This cache is NOT at the posted coordinates, however you
will have to visit them in order to solve the puzzle. The cache is
approximately 100m away. There is a small FTF prize with the
logbook.
To complete this mystery cache, you will have to explore the
small but beautiful Newman Memorial Gardens, which is located just
outside the Women’s and Maternity Site entrance at the IWK
Hospital. We recommend doing this cache in any season but winter,
because a) the park is not maintained during the winter and b) it
won’t be as pretty. However, all the necessary clues should still
be viewable even after a heavy snowfall. As for the physical cache,
it may not be quite so accessible. You have been warned.
The cache is located at N 44° 38.ABC W 063°
35.DEF
Part 1 – The Triple Spiral Labyrinth
The posted coordinates should bring you directly to this very
interesting piece of brickwork (though it cannot really be
appreciated after a snowfall). The Triple Spiral is an old Celtic
symbol which has many interpretations. Most of these
interpretations involve a trinity of sorts, such as the Holy
Trinity or elemental trinities like Land, Sea and Sky.
More recently it has been suggested that the spirals represent
the nine month period of human pregnancy, since the sun takes a
fourth of a year to go from the celestial equator (an equinox) to
extreme north or south declination (a solstice), and vice versa.
During each three-month period, the sun's path across the sky
appears to form a closely-wound quasi-helical shape, which can be
likened to a spiral, so that three spirals could represent nine
months, providing an explanation for a link between fertility and
the triple-spiral symbol. (- from Wikipedia)
There is a small sign very close by that gives its own
interpretation as to what the three spirals represent. These words
are your key to unlocking the first 3 digits:
A: Number of letters in the first word subtract 1.
B: Number of letters in the second word subtract 10.
C: Number of letters in the third word plus 1.
The sign also invites you to walk a path in the spirals. We’ve
included a picture of how to do this in case you’re not quite sure
what the sign means:
Part 2 – Natural Remedies
Next, search around until you find a colourful mural/mosaic
dedicated to the use of marine life in medicine. On it you will
find a date and the names of some organisms.
D: The year on the mural subtract 1999.
E: The number of different organisms named. (Don’t get mixed
up by any dead languages and count things twice!)
Part 3 – One Last Thing
Finally, if you haven’t come across one already, find a plaque
that tells you the name of the park and few details about it.
F: The day the park was donated subtract 13.
[Checksum: A + B + C + D + E + F = 22]
Now go find that cache! Once in the correct area you should have
relatively good cover from the public: it’s getting there that
might require a bit of casual demeanour so as not to attract
unwanted attention. Luckily if anyone comes crashing in and demands
to know what you’re doing, there’s a handy… thing… close by that
you can say you were looking at. Please be careful when removing
and replacing the cache. It might be stubborn, especially in the
winter time.
Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did setting it up! If you
take pictures we ask that you not post pictures that contain any of
the clues mentioned here. Thank you, and happy caching!