure (verification: digits total 19) when divided by 1000 and
added to both N 43` 07.640 and W 79` 11.935 brings us to:
Stop #5: It's Not Real; It's Just A Prop.
There are two plaques at this stop and you should quickly
discover the year that the "Royalton" was constucted (verification:
digits total 16). By now, you know the routine. Divide the year by
1000 and add it to N 43` 07.428 and W 79` 09.721, and the result
brings us to:
Stop #6: Blame It On Rio
There are lots of distractions at this this stop, so let's stay
together in a tight little group so we don't lose anyone, OK? To
further complicate things, we are going to need TWO pieces of
information. Luckily, we can learn them both while standing in one
spot. First, find the year of W. H. Merritt's birth (verification:
digits total 20), divide by 1000 and add to both N 43` 11.179 and W
79` 11.205. Before you leave, make a note of the sailing distance
to the posted port that involves the largest 4 digit number
(verification: digits total 22). Following the co-ordinates that
you have just arrived at brings us to:
Stop #7: Oh, Big Whoop!
A parking lot. And it's not even a nice one. Unfortunately, the
bus is of no further use to you as the rest of your journey is on
foot. We hope you have enjoyed your tour and we look forward to
guiding you again in the near future. Other tours are in the
planning stages. Remember that mileage number that you noted back
at Stop #6? Just divide it by 1000 and add it to both N 43` 07.506
and W 79` 07.287. This will lead you to:
The Mini-Cache
These co-ordnates should bring you to an open area where the
mini is hidden. It is a small clear pill bottle. Inside you will
find a number of slips of paper that will take you to:
The Main Cache: ???????????????
The new final cache is hidden in a new location and contains the
standard caching goodies.
WARNING!!!!!
Hints for the first stops are pretty general, since they're
easily found, but due to heavy tree cover at the time of planting,
co-ordinates for the mini-cache and main cache may not be as
accurate as I would like. After spending a lot of time and energy
on the tour, I wouldn't want anyone going home frustrated and
empty-handed, so hints for the final stops are very precise! You
may wish to wait and decypher them on-site if you are completely
stumped.