After almost five years, the
"Zodiac Series" has been a successful and satisfying experience,
but I feel the time has come to open up these areas for new
challenges. Therefore, each cache in the series will be archived on
the fifth anniversary of its publishing date. Many thanks to all
those who have, and will, visit!!
"The
Zodiac Final: GUIDANCE FROM THE HEAVENS" will be archived on
October 14, 2009
YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR
TODAY:
You will find yourself severely challenged today!
Your first challenge will be in the area of mental agility,
particularly in the area of mathematics. Do not despair! You will
prevail! Your second challenge will be an arduous physical test.
You will be taking a long journey. Again, you will meet, and
exceed, the challenge!! You will be rewarded with aesthetic and
minor intrinsic rewards. Enjoy the day around you! Do not succumb
to the old adage, "I wasn't looking, therefore, I did not see".
=================================== The Zodiac Series is well
suited to geocaching since the sun, moon, and planets that follow
their own paths through the fixed constellations are known as "the
Wanderers".
This is a thirteen part series of "stand alone"
caches that begins at the Southern Terminus of the Bruce Trail in
Queenston, Ontario, and works is way northward. All caches are
accessible from the Bruce (no side trails or loops). Under the lid,
and on the first page of the log book of the the first twelve
caches, you will find a number and either a "N" or "W" designation.
Be sure to copy down these "codes" accurately if you wish to locate
the thirteenth cache.
====================================
THE COORDINATES POSTED ABOVE ARE FOR A PARKING LOT.
THE COORDINATES FOR THE ACTUAL CACHE CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY
COMPLETEING THE FIRST TWELVE STAGES OF THE "ZODIAC
SERIES"
"Are you outa' yer mind,
Flick?!?"
Ha, ha. I said it first. So there. For those of you
"seasoned" geocachers, when you arrive at the above coordinates,
I'm sure you will recognize a VERY familiar area. For those of you
that are new to the hobby, there are, at this moment, six active
geocaches in this area. Your trek to the "Zodiac Final" will take
you through, and beyond, any boundaries you have met
before.
First, we gotta do the math: For the North
coordinate: Put the codes from the first five "N" caches (Aries,
Gemini, Leo, Libra, & Sagittarius) in a column and add 'em up.
(Your total should be a three digit number whose digits total 10).
From that total, "SUBTRACT" the N code found in "Aquarius". Your
fnal answer should be a two digit number, that added together
totals 6. ADD the resulting number to the "N" parking coordinates,
posted above.
For the West coordinate: Put all the "W" codes in a
column. ADD 'em up. You should have a three digit number (XYZ) that
totals 18. Reverse the digits (ZYX) and SUBTRACT 'em from the "W"
parking coordinates, posted
above.
Done all the math? Did it work out? Punch it in to
your GPS. Hate me now, doncha'? It gets worse: Because of curvies
and twisties and switchbacks, the walk is a lot longer. As your
horoscope says, "Just enjoy the day around you!", and don't worry
about the fact that it gets even worse: at the end of your hike,
you're faced with one of my favourite obstacles, a stinkin'
hill.
The cache is a 4L container, WELL STOCKED with only
new items. Let's keep it that way, OK, gang? Look for a good number
of fallen branches just below the top of the escarpment. You're
very close!!
I hope you have enjoyed this series, the beauty of
the Niagara Region, the Bruce Trail, and the devotion that the
volunteers have demonstrated by building, and maintaining, this
natural wonder.
REMEMBER:When in need of guidance, look up to the
heavens and trust in the stars (or, if you're geocachers, a few
satellites)