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Crazy Mixed Up Dog Mystery Cache

Hidden : 7/15/2008
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is not located at the above co-ordinates, but you can go there to get a good burger!

Don’t read too much into the name of the cache, because it’s the cache setter who is the really crazy one!

Regular visitors to my caches will know that I normally try to use a decent sized box, and this cache is no exception.

You can safely assume that N 50 and W 001 are correct. It’s the remainder of the numbers that you need to work out.

Once you have solved the puzzle, the checksum (total of all 15 digits of the location), should add up to 50.

Rod has been sitting up at nights, thinking up more puzzles to plague your brain, and this is the result. If I’ve understood the medical evidence, over half of people’s brains are largely dormant, so here's an opportunity to stimulate a few idle neurons. I’ve found that neural activity seems to work differently on each side of the brain. The left side is used to weigh the incoming data relating to numbers, reasoning, and speech. The right side seems to work more with abstract ideas such as art and music. I’ll leave you to decide which part of the brain is needed to solve this puzzle!

The cache is placed in a location which can be easily reached without venturing into tall grass. I originally had another location in mind for this cache, but after setting it up, I discovered to my dismay that the dogs and I were covered with ticks (Ixodes Ricinus). It was soon inevitable that I could not risk using that site and it was quickly scratched off my list!

It seems to me that a heavy infestation of ticks is a phenomenon encountered in this area only in recent years. They have obviously always been around but this year they seem to be worse than ever. Covering your arms and legs while out caching is a good idea to help protect yourself, but there is not much that you can do for your dogs. Forgive my caution if I very cautiously say that, while I believe the new cache location is tick-free, it's still a good idea to use an insect repellent.

Ticks are nasty, horrible creatures. For those of you that have not previously come across them, they lay in ambush on long grass then attach themselves to any passing animal. Their teeth re-extend through the skin of the targeted animal and the ticks then just sit there drinking the host’s blood. As they drink, their body swells up and they can reach over 50 times their original size.

Because of the various diseases carried by ticks, it is very important that ticks are removed quickly and correctly. Do not just pull the tick off the skin since the head can break off and remain under the skin. In the past, wounds have often become badly infected when this method is used. The tick should be removed by gently twisting or “spinning” it. This causes the tick to retract its teeth and let go, the whole tick comes out cleanly, and this then leaves a small wound which will soon heal up.

I’m sorry if all this sounds a bit horrific or frightening; if I’ve scared anybody, then I certainly do apologise. My GP has recently been running a Tick Awareness campaign at his surgery and it has certainly opened my eyes to the potential seriousness of the problem. You may wish to check out the facts for yourself.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[For the puzzle] Ab pyhrf lrg [For the cache] Snyyra gerr

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)