Tour through Wood End Multi-Cache
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A combination car/walking tour through the town formerly known as Wood End.
This multi cache is located in a town in Massachusetts that was formerly called Wood End.
This multi-stage cache requires that you proceed to several locations in Wood End and pick up clues that will enable you to assemble the coordinates of the final destination where the cache is hidden. At each stage you will need to determine a number that will be part of the final cache coordinates. For example, if you see the date 1775 and the clue is 177X then X=5.
The coordinates listed are for stage 1. You don't necessarily need to begin your quest at stage 1. But it is listed as a reference point. There is safe and legal parking nearby all stages. It is recommended that you do a "drive-by" at each stage and then park and walk to the coordinates so you can access the necessary clue. It is not necessary to complete stage 1-6 in any order. However, you should do the Final Stage last.
Stage 1
Parker Tavern is the oldest home in this town. On the house there is a sign that has a date on it. The date is 169A.
Stage 2
Lob's Pond Mill was formerly located on the Ipswich River which forms the northern boundary of Wood End. The mill was built in 1699 and is depicted on the town seal of Wood End. At this location there is a sign that has a date on it. The date is 1B69. (By the way. there is another cache nearby, GC107W7.)
Stage 3
At this location stands a church that when constructed had the largest hyperbolic paraboloid roof in the Western Hemisphere. Check it out. It does not look like your typical church. On the nearest telephone pole there are two numbers. The numbers are C9S. (Solve for "C")
Stage 4
At this location the town's first church of the West Parish was built in 177D.
Stage 5
The original Stage 5 brought you to a peculiar local landmark, an inland boat house, that is now gone.
In order to keep the cache coordinates intact you now have to solve this question. There is a highway that travels through Wood End's southern border region. Some call it the Yankee Division Highway. Others know it by its original map designation Route 1E8. You can learn more about this roadway (visit link)
Stage 6
The state has erected those typical white signs that say "Entering _______" on the two state highways entering Wood End. The state highways are located as you enter Wood End on Routes 28 and/or 129. On the signs it says the the town was established in 16F9. There are 4 signs that are identical. Take your pick.
Final Stage
There is an easy to miss parking area for the trailhead here. It is OK to pull in and park. There is ample room for a couple cars. On the dark red entrance sign there is a reference to Troop G05. After you collect this clue you have all the information you need to assemble your clues to create the final coordinates so that you can go for a walk and find the final cache. It is suggested that you visit this stage last.
The final cache is located at N 42 FE.BA4, W 71 DC.AG2
There are some vertical posts that you should walk through to begin your walk towards the final cache. Although there are private homes nearby you are on a perfectly legal right of way and you will soon reach a long boardwalk which guides you through some low wetlands until you come to a rise and the woods.
Along the trail you may note several interesting sites. There are old house foundations, remains of agricultural implements, blueberry bushes and cranberry bogs. The trails here are somewhat nondescript so you will have to do some light bushwhacking. The total distance from car to cache is under a quarter mile. The cache is hidden in a fissure in a rock outcropping.
Enjoy the hunt.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pnpure'f pubvpr - n fubeg fpenzoyr hc be fgvpxl oenzoyrf vs lbh ernpu qbja
Treasures
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