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This multi-cache will lead you around the historic and picturesque downland village of Blewbury, Oxfordshire. All locations are accessible by public roads and footpaths, it being no more than 3 kilometres from the first waypoint to the cache. You should, perhaps allow a couple of hours to find this cache, which is itself also accessible without departing from a public road or footpath.
Blewbury is famous for many things, including the one time home of Kenneth Grahame who wrote “Wind in the Willows”, a book about water and small animals. Those of you who have a copy of Wind in the Willows should dig it out now and blow the dust off. Even better if you have one with the illustrations by Ernest H Shepard. Alternatively, as you are reading this you must be on the internet, the text of book can also be found on a number of web sites. Try the search string “Like summer tempests came his tears”, hopefully you will not end up with Tennyson.
Mill Brook, the stream running through Blewbury, may with some artistic license have been the model for the map of the River as drawn by Shepard for the book. However, some artistic license has also been applied in constructing this cache, so do not expect to use Shepard’s map with any success.
The cache is a half litre plastic container, please make sure the lid is securely replaced when you leave. The initial contents each have some connection with the book, a clothes peg for the washerwoman, fishing floats, even a toad. Perhaps you can maintain the theme. The clues for this cache, one for each chapter of Wind in the Willows, are to be found in the book – some homework is needed – with cryptic observations to be made at each location. Simple arithmetic and substituting digits in the co-ordinates will bring you to the cache site. Good luck and good reading.
Suggest parking at N 51 33.992, W 001 14.529.
1. The River Bank
N 51 34.132, W 001 14.198
We will endeavour to follow the adventures of Mole and his friend Rat. Who knows, you may even meet them along the way. So we start by following in Mole’s footsteps to The River Bank. Mole was impressed by Rat’s house, but standing with his back to the river he could see (A) park seats facing him. He was even more impressed by Rat’s boat. “It was painted blue outside and white within, and was just the size for (a) animals;…..”
2. The Open Road
N 51 34.(A)0(A/a) W 001 14.(a)(a+A)0
Mole and Rat join Toad on one of his adventures. Look at the weather vane on the barn just to the North, no prizes for guessing whose house this was. But then if you do need a hint look at the road sign just to the South and remember the first number (B). However, Toad, impatient as always wanted to be on the move. “’It’s (b) or (c) miles to the nearest town, …”
3. The Wild Wood
N 51 34.0(B*2), W 001 14.(c)(c-b)(b)
Mole goes wandering in the Wild Wood. Now we could have marched you up the woods above the village but this location could be just as dangerous. Do take care this is not really a place for moles to be wandering. Reading this Mole had (C) miles to go – a two digit number. Fortunately Rat finds mole before he comes to any harm and they make their way back to safety together. Then Rat makes a discovery. “He scratched and shovelled and explored, all (d) legs working busily, …”. Be careful on the way to Mr. Badger’s House, watch out for Toad in one of his motor cars.
4. Mr. Badger
N 51 34.00(d), W 001 14.(C/b)(b+d)(c+1)
Mole and Rat found Badger’s house, a place to rest for a while. They, of course, made this part of their journey in the snow so were eager to get warm and dry, “… the Mole and the Water Rat, shaking off their garments in some (e) …”. Badger’s house is basic, furniture a bit ancient (D) but adequate. Nevertheless, they were glad to stop here for a while. You should stop to work out where to go next, in (D) ignore the number 1.
5. Dulce Domum
N 51 33.(D+B+e+c+d+d), W 001 14.(e/C)(A-a)(e/b)
Mole’s house is well hidden, even he had difficulty finding it. It may be somewhere nearby this stone, who can tell. Check out the last two digits of each set of numbers (E), (F), (G), (H) in ascending order. Or maybe listen very carefully and share Mole’s delight as “… some (f) or ten little field-mice stood in a semi-circle, …” to sing Christmas Carols.
6. Mr. Toad
N 51 34.0(G-E+H), W 001 14.(F)(f)
Good old Toad, he certainly knew how to live, those of you with the book should check out Ernest H Shepard’s illustration of Toad with a cigar. There is a date above the door, probably more legible in Toad’s day but you should be able to read the last two digits of the year (J) (K). But then for headstrong Toad it all starts to go sadly wrong, poop-poop! “Supposing you were to say twelve months for the theft, which is mild; and (g) years for the furious driving, which is lenient; and (h) years for the cheek, which was pretty bad sort of cheek, …”
7. Piper at the Gates of Dawn
N 51 34.(J)(h/g)(K-g), W 001 14.(J)(K)(J)
Things become a bit surrealistic as Mole and Rat rescue Portly, who they find on Pan’s Island. You will not be able to visit the island as they did, but you will be able to count the number of very old, big trees (L). Neither will you see Pan whose “…bearded mouth broke into a (j)-smile at the corners …”. An adventure even Mole and Rat soon forgot.
8. Toad’s Adventures
N 51 33.(f+L)(f-L)(f), W 001 14.(J)(J)(g/j)
I do not know where Toad has got to, maybe he is hiding in the Cleve (M) or has he not escaped from gaol yet. Perhaps he is back at Toad Hall “(k) minutes from the church, post office, and golf-links.” Though I suspect not.
9. Wayfarers All
N 51 34.(M)(J)(k-M), W 001 13.(f)(k)(c)
The swallows were lining up along the overhead wires preparing to migrate South but the Rat could not understand why they would want to leave. Do you think “DP” stands for Departure Pole (N = the highest digit plus the lowest digit). Meanwhile Rat has whisked away, listening to tales of the “… King of Norway, and how he sailed thither with (m) ships …”. So let us sail thither, back to Toad.
10. The Further Adventures of Mr. Toad
N 51 34.(a)(J)(d), W 001 13.(N)(m+L)
Are you beside a small canal? - remember we are in the company of small animals. The barge-woman threw Toad into the water, but to stop you falling in there is a handrail with (P) posts to support it. In revenge, Toad sold the barge-woman’s horse to a gipsy, and he drove a hard bargain, “You shall hand me over (n) shillings and sixpence, cash down; …”
11. ‘Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears’
N 51 34.(L)(n)(n), W 001 14.(J)(f-L)(n/P)
We are nearly at the end of our journey and Toad has got just a little bit remorseful, this could have been a good place for him to repent. We can only guess if Mr. Knapp repented at then end of his journey (Q). Meanwhile Mole has been spinning stories, threatening the weasels and stoats with “…. (p) bloodthirsty Badgers, ….” No wonder they were scared.
12. The Return of Ulysses
N 51 34.(g-P)(p-L), W 001 14.(M)(Q-g)
This is the final chapter, to get to Toad’s Haul join Badger and the others to attack the weasels and stoats at Toad Hall. But do not slip like Toad.The encrypted clue, should you need it, is a quotation from the final chapter of the book.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
gura fhqqrayl fjhat uvzfrys bire gur rqtr vagb n ubyr va gur evire onax, n yvggyr nobir gur jngre