The cache is not located at the posted coordinates, but it is
nearby and you must solve a puzzle in order to find the cache. This
is the first cache that I've hidden. While it is a bit of a liar,
it is at least reliable - it is a perfect liar, and never tells the
truth.
While I have tried to make it accessible to everyone, solving
this puzzle will require an in depth knowledge of musical notation.
The puzzle requires little mathematical skill since I have no
knowledge of mathematics whatsoever. That said, an understanding of
binary arithmetic will be useful when solving this puzzle. This
puzzle is self referential - the cache description, the hints and
the puzzle are all one in the same - every statement is a part of
the puzzle.
Solving this puzzle does not require determining which
statements are true and which are false. Don't read too much into
these statements - this puzzle is solved using an analysis of
ancient languages. Those who know me will find this puzzle easier
than those who do not, but to keep things fair all of the
information needed to solve this puzzle can be found on
www.geocaching.com. There are in fact very few geocachers who have
met me since I have never attended a geocaching event.
Even though all of the information needed to solve the puzzle is
on this site, some research will be required to find it all. You
may want to start searching logs before you get into the forest -
there is essential information there. You will have to think
outside the box - some logs are easy to find, but others cannot be
found without a picture. Your research will discover information
that references three great works of literature whose publication
dates will form the key to a cipher that will unlock the cache
coordinates.
The physical cache is a regular sized container. It should be
winter accessible. It is hidden in the York regional forest. It is
not the first cache that I have hidden using an ammo can as the
container.
I believe that it is possible to find this cache by horse as
well, but I wouldn't know since I've never been near a horse. Feel
free to trade travel bugs in this cache - I once carried a rubber
snake travel bug from Canada to England! The bug I took to England
was part of a TB race, which it narrowly missed winning. Don't
worry about logging a DNF if you can't find this cache - I have
never logged a DNF myself.
My interest in geocaching goes back for some time, and I have
had a geocaching.com account since 2004. I did not have a GPSr in
2004, so I didn't log my first find until a year before I hid this
cache. I did try to find my first cache before owning a GPSr, but I
was unsuccessful.
It took nearly a week - 6 days - before I found my second cache.
Not only is this the first cache that I've hidden, but before
hiding it I had only found fifty other caches. Eventually I would
like to find caches abroad, but at the time that I hid this cache I
had still not found any caches in another country. Geocaching is a
great way to motivate myself to travel more - I have always wanted
to go to England, but before hiding this cache I had not yet
gone.
The first GPS receiver that I acquired was a Garmin eTrex Legend
Cx. It took me until the end of July before I tried goecaching by
bicycle. Fortunately I was very fit when I started geocaching and
frequently rode long distances on my bicycle. I have since found
many geocaches by bicycle and once dragged my bike through a marsh
while finding a cache near some train tracks.
Despite all of the caches that I have found by bicycle I have
never had a mechanical problem with my bike. I have an odd habit of
not verifying coordinates for puzzles, which once led me on an
unnecessary 6km detour by bicycle! I have never found a cache by
canoe. Nor have I gone caching with a dog.
I have geocached by car on occasion. Of course, I have never
risked damaging someone else's vehicle (or even worse a rental car)
to find a cache. While I normally cache alone, I have occasionally
cached with other geocachers before hiding this cache. Sadly, I
have never geocached with my wife.
A big part of the appeal of geocaching for me is visiting exotic
places - I have already gone geocaching in the desert. I have also
visited the top of a tall mountain. I have also found several
caches near the Niagara escarpment. Of course, safety first, I have
never tried something stupid like climbing a mountain without
proper equipment.