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Ulric the Moose loves Mary the Unicorn Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Team Sandyhead: Although this hide has a special place in my heart, I won't be able to maintain it from afar, so I'd rather free up the space for another CO.

As usual, if you've solved and want to log, send me the final coords.

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Hidden : 12/24/2015
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

When a moose meets a unicorn, he falls, and falls hard. Can you find where he left his heart?

Ulric the Moose was a typical, happy-go-lucky, easy-going moose, content to wander the forest, wade in the swamps, eat the water plants and curse the ticks. He had no thoughts of mystical creatures, no desire to be romantically involved, and didn't bother with the elves, nymphs, and gnomes living in the forest around him. He was happy and safe living on his own in the woods. The elves had other ideas.

One day in February, when the ponds were frozen over, the whole woods had shut down, the trees slept, and even the wind died in the trees and could not be stirred, the elves got bored. They decided that for their own entertainment they would try to distract Ulric. They danced, and jumped on his back, and blew in his ears, but he never even twitched. Finally, they knew that it would take some serious magic to draw his attention from the oneness he felt with his woods, and they knew what they had to do.

It took a week of singing, dancing, and spell casting over and around Ulric to conjure a unicorn, but by mid-February they had done it. Ulric took one look at her and could think of nothing else. With her, he felt complete in a way that he hadn't even imagined possible before. He had the same happiness with the natural world that he always had, but now the ticks didn't bother him, and the cold didn't bother him, and he began to notice the woodland fairies and enjoyed their song.

Now, fair reader, perhaps you can share some of Ulric's forest one-ness, and use a little magic yourself to find the little monument that was raised to Ulric and Mary. The spot where the elves danced is hidden deep in the forest, and only those with a reflective spirit will realize its true place. You can find their spot just east of the Bicentennial trail (118 meters east, to be specific). This geo-checker will tell you when you have the right spot for the elves. There are several possibilities, but only one is near the trail junction given.

The gnomes that hid the monument placed it just a few feet from the place Ulric met Mary. When you have found the elves's place, walk 62 feet up the hill (219 degrees true), and you will find the hiding place of the gnomes. GeoChecker.com stats One final note: although true loves stands eternal, gnomes don't like getting wet and cold, The hide is not winter-friendly. You may be able to dig it out if there is less than nine inches of snow, but if it gets deep, wait for spring.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[puzzle] Hahfhny gvgyr, zzzzz? Zhpu gb haqrefgnaq. Nyfb, ersyrpg ba guvf, gur bayl ernfbanoyr nafjre. [hide] tebhaq yriry, zber nccebcevngr sbe n puvczhax guna n zbbfr... Lbh pna cebwrpg gur jnlcbvag ng ubzr, ohg vg'f bayl 62 srrg, lbh pna jnyx vg rnfvyl rabhtu.

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)