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MONUMENTAL! (Bucks) Multi-cache

This cache has been archived.

Simply Paul: This cache has been moved quite a way to a new location and offers fresh challenges, so I'm archiving this one and have replaced it with a new cache page. As it starts at the same place, just look for nearby caches to find 'Monumentalist!' - Thanks to everyone who did this one. You're very welcome to log a find on the replacement... if you can find it!

SP

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Hidden : 6/15/2004
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This multi-cache is set high above the Vale of Aylesbury, close to England's oldest surviving cache, View from Coombe Hill by Brad & Steph. This Chiltern hilltop cache hunt requires a walk of around a mile and should take about 40 minutes. Bring a pen & printout, calculator or brainy person as you'll need to make some notes and do some

MONUMENTAL! (Bucks)

A spinning monument? Thats mental!

To celebrate my first year of setting caches (this is number 38 since I started with my Chess themed Geocache No.1 - Black Rook on July 1st 2003, and it features four white pawns of its own!) I decided to place one at one of my favourite locations in Bucks. I saw in the new millennium (both of them!) up here and returning always brings back some great memories for me. I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Unless you fancy a monumental climb, I suggest you park for free near the top of the hill around N51° 44.912 / W000° 46.065 but be sure to hide your valuables! Sadly this is a spot popular with thieves.

Take a walk to N51° 45.178 / W000° 46.293 where you'll find a very dramatic monument and a full set of views across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. In the immediate vicinity of this Boer War monument you'll also find the answers to the following questions:

  • How many miles is it to Mursley Water Tower? (Home of my White Queen Cache) Answer AB
  • The monument was almost totally destroyed by lightning on which date? Answer CD January 19EF
  • What is the Trig Point's number? It's shown on a plate near its base and starts with an S. Answer 620G
  • In which year was the monument's bronze tablet replaced with a stone one after the original was stolen? Answer 19?H
  • How high is this hill? Answer 8i? feet. (A lower case 'i' so you don't think it's a 1 or an L!)
The Cache is located at:
N51° 4(C+H).(B+i)(A+C)(A+D-G) / W000° 4(D-B).(B+E)(A+i)(F-G-A)

To get there please use the footpaths and bridleways provided. There's no need to climb any fences! You'll find yourself in an area called 'Low Scrubs' which is neither low or scrubby. It has a strange atmosphere, being darker and more mysterious than your average beech woodland. For centuries these trees were coppiced for firewood...

Anyway, happy hunting!

The smallish (1ltr.) cache originally contained:
3x Cool postcards
1x Party Popper
2x Candles
1x Bucks & Oxon flyer
1x Tiny can of coke!
Plus the usual: Cache notice, log book, pen.

Things to enjoy while searching for this cache:
Halton House beyond Wendover. Click here to see a larger version of this picture Simply Paul shows off the box you are seeking with the Black King tower and church in Aylesbury behind. Click here to see a larger version of this picture Ellesborough Church, home to Dan and Pids Creepy Graveyard cache. Click here to see a larger version of this picture Chequers. No sign of the PM taking a walk on the lawn though. Click here to see a larger version of this picture

Some historic photographs of the Boer War Memorial on Coombe Hill:
The official unveiling in 1904. Click here to see a larger version of this picture The official unveiling in 1904. Click here to see a larger version of this picture The official unveiling in 1904. Click here to see a larger version of this picture After the monument was struck by lighting. Click here to see a larger version of this picture

While you're in the area, and have a camera, I suggest you try my Puerile Photo-cache No.3 - GETTING WOOD or else Dan and Pid's Creepy Graveyard cache. Both are within short driving distance. Oh, and don't forget to do the one linked at the top of this page. It's only a few hundred feet away from the monument!

A small experiment - Please feel free to rate your visit to this cache out of ten in your log.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre yrnirf ohg nobir tebhaq yriry, bayl srrg sebz gur srapr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)