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The Bradda Lode II Multi-cache

Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
4.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A difficult multicache challenge, visiting some very steep ground with a couple of difficult finds. Some cryptography is thrown in just to make it a mental challenge as well as a test of nerve, steadiness and observation! PLEASE TAKE CARE! The path on the north side has deteriorated since HH laid the cache, hence 4.5 terrain rating, any further deterioration and the cache will have to be archived for safety of cachers and my conscience!

Three microcaches lead to the final box: the trail starts easily enough, but the terrain for the final three parts is very steep and intimidating.

It should be avoided in wet or icy conditions, and in high winds. The steep sections, though only short, are not suitable for children, and dogs should be left on the flat upper paths, with a sensible adult.

You'll need a reasonable head for heights, good balance and footwear with decent grip. Experience of steep scrambling will help, but note that there are paths all the way (albeit rough, narrow and faint in places, with the odd "bad step"). Turn back if you're unsure, and e-mail me for help (or use the "Geocaching Guide" on waymarking.com). If you are heading for a cliff edge with no path, you’re off route – stop and check! The caches are hidden on safe ground: don't rock climb, or perch on a very steep slope or cliff edge to search. A sturdy stick and a torch might be useful extra equipment. The final may be stiff to open, it is on a slope, so sit down to open it!

The route is about a mile from start to finish: you could park right against the start, but it's better to find a space in a nearby side-street, or at the Bradda Glen car park.

There is much of interest en route but I won’t give any information here, as the cache is a bit of a mystery tour. Giant sharks can sometimes be seen in early/mid summer, Basking sharks up to twenty feet or more in length.

Begin at the coordinates specified, and search for a tiny "container". It's in full view, so don't start moving stones. The container gives you two numbers, X and Y.

In view of the parking problems in this area, access to S1 is quite often restricted/impossible. If that is the case when you arrive, another way to obtain X and Y is to find the whole number between four and six for X, ten halved will give a close approximation to Y.

Enciphered below are five more numbers: A,B,C,D and E repectively. F is D+E. All you have to do is go to N 54 05.AXB, W 004 46.CYF and pick up the Bradda Lode trail from there. GPS signal in the area of micro 3 and the final is variable due to the proximity of the cliff face causing multipathing, so take a note of the hint: the steep path takes you to the cache area, whatever the GPSr may say. Micro 3 contains the coordinates for the final cache, micros 1 and 2 should be exactly on the GPS. Micro 2 has been duplicated to deter muggles, you don't need to find both, they are identical. Good luck!

GFUUVEWVNILVFJIARNF

S3 and Final are on your right, descending. The final is some yards away from the old path, up a slope. Please take a couple of minutes to re-hide the containers very carefully. You are recommended not to go further north down towards the old ruins as there has been a landslip, the path has vanished here for a yard or two, and is very indistinct in places beyond. Having viewed the mines from a boat, I would say the northern buildings are no longer accessable by land.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

(Pvcure) Nfx sbe ivartne. 6 punenpgre xrljbeq. (Zvpeb 1) Gb gur evtug bs gur tengr, nobir xarr urvtug. (Zvpeb 2) Oruvaq n fgbar va n erprff, BE puvzarl. (Zvpeb 3) Pyhr va Zvpeb 2. (Svany) Pyhr va Zvpeb 3.

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)