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The Dragon's Lair Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Eclectic Penguin: As mentioned previously, I can no longer regularly maintain this cache and as it relied on clues that could potentially change reasonably frequently, I'm archiving it.

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Hidden : 12/20/2007
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache will take you to the “Dragon’s Lair”, a popular lunch time and evening destination in the Cardiff Bay area. The coordinates are not for the cache itself but for an entrance into the lair. You’ll need to answer a series of questions to find the final coordinates. Going is dead flat all the way apart from the final cache location which may involve some scrambling over slightly rough area. This should be easily completed in an hour.

It's been pointed out that the Doctor Who Exhibition is currently being rennovated. There is a strong possiblity that this will affect the clue at Location 3. If, while attempting this cache you suspect this is the case, please get in touch with me. Thankfully, the letter C is only used in one place in the final clue and is easily guessable.

As an intrepid explorer you’ve made your way here to the Dragon’s Lair. Your quest however is only just beginning! You’ll need to answer a series of questions about various things you can see inside this location (which is open throughout the day and late into the evening).

Location 1
Harbour Row is indeed a quaint looking village and it even sports what appears to be a little post office - or is it a house in disguise as a post office? You decide. Count the number of red post office boxes to reveal the number represented by A.

Location 2
This place takes its name from a city in the southern USA which, not so long ago, suffered a catastrophic flood. The city is also famous for its music – this is represented here – count how many musical instruments are hanging outside for B.

Location 3
It’s now time to visit the Doctor, Who hasn’t been too popular with some who have had dealings with him, many of whom are pictured outside his place in circular frames. There are three clusters. Count how many pictures are in the centre cluster for C.

Location 4
A bonded warehouse can be seen here – it was built in 1D0E.

Location 5
A curious chronograph in deed – not only is it an unusual specimen for a time piece, it’s location ensures that it can never tell the time! It has some digits around its dial – count the digits on one side of the dial – I guarantee there aren’t 12 in total! This will give you F.

Location 6
I’m sure there’s a fine sea breeze around Shipgate Street, but some of the houses along here appear more real than others. Count the number of windows found only on the “real” houses for G.

Location 7
The Oriental Gardens have quite an ornate trellis above the entrance. Just above you’ll see some Chinese characters. Count how many to arrive at H.

Location 8
Somewhere here you’ll find a crest on which a number of dragons are depicted. Count only the black dragons to get J.

Location*s* 9
Count the number of round, red and white flotation rings that are depicted here. Be extra observant – there are more than one location and not all can be seen from one location! This will give you K.

Hint: There's at least one on both of the named streets...

Location 10
In one location there is a window, through which you can see some of the dragons in the guise of Dinner Jackets. Beneath the window are two words that would also be a relief to a diver. Count the number of letters in these two words for L.

Location 11
The dragon, whose namesake this location has taken, has a rather nice logo. Count how many green and red “balloons” that are a part of this logo for M. You now have all the details ready to solve the final mathematical puzzle to find the final cache location:

N 51°(H-A) (G-H+B) . C E M
W003°(L-K) G . (F+J) (D-B) J

One note about the final cache location. If you find yourself heading towards a busy dual carriageway, you’re going the wrong way to find the cache! There’s a reason for this seeming misdirection – but the cache location itself is most definitely in a pedestrian area and not down on the road!

The cache itself is available 24/7 but the location which houses all the locations is not. The cache starts off with a few sundry items and a First To Find trophy!

Extra hint: Several early seekers who failed to find the cache initially, have commented about how many security cameras are in the area. While it's true there are quite a few, the cache is not being observed by any of these. You can hunt for the final cache safe from the gaze of any cameras or indeed individuals.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va fznyy jbbqrq nern oruvaq erpgnathyne jbbqrq cvyynef, haqre ynetr pbapergr qrcbfvg

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)