Mushroom Mania (Otago) Mystery Cache
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This last autumn season has been a particularly good one for fungal and mushroom growth, and while out caching I have found and photographed many interesting common and rarer fungi. This mystery cache is the result of internet searches on how I could go about translating the names of the fungi into numbers.
There is no cache at the above coordinates. Ten clue photos are posted on the cache page gallery.
6 of these will match one of the 6 clue phrases below.
Each clue phrase is assigned a letter from A-G that corresponds with that mystery digit in the coordinates.
One word is missing from each of the 6 clue phrases and has been replaced with dashes representing how many letters the missing word has.
Matching the correct photo determines the missing word and completes the clue phrase.
The title of each photo is an alpha-numeric offset key used to substitute a number for every letter only in the "missing" word for that clue phrase.
The alpha-numeric key tells you which digit is assigned to the letter "a". Complete the key by assigning a digit to each letter of the alphabet in ascending order.
When you reach 9 the next number is 0 then 1 again...
Example, to generate the key "a=0" do the following:
a=0, b=1, c=2, d=3, e=4, f=5, g=6, h=7, i=8, j=9, k=0, l=1, m=2, n=3 etc...
Example, if the missing word is "mushroom" and the key indicated by the corresponding photo is "a=6" then you should do the following:
M+U+S+H+R+O+O+M
8+6+4+3+3+0+0+8 = 32, which is a two digit number.
You want a ONE digit number so take 32 and do the same thing, 3+2 = 5.
NOW you're done! The correct single digit value for the above example is 5.
Remember that each key is only used once, for that photo-phrase match.
Replace the letters in the mystery coordinates with their corresponding digits to complete the puzzle.
Puzzle Coordinates S 45° AB.00C E 170° DE.F0G
To find the cache, go to the co-ordinates you have determined.
The cache is a 1 l screw topped container with log book, pen and pencil, room for small swaps.
CLUE PHRASES
A Tremella mesenterica, or witch’s - - - - - - is commonly found on gorse and broom
B Geastrum saccatum, a common - - - - - - - - - is another type of puffball but not edible
C Ileodictyon cibarium, the - - - - - - fungus, starts out as an egg-shaped fruiting body.
D Agaricus campestris or the - - - - - mushroom is a delicacy locals can collect from pasture.
E Suillus - - - - - - is known as slippery jack, sticky bun bolete and other common names
F Calvatia gigantea, the giant - - - - - - - - is edible when young while inner flesh is white
G Lycoperdon perlatum also known as the - - - - - - snuffbox, is a type of puffball.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Cache] Onfr bs jrrcvat Zngvcb, arkg gb ebpx.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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