Fife Coastal Path - Elie Lighthouse Traditional Cache
Moaning Minnie: Time for someone else to put one out!
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Fife Coastal Path - Elie Lighthouse
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:
 (micro)
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Elie lighthouse was constructed on a small island in 1908. The lighthouse was originally topped by a glass paned lantern house, but when the lighthouse switched from using gas to using electricity it was removed, much to the consternation of many of the locals.
Before the lighthouse was modernized the operation of the lighthouse was highly labour intensive. The light had to be tended and serviced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The lens' required that they be kept polished. The gas generator was required to be kept constantly cleaned out and supplied with new batches of calcium carbide. The residual sludge from the spent carbide had to be kept removed. There were two nearby holding ponds for this sludge which as a by-product had considerable value. Used as a paint on exterior surfaces of buildings the sludge dried to form a completely waterproof, long lasting and brilliant white coating. When villagers needed to paint their houses they just arrived with whatever containers and wheelbarrows they had on hand to carry home the sludge that was free for the taking. The sludge was used to coat the lighthouse itself and ended up on many of the houses in the village. Indeed there are likely a few houses that still have walls and ceilings that are so coated.
Cache is a small green painted pill bottle containing a log only so bring your own pen / pencil please.
This is a favourite spot for dog walkers and Sunday strollers, so stealth and patience may be required.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
oruvaq tenff haqre bhgpebc - QBA'G CHYY BHG TENFF
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:

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