This cache is inspired by Shakespeare's comedy Measure For
Measure. A synopsis of the play as well as the full text
can be found here. To find this cache, you will have to deal
with some measurements.
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us
lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to
attempt".
(Act I, Scene IV)
Like all my other Shakespeare caches, you do not have to read
the play to find the cache.
The Cache
Long before geocaching.com established the ground zero for
Merrimack, the early settlers established their own ground zero for
Merrimack. Given the 18th century tools available to the settlers,
I find it impressive that they only differ by 2372 feet. For
various reasons, I was unable to hide a cache at either of the
ground zeros - old or new. However, I did manage to hide a cache
2335 feet from geocaching's ground zero and 2506 feet from the
settlers' ground zero.
The Old Time Ground Zero
Just a little bit north of the old time ground zero is a very
impressive display of lichen and moss if you are interested in
checking that out. Just southwest of the old time ground zero, you
can read about Merrimack's only loss to the Revolutionary War.
The geocaching.com Ground Zero
geocaching.com has made it difficult to solve the "ground zero"
puzzles. As far as I can tell, you can now get at least two
different coordinates for the ground zero of a given zip code. For
the purposes of solving this puzzle, I used N 42° 51.756 W 71°
30.888 for the modern ground zero for Merrimack.
Please Note
- Parking is limited and is located near several private
residences. Please be considerate.
- Night caching is discouraged. If you are going to do it,
park further away from the parking coordinates and walk to the
trail head. Otherwise, I'm afraid the neighbors may think you are
teens out for trouble and call the local LEOs.
- The cache is a medium lock & lock container, well camo'ed.
Please re-hide as found.
- I used the base of the sign as the location of the old time
ground zero.
- This cache was released at Bread & Roses 5 (GC137HT).
- You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
Bonus
Congratulations to Kayak Kouple for winning
the Appalachian Trail - NH Geocoin.