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First Grade Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

nostrada: The cache has been robbed clean and reports of a homeless person using the area as bedroom made me archive it.

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Hidden : 8/5/2003
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


First Grade

After logging nearly 100 caches I decided it is time to put my recently acquired ammo cans to good use. Since this is my first cache and start of school is coming up I thought we combine the two and I'll start with some light maths and provide some school utensils as booty - using definition number 3, thank you:

    boo·ty1   n. pl. boo·ties

    1. Plunder taken from an enemy in time of war.
    2. Goods or property seized by force or piracy.
    3. A valuable prize, award, or gain.

This is an ammo box sized multi-cache covering a small area of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, with a drive-by and around 20 minutes of walking, mostly on paved ground. The last few feet are slightly off the beaten path. This section of the park is located beside a now deserted urban area right under the flight path of San Jose's International airport. The park closes 30 minutes after sunset, but who is to check on you? Marwagsalot and friends, bring your leashes, you are going for a walk as well! I have added a few hints in case you get stuck.

To reach the cache, proceed to the above mentioned coordinates N 37° 20.793 W 121° 54.671 and look out for two groups of letters at street level, engraved in concrete. Using SCRF (Standard Caching Riddle Formular - A=1, B=2, . . . Z=26) add up the letters of both words. This will get you AAA (see hint 1)

Proceed to N 37° 20.806 W 121° 54.510. Now look up for some planes. Let your eyes wander around the sky and you will notice at least one sign with two words in your view. Count the number of letters on one of these signs to get BB - just count them, no need to use SCRF (see Hint 2)

Finally continue your stroll to N 37° 20.909 W 121° 54.549. Have a break on a nearby bench and check out the length in miles of the river mentioned on the sign you are sitting on - this will get your CC (see Hint 3)

Time to whip out those calculators in your cell phones or handhelds.

    D = cross sum ("total of their digits") of BB
    EEE = AAA + BB + CC -5

Now move on to the final coordinates

N 37° 20.(793+D)   
W 121° 54.(671-EEE)

You do not need to run across the park, but you might. (see Hint 4)

Initial contents of the cache:

  • FTF special booty - Roxio CD Wallet with 6 CD-R (blank and only 650MB)
  • Alternative FTF - Tot Grip Stapler (compact stapling to go)
  • 2 blocks of self-adhesive notes (400) in four colours
  • 4 memo notebooks
  • 100 poly coated clips
  • Titanium scissors for 4+ old kids (blunt tip)
  • Logbook and Abela Hotel (Paris) pen (el-cheapo)

I trust you will figure out which items are one per finder and which are not, right? I would appreciate some feedback on this exercise.

Edit: 8-26-03 - changed 10 min to 20 min of walk time
Edit: 8-26-03 - added "engraved in concrete" to first stage

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Hint 1] Abg snyy<br><oe> [Hint 2] Vg pna xvyy lbh<br><oe> [Hint 3] Abg rira gjragl zvyrf<br><oe> [Hint 4] Terra naq cevpxyl

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)