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Flint's treasure and the 'Pieces of Eight' Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

tanetops: The cache location is no longer tenable due to unwelcome attention by mindless miscreants, so it is time to be retired after nearly nine years in operation.
It is to be hoped that Capt’n Flint will find another place on Niue where his treasure will be secure and continue to offer mental and to a lesser extent physical challenges for geocachers in the years to come.

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Hidden : 9/25/2008
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache will take you to some of Niue’s scenic and historical gems. If your means of transport is a bicycle then, on completion, award yourself ten bonus points, which are redeemable for two cold beers at participating merchants.
In your travels always give way to ‘Ugas’, particularly during the mating season.


Beware the Uga's Lair


It goes without saying that the above posted co-ordinates are bogus

This puzzle cache will lead you a merry dance and also enable you to hone your navigational and mathematical skills. It is recommended that you visit the way-points in the sequence wp-1 ..... wp-7.
At each way-point you can find the answer to the questions mentioned below. The numerical data from each way-point will be used to calculate the final location of the cache.
So - on with the hunt.

wp-1:
You need to seek out an esoteric assortment of vehicular appendages such as UE, TH and others. Having achieved this simple task you can now begin the process to find the number for ‘A’.
Sum the following:
First digit of UE
Third digit of TH
Second digit of KN
First digit of AYG
Then divide the result by half of the second digit of TH
This number is 'A'

wp-2:
Park at S 19 06.174, W169 48.861
Go seek out this hidden gem, a fascinating place togo,
But use great care to reach the sandy floor below,
A sturdy ladder will give you peace of mind,
Now how many wooden rungs can you find?
This number is 'B'

wp-3:
Park at S 19 07.984, W169 50.226
How many white posts lead to the lair of the ‘Uga’?
This number is 'C'

wp-4:
Legend has it that a pirate will draw an ‘X’ mark on a map to show the location of his hidden treasure.
How many ‘X’ marks can you find here?
This number is 'D'

wp-5:
Here you will some Roman numerals, which you need to convert to the decimal system of numbering.
What is the number?
This number is 'X'

wp-6:
An important event took place on 26 October and is described on a stone tablet.
In what year did this event occur? .
This number is 'Y'

wp-7:
Cast around for a prominent name.
How many letters are there?.
This number is 'Z'

To confirm that you have correctly found all the numbers add them together. The sum should be 2,236
Now to find the location of the cache

G = (C*D) + B + C + Z
H = (X - B)/2 - (Z*C)/2
K = (A + Z) - 2
P = C + D - Z
Q = (Y/2) + (C*2)
R = (X*2) + (C*D) + (D - Z) + (B/D + Z)

The co-ordinates are in the format: South dd mm.mmm, West ddd mm.mmm.

The cache is at: South GHK, West PQR
You will know where to place the spaces and decimal point.

The Cache contents include: -

Pieces of Eight from:
........Argentina
........Chile
........Cyprus
........Israel
........New Zealand
........Tonga
........Great Britain
Sailing yacht (to escape from the pirates)
Key to open "The Dead Man’s Chest"
A shark’s jaw.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng gur raq bs gur qnl qb lbh rire trg gung 'Jnyyrq-va srryvat'?

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)